Planning finger food ideas for your next gathering doesn’t need to be stressful. Whether you’re hosting a poolside catch-up, grand final party or elegant cocktail event, the secret is keeping things simple and delicious.
Smarter finger food ideas
The golden rule? Don’t overcomplicate things. A few well-chosen finger food ideas will impress your guests far more than an overwhelming spread that leaves you frazzled. Think dolmades, blini, mini quiches, bruschetta, quiches and croquettes – classics that never disappoint.
Make it even easier by mixing homemade with store-bought. Quality supermarket dips, pâtés and ready-made appetisers are great time savers.
How much finger food to serve
For cocktail parties, plan for four to five pieces of finger food per person in the first hour, then four pieces each following hour. For longer events, allow 12-14 pieces per person overall.
Pro tip: have extra bread and cheese on standby for lingering guests. Set them out on a board with knives so people can help themselves. It’s easy entertaining at its finest.
Be prepared for impromptu entertaining
Keep your freezer and fridge stocked with entertaining essentials. Savoury pastries, mini pizzas and blini freeze beautifully. Just pop them in the microwave to half-thaw, then crisp up in a hot oven.
Stock unopened packs of smoked salmon, quality cheeses, salami and dips in your fridge, plus olives, nuts and gourmet crisps in the pantry. You’ll always be ready when friends drop by.
Pre-dinner nibbles
If dinner’s the main event, go for finger food ideas that are light and easy to handle. Nobody wants to juggle cutting and spreading food while holding a drink and plate mid-air. Simple, one-bite options work best.
What is a fancy finger food called?
Hors d’oeuvres, canapés and appetisers are all fancy versions of finger foods that have slightly different meanings. Hors d’oeuvres (pronounced “or derv”) is a French term for small savoury foods served before a meal – typically with cocktails and drinks – and is often used interchangeably with ‘appetiser’. But canapés are technically a type of appetiser with a bread or biscuit base and simple spread or cheese topping.
In fact, the variety of finger foods means sometimes other ‘fancy’ terms could apply, such as mezze, antipasto, charcuterie or tapas. But it does depend on what nibbles you’re serving and making. So if you want a fancy term that covers most dishes, hors d’oeuvres or appetisers are both usually safe bets.
Finger food ideas for your next party
Ready to get cooking? Browse our favourite finger food ideas and find your perfect party menu today.
Easy spanakopita pies
Chicken lettuce cups with green tahini dressing
Air fryer salt & pepper squid
Air fryer sausage rolls
Sticky chicken wings with sesame salt
Beetroot chips with citrus & rosemary salt
Little chicken and leek pies
Mushroom arancini
Air fryer popcorn-coated chicken with honey BBQ sauce
Korean-style crunchy chicken wings
Oven baked pumpkin fritters
Air fryer arancini
Air fryer sweet potato fries
Salt and pepper calamari
Barbecued chicken satay skewers
Espresso martini cocktail
Watermelon mocktail with strawberry & mint
Julie Goodwin’s devilled eggs
Julie Goodwin’s French onion tarts
Air fryer chicken drumsticks
Lemon & ricotta-filled zucchini flowers
Tomato & goat’s cheese pissaladière
Mini chicken & asparagus quiches
Mini berry & apple crumble tarts
Baked brie fondue on the barbecue
Zucchini chips with aioli
Sticky barbecue chicken nibbles
Air fryer zucchini balls with lemon yoghurt
Pork skewers with satay sauce & coconut rice
Mini crustless quiche with bacon & tomato
Easy baked brie with quince and walnuts
Mango daiquiri
How to make a classic mojito
Air fryer avocado fries with lime dipping sauce
Bulgogi-inspired fried broccolini
Fried harissa-stuffed green olives
Ham and cheese croquettes
Salt and pepper squid
Buffalo chicken wings
Blinis with smoked salmon
Bruschetta
Chile con queso
Five-ingredient tomato fritters
Frickles with sriracha mayonnaise
Artichoke and asparagus fritters with olive relish
Zucchini koftas with harissa yoghurt
Beef, haloumi and spinach borek
Dolmades
Roasted garlicky pumpkin and sage pies
Rosé sangria
Pork and noodle spring rolls
Air fryer pickle chips with ranch dipping sauce
Spiced paneer and eggplant pakora
Crispy fried pork dumplings
Individual spanakopita
Roasted mushroom bruschetta
Spinach and fetta pinwheels
Air fryer chicken nuggets
Arancini with tomato and balsamic sauce
Chocolate and smoked almond ice-cream sandwiches
Mini falafel with cucumber yoghurt
Strawberry and elderflower mocktail
Spelt blini with hot smoked salmon and crème fraîche
Bread crisps with confit tomatoes
Baked brie with pine nut dukkah
Caramelised leek and brie tartlets
Bacon and cheese arancini
Mulled “wine” mocktail
Passionfruit and pineapple spritzer
Chicken and mango rice paper rolls
Poached eggs and smoked salmon on blini
Feta and spinach stuffed potato balls
Marinated baby bocconcini with prosciutto
