Planning a party and want to offer your guests tasty treats that are also good for them? It's easier than you think to create a menu that satisfies cravings while keeping health in mind. This article provides a variety of delicious and healthy party food recipes perfect for adult gatherings, ranging from classic dips and skewers to creative bites and lighter versions of traditional favorites.
Dips and Spreads
Best-Ever Guacamole
When in doubt, serve guacamole. This versatile dip is always a hit, whether served with tortilla chips, as a topping for tacos, or spread on a burger. Avocados are rich in "good" fats, making this a healthy and delicious option.
Hummus
Hummus is a simple and delicious dip that's easy to make. Blend chickpeas, tahini, and a few other simple ingredients in a food processor until creamy. Serve with pita bread and seasonal crudités for easy snacking.
Greek Feta Dip
This dip starts with a whipped feta, yogurt, and cream cheese base, topped with cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, fresh herbs, and olive oil. It’s tangy, creamy, and irresistible.
Beet Hummus
This version of hummus includes beets, which are loaded with folate and good for your heart.
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Avocado Dip
Made with heart-healthy avocado and protein-packed yogurt, this dip gets a ton of flavor from basil, green onions, lemon, and garlic. Serve it up with fresh cut veggies, like radishes, cucumbers, and carrots.
Spinach Artichoke Dip (Lightened Up)
Enjoy all the warm, creamy goodness of party-favorite spinach artichoke dip, but with far fewer calories and fat. Reduced fat cream cheese and sour cream give this dip its signature creamy texture with less fat. Crab boil spice, lemon and fresh herbs add more low-cal flavor.
Eggplant and Cannellini Bean Dip
Roasting eggplant brings out a smoky flavor and removes its toughness. Pairing it with soft cannellini beans creates a creamy dip that serves as the perfect topper for sliced cucumber.
Green Goddess Dip
Ditch mayonnaise-laden ranch dressing and serve crudités with this dip instead. Start with a low-fat buttermilk base, then blend in creamy avocado and fresh scallions, tarragon and parsley.
Pumpkin Hummus
Throw a Halloween party and use a carved out pumpkin to make this creamy hummus. At other times of the year use butternut squash or a blue-skinned pumpkin.
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Copycat TJ’s Peach Salsa
A copycat recipe that's just as good as the real thing.
Skewers and Bites
Melon Prosciutto Skewers
This iconic summer appetizer combines sweet and salty flavors with creamy mozzarella, basil, and rich balsamic glaze. It's the ultimate combination of sweet and salty flavors.
Watermelon Feta Skewers
Watermelon + feta is a classic combination, especially during summertime. Add crunchy cucumber and balsamic glaze for an easy, impressive appetizer.
Antipasto Bites
Inspired by a traditional antipasto platter but so much more fun to eat, these skewers feature layers of fresh cheese tortellini, salami, artichoke hearts, marinated mozzarella cheese, and roasted red peppers.
Caprese Bites
Assemble these adorable skewers in lieu of a traditional Caprese salad. They save you the hassle of having to cut perfectly even slices of heirloom tomatoes and fresh mozzarella, but more importantly, they're so fun to eat.
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Sesame Chicken & Prawn Skewers
Serve these chicken and prawn canapés with drinks when you're entertaining. They're not only tasty but healthy and low-fat too. A marinade of ginger, fish sauce, lime and lemongrass infuses the chicken with flavor - without all the fat. The peanut sauce gets madeover with some light coconut milk and reduced-fat peanut butter.
Italian Sausage Skewers
Thread Italian sausage, artichoke hearts, roasted red peppers and fresh basil on skewers for a hearty, healthy appetizer.
Kid-Friendly Kebabs
These are easy to assemble and fun to eat.
Savory Fritters and Bites
Loaded Cheesy Corn Bites
Packed with cheese, bacon, and three types of corn, these loaded cheesy corn bites will be the first app gone at your summer cookout.
Esquites Fritters
Inspired by esquites, these bite-sized corn fritters are paired with a lime and garlic-spiked sour cream.
Parmesan Zucchini Fritters
Salt the zucchini to draw out some of the moisture before you form the batter, which will prevent them from becoming soggy.
Pinwheel Sandwiches
Pinwheel sandwiches are easy to assemble, look great on a platter, and are ideal for any summer party. Layer flour tortillas with ranch-flavored mayonnaise, sliced cheese, deli meats, and lettuce, then roll them up tightly and slice.
Jalapeño Popper Dip
This creamy, smoky jalapeño popper dip takes all the best parts of the classic bar snack and transforms them into a bubbling party dip topped with crispy bacon.
Stuffed Cocktail Eggs
Double up on party nibbles using eggs that are stuffed with either salmon and dill, or a chorizo crumb.
