If you’re planning a party menu, these are the best adult birthday party foods for any occasion! These are the fool-proof recipes that work all year long and are great for any theme.
Best Party Foods
There’s not a lot that’s more important for planning a party than coming up with good food and the perfect party menu! Okay, well maybe perfecting the guest list and planning party games are both important too, but the food – the food is a great way to make or break a party.
So I’ve put together my top party food ideas that work at pretty much any kind of party you might be throwing because let’s face it, we all want the food to make, not break the party. So it’s a good idea to really think about what you’re making!
I’ve called this post the best adult birthday party foods, but let me get one thing straight – these aren’t just party foods for adults. And they aren’t just for birthdays. This is my list of the top party foods for any occasion, they’re just not necessarily childish or cutesy food but that doesn’t mean kids and teens won’t enjoy these as much as adults.
The one thing all of these recipes have in common is that they’re delicious. They’re perfect for your next party no matter what the occasion!
Easy Appetizer Ideas For a Party
If you’re not serving a full dinner, you’re probably going to want to serve some sort of snacks or appetizers! I’ve put together a list that are either still delicious at room temperature or easy to keep warmed up!
There’s everything from finger foods to dips to slow cooker appetizers that adults will love!
Easy Pizza Roll Ups
Wrap your favorite pizza toppings and mozzarella cheese in crescent rolls, brush with butter and spices, and enjoy pizza in a bite-sized form! They’re good both warm and cold and make a great appetizer for any party!
A delicious cheddar pigs in a blanket recipe that uses cheese and flaked salt to elevate this delicious appetizer! Serve them with a homemade dipping sauce for the ultimate party snack! They may seem childish but believe me, adults love them.
These spinach artichoke cups combine a crunchy wonton cup with a creamy spinach artichoke dip filling! The perfect party food or finger food for a dinner party! It’s like a finger food version of the most popular party food – spinach artichoke dip! You could even add fresh tomatoes if you want a little more color!
These quick and easy Bisquick sausage balls take just five ingredients and a few minutes to make! They work for all times of day from breakfast to dinner! You could also make sausage rolls if you think those will be a better fit.
These soft pretzel bites are a homemade version of everyone’s favorite snack! Make salted pretzel bites or cinnamon sugar bites, or even both! They’re delicious, simple to make, and a huge crowd favorite.
This buffalo chicken stuffed potato skins recipe is one of the best appetizer recipes ever! It’s easy, quick to make, and loaded with homemade buffalo chicken filling! Or go with traditional bacon and cheese loaded potato skins instead. Potato skins are also an easy way to fill up guests for cheap!
The easiest baked buffalo chicken dip! Cream cheese, buffalo chicken (made out of shredded chicken breast) and ranch dressing are layered together then baked into a creamy, cheesy, and delicious dip! I recommend making it mild or at most medium heat so everyone can enjoy. It’s the perfect version of dippable buffalo wings for any party!
These crockpot grape jelly meatballs are a delicious appetizer that takes very little work plus the ground beef makes them filling! Frozen meatballs combined with grape jelly, chili sauce, and a few other ingredients make these an appetizer that’ll disappear fast!
The best spinach artichoke dip ever! It only takes a few minutes to make and is the perfect addition to pretty much any menu that calls for appetizers! Dips are always great ideas, especially when they’re topped with parmesan cheese like this one!
A hot and cheesy dip is always a winner and this homemade queso fundido combines a mild chorizo and lots of cheese in an amazing dip. Serve with chips and sliced up bread for a real crowd pleaser!
Little smokies get an adult upgrade with a brown sugar brushing and a hot honey drizzle on top. This slow cooker appetizer is a great addition to any menu.
These bacon wrapped dates are stuffed with feta and about as elegant of an appetizer as you can get. If you’re looking for gourmet appetizers to go with your fancy birthday dinner ideas, these are perfect.
This yummy oven Chex Mix combines Chex cereal, pretzels, bagel chips, and more in one delicious salty party mix! It’s technically more of a snack than an appetizer but always a popular option, so I had to include it!
These garlic parmesan chicken wings are crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and full of amazing flavor! They’re first tossed in olive oil for a crispy coating, baked, then finished with a delicious butter garlic sauce and fresh parmesan. They savory topping on the top is so good!
If you want to or need to serve a full main course, there are a couple of options that work really well if you don’t want to do a full sit down dinner. If you do, then this may not be the post for you.
But if you don’t, there are two really good options for serving enough food for a full meal without actually serving a meal.
DIY Food Bars
These are great because it allows you to serve a full meal without having to actually plate everything! Plus, everyone can choose what and how much they want. You could do everything from one of these nacho bar ideas (serve a variety of meats with toppings like black beans, refried beans, and sour cream) to something more substantial like a pasta bar, baked potato bar, or Caesar salad bar.
Just make sure you have plenty of small bowls on hand!
Charcuterie Boards
One of the biggest growing trends is creating charcuterie boards or even full charcuterie tables as a substitute for serving appetizers or a main course at a party. I’m loving this trend and have jumped fully on board! They’re totally worth the extra time it takes to put them together.
Another great option for a main course that doesn’t take a lot of time or money is serving up some of your favorite soups and stews. I always recommend this zuppa toscana, this white chicken chili, and this beef and barley soup for flavorful and filling options!
Best Party Desserts
One of the best ways to honor the special person of the hour is to create some sort of signature dessert that’s made just for this special occasion. I’ve included a couple of options that are perfect for celebrating the guest of honor as well as some of my tried and true dessert that would work for any adult birthday parties!
Striped Delight
My personal all-time favorite dessert, this one is good any occasion! Plus, you can make it ahead of time or right before serving and it still tastes amazing!
