Figuring our your finger food ideas before a party or event can be as tricky as wrangling the event itself. Are you going for something sweet, something savoury? A punchy bruschetta on crispy bread? Or perhaps a snack sized cheese filled tart?
We’ve rounded up our best finger food ideas, including dolmades, blini, mini tarts, bruschetta, quiches and croquettes – everything you need for your next party food menu. Plus a few cocktail and mocktail recipes for drinks inspiration.
Easy spanakopita pies
A delicious finger food twist on the classic Greek spinach and fetta pie.
Chicken lettuce cups with green tahini dressing
A light canape or dinner party starter for your next gathering.
Air fryer sausage rolls
These caramelised onion, dill and caraway sausage rolls will be a hit at your next party!
Sticky chicken wings with sesame salt
A fun party starter.
Mushroom arancini
You won’t be able to get enough of these.
Korean-style crunchy chicken wings
An oven-baked twist on a popular Korean dish.
Oven baked pumpkin fritters
Golden morsels packed with vegetables and rice.
Air fryer arancini
Serve the golden brown, crispy, crumbed risotto balls with aïoli.
Salt and pepper calamari
Crispy and delicious.
Barbecued chicken satay skewers
More flavour than you can poke a stick at.
Espresso martini cocktail
Two of your favourite things in one elegant glass – the ideal after dinner pick-me-up.
Watermelon mocktail with strawberry & mint
Look forward to the good times with a colourful fizz.
Julie Goodwin’s devilled eggs
Add a touch of retro flavour to your feast.
Julie Goodwin’s French onion tarts
A stunning starter for entertaining season.
Air fryer chicken drumsticks
Coated in a spicy and sticky Portuguese-style marinade.
Lemon & ricotta-filled zucchini flowers
They’re coated in tempura batter and fried.
Tomato & goat’s cheese pissaladière
A feast not only for the eyes but the tastebuds, too.
Mini chicken & asparagus quiches
A filling entree or easy to make canape.
Mini berry & apple crumble tarts
Have dessert ready in 15 minutes.
Baked brie fondue on the barbecue
Baked brie as you’ve never made it before!
Zucchini chips with aioli
Cook these zucchini chips in the air fryer.
Sticky barbecue chicken nibbles
They’re coated in a sticky barbecue glaze.
Air fryer zucchini balls with lemon yoghurt
Get the air fryer working hard at your next party.
Pork skewers with satay sauce & coconut rice
Fire up the grill.
Mini crustless quiche with bacon & tomato
Bacon & eggs on the go!
Easy baked brie with quince and walnuts
3…2…1… Everybody say cheese!
Mango daiquiri
A cocktail perfect for summer entertaining.
How to make a classic mojito
You’ll come back to this one over and over again.
Air fryer avocado fries with lime dipping sauce
Fuss free party food.
Bulgogi-inspired fried broccolini
Make the snacks the highlight of your next party.
Fried harissa-stuffed green olives
They’ll be a hit at your next party! As will the lemon and fennel seed aioli.
Ham and cheese croquettes
Snacking doesn’t get much better than this.
Salt and pepper squid
This salt and pepper calamari recipe is perfect for a party.
Buffalo chicken wings
These make a great starter for any party.
Blinis with smoked salmon
These mini pancakes are smokin!
Bruschetta
This classic tomato-based bruschetta is an antipasto favourite but can be turned into a complete meal with the addition of a poached egg.
Chile con queso
This chile con queso dip is packed with flavour.
Five-ingredient tomato fritters
Five ingredients, forty minutes and a couple of pantry staples is all you need to create a tasty tomato snack.
Frickles with sriracha mayonnaise
Watch out! This is a seriously addictive snack.
Artichoke and asparagus fritters with olive relish
The perfect party starter.
Zucchini koftas with harissa yoghurt
Your new go-to finger food.
Beef, haloumi and spinach borek
This crispy Mediterranean-style pastry filled with lamb, haloumi and spinach is great for lunch or dinner served with salad.
