What a year it’s been! Now is the time to celebrate your grad with an unforgettable menu of graduation party food ideas that rock the flavor and fun. These party appetizer recipes will help you plan for a tasty, graze-tastic event. Everyone loves a DIY bar—you might be surprised how easy it is to pull together. Build your party menu starting with a feature bar, add a side or two, and don’t forget a crave-worthy dessert! No matter how you mix it up, you’re sure to earn an A+!
WARM BITES BAR
PULL APART CHEESEBURGER SLIDERS
Warm and cheesy sliders are small but mighty, and will disappear as fast as you can put them out. It’s the tasty “secret” sauce that takes them to the senior level. Just between us, the sauce could not be easier to make, starting with Hunt's® Tomato Ketchup and Gulden's® Bold Yellow Mustard.
CHICK’N PARM BITES
OK, we know, a lot of partygoers will be looking for a meatless party appetizer recipe that wins big on taste. Keep ’em satisfied with amazing Chick’n Parm Bites, made with plant-based Gardein® Ultimate Plant-Based Chick'n Nuggets and topped with vegan mozzarella. Finger food deluxe!
MAC AND CHEESE BITES
There should be a diploma for this next-level mac and cheese that’s extra gooey-licious and perfectly bite sized. For your list of graduation party food ideas, this is so much better than those giant (and sometimes messy) serving trays.
NACHO & SALSA BAR
SHEET PAN CHICKEN NACHOS
The graduation party food ideas start with a nacho bar! We love, love this party appetizer recipe because you can use pre-cooked rotisserie chicken—or eliminate the chicken for a meatless option! A dash of Texas flavor pops in from RO*TEL® Original Diced Tomatoes & Green Chilies and Rosarita® Traditional Refried Beans. Set out heaps of toppings for a true nacho bar experience. ¡Muy bueno!
7-LAYER MEXICAN RANCH DIP
One of the gotta-haves for any nacho and salsa bar—this classic 7-layer dip is a favorite. Frontera® Mild Salsa and Wish-Bone® Ranch Dressing make the grade (Yes, we give it an A!). It’s easy to make and looks amazing on the table. Be sure to serve with a ton of tortilla chips.
CARIBBEAN SALSA
For a super-light, super-fresh twist on salsa, try the Caribbean version, with its perfect medley of jerk flavoring, pineapple, jalapeño, and Hunt’s Diced Tomatoes. Your taste buds will want to do the mambo! This is a great option to make ahead and keep in the fridge ’til you’re ready to serve up your best graduation party recipe.
POPCORN & SNACK BAR
BUFFALO CARAMEL POPCORN
A popcorn and snack bar is a fantastic graduation party food idea that allows guests to graze to their heart’s delight (snacks are a meal, right?). Buffalo caramel popcorn is a 2X fab treat—spicy and sweet all in one. Start with Orville Redenbacher's® Gourmet® Butter Microwave Popcorn... addicting, in a good way!
SWEET AND SPICY POPCORN TRAIL MIX
The cumulative average of this snack is a 4.0—it’s a healthier choice that stays top of the class with a sweet and spicy glaze and bonus of a protein-rich crunch of DAVID® Pumpkin Seeds and DAVID Sunflower Kernels. A must-have for any graduation party!
ARTISAN CHEESE BOARD
For a fuss-free, but sophisticated, snack, follow this recipe. Everyone will love to nosh on the combination of cheeses, fresh fruit, and nuts, perfectly paired with the tasty variety of Glutino® Gluten-Free Crackers for a spread that is as big or as small as you need your party appetizer recipe to be!
FIND MORE APPS AND SNACKS FOR GRADUATION PARTY MENUS
SPRUCE IT UP WITH SIDES
CREAMY RANCH POTATO AND CAULIFLOWER SALAD
It’s certainly not your average potato salad. In fact, it deserves special honors. Cauliflower, bacon, and Wish-Bone Ranch Dressing are just a few of the ingredients that put this one at the top of the potato salad class.
ROASTED VEGETABLE AND GOAT CHEESE PASTA SALAD
There are pasta salads (yawn), and then there’s this one. Roasted veggies are a great way to pack your party appetizer recipes with flavor; simply toss with PAM® Avocado Oil No-Stick Cooking Spray and roast to perfection. Goat cheese is the perfect creamy complement for this tasty side.
AVOCADO CORN SALAD
Here’s a gorgeous side that comes together in minutes. Loaded with zesty spices and avocado, with the tasty counterpoint of Birds Eye® Steamfresh® Selects Super Sweet Corn, we think this one will earn you some extra credit!
We thought you’d like to know… our Avocado Corn Salad tops our list for summer sides—and we’ve got more, perfect for graduation party food ideas! CHECK IT OUT
SWEET ENDINGS
DUNCAN HINES® EPIC MINI COOKIE DOUGH SANDWICH COOKIES
Yessss, smart cookies for an EPIC future–a perfectly festive graduation party recipe. Duncan Hines EPIC Mini Cookie Dough Cookies are super simple to make (we love that it’s a kit!). Score extra credit for rolling in sprinkles that match your grad’s school colors. Better make two batches; these will disappear fast!
NO BAKE OATMEAL COOKIES
Just say “no bake” and you have our attention! We love these crunchy cookies that have a cocoa and peanut butter twist, made with delicious Smart Balance® Chunky Peanut and Flaxseed Oil Spread. The best part? Have someone help you make these ahead of time and stow in the fridge ’til you serve.
STRAWBERRY SHEET CAKE
Put the WOW onto your dessert table with this fresh and berry-licious sheet cake, made with moist Duncan Hines Signature Strawberry Supreme Cake Mix and sweetly smooth Duncan Hines Classic Creamy Vanilla Frosting. Add sliced berries on top, or decorate for your special grad… either way, this one’s a winner!
LOOKING FOR MORE DESSERT OPTIONS FOR GRADUATION PARTIES?
All graduations are emotional events—celebratory and bittersweet all at once. We know you want to put out the best dishes—and don’t forget the drinks!—to capture this special moment. Cheers to the best party ever, and to bright futures for all graduates!
