30 Easy Graduation Party Food Ideas
Celebrate the graduates in your life with this list of easy graduation party food ideas! These are all the easy main dishes, sides, appetizers, finger foods, drinks, and desserts you need for a successful graduation party. Plus, you’ll want to use this collection for all your summer events, like Memorial Day, 4th of July, pool parties, and more.
Includes recipes suitable for vegan, vegetarian, and gluten free diets. Weight Watchers points included in some recipes.
Hey school is out, and it time to toss the graduation caps in the air, put the books and pens away and have a paaaaaaaaarty.
Which means time for some easy graduation party food ideas. I got you these 30 perfect graduation party foods, some that you can make-ahead like caprese pasta salad, some no-cook dishes, and some which you can grill poolside, like these grilled shrimp skewers. Yeap, this list has got you covered!
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These graduation recipes ideas work whether you are going to someone else’s graduation or whether you are hosting your own grad party. There is also a range of foods for high schoolers and younger or older graduates. You’ve got some party snacks, party appetizers and dips, drinks, mains, and awesome desserts.
Some of my favorite items are crispy oven baked chicken tenders, easy Italian pinwheels, and these colourful rainbow popsicles. So, something for everyone.
P.S. You can also whip these recipes all summer long. Perfect for Memorial Day, BBQs, 4th of July, pool parties, and more!
What To Serve At A Graduation Party
- Easy Appetizers – make sure there is a whole range of easy party snacks, appetizers, dips, chips, and more for guests to munch on as they arrive. Pinwheels, sandwiches, or wraps can be both appetizers and entrees.
- Salads – pasta salads, slaw, fruit salads, and watermelon salads are great make-ahead cold sides or mains to put on your buffet table.
- BBQ Food – Grilling your food just adds to the party atmosphere. Think burgers, sausages, hot dogs, veggies, and even desserts.
- Dessert – Cold and frozen desserts like popsicles, ice cream cakes, pies, or just simple fruit are all perfect for a graduation party. So easy.
- Drinks – Some cold drinks to cool everyone down, such as plain water, iced teas, lemonades, soda, and ice coffee. Placing large pitchers in different spots makes it easy for everyone to serve themselves.
Handy Tip: Use Good Kitchen Tools!
For the best tools to help make your recipe even easier and more successful, check out my collection of the Best Kitchen Tools on Amazon.
Graduation Party Food Ideas
Parma Ham and Caprese Pasta Salad is the perfect salad for parties. Easy to make and refreshing, yet satisfying, this colourful and flavourful pasta salad is ideal for serving up at a graduation party but also picnics, and dining al fresco.
Italian pinwheels are savory appetizers featuring a delightful combination of Italian-inspired ingredients rolled up in a soft tortilla, and perfect for any gathering or snack time!
Easy Grilled Shrimp Skewers are ready in less than 15 minutes and are packed full of tangy, savory, sweet, and spicy flavor thanks to a unique marinade.
It's so easy to make this zesty Mexican Cheese Dip in the air fryer, you'll want to serve this at all your parties, potlucks, and gatherings!
These Buffalo chicken pinwheels are an easy-to-eat and easy-to-make way to indulge in spicy buffalo chicken flavor without the mess of traditional wings.
This warm Cream Cheese Dip is perfect for any party or gathering. Perfect to serve with your favourite tortilla, chips or crostini.
This 5 minute Ranch Yogurt Dip is easy to throw together with just 2 basic ingredients. Perfect for serving with veggies as a Graduation Party approved snack, and versatile as an appetizer for parties, potlucks, BBQs, and game day.
Fans of chicken parmesan are going to devour these delicious chicken parmesan sliders. Get ready for your party guests to swoon over this tasty meal. It’s a winner!
These easy Salmon Tacos are a great make-ahead family meal! Full of flavor, they only take 15 minutes to put together and are easily customizable to suit everyone’s tastes!
Are you looking for a really quick and simple seafood appetizer for any graduation gathering? Then look no further than these tasty Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Shrimp.
Guys, if you’re anything like me, you looove entertaining friends and family. And what better way to do that than with a beautiful Mezze Platter?!?!? With a huge tray you can provide a nice variety of different things and really offer a little something for everybody at your next get together.
Grape Jelly Meatballs in the crockpot are a flavor explosion in every bite and are not only a family favorite but also the ultimate crowd-pleaser. Make these for your next Graduation appetizers, game day, or potluck picnic.
This mango pineapple salsa is packed with sweet mangoes, fresh pineapple, and juicy tomatoes. The lime and oregano balance the sweetness of the fruit to make this a crave-worthy snack, colorful appetizer, and totally delectable Mexican treat
There’s just something about food you can eat with your hands that says “party” to me. And these Salmon and Black Bean Nachos are super festive and soooooo flavourful. Plus, they are packed with good-for-you nutrients and tons of protein.
