57 Make Ahead Party Food Platters For A Crowd – Budget-Friendly Party Food Snack Trays I Make
57 Food Platters For Parties – Need cheap and easy party food ideas? Check out this BIG list of make ahead party food platters for a crowd.
All my favorite bite size party sandwiches, pinwheel roll up appetizers, charcuterie boards and fruit, veggies, cheese and cracker trays with dips on one page – YAY!
Updated on November 24, 2024
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If you’re looking for budget-friendly finger food platters that are perfect for small groups or a large crowd at any event, special occasion or Holiday party – you are in the right place.
PLUS – my favorite party food, dips and snacks I out ON my party platters – like the little potato puffs and pickle wrap dip below. (yes, PICKLE wrap dip – it’s good, trust me!)
These easy puffs made with mashed potatoes are SO good! They go on EVERY party snack tray!
Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it – this pickle wrap dip is not only easy to make, but so VERY good!
They’re also the recipes I use to make my “World Famous Pool Party Platters” (yes, they’re totally WORLD famous haha!
Make Ahead Party Food Platters and Trays
If you think every homemade party food platter is the same, prepare to have your mind blown!
Below are some really unique and pretty ways to serve platters of finger foods at any event – some are easy last minute ideas, too.
From large batch food trays to small group platters, you are sure to find the perfect make ahead party platter for your special occasion or event.
From creative vegetable platters (like the flower shaped veggie board in the picture above), to sandwich trays, taco snack boards, football game day platters and more.
Let’s jump in and look at party platters you can make ahead of time OR last minute for all parties, showers, open house events and special events.
Food Platters For Parties
There are a LOT of food platters and party trays and EVERYTHING party platter on this page with all types of foods and for all types of occasions and Holidays.
Ok, got your pinning finger ready? Good! Let’s go!
Snack Platters For Entertaining
Whether you’re entertaining a large crowd or a small family gathering, snack platters are the perfect party food to set out.
Just look how gorgeous these snack trays look below!
While those platters and grazing boards are full of generic snacks and finger foods like crackers and cheese and grapes, pretzels, strawberries, vegetables and dips – it all looks SO much nicer when it’s arranged on a board or tray like those pictures above.
So – instead of just opening a bag of pretzels and pouring them in a bowl, why not plan out a snack platter and make it ahead of time?
Here’s some ideas for the Holiday season:
Holiday Snack Platters
Celebrate the holidays and entertain your guests with a festive fruit and cheese tray!
From simple snack boards, festive party appetizer platters, dessert trays and beautiful Christmas charcuterie boards, you will find the perfect idea for your Holiday party guests to nibble on!
This Christmas-themed brie platter makes a festive way holiday appetizer or dessert.
This Christmas Tree Charcuterie Board will be a showstopper at your Christmas gathering! This easy charcuterie board is a great way to kick off the holiday season and impress your friends and family. Follow these simple step-by-step instructions and you’ll be surprised how easy it is!
It seriously does not get easier than this snowman veggie board! Just slice your favorite veggies (or buy them pre-sliced to make it even easier!) and arrange around your favorite dips! This appetizer would be so cute served before Christmas dinner, and is perfect to bring to any holiday gathering this season!
Surprise your guests with this beautiful Christmas Tree Appetizer Tray this holiday season!
Charcuterie boards are a great party appetizer idea, especially during the holiday season. This festive, and delicious Christmas Wreath Charcuterie Board will wow your guests for the holidays.
Oh, by golly, it’s a Holly Jolly Kid’s Snack Board! This adorable snack board is as engaging as it is tasty (and healthy too!). The kids will love building and snacking on this festive board made with simple, wholesome ingredients. Holiday memories that will last a lifetime!
How to make a DIY Christmas Cheese Board for a party complete with what cheese to buy, how to make it festive for the holidays, and more easy tips!
