Delicious and Easy Summer Birthday Party Food Ideas For A Crowd

Hey girl, today let’s chat about delicious summer birthday party food ideas that will feed a crowd.

So, you have decided to have a summer birthday party – that’s great!  Now I bet you are looking for amazing summer birthday party food ideas that your guests are sure to love.  Girl, I got you!

As a mom of 4 and someone who comes from a large immediate family (35 and counting just on my side alone), I have the top summer birthday party food ideas that are crowd-pleasers.  Seriously, there will be little to no food left when your party is over.

And girl, you can use these food ideas for more than birthday parties.  It can be made as graduation party food, Halloween party food, Easter food ideas, and at Christmas (you get the idea).  These food ideas are perfect for any kind of gathering.

Let’s jump into the best summer birthday party food ideas that will work for birthday parties for any age.

Photo Booth

But if you are having a themed birthday party then make your photo booth to match that.

This is something your guests will have the best time with and you will be so glad you did it.

Slow Cooker

Roaster Oven

If you are feeding a crowd, consider putting your food in a roaster oven instead.  These babies are fantastic for cooking and keeping food warm.

I mostly use mine for any meat we may have.

Platters

Girl, these large platters are perfect for holding your food at your party.

I love that they are rectangular, which is so helpful when you place multiple trays on your food table side by side.  They also have a low lip to help keep food from sliding off the edge.

And since they are plastic, they are less likely to break if you happen to drop them because if you are like me that happens.

They are white which will keep them looking classic for years to come.

These trays also stack together well which is great for storage.

Plates

Do you use paper plates for parties?  I do for every single party.  Not the most eco-friendly, I know but it sure does make cleanup easy.

I reach for Dixie plates every time because I know they work amazingly.

Cups

If you plan to have drinks that don’t already come in a bottle or pouch then you need to have some cups on hand.

I like to have Hefty cups on hand.

Utensils

Next up, utensils – Forks, Spoons, and Knives.

I usually use this kind of disposable utensils because they are durable.

Napkins

Bounty napkins are cheap but oh so good.  You won’t be disappointed with these and you know your guests need them.

Garbage Bags

Your guests will need a place to dispose of all their trash so don’t forget to have one or a few garbage’s set up for them.  I usually have one set up in our house and one outside.

And for sure, I use Hefty garbage bags.  I have yet to have one break on my and they are scented so nicely too.

Main Food Ideas

• Burgers
• Hotdogs and Brats
• Pigs in a Blanket
• Walking Taco or Regular Tacos – Beef, Pork or Chicken, Shredded Cheese, Lettuce, Tomatoes, Onions, Olives, Guacamole, Salsa, Taco Sauce, White Cheese Sauce, and Sour Cream
• Pulled Pork Sandwiches
• Shredded Beef Sandwiches
• Shredded Chicken Sandwiches
• Sandwiches – Include multiple kinds of lunch meat and cheese
• Sliders
• Kabobs
• Pizza
• Pizza Poppers

Appetizers

• Meat and Cheese Tray
• Taco Dip Platter
• Pickle Roll-Ups
• Pinwheel Roll-Ups
• Snack Mix
• Popcorn
• Pretzels
• Chips – I like to get the little baggie chips for parties so not everyone is digging their hands in the same bowl trying to get chips.  Stop the spread of germs a little bit.
• Crackers and Dips (there are so many delicious ones to choose from but one of my favorites is Pickle Roll Up Dip)
• Beef Sticks

Sides

• Fruit
• Vegetables
• Salads - Cold Pasta Salad and Potato Salad are my favorite but there are so many.  You can even go with a traditional lettuce salad.
• Baked Beans
• Broccoli Salad
• French Fries
• Rice – If you are making tacos then you should set out Spanish rice and Lime rice.  They are both fantastic with tacos.

Condiments

• Ketchup
• Mustard
• Pickles
• Relish
• Ranch Dressing
• BBQ Sauce
• Hot Sauce
• Mayo

Drinks

• Water
• Juice Boxes/Pouches
• Gatorade
• Lemonade
• Iced Tea
• Punch
• Pop
• Alcoholic Beverages – We enjoy setting up a Bloody Mary Bar if there are going to be a lot of adults at our party.  This could include beef sticks, cheese, olives, pickles, bacon, celery, shrimp, chicken bites, and more.  My favorites are the beef sticks, cheese, green olives, and pickles.

Desserts

• Cookies
• Bars (One of my favorites is 7 Layer Bars – easy to double or triple to feed a crowd)
• Ice Cream – Blow everyone’s mind and make your own ice cream with this ice cream maker.  It is so easy and fast.  You can also make it ahead of time and store it in a freezer-safe container.
• Get a bunch of toppings for your ice cream such as sprinkles, fruit (my favorite is Maraschino Cherries), sauces (such as chocolate sauce, caramel sauce, or hot fudge), nuts, cookies, brownies, whipped cream, and candy.
• Popsicles
• Cake
• Cup Cakes
• S’mores
• M&M Mix – This is so easy.  Get a big bag of regular, peanut, and peanut butter M&M's, put them in a dish, and mix them up.  Boom baby.