40 Graduation Party Food Ideas That'll Get an A++

We know it may sound strange, but rubbing the toasted bread with garlic will help impart tons of flavor into your tiny toasts. Top them with simply marinated tomatoes for the ultimate summer snack. The brighter and juicier your tomatoes, the better your bruschetta will be. If you've got smoked mozzarella or burrata around, you can absolutely add that to the sliced baguette while they finish toasting.

Get the Classic Bruschetta recipe.

Letting the onions caramelize properly is key to the flavor of this dip. Going low and slow allows them to develop color while breaking down and becoming sweet and jammy. Stir them into this easy dip with some chives and you have a simple appetizer that's crazy addicting. It will stay good in the fridge for a few days, so it's great to make ahead of time.

Get the Sour Cream & Onion Dip recipe.

These easy bites are perfect for literally any occasion. We love their little pretzel handles, but feel free to leave them out! If preparing them the night before, refrigerate until 1 hour before serving, then remove from fridge and let come to room temperature.

Get the Cheese Ball Bites recipe.

Everyone loves little mini cheeseburgers. But have you ever made them? Flipping a dozen (or more) little patties is maddening. Enter: our brilliant hack. Instead of forming each individual slider, we go pull-apart style, using a loose cooked ground beef mixture that's seasoned like a good, juicy burger.

Get the Pull-Apart Cheeseburger Sliders recipe.

We wanted to make sure this dip was absolutely perfect, so we tested it over and over and over again until it was. (The Delish team wasn't complaining.) Make this and it'll be gone in 10 minutes flat— we can guarantee it. Need more dip inspiration? Our Greek Feta Dip never lasts long either.

Get the Pull-Apart Garlic Bread Pizza Dip recipe.

If you’re looking to expand your horizons beyond classic buffalo wings, this recipe is a great place to start. They’re just as spicy, but also super savory, sticky, and juuust sweet enough. With a sauce like this, you don’t even need blue cheese dressing. (Then again... we're not stopping ya!)

Get the Spicy Apricot Glazed Wings recipe.

We'd take a buttery, flaky crescent roll over sandwich bread any day. So with that in mind, we developed these ham and cheese pinwheels using store-bought crescent dough. They are full of melty cheese and savory-sweet ham and topped with fresh parsley and toasty poppy seeds for texture and flavor that you might not find in your normal pinwheels. Try our French dip pinwheels next!

Get the Ham & Cheese Pinwheels recipe.

The trick to creating this giant-sized party sub? A bundt pan! This sub is the definition of a crowd-pleaser and might be our new favorite way to dazzle a party. 🙌

Get the Giant Party Sub recipe.

Pickles might as well be a food group for us, especially when it means these adorable bite-sized sliders.

Want even more pickle-inspired bites? Try our chicken n' biscuit sliders next.

Get the Pickle Sliders recipe.

Few desserts are as easy as an icebox cake. (Okay, we see you 3-ingredient sugar cookies.) If you can whip cream, you're basically halfway there. For a chocolate version, add 1 to 2 tablespoons cocoa powder into your whipped cream mixture. Or, for a zesty variation, swap out chocolate cookies for vanilla cookies and add 2 tsp citrus zest to your whipped cream, or go rogue with a peanut butter icebox version!

Get the Icebox Cake recipe.

We wanted a cupcake that was better than any bakery or box, with strong vanilla flavor, and a perfectly soft and fluffy texture. The recipe includes cornstarch which makes them lighter and mimics the characteristics of cake flour. Cupcakes this perfect deserve our Perfect Vanilla Buttercream.

Get the Perfect Vanilla Cupcakes recipe.

Celebrate the end of the school year with a non-alcoholic piña colada that's basically a tropical milkshake. The classic version might be a bit more smoothie-like in texture, but we're obsessed with this slightly richer and creamier version. It definitely makes you wonder why piña coladas never had ice cream in the first place.

Get the Virgin Piña Colada recipe.

This creamy, cheesy crab dip belongs on the dip Mount Rushmore. It's packed with melty cheese and tender, sweet crab meat that makes the perfect opener to any party.

Serve with plenty of toasted bread or buttery crackers! Or you can do what we do and shamelessly go at it with a spoon.

Get the Hot Crab Dip recipe.

Part cheese dip, part mini meatballs, this skillet dip is not only delicious but a fun activity for the whole family. To keep the dip as melty and creamy as possible, we recommend using freshly shredded American cheese. You can substitute it with any other freshly shredded sharp cheddar or pepper jack for a stronger flavor.

To cut through the rich dairy, a little dose of pickled red onions is an essential mix-in. The fresh crunch and splash of vinegar really brightens the dip and gives it a burger dip vibe.