Make your snack board extra special this winter! This Snowman Snack Board features a snowman made out of cheese in the center surrounded by a scrumptious selection of festive colored snacks that everyone is sure to enjoy!
This festive Christmas Tree Appetizer is fun and easy to make with fresh vegetables like pea pods, green beans, celery, carrots, and bell peppers. Decorate the veggie Christmas tree with cherry tomatoes and cucumber, all “standing” on a bed of cauliflower.
And don’t forget a cheese ball on your party platter!
Let’s look at some more homemade party platter pictures and ideas – and I’ll show you where to find instructions to make each one.
Cheap Party Platters
In The Picture Above – (left to right, top to bottom:)
30-Shaped Homemade Birthday Party Platter – From grazing platters to elegant charcuterie boards, below are LOTS of pictures of homemade party platter ideas you can make on a budget with a simple sheet pan or an elegant party tray…see all homemade party platter ideas
Party Trays For A Crowd – I’m SO glad I found these inexpensive cold appetizers for a crowd and cheap party food platters I can make – they’re all affordable homemade finger food recipes that are not only CHEAP to MAKE, but EASY to make too. …see all cheap party food ideas
Easy Veggie Tray With Dip – When it comes to parties and game night around here, I love whipping up an easy veggie tray with dip! They’re colorful, healthy, and simple to make….see the recipe
Bunny-Shaped Party Platter – When it comes to coming up with large batch party food for big crowds, snack platters (like in the Easter Bunny party platter picture) are THE way to go…. see all inexpensive party snack platters
Grazing Trays and Snack Boards
In The Picture:
Italian Antipasto Platter – Enjoy a simple and beautiful Italian antipasto platter this summer! With fresh garden fruit, cured meat, cheeses, and bread, this Charcuterie Board is so delicious, easy to put together, and fun to eat.
Family-Size Snack Board – This family-size Holiday Charcuterie Board is perfect to snack on while Christmas dinner is being prepared or take it on the go for holiday parties and potlucks.
Hot Chocolate Charcuterie Board – This Hot Chocolate Charcuterie Board will be your new favorite Holiday treat. Enjoy a Christmas Hot Chocolate Charcuterie Board for parties, movie night or just for fun.
Smoked Salmon Breakfast Platter – Smoked Salmon Breakfast Platter is the ultimate spread for a special breakfast or brunch! Recipe is complete with tips on how to build the perfect salmon platter.
✅ How To Make A Fancy Cheese Ball For Your Snack Board – lots of unique and easy cheese ball recipes to add an aesthetic touch to your charcuterie-style snack board.
Large Group Party Trays
In The Picture:
Fruit Party Food Tray found on Pinterest here.
Movie Night Snack Board With Candy found here.
Housewarming Party Grazing Board found on Pinterest here.
Party Food Grazing Table found on Pinterest here.
Sandwich Platters For Parties
In The Picture:
✅ Cold chicken salad croissants – These chicken salad croissants are now one of my favorite NO COOK party food ideas – and there’s a super FAST way to make them… read more
Mini Sandwich Bites – Mini sandwiches are a great snack not only for kids lunchboxes, but they are also perfect for brunch, party, baby shower or picnic. Ready in 10 minutes, these simple ham and cheese sandwiches are always a hit at any gathering… see more
Tea Sandwich Tray – I think a party food station of cute tea sandwiches would be so pretty for a shower. Love the variety… read more
Make Ahead Hot Ham and Cheese Sandwiches – Hot ham and cheese sandwich casserole is the perfect savory recipe to feed a crowd on game day, for a holiday, or just because… see the recipe.
Cheap Snacks and Inexpensive Finger Food To Feed a Large Group or Party Crowd
Finger Sandwiches For A Crowd – 37 Make Ahead Mini Sandwiches For Party Platters
Deli Style Platters
Naturally, you can order party food platters, veggie trays etc from the deli department of your local grocery store. While not the cheapest option, it is definitely the most convenient.
Or, you could look at how deli departments arrange their platters and copy that style when making your own food trays.
