Hi there! Are you looking for some food bar ideas for an upcoming party?
Great! You’re in the right spot.
Food bars are a wonderful entertaining idea.
After a little prep work, you can retire most of your hosting responsibilities and relax with your guests.
Everyone gets the freedom to customize their own creations!
Who doesn’t like that?
You can simply put out an assorted spread and let your guests take it from there!
Below I’ve gathered up 10 crowd pleasing food bars that are meant to be main dish style party fare.
Below each food bar idea is an in text link that will lead you to the tutorials on how to create these tasty spreads.
Let’s get to it!
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#1) DIY Taco Bar Party Food Idea
Source: Pinterest
This gorgeous upscale taco bar goes way beyond ground beef!
Grab and go shells, proteins and toppings will have everyone diving into this bright and beautiful party buffet.
#2) Comfort Food Mashed Potato Bar
Source: Reluctant Entertainer
Talk about filling and delicious!
This budget friendly party food idea is easy to prep ahead in your slow cooker and fun to customize.
Play around with toppings, proteins, veggies and more.
#3) Pasta & Chicken Food Bar Idea
Source: Julie’s Cafe Bakery
What an excellent flavor combination in this impressive party food bar!
Kids and adults will love the fried chicken tenders and make ahead pasta salads.
Don’t forget to take a little help from your super market to make this spread easy to assemble.
#4) Brilliant DIY Soft Pretzel Bar Party Food Idea
Source: More Mamma
Talk about creative, and also cost effective is this brilliant DIY pretzel food bar idea.
Have fun baking your pretzels, and displaying them on this fun grab and go pretzel rod.
The sky is the limit when it comes to ideas for dipping sauces!
#5) Build Your Own Pasta Bar
Alexa’s Get Together showcases this super smart idea!
An assortment of cooked pastas, sauces and toppings that guests can heap into a bowl.
Yum!!
#6) Sandwiches, Wraps & Salad Brunch Food Bar Idea
Source: Pinterest
This amazing food bar is lovely for brunch, or anythime for that matter.
I love that the sandwiches, wraps and salads can all be prepped well ahead of time without sacrificing on flavor.
The fresh fruit and yogurt parfaits are perfect.
#7) Warm & Cozy Soup Bar Idea
Source: Pinterest
If you have not considered a soup bar idea for your next party, you really should (especially if your gathering is during cool weather months).
Easy to make and and crock pot guests and fill their bowls with their favorites and play around with the toppings ~ perfect!
#8) Nacho Bar Party Food Idea
Source: Pinterest
Who doesn’t like nachos?
On the left you have savory items, meats, and traditional nacho toppings.
And on the right, the sweets. What a fun idea!
#9) Charcuterie Board Idea For A Party
Source: Unkown
A charcuterie board is an amazing food idea for any and every party.
Finger foods that are full of variety can be snacked on at guests leisure, with loads of beautiful presentation ideas.
In fact, I have an entire post dedicated to them and linked below. 😉
#10) The Ultimate Chili Party Food Bar Idea
Source: XOXO Bella
Perfect for any game day or cool weather gathering a chili bar can include SO many things.
Toppings, hot dogs, chips, veggies and endless dippers and sides make this food bar idea a spicy good time.
#11) Mac & Cheese Food Bar Idea
Meal Prettify is responsible for this creative genius!
Both kids and adults are going to go crazy over this one.
Adding protein topping like pepperoni, bacon, and grilled chicken to a homemade mac and cheese is an awesome main dish party food idea.
#12) Hot Dog Food Bar Idea
Source: The Flour Handprint
A hot dog bar is an awesome and affordable option to feed a crowd.
This assortment takes inspiration from some designer dogs with incredible flavors you are going to want to check out.
#13) Baked Potato Bar
Delicious Made Easy shows readers how to create three lovely baked potato creations.
They sky is the limit as far as a baked potato bar goes!
My mind is jumping from cheese, ham and broccoli creations to chili, cheese and scallions. Yum!