Get the Cheesy Mini Meatball Skillet Dip recipe.

Making dessert for a group can be hard, but these poppable bites couldn't be easier. Feel free to use any type of cake for this recipe. Our classic vanilla would be wonderful here, but truthfully, we love starting with boxed mix. For the homemade buttercream, chocolate coating, and festive sprinkles, people will be too busy eating these to notice.

Get the Chocolate-Covered Cake Balls recipe.

A pizza lover's dream: creamy mac, pepperoni, and plenty of Parm. What's not to love? Want to skip the macaroni altogether? Try these pizza pepperoni bites!

Get the Mac & Cheese Pizza Bites recipe.

There is something so enticing about nacho cheese from concession stands: silky smooth, pleasantly tacky, clings to every chip, fry, and bite. Even if you aren't hungry, it's impossible to pass up. Now you can make it at home anytime the craving hits. We even dedicated a nacho casserole to the sauce! Serve this cheese with homemade chips, soft pretzels, or top your favorite nachos with it!

Get the Nacho Cheese recipe.

The most annoying thing about a great chocolate chip cookie ice cream sandwich is how small it is (am I right?). This chipwich cake busts right through that problem.

Better yet? Set up a DIY ice cream sandwich bar with any of our ice cream sandwiches!

Get the Giant Chipwich Cake recipe.

The homemade poppyseed dressing on these sliders makes them *extra* special. We like using yellow mustard for its bright, punchy flavor, but dijon or whole grain mustard would be just as delicious. In terms of buns, we tend to reach for sweet Hawaiian rolls. The sweetness of the rolls pairs beautifully with the salty ham and cheese, but potato rolls are another great choice.

Get the Ham & Cheese Sliders recipe.

This no-bake dessert is hands-down the most fun way to eat a banana split. A buttery graham cracker crust meets layers of rich, whipped creamed cheese frosting, sliced bananas, and all our favorite sundae toppings (extra maraschino cherries, please!).

Get the Banana Split Lasagna recipe.

The toasted marshmallow whipped cream is everything in this no-bake icebox cake. You just might find yourself wanting to top everything with it.

Get the S'mores Icebox Cake recipe.

We take these spuds to the next level with two levels of ranch goodness. The seasoning adds some salty, umami flavor, while the dressing provides that cooling, tangy creaminess. Toss these on the grill alongside some chicken bacon ranch foil packets for the perfect summery, ranch-packed cookout.

Get the Grilled Ranch Potatoes recipe.

Classic lasagna, as much as we adore it, can be extremely time-consuming. These spinach and ricotta roll-ups come together quickly and couldn't be more delicious.

Get the Lasagna Roll-Ups recipe.

Fact: We don't all have a grill, but sometimes we just don't want to stand outside, either (ya feel me?). And let's be honest, half the reason why we love BBQ chicken is because of the sauce, right? Though a lot of folks opt for boneless and skinless chicken, we recommend getting bone-in and skin-on for extra flavor and texture.

Get the Oven-Baked BBQ Chicken recipe.

The spice mix here is what sets this crispy popcorn chicken apart: five-spice heightened with some white pepper, Szechuan peppercorns, onion powder, and mildly spicy gochugaru.

Get the Taiwanese Popcorn Chicken recipe.

These sliders might be mini, but they deliver mega flavor. If you're anything like us, you love a dipping sauce, so definitely serve these along some more marinara sauce. Just try and eat only one.

Get the Chicken Parm Sliders recipe.

These little bites are packed with umami: hot and saucy, then cool and creamy once you dip 'em into homemade ranch. For the crunchiest texture, cut your florets into a smaller size—this will help them cook faster during the bake and give you crispier edges with sauce-clinging power. The sweet sauce and crunchy cauliflower will make you feel like you're eating popcorn chicken.

Get the BBQ Lime Cauliflower Bites recipe.

Recreate the California Pizza Kitchen fave with this insanely delicious (mostly) homemade pie. To save on time, use store-bought pizza dough. Or, better yet, pick some up from your favorite pizzeria!

Get the BBQ Chicken Skillet Pizza recipe.

Are you one of those people who thinks that even double-stuffed Oreos don't have enough filling? Well, have we got the cake for you. We love how pressing a large fork around the cookie layers helps to make indentations similar to Oreos.

Get the Giant Oreo Cake recipe.

A large round loaf of French-style boule bread was destined to become a crusty giant burger bun. We baked the XXL burger patty in the oven to make sure it cooks evenly and stays super juicy. Trust us, this burger is not for the faint of heart.

Get the Giant Party Cheeseburger recipe.