Here are some really pretty deli-style food platter arrangements:
Mini Sandwiches For Parties
How about some easy make ahead mini sandwiches and sliders for your party trays? Sandwiches are both easy to make AND easy to serve – plus, they’re more filling that small bite appetizers are.
Sandwich Platter Ideas
For a luncheon, casual party or holiday idea for a large crowd, serve this vegetarian Best Veggie Sandwich Board. Add delicious toppings and bread!
Finger sandwiches are a classic and elegant choice for a party food platter. Here are some of the best finger sandwiches to make for your platter:
This is the ultimate guide for How to Make a Sandwich Platter. Arranged meat, bread, cheese, and condiments make for the brunch or when hosting a party.
Mini sandwiches are a great snack not only for kids lunchboxes, but they are also perfect for brunch, party, baby shower or picnic. Ready in 10 minutes, these simple ham and cheese sandwiches are always a hit at any gathering!
These easy Italian Pinwheel Sandwiches are big on flavor, with three kinds of meat, fresh veggies, and a tasty cream cheese spread. Serve these light-yet-hearty little sandwiches on your party snack platters.
Mini club sandwiches are an ideal party appetizer. They’re a classic mix of ingredients like deli chicken, cheese, and bacon. Make them ahead and serve cold for easy entertaining.
How to put together The Ultimate Build-Your-Own Sandwich Board that will feed and please your hungry crowd!
Meat and cheese trays are a great appetizer or an easy way for guests to make their own sandwiches. Perfect for parties, potlucks, BBQs, or family gatherings!
Below are my favorite resources for mini sandwich and slider recipes:
Recipes in the picture above:
Ultimate Club Sandwiches For a Crowd – turkey, ham, cheddar, bacon, lettuce, and avocado with garlic butter brushed sliced rolls to toast them until golden brown – recipe is here.
Hawaiian Ham & Cheese Party Sandwiches – Give your party sandwiches a decidedly Hawaiian twist with a hearty and flavorful dose of pineapple. They’ll be gobbled up in no time at your next party or game day get-together – recipe is here.
25 Slider Recipes – I bet you can’t choose just one of these 25 Slider Recipes to make! Loaded with flavor, these mini sandwiches are great for game day or your next party – see all recipes here.
Ham and Turkey Sliders – Step by step instructions plus tips to make ahead and last longer in the fridge – recipe is here.
Make Ahead Snacks & Apps
Pinwheel Sandwiches
Now, I love a sandwich platter at parties as much as my guests do, but sometimes I just want something easier to put on our party trays that I can make ahead and pop in the fridge until I’m ready to serve them.
Enter – pinwheel roll up sandwiches.
Simply put ’em together, roll ’em up, slice ’em into single serve size and pop a toothpick in ’em.
EASY PEASY!
Here are my personal favorite mini roll up sandwich recipes I make all the time:
Recipes in the picture above:
✅ 37 Make Ahead Finger Sandwiches, Roll Ups and Sliders – BIG list of sandwich recipes for party platters
Top – Buffalo Chicken Roll Ups – see the recipe
1 – Jalapeno Popper Pinwheels – see the recipe
2 – Bacon Cheddar Ranch Pinwheels – see the recipe
3 – Hot Turkey and Cheese Roll Ups – see the recipe
4 – Chicken Taco Pinwheels – see the recipe
5 – Vegetable Tortilla Roll Ups – see the recipe
6 – Italian Pinwheel Sandwiches – see the recipe
Game Day Party Platters
In The Picture:
Chicken Wings Football Snack Board – Serve up game day snacks your team can’t wait to tackle with this Chicken Wings Snack Board. Fresh crispy veggies and saucy flavorful wings are a winning combination for game day or any day
Build-Your-Own Sandwich Board – How to put together The Ultimate Build-Your-Own Sandwich Board that will feed and please your hungry crowd
Easy Taco Game Day Platter – Serve an Easy Taco Snack Board for any party, with your favorite toppings! Make crunchy tacos with turkey, beef, chicken, or pork.
