50 Graduation Party Food Ideas to Celebrate Their Big Accomplishment
Throw an A+ party with these easy ideas.
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Graduating is no easy feat—it takes tons of tenacity and hard work. And at the end of the day (or perhaps better stated, at the end of the school year) all those tests, studying, and late nights your student endured are worthy of a celebration! Thankfully, planning a graduation party is a bit easier than getting a diploma. Ree Drummond has had plenty of practice, hosting many bashes for her kids' high school and college graduations.
When Paige graduated from the University of Arkansas, the Drummonds marked the occasion with a special steak dinner. "It was a beautiful night in Northwest Arkansas!" Ree recalled. If a formal meal isn't your style, this list of graduation party food ideas has you covered with bright summer dips, backyard barbecue favorites, and crowd-pleasing bites. With these easy ideas, you can throw a celebration that honors your grad's big achievement effortlessly!
The age group doesn't matter—a graduation party is all about celebrating a new phase in life. You can do that with a slew of grilling recipes or a comforting casserole that feeds a crowd. Looking for graduation recipes that will earn you top honors? Your kids will love the classic party food ideas like pepperoni pizza rolls, pigs in a blanket, cheeseburger sliders, and buffalo chicken dip. There's also plenty of graduation dessert ideas like an over-the-top ice cream cake and cute brownie bites that look like mini graduation caps. Cheers to new beginnings!
Slow Cooker Spinach Artichoke Dip
The dip is always a crowdpleaser! But instead of worrying about constantly having to heat up a batch, make it in a slow cooker. It will keep it warm for hours so you can entertain with ease.
Get Ree's Slow Cooker Spinach Artichoke Dip recipe.
Strawberry Limeade Punch
A refreshing punch is a great idea when lots of guests come over, because they can just serve themselves. This fruity concoction has a twist of ginger ale (and an option to add rum if everyone is old enough).
Get the Strawberry Limeade Punch recipe.
Sheet Pan Nachos
The great thing about these nachos is that they are made in a big batch and can be made anyway you like them. Even better? You make and serve them right on a sheet pan.
Get Ree's Sheet Pan Nachos recipe.
Strawberry and Cream Sheet Cake
Sheet cakes are the best way to make sure everyone celebrating the graduate gets a slice. And since it's peak strawberry season when it's peak graduation season, this version is the way to go!
Get Ree's Strawberry and Cream Sheet Cake recipe.
Air Fryer Ravioli
Fried finger foods are always a good idea. This one's a little healthier than usual, but the ravioli still gets golden and crunchy. Serve them with a side of marinara sauce for dipping!
Get Ree's Air Fryer Ravioli recipe.
Cake Mix Cookies
With so much else to plan and prep, make dessert easy on yourself by using cake mix to whip up cookies in a flash. Match the sprinkles to their school colors to make them extra special!
Get the Cake Mix Cookies recipe.
Antipasto Skewers
When you're mingling and walking around a party, it's so much easier to eat off a skewer. This handheld salad features salami, cheese, and pickle veggies just like the Italian platter.
Get the Antipasto Skewers recipe.
Lemon-White Chocolate Truffles
These homemade lemon truffles are perfect for a sunny celebration. The no-bake treat is so simple to make with a base of Golden Oreos, cream cheese, and lemon extract.
Get Ree's Lemon-White Chocolate Truffles recipe.
Shrimp Pasta Salad
This bright, seafood pasta salad will make the perfect addition to your guests' plates. It's chock full of creamy dressing, crunchy veggies, buttery shrimp, and elbow pasta.
Get the Shrimp Pasta Salad recipe.
Zucchini Pizza Bites
Grad season and zucchini season overlap on the calendar, so there's no excuse not to make this inventive snack. Turn tender zucchini slices into flavorful mini pizzas, topped with tomato sauce, cheese, and pepperoni.
Get the Zucchini Pizza Bites recipe.
Grilled Ribs
Making homemade ribs may require more effort than expected, but the end result is well worth it. Delivering a batch of sticky-sweet, smoky ribs will get you an A+ for effort.
Get the Grilled Ribs recipe.
Avocado Salsa
Can't decide between pico and guac? Thanks to this recipe that combines both dips, you don't have to. Pair it with tortilla chips and watch it disappear in a flash.
Get the Avocado Salsa recipe.
Grill-Fried Chicken
This recipe is the key to golden fried chicken without the hot pot of oil. It delivers the same irresistible crunch straight from the grill. Plus, you’ll get a hint of smokiness you didn’t know you were missing.
Get the Grill-Fried Chicken recipe.
Greek Pasta Salad
This pasta salad is packed with classic Greek ingredients, including fresh veggies, olives, herbs, and feta cheese—but it's completely customizable! Pick your favorite pasta shape or toss in hearty proteins like diced chicken for an extra boost.
Get the Greek Pasta Salad recipe.
No-Bake Orange-Vanilla Cheesecake Bars
Orange and vanilla come together for the perfect creamsicle-inspired treat. Best of all, the whole dessert (even the graham cracker crust) is completely no-bake.
Grilled Shrimp Skewers
Quick-cooking shrimp are perfect for a summer party. You can serve them up on skewers for guests to grab or place the shrimp over pasta or even salad.
Get the Grilled Shrimp Skewers recipe.
Deviled Eggs
For Ree Drummond, it wouldn't be a party without deviled eggs! The bite-sized snack is easy to make and deliciously creamy with a hint of paprika spice.
Get the Deviled Eggs recipe.
Mini Pineapple Upside-Down Cakes
These adorable mini treats were made for sharing with friends. The cakes are made in a muffin tin with each one getting its own sweet pineapple slice.
Get Ree's Mini Pineapple Upside-Down Cakes recipe.
Juicy Lucy
A special occasion like a graduation deserves an equally special burger like this one that's stuffed with cheese! One bite will have everyone ooh-ing and ahh-ing.
Get the Juicy Lucy recipe.
Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken
This saucy, flavorful chicken recipe is perfect for making BBQ chicken sliders! Pile it onto slider buns with pickles for an easy party food.
Get the Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken recipe.
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