If you want chocolate but different than cake, serve up these chocolate berry bites. They’re elegant little bites of sweetness that would go well with any savory options you might be serving. Plus, they’re a super easy dish to make and fancy enough to serve at a birthday dinner party for dessert!
This delicious cinnamon sugar cheesecake tastes just like a sopapilla or a churro but with a cream cheese filling. Plus, it’s super easy to make and tastes good both chilled and at room temperature! These are good for a large party because of how simple they are to make!
This gorgeous chocolate chip bundt cake uses sour cream to get a really moist cake with incredible chocolate flavor. Top it with a chocolate ganache for a showstopper dessert perfect for any birthday whether it be milestone birthdays or just any regular party!
While any sweet quick bread would be a good option for a simple dessert, this ice cream bread is really fun because it uses ice cream and sprinkles, perfect for celebrating an adult birthday!
Part pie, part chocolate chip cookie, this delicious recipe is the ultimate comfort food and perfect for any celebration! I recommend it served with vanilla ice cream, but it’s also good with fresh whipped cream!
This chocolate lava cake is everything you want in a molten lava cake – soft on the outside and super chocolately in the center. It’s an impressive and delicious chocolate dessert that’s surprisingly easy to make! It’s a great option for a fancier sit down type of party where you want individual, smaller cakes.
This Dr Pepper cake is a chocolate cake turned into a decadent dessert with the help of a little Dr Pepper and an incredible chocolate frosting! Even if you don’t like Dr. Pepper, you’ll likely like this cake, making it a great thing for a birthday party!
This easy chocolate brownie cake is an old-fashioned recipe that gives you the the taste of chocolate walnut brownies in sheet cake form. Just like grandma used to make and perfect to go with a scoop of vanilla ice cream! If you’re looking for food items that are easy to make for a crowd, add these to your menu!
If you’re not the baking type or just want to keep the desserts simple, you could also just serve up some yummy sweet dips instead! They’re perfect for adult parties where people will be spending time walking around, mingling, and enjoy the yummy food.
Chocolate Chip Cheese Ball
This chocolate chip cheese ball only takes a few simple ingredients and is perfect for any party! Plus, even if you’re serving an elaborate dinner, it’s pretty enough that it wouldn’t look out of place on the appetizer table.
With only four ingredients, this cream cheese fruit dip is simple to make and the perfect addition to any celebration! Serve it with a tray of gorgeous fresh fruit so that even if someone doesn’t want to go heavy on the desserts, they have something sweet to enjoy!
This fruit salsa recipe combines all sorts of fresh fruit with sweet jam and a little sugar for the perfect fruity dip. Combine it with homemade cinnamon chips for a fresh and yummy snack.
This easy cannoli dip takes Italian cannolis and turns them into a dessert dip that’s great for parties or just a sweet treat! Serve it with cannoli chips or pieces of waffle cones for the ultimate cannoli inspired dessert! This one would be great for a more sophisticated soiree.
If you like strawberry shortcake, you’ll love this delicious strawberry dip recipe that combines cream cheese, whipped cream, and strawberries in a delicious dessert dip!
This brownie batter dip is creamy and full of amazing chocolate flavor! And unlike other brownie dips, this one first cooks the brownie batter with milk to avoid the gritty texture of most brownie batters! It’s delicious and the perfect dessert dip for any occasion!
This homemade Dunkaroo dip is kind of like a birthday cake but in dip form! It’s easy to make, delicious, and the perfect way to add some sprinkles to any shindig!
If you think the Dunkaroo dip is a little too childish, you can get the birthday fun in with this funfetti dip as well! It’s a simple dessert dip that goes well with fruit, crackers, and cookies! Plus, sprinkles are almost a universal way of saying happy birthday!
I don’t personally drink alcohol but even if you’re planning to serve alcohol at the party, I highly recommend having fancy or signature non-alcoholic drinks as well for anyone who might drink for any number of reasons.
Since I’ve never drank alcohol, virgin drinks and non-alcoholic punches are my speciality. These are some of my personal favorites that would be popular choices with guests.
Easy Citrus Strawberry Mocktail Recipe
This citrus strawberry mocktail is full of flavor from the perfect combination of sweet strawberries, lime juice, and simple syrup.
This delicious strawberry cotton candy drink is such a fun mocktail for a baby shower, party, or just to enjoy with the kids! Combine a strawberry based mocktail with a pink cotton candy bomb for a drink that sparkly, fun to make, and delicious!
Forget using the store bought stuff and try the homemade version that tastes 100% better than the bottled stuff from the store! This fruity drink is a great option to go with pretty much any party meal.
This creamy lemonade uses just three ingredients including fresh lemon juice to create a version of lemonade most people will have never tried! This one works best for summer parties like at a backyard bbq but is also a fun staple during the spring and fall!
Speaking of lemonade, this homemade strawberry lemonade is good for any occasion! It has a nice pink color that would be perfect for a girly surprise party or a special event like baby showers! It’s also a really easy recipe with great flavor, so you could just make it for any special event! If you want something a little darker, you could go for this blueberry lemonade instead!
For an afternoon party that starts after lunchtime, serve light snacks, appetizers, and desserts. Things like fruit plates and charcuterie boards are a perfect option because it’ll give people something to snack on without ruining their dinner.
What is the most popular party snack?
The most popular party snack out of all in my opinion is buffalo chicken dip or spinach artichoke dip. Those two dips are seen at more parties and events throughout the year than any other.
What kind of food should you serve at a birthday party?
Serve food that the guest of honor will enjoy and that go with the timing and theme of your party! Appetizers, finger foods, and individual desserts at a great option. Plus, make sure there is some sort of special birthday cake or dessert!
More Adult Birthday Party ideas
If you need help planning more than just the food, here are some of my favorite birthday party resources!
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