Football-Shaped Charcuterie Platter found here.
How To Make A Football-Shaped Cheese Ball -plus LOTS of shaped cheese ball recipes for ALL holidays and parties.
Football Themed Party Platters
1 – Super Bowl Cheese Ball Board – This football shaped cheese ball is super easy to make and makes any cheese board a touchdown. See the recipe.
2 – Football Veggie Party Snack Tray – This Football Veggie Tray is the perfect game day snack for tailgates, super bowl parties or football watch parties. See the recipe.
3 – Tailgate Breakfast Food Board – Score points with your die-hard football family when you serve my Tailgate Breakfast Board. It makes that first meal of the day a fun and delicious team favorite. See the recipe.
4 – Game Day Football Charcuterie Board – Whether you’re cheering on your favorite college football team or inviting friends and family over to watch the Big Game, this football charcuterie board will make you the MVP of the party. See the recipe.
Halloween Party Food Platters
And if you’re having a Halloween party, you MUST make one of these Halloween-themed party food platters… so cute and so fun!
In the picture above:
Pumpkin Snack Board – How to build an adorable and delicious Pumpkin Snack Board for a Halloween or fall party that is sure to WOW your crowd – instructions here.
Healthy Halloween Snack Board – The perfect Board to whip up for a Halloween celebration at school, Halloween party or before you head out for trick-or-treating – recipe here.
Spooky Halloween Veggie Tray Ideas – easy and fun veggie tray ideas for a Halloween party or healthy Halloween snack or side dish – see all ideas here.
Hocus Pocus Charcuterie Board Ideas – tons of Sanderson Sisters snack tray ideas for a a Hocus Pocus watching party – see all ideas here.
✅ How To Make A Witch Hat Shaped Cheese Ball – plus LOTS of shaped cheese ball recipes for ALL holidays and parties.
Thanksgiving Snack Boards
I love setting out a snack board with cheese and crackers or veggies and dip at Thanksgiving, don’t you? Just light things to snack on before the main meal or as an aesthetic addition to the buffet food table.
Below are some really cute ways to arrange your snack board for Thanksgiving guests:
How To Make A Turkey-Shaped Cheese Ball – plus LOTS of shaped cheese ball recipes for ALL holidays and parties.
Christmas Party Food Platters
If you’re hosting a Christmas party or a Holiday open house-style event, here are some Christmas-themed snack platters, food trays and charcuterie grazing board ideas.
How To Make A Snowman-Shaped Cheese Ball – plus LOTS of shaped cheese ball recipes for ALL holidays and parties.
I’ve been collecting Christmas party snack tray ideas and will have an entirely NEW post that will be full of ONLY homemade Christmas party tray ideas.
Be sure to check back!
More Platters For Entertaining
Below are MORE wonderful resources to find party food platters you can make for parties, reunions, game day or even a potluck at work.
Resources from the image above:
(1) – Cheap Snack Platters For A Crowd
(2) – Homemade Party Platters – 37 Cheap & Easy Snack Food Trays
(3) – Large Party Food Platters You Can Make In Small Batches
(4) – Party Platters For A Potluck
Pin For Later?
More Party Food Ideas
40 Must Make Potluck Dishes To Feed A Crowd
40+ Quick Appetizers and Party Finger Foods To Make Ahead Or Last Minute
Bring-a-Dish Potluck Lunch Ideas For Your Office Luncheon Party (to make or buy!)
Cheap Snacks and Inexpensive Finger Food To Feed a Large Group or Party Crowd
27 Really Good Appetizers, Party Snacks and Shareable Finger Foods With Bacon
Large Batch Desserts-15 Easy Sweet Treats For a Crowd
Finger Sandwiches For A Crowd – 37 Make Ahead Mini Sandwiches For Party Platters
