Graduation season is here. Whether you are celebrating a college grad, a high school grad, or just a kindergarten grad, there is a good chance that you may be hosting people at your house to honor the new graduate. When hosting a crowd for such a festive occasion, you want to choose recipe ideas that will make it easy for you to enjoy the day.
Here are 10 of the best graduation party recipe ideas to consider for the big event.
Read More »Cheeseburger Sliders
While the standard hamburgers off the grill are always a good party idea, you may want to try mixing it up with these cheeseburger sliders. The best part about this recipe is that you do not have to spend precious party prep time forming individual patties. You can also assemble these sliders ahead of time so that you can simply pop them in the oven when you are ready. The ground beef is mixed with ketchup, mayonnaise, french onion soup, and onions to create a tasty little slider. Although you can use any type of bun, Hawaiian rolls work especially well.
Pasta Bar
Everyone loves a pasta bar, making it a perfect choice for your graduation party. Start with a variety of pasta as the base of your buffet. Be sure to include both white and whole wheat varieties. It is also a good idea to make a gluten-free option available. Good sauce ideas include a meat sauce, a vegetarian marinara sauce, and a white alfredo option. This homemade marinara recipe can be made in advance. You will also want plenty of mozzarella and parmesan cheese toppings on hand to finish it off. Serve this pasta bar along with a green salad option and some garlic bread or breadsticks for a complete meal for your party.
Crockpot Macaroni and Cheese
Nothing could be easier than this crockpot macaroni and cheese. A variety of cheeses and two types of milk blend together with the elbow macaroni to make a decadent dish that cooks up in the crockpot. This macaroni makes a great side dish for any party. Or you can set up various toppings to add to the mac and cheese to make it your starring entree. Italian sausage, pulled pork, bacon, broccoli, breadcrumbs, mushrooms, ham, and fresh herbs all make good topping ideas to make this dish heartier for your guests.
Chocolate Fountain
Elevate your party with a chocolate fondue fountain. While it looks difficult, the chocolate recipe could not be easier to pull together. Once you have the chocolate running in the fountain, you will need to set out a bevy of dippers. Some of the best choices to be conduits for the chocolate include strawberries, banana slices, fresh pineapple, pound cake, mini cream puffs, and marshmallows. Be sure to have plenty of skewers on hand.
Yogurt Parfait Bar
If you are hosting a brunch event, consider setting out a yogurt parfait bar. There is no limit to the delicious creations that your guests can make when you provide a variety of toppings and mix-ins. Be sure to start with multiple yogurt options, including plain and flavored varieties. You will then need a few different types of granola and fresh fruit. Other good ideas include dried fruit, coconut, chocolate shavings, honey, and nuts. Your guests will love this healthy and light start to their day.
Miniature Meatloaf Muffins
Miniature meatloaf muffins are always a hit at parties. You can make them with ground beef or turkey or a mixture of the two. Because they are individually portioned, they are easier to serve to a group than traditional meatloaf. The zesty sauce includes brown sugar, ketchup, dijon mustard, and a dash of nutmeg. You can also set out rolls for your guests to make meatloaf sliders. This entree pairs beautifully with the crockpot macaroni and cheese recipe above.
Ham and Cheese Sliders
The ultimate party favorite are these ham and cheese sliders. The Hawaiian bread is the key to this mouth-watering recipe. Ham is combined with swiss cheese and nestled into the slider rolls and then topped with a buttery dijon mustard and poppy seed topping to create an indulgent little sandwich. You can prepare a few trays of these beauties if you need to serve a crowd at your graduation event. These sliders taste the best when they are hot out of the oven.
Pulled Pork
This pulled pork recipe makes a wonderful graduation party entree. Because it cooks up in the crockpot, it is a good choice for an open house party when guests will be coming and going. The pork will stay delicious and juicy in the slow cooker for the duration of the event. A variety of spices blend together to make a rub that will please everyone. Serve this pork with rolls to serve as a sandwich or on its own with the appropriate sides. Do not forget to include a big bowl of crunchy coleslaw to complement the smoky pork.
Ice Cream Sundae Bar
With the weather finally starting to warm up for good, a make your own ice cream sundae bar is a good choice for this time of the year. Kids will especially love the opportunity to design their own ice cream sundae with all of their favorite toppings. Keeping the ice cream cartons on ice will help to keep it cold throughout the party. Topping ideas to consider include hot fudge, caramel, butterscotch sauce, mini marshmallows, sprinkles, chocolate shavings, and maraschino cherries. You can elevate the sundae by offering waffle cone bowls.
Pasta Salad
It is easy to double or triple this simple pasta salad recipe to meet the needs of your graduation party. All you need is pasta, Italian salad dressing, salad seasoning mix, and a few vegetables. This recipe is also customizable, allowing you to beef it up with additional mix-ins should you choose to do so. For example, try adding some chopped salami and mozzarella to make it more of an antipasti salad. The possibilities are endless with this recipe as your base.
The food will steal the show at your graduation party with any of these 12 recipes. What a perfect way to celebrate the accomplishments of your new grad!