#14) Sandwich Food Bar Idea
Livin The Mommy Life set up this simple yet sophisticated sandwich bar at one of her daughter’s birthday parties.
What a great idea!
If you’re looking to spice it up a bit, consider croissants, rolls and flat breads as well as bacon, sprouts, and homemade sandwich spreads.
This is a the perfect no fuss entertaining idea.
#15) Build Your Own Salad Bar
Easy Family Recipes reminds us that salad bars aren’t just for the restaurants.
Guests love creating their own main dish salads piled with fresh greens, filling toppings and flavorful dressings.
The only thing this spread is missing is a basket of some freshly baked baguettes if you ask me. 😉
#16) Build Your Own Bagel Food Bar Idea
Source: Remodelaholic
This build your own bagel food bar idea is perfect for a morning or mid day party.
An assortment of bagels with a variety of toppings will keep guests filled up with both sweet and savory options.
#17) Burger Food Bar Idea
Intentional Hospitality showcased this wonderful burger food bar idea.
This is so much more than a simple backyard barbeque!
Notice the assortment of cheeses, grilled toppings and sauces.
#18) Build Your Own Biscuit Bar Party Food Idea
Source: The BakerMama
Here is another brilliant party food bar idea for your next brunch or morning party.
Actually, this would work for any time of day!
Play around with spread toppings, proteins and more with flaky buttery biscuits to build round.
#19) Gourmet Pizza Bar
Source: B. Lovely Events
Pizza is for more than just the kids!
Consider a gourmet pizza bar for our next party that everyone will enjoy.
Have fun playing with toppings, proteins, and fresh sides.
#20) Fajita Food Board Idea
Source: Foxes Love Lemons
Fajitas are a nice change up from a taco bar, and always a big hit.
Well seasoned chicken or steak pair perfectly with less expensive sides like rice and sautéed peppers and onions.
#21) Breakfast Food Bar Idea
Pinterest is full of inspiring ideas like this breakfast food bar idea!
We eat breakfast at any time of the day, and you shouldn’t rule it out as a main dish idea for your party.
Of course a breakfast food bar is a great idea for brunch or morning entertaining, but an savory chicken and waffle bar could work at any time of the day!
#22) Epic Party Food Taco Bar Idea
Source: Pinterest
This amazing taco food bar deserves it’s own area code.
The display is genius, allowing guests to access the table from any angle to build and top their tacos.
#23) Brilliant Build Your Own Ramen Bowl
Source: The Wanderlust Kitchen
Talk about creative and unique! This build your own ramen bowl party food bar idea is simply brilliant.
Have ingredients prepped and ready while add in proteins and fresh flavors make this asian inspired party food bar a fast favorite.
#24) Grab & Go Party Food Skewers Station
Source: Ashpazkhone Instagram
What a gorgeous party food bar, filled with fresh floral accents and ready to eat Thai curry chicken skewers.
Steal this idea for your next party food bar with grab and go skewers pre assembled and ready for snacking!
#25) Amazing Grazing Table Party Food Bar Idea
A grazing table, similar to a charcuterie board is another wonderful option for a party food bar.
Notice the incredible variety in foods, color, and flavor to keep your eye moving and guests happily grazing.
Important Food Bar Tip!
Did you find some party food bars you are excited to try?
Great, now it’s time to dig into the details, and you might want to give some thought to presentation/display etc.
Do you need to keep food cold or warm? How is your serving platter selection?
You can find all of those answers (and then some) HERE where you can shop party food serveware.
For more party inspiration, check out these similar posts below…
- 18 Irresistible Finger Food Party Snacks
- 15 Drink Station Ideas That Are Ready For A Party
- 35 Impressive Housewarming Party Ideas
- How To Make A Heavenly Charcuterie Board
Cheers for now.
<3 Ang
Thanks so much for sharing! This is still my daughter’s absolutely favorite!
Thanks for the great idea Autumn! Loved your beautiful spread. <3