What to Serve With Cocktails When People Are Coming Over
The easiest cocktail hour is three or four things people can pick at without a plate: something creamy, something with crunch, something with a little heat, and a bowl of something salty. None of it has to be cooked, and most of it can go out before anyone arrives. Here is how to put it together.
What goes with cocktails
Drinks want food that is easy to hold and easy to graze. Salty, tangy, and a bit of spicy all sit well next to a cold drink. A bowl of salsa with chips, a soft cheese with something sweet-hot spooned over it, a handful of olives or nuts, and a little cured meat will carry almost any crowd. Put it out, and let people help themselves.
The one thing that makes it feel generous
Abundance reads as welcome. A board that looks full does more for the room than a board that looks careful. You do not need ten things. You need enough of four or five that nobody hesitates before taking the last piece.
An easy spread, start to finish
- A block of cream cheese or a round of goat cheese with jalapeño jelly spooned over the top, crackers alongside. It takes a minute and it is usually the first thing gone.
- A bowl of salsa and good chips.
- Olives, marcona almonds, or both.
- A little cured meat and a hard cheese, cut so people can grab a piece without a knife.
- Something fresh for color: sliced apple, grapes, or radishes with a bit of salt.
Serve yourself, sit where you like. The point is that you are in the room with everyone instead of stuck at the counter.
How much to put out
Before dinner, plan on a few bites a person and keep it light so nobody fills up. For an evening where the snacks are the meal, double it and add a second savory thing. When you are unsure, make more of the simplest item rather than adding one more thing to shop for.
FAQ
What should I serve with cocktails? Easy, hand-held bites with some salt, acid, and heat. A bowl of salsa and chips, a soft cheese with jalapeño jelly and crackers, olives or nuts, and a little cured meat cover most crowds without any cooking.
What appetizers can I make without cooking? Cream cheese with jalapeño jelly, salsa and chips, marinated olives, nuts, and a cheese-and-charcuterie plate are all no-cook and hold fine at room temperature.
How much appetizer food do I need per person for a cocktail party? For drinks before a meal, plan a few bites a person. If the appetizers are standing in for dinner, plan roughly double and add a second substantial savory option.
What is an easy last-minute appetizer for drinks? A block of cream cheese with jalapeño jelly poured over it and crackers on the side. It takes under a minute and disappears fast.