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Easy Entertaining & Party Food Ideas

By Pillsbury Kitchens
Updated December 18, 2024
Stuffed Pretzel Dippers with Cheesy Mustard Dip
Let’s have a party! If you love the idea of entertaining but get a blank stare on your face when it comes down to planning and preparing the food, no worries! We’ve got quick party foods that will take the pressure off hosting. Our easy party food ideas are a cinch to make, leaving you with plenty of energy to enjoy your guests.

The easiest way to entertain is to have everyone bring a dish to share, so that you don’t have the burden of making all the party food recipes. Having an apps and desserts party means guests can nibble and catch up with everyone. If you want to provide all the food, pick just a few recipes, and make enough for the guests. For a 2-hour cocktail party (after the dinner hour), plan on 6 to 8 bites per person. For easy party food for a crowd, choose recipes with a variety of textures, flavors, and colors…and that can be made in advance…because we all know where people like to hang out during a gathering…in the kitchen! If you’re trying to cook or bake with a crowd there, it will be hard on you and your guests. Our easy entertaining recipes get you in and out of the kitchen in no time!

If possible, set up the drinks in another spot away from the food, so that people will naturally move around, which helps with the mingling! Set up drinks so guests can serve themselves, whether it’s in pitchers, punch bowls or bottles or cans.

What’s our all-time best entertaining tip? Start the party with an empty dishwasher! This allows you to stash dirty plates and glasses as they show up around the party site in a snap.