Curried Fishcake Bites
These curried fishcake bites are a healthy, low-fat, low-calorie yet flavourful snack to serve at a celebration
Aubergine & Chickpea Bites
Combine chickpeas and aubergine with garlic and cumin for these tasty, healthy vegan canapés served with harissa yogurt.
Vegetarian Scotch Eggs
Combine two winning dishes in this picnic-friendly vegetarian recipe of eggs coated in spiced, herbed chickpeas
Air Fryer Falafel
These golden chickpea bites are packed with protein, but they're also air fried so you don't have to worry about heating up a pot of oil. Just serve them up with a creamy yogurt-based dip and you'll be coming back for more.
Turkey Meatballs
This lightened-up alternative to your typical meatballs is "just about the most versatile thing you could prepare," Ree says. There are all different kinds of dipping sauces to serve them with, including a soy-ginger sauce or lemon-herb yogurt sauce.
Zucchini Pizza Bites
Swap out the pizza dough for slices of nutritious zucchini in this fun bite-sized snack. They're still topped with sauce, cheese, and mini pepperoni pieces, so your kids will love them, too.
Mini Chicken Fajitas
These Mexican inspired party nibbles are filled with spicy chipotle chicken and peppers - make ahead for fuss-free entertaining.
Pizzettes and Flatbreads
Grilled Tomato Feta Pizzettes
The combination of grilled pizza dough, charred sweet tomatoes, and briny salty feta is easy to love.
Mexican Street Corn Flatbread
Here, we’re taking the creamy tangy sauce that usually goes on Elote (Mexican street corn) and spreading it over pre-made pizza dough. Then, we top it with fresh corn kernels, more chile peppers, and lots of cheese.
Salads and Vegetable Dishes
Strawberry Balsamic Bruschetta
A sweet and savory appetizer that's perfect for summer parties.
Baked Feta & Blueberries
A unique and flavorful appetizer that combines the creaminess of feta with the sweetness of blueberries.
Waldorf Salad
This refreshing salad made with apples, grapes, and celery is an old-school favorite that has stood the test of time. Serve it in crisp lettuce cups to give it a new elegant, party-ready spin.
Cabbage Salad
This salad is crunchy, refreshing, and packed with healthy mix-ins like fresh apple slices, chopped nuts, and herbs. The pretty purple and green colors are just another reason to love it.
Burrata Salad
Creamy burrata cheese is just one part of this vibrant salad. There's also colorful tomatoes, healthy arugula, shallots, and herbs.
Steak Lettuce Cups
Rustle up these easy steak canapés to serve at a party. With two sauces to accompany them, they're delicious and healthy too
Cheat's duck, hoisin and cucumber lettuce cups
A quick and easy, low-fat alternative to duck pancakes. Spiralized cucumber, sesame seeds and hoisin sauce make these a simple and delicious party snack
Succotash Dip
Succotash gets a makeover in this light and airy dip made of pureed lima beans and roasted red peppers topped with fresh corn and tomatoes.
Grilled Aubergine Stacks
Planning a Christmas party? You needn’t compromise on healthy eating with these tasty aubergine canapés which you can make with two different toppings
Avocado canapés
Serve healthy avocado verrines when you're entertaining. They come in two tasty flavour combinations for easy party prep - crab or Mexican kidney bean
Beetroot & rye tartines
If you're keen to rustle up lighter party nibbles for a celebration, these low-calorie beetroot tartines with pastrami or mackerel are ideal
Nachos
Elote (Mexican Street Corn) Nachos
Turning it into skillet nachos, which can be enjoyed by a crowd all summer long.
Smoky veggie nachos
Serve a sharing platter of vegetarian nachos at your next informal drinks party. Unlike most party food, these nachos are healthy, boasting plenty of folate, fibre and vitamin c
Soups
Curried parsnip soup shots
Treat dinner guests to healthy, spiced soup shots - they make great canapés. The crispy kale version is vegan while meat eaters can opt for a prosciutto topping
Seafood
Corn cups with prawns, mango & chillies
Buy ready-shaped corn tortillas to save time with these easy, healthy seafood canapés - perfect for a party or buffet spread
Ellie's lightened-up popcorn shrimp
Have a great crispy coating without the calories, thanks to flour spiced with ancho chili powder, egg whites and yellow cornmeal.
International Flavors
Spring Rolls
These spring rolls have a rainbow of color thanks to their tender shrimp and crisp veggie filling. The fresh flavor (and peanut dipping sauce) will get anyone excited about eating their vegetables!
Slow cooker barbacoa beef
You can leave this barbacoa beef in the slow cooker during the day if you're entertaining. Serve in lettuce cups, tacos, or over rice with vegetables