Dolmades
You’ll love this classic Greek starter.
Roasted garlicky pumpkin and sage pies
Fight off colds (and vampires) with these tasty vegetarian pies.
Rosé sangria
This rosé sangria recipe is delightfully sweet and refreshing – perfect for enjoying long, balmy summer evenings.
Pork and noodle spring rolls
A tasty way to use up leftover pork.
Air fryer pickle chips with ranch dipping sauce
You’ll love these tasty air fried pickle chips.
Spiced paneer and eggplant pakora
Spicy, crispy and somehow succulent all at once, these paneer and eggplant pakora with coconut and mint chutney make an unusual and delicious platter of nibbles for a party. Looking for more Indian recipes? Roast the eggplant and make the coconut mint chutney in the morning. Refrigerate in separate airtight containers until needed. Note
Crispy fried pork dumplings
For something so small, dumplings sure pack in a lot of flavour!
Individual spanakopita
Both the adults and kids will love these crispy Greek pies.
Roasted mushroom bruschetta
Take your bruschetta up a notch.
Spinach and fetta pinwheels
Perfect for a quick and easy snack.
Air fryer chicken nuggets
Make a batch for your next party or a dinner the kids will love.
Arancini with tomato and balsamic sauce
The appetiser that everyone searches for at the party.
Chocolate and smoked almond ice-cream sandwiches
These indulgent treats are perfect for people who love to make things from scratch.
Mini falafel with cucumber yoghurt
Bite-sized and full of flavour.
Strawberry and elderflower mocktail
Refreshing and fruity, this gorgeous vanilla infused strawberry and elderflower mocktail is the perfect drink to serve at your next summer party.
Spelt blini with hot smoked salmon and crème fraîche
Entertaining is simple with these quick spelt blini topped with hot-smoked salmon and crème fraîche
Bread crisps with confit tomatoes
Looking for a new snack or canape? Slow-roasted tomatoes on home-baked bread crisps with ricotta and olive paste will be sure to impress your guests. Leftover tomatoes can be stored in the fridge and make a great pre-dinner snack.
Baked brie with pine nut dukkah
As it bakes, the creamy centre of this brie becomes infused with garlic. Topped with pomegranate molasses and pine nut dukkah, this molten cheese is a delight for the senses.
Caramelised leek and brie tartlets
Simple and satisfying bite-sized tarts featuring creamy brie and the sweetness of caramelised leek.
Bacon and cheese arancini
Is there a combination more satisfying than crispy bacon, melted cheese and creamy risotto? We think not! These delicious Italian arancini are sure to become your go-to snack for the kids.
Mulled “wine” mocktail
Indulge alcohol-free with the delicious taste of this mulled “wine” mocktail.
Passionfruit and pineapple spritzer
Cool down with these delicious passionfruit and pineapple spritzers – perfect for a warm Summer day!
Chicken and mango rice paper rolls
Enjoy these light, refreshing chicken and mango rice paper rolls on a warm summer’s afternoon. A Vietnamese classic, the rolls are wonderful served as finger food with a zesty chilli lime dipping sauce.
Poached eggs and smoked salmon on blini
More sophisticated than pancakes, these buckwheat blinis topped with poached eggs and smoked salmon make a gorgeous dish for brunch with friends.
Feta and spinach stuffed potato balls
These tasty Greek style feta and spinach stuffed potato balls make a delicious starter, finger food or light snack.
Marinated baby bocconcini with prosciutto
If you’re looking for a simple, tasty and appealing platter for a party then marinated baby bocconcini with prosciutto is your friend. Salty meat wrapped around mild, sweet cheese and spiked with basil. Perfect.
Little chicken and leek pies
Creamy chicken and crunchy celery make for a moreish filling in these bite-sized pies that are ideal for a big party. They disappear pretty fast, though, so make sure you set aside a few for later.
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.