Full of great Mexican flavor, make these Chicken Quesadillas when you need a simple yet tasty lunch, serve them up as an easy graduation meal, weeknight dinner, or anytime you want a quick between meals nosh.
This refried bean dip is affordable, convenient, and oh-so-easy to serve up.
Take all of your favorite Graduation Party Food dishes to the next level with this simple Homemade Guacamole that is easy to make with a few everyday ingredients.
This Buffalo Chicken Sliders recipe is one of the easiest you will ever make! Flavorful mini sandwiches come together fast and are perfect for graduation party food idea as well as general parties, game day, snacking, or a quick lunch or dinner.
Take all of your favorite party dishes to the next level with this simple and fresh Pico de Gallo Salsa recipe.
This is one of the best graduation food party ideas. These Deviled Strawberries require just a handful of ingredients and a few minutes to whip up.
This creamy cheese Instant Pot Spinach Artichoke Dip is an easy, minimal prep, crowd-pleasing savory dip. Just the thing to serve with chips, veggie sticks and bread during graduation parties, game day, potluck, dinner parties, and more.
This quick, easy, no cook and healthy Rainbow Vegetable Tortilla Wrap is packed full of colorful veggies athat guests will love.
Calling all pickle lovers! This Dill Pickle Pasta Salad is a classic cold pasta salad with a tangy twist. Quick and easy to make, this tangy pasta salad recipe is just the thing for serving at your high school graduation party as well as backyard barbecues, summer picnics and taking to potlucks.
Fans of the infamous Cracker Barrel fried chicken tenders are going to love this easy copycat recipe! These Sunday homestyle chicken tenders are golden brown, crispy, and crunchy on the outside and moist and juicy on the inside. Serve with all the dip.
You can have juicy oven fried chicken tenders in less time than it would take you to drive to the closest fast-food restaurant. A favorite for party guests.
This two ingredient rainbow popsicle recipe is the perfect frozen treat for all your parties. It is easy for guest to grab and eat as they move around as they party.
Banana Pudding Cake is an elegant twist on a traditional favorite that had graced every southern table. And this Banana Pudding Cake Recipe pairs layers of banana cake with a creamy pudding that is all topped off with a fluffy whipped frosting.
Pour graduates a nice cool glass of Agua De Jamaica and a few slices of your favorite fresh-squeezed fruit to help quench your thirst and keep your tastebuds happy.
Graduates will love this colorful, cool and refreshing Raspberry Lemonade made with juicy fresh raspberries and tart lemons.
The best thing is that you need only 2 everyday ingredients and 8 minutes to whip up these juicy on the inside, yet grilled tasting on the outside Air Fryer Hot Dogs. Plus they are sooooo quick and fun to make and really easy to customise.
Tips For Success
- Create a timeline: Whether it’s a dinner for 4 or brunch for 20, identifying when certain tasks need to be done helps ensure your meal comes together smoothly.
- Get a jump on the prep work: Defrosting, chopping, slicing, and assembling certain dishes in advance means you’ll have less work to do on the day of your event.
- Set your table in advance: Get your dishes, glassware, serving platters, and utensils set out the night before to make sure you have all you need and can check that task off your list.
Recommended Tools
- A good set of mixing bowls to both prep and serve food.
- This handy instant-read thermometer for easily checking food for doneness.
- Grilling tongs and skewers are summer cookout must-haves!
- For the best tools to help make your recipe even easier and more successful, check out my collection of the Best Kitchen Tools on Amazon.
More Party Food Ideas You May Like
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30 Easy Graduation Party Food Ideas
Ingredients
- Caprese Pasta Salad
- Italian Pinwheels
- Grilled Shrimp Skewers (Korean)
- Air Fryer Mexican Cheese Dip
- Buffalo Chicken Pinwheels
- Bacon Cream Cheese Dip
- 5 Minute Ranch Yogurt Dip
- Chicken Parmesan Sliders
- 15 Minutes Salmon Tacos
- Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Shrimp
- Mezze Platter
- Grape Jelly Meatballs Crockpot
- Best Dang Mango Pineapple Salsa
- Salmon Black Bean Nachos Recipe
- Chicken Quesadillas
- Refried Beans Dip
- Homemade Guacamole
- Buffalo Chicken Sliders
- Pico de Gallo – Chipotle Copycat
- Deviled Strawberries
- Instant Pot Spinach Artichoke Dip
- Rainbow Hummus Veggie Wrap
- Dill Pickle Pasta Salad
- Cracker Barrel Fried Chicken Recipe
- Crispy Oven Baked Chicken Tenders
- Easy Rainbow Popsicles
- Banana Pudding Cake
- Agua De Jamaica
- Easy Raspberry Lemonade + Instant Pot Raspberry Lemonade
- Easy Air Fryer Hot Dogs In 8 Minutes
Instructions
- Choose your graduation snack for your coming party.
- Take a trip to the grocery store for your ingredients.
- Put together your graduation recipe!