20+ Next-Level Buffet-Style Party Recipes

February 19, 2016
It's no secret that the trick to any successful party lies in the buffet. And you know what that means: easy-to-serve appetizers, big-batch cocktails, and the cutest serving ideas you could ever imagine. Check out our ideas for pulling off your best buffet-style spread.
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Heat Up Classic Hot Wings

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There's no denying the party power of chicken wings. They come in loads of different flavors, are delightfully messy, and basically invented the term "finger food." Make a spread of multiple recipes up to a week before your event, and store them in the fridge until go time.

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Yogurt Bar

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A big batch of homemade yogurt serves as a refreshing take on buffet-style appetizers (and it's perfect for hosting brunches, too!). Simply set out the yogurt with a variety of mix-ins to choose from. Our suggestions: granola, toasted coconut, pistachios, maple syrup, honey, and fresh and dried fruits.

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Italian Dip Platter

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Get your party under way with a warm and cozy pairing of irresistible dips. The hot, baked caprese-inspired antipasti is the perfect ooey-gooey counterpart to our baba ghanoush-esque eggplant dip. Set out with slices of French bread or focaccia.

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Cocktail Platter

Serve drinks to your crowd with a couple bottles of champagne and a handful of drink formulas -- guests will love mixing their own! We like making mimosas with a variety of juices, including Key lime-mango, mint limeade, and grapefruit juice.

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Stuffed Baked Mushrooms

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What's a buffet table without stuffed mushrooms? Try our varieties of the classic party appetizer at your next shindig: We offer 10 options for combinations like roast beef with blue cheese, turkey with cranberry relish, and hummus with olives.

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Calypso Shrimp Skewers

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It's not the adorable displays that make these shrimp skewers a standout party recipe (although we swoon over the individual servings). It's the peanut-coconut breading and prosciutto wrapped around each shrimp that truly makes them shine. Serve with our lime-infused creme fraiche dipping sauce.

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Little Hazelnut-Chocolate Cookie Sandwiches

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A cake stand is the perfect display to showcase your scrumptious-looking sweets. Our hazelnut-chocolate cookie sandwiches bring you the classic flavor duo in each bite, plus they're an eye-catching way to amp up any dessert buffet.

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Cheese Plate

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Collect a few varieties of your favorite artisanal cheeses and build a display of nibbles for your guests to enjoy. Don't forget to set out some fruit and our Parmesan-Thyme Crisps on your buffet table to serve alongside the cheese.

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The Top Tip for a Great Cheese Tray

Stumped on which cheese to select for your tray? Watch our 30-second video to learn how to choose three great options for your presentation.

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Fresh Veggie and Antipasto Platter

Fill a charcuterie plate with store-bought niblets for an I-can't-believe-it's-so-easy buffet recipe. If you need inspiration for what to buy, we love offering a variety of veggies, meats, and cheeses with a homemade chutney.

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Cream Cheese Marble Brownies

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Take rich, fudgy brownies to the next level with a sinful swirl of cream cheese and a sprinkling of pecans. Bonus: You can serve the treats right from the pan! Just cut before guests arrive and provide a serving utensil.

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Zesty Popcorn Mix

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Forget store-bought party mixes. Our savory snack is spiced with a simple blend of chili powder, cumin, and cayenne powder. A variety of chips, pretzels, nuts, and sweet dried apricots deliciously take on the spicy flavors.

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Watermelon-Mint Cooler

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Oversize drink holders let guests fill their glasses on their own, easing your job as party host. Our watermelon cooler is a vibrant party sipper -- just pour into a jug, provide glasses, and keep them chilled in a large ice-filled cooler.

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Seafood Bruschetta

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We love serving bruschetta at our buffet table, and this seafood version is a scrumptious way to mix up the classic appetizer. Freshly cooked crab, succulent shrimp, and tomatoes combine to create the topping to our salty crostini.

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Zesty Fajita Bites

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Liven up your version of adorable individual wraps with our recipe for feisty fajita bites: Lime-zested chicken, colorful peppers, and spicy salsa add a kick to the buffet-style recipe.

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Corn Cups

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Turn individual-size cups of fresh sweet corn into a south-of-the-border affair with Mexican crema, queso fresco, and chile pepper. Inspired by traditional Mexican esquites (toasted corn), this buffet offering can easily be doubled for a larger group.

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Buffet Party Food Ideas

Pull together an elegant party buffet table with our easy serving ideas. Hint: You don't have to make everything from scratch!

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Party Potatoes with Creamy Aioli

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One of the best ways to simplify serving a crowd is to whip out your slow cooker. Let new potatoes simmer with onion, garlic, and paprika until it's time to serve -- our cool dill aioli is the perfect pairing for the potato side dish.

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Roasted Tomato Tart

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Try our tomato-topped tarts the next time you need a light and refreshing appetizer. Not only are they easy to slice up to serve a crowd, but the beautiful party bites can be made in advance, too.

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Gooey Butter Bars

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Our ooey-gooey, melt-in-your-mouth butter bars are guaranteed to be a buffet table win. Just set out with the ginger-honey berry topping on the side, and watch them disappear.

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Warm Brie with Fig and Pistachio Tapenade

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Although our fig-and-pistachio-topped baked Brie is an appetizer masterpiece in itself, it's truly the dippers that make this buffet-style party recipe a fan favorite. Offering a selection of various crackers, breads, and fruits lets each of your guests customize the cheese based on their preferences.

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Bacon and Cheese Deviled Eggs

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Deviled eggs is a buffet-style recipe that pulls double duty for both morning and evening menus. Make the bacon-topped noshes in no time by starting with hard-cooked eggs from the store.

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Baked Potatoes

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A serve-yourself baked potato bar is an easy and affordable way to add a creative spin to a classic buffet. Offer baked russet or Idaho potatoes and an array of toppings to choose from. Melted cheese, ham, sour cream, bacon, veggies, and avocados are all great options.

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