What an exciting time of year for everyone in the family. Good food, sunshine, time spent with friends and family, celebrating our children who have just graduated!
It’s exciting, but could be a bit sad at times. Watching your children grow up always hits home a little hard.
So soak up all the quality time with your children, friends, and family this Graduation season. The last thing you should be doing is stressing over the Graduation party food table. That’s why I’m here to help with that!
I know that for some people the food is the most important part of a party, or maybe that’s just me! When I host a party the food is my main focus. I love to please everyone with a memorable experience with the food they eat.
Let me take some guess work off your plate and give you some helpful & fun ideas and tips you can have for your Graduation party food table to save you time & stress.
What is The Best Food to Serve at a Graduation Party?
With it being summer and your festivities primarily being outdoors, you should aim for quick, easy, and lite options. I know that’s easier said than done, if your anything like me and love to please a crowd with your cooking skills. But, trust me this time, you are going to want to keep it simple.
Setting up “DIY” stations are a great idea to keep everyone pleased, and you stress free. With these unique ideas, not only will everyone think you’re a genus, you won’t be spending two day’s in the kitchen trying to prepaid a hundred things for the Graduation party food table.
Here are a few ideas I think would be perfect for everyone to enjoy and easy for you to prepare.
DIY Graduation Party food Table Themes:
● Walking Taco Bar
Need I say more? Taco’s are always a great idea for any party, especially ones in a bag! Easy to eat, fun to customize, and portable.
Everyone is on the move during a Graduation party. Either playing yard games, jumping from table to table chatting with friends, or trying to get that last selfie with their friends and family before summer ends.
Grab a bulk box of Doritos or a mixture of chips from Sam’s Club to save you some money! You can get 50 bag for UNDER $15!
To make sure all of your cold toppings stay cool in the summer heat get a few Large Square Cool & Serve platters from Pampered Chef. They have ice blocks in the bottom to keep the food cool! It comes with two reversible white cooling inserts each has one flat side and the other side with 12 wells for deviled eggs!
The clear inner trays each have 3 wells with solid walls to keep food from mixing. You can not go wrong with having one (or a few) of these things around for your any get together.
● Custom Mac-N-Cheese Bar
I did a mac-n-cheese bar for my sons 4th birthday party. Not only was it a hit for the kids, the adults thought it was the coolest thing they’ve ever seen. I didn’t think it was that uncommon, but I guess I pulled it off! I mean who desen’t like a fun bowl of mac-n-cheese?!
You may need a few crockpots of this one, I can go though two crockpots with just a singe family gathering!
Get yourself another crockpot from amazon f you need it. I have this one and it’s only $35 you may be able to catch it on sale sometimes!
Don’t forget to grad some bowls for all of your toppings! I did; bacon bits, bread crumbs, broccoli, cheese, onions, jalapeños, and peppers. I also had some hot sauce if anyone wanted it. It was great!
● Hot Dog Station
I think you get the benefit of a DIY food table! Fun, easy and crowd pleasing. This is another one that would be great for the younger kids a well. We all know any kid would eat a hotdog.
With everyone walking around, this would be great. Especially for the guests who like to hang out in the yard paying cornhole.
Quick, customizable, and cheap.
Consider grabbing this Insulated Serving Bowl Set (on sale) to put some hot chili and cheese sauce (make your own with this Deluxe Cooking Blender!) in for the hot dogs! You can’t go wrong with having these on hand during a party! They can keep your food warm for up to two hours, and with the lids, free from bugs!
● Build Your Own Sub Station
DIY sandwiches are a great idea! I mean who doesn’t like a nice sandwich sub on a fluffy bun? You can go so many directions with this one! Deli meats, bacon, all sorts of veggies, cheeses, and condiments. I’ll tell ya right now, I would probably make a turkey cheddar bacon with some avocado! That’s my jam!
Use this Rectangular Cool & Serve from Pampered Chef! It would be perfect for keeping all of the meat cool! Or pre-make some sandwiches for quick grabs for anyone wanting another bite!
Have some chip varieties and a giant fruit salad and call it a day!
Side Note: Check out this Cookies & Cream Icebox Cake made in the Rectangular Cool & Serve!
● Smore’s Bar
This would be a hit for an indoor or outdoor party! Everyone has a kid deep down inside them who loves a gooey, sweet smore!
Grab a few of these Table Top Smores Maker! You could even put them on every table! That would be so cool!
This is a flameless heater, all you need to do is plug it in! Grad some extra sticks too, or make it festive and grab some sticks from the lawn! That would defiantly make it personal and set the mood for a fun night!
If you have little kids, they would love this any time of year too, even on the rainy summer nights you can’t go outside and light a fire, just have a smores night inside on the kitchen table!
This is something you will use way beyond the Graduation party!
● DIY “Melting Pot”
Ok, we’re getting a bit “fancy” here with this one.
If you haven’t been to a Melting Pot or don’t have on near you, or haven’t heard of Melting pot… You need to go! They are SO fun, delicious and memorable.
How about create your own “Melting Pot” experience right on the Graduation party food table with this Indoor Outdoor Grill!
If you wish to use charcoal you can totally do that too. You can convert it any way. Use the electric coils and plug it in for an easier clean up. This would be a great gift for your Grad too!
Do they love cooking, camping, or are they going off to collage where they can bring this to a little picnic area to grill out? This would be perfect for them.
This indoor outdoor grill will be a hit on your Graduation party food table!
There are even grill mats you can place on top for easier cooking of veggies & meat!
I mean this is a win win. Less cooking for you, more fun for everyone else! (See how you can get this grill for 60% Off or more!)
● Popcorn Station
Everyone loves a snack they can munch on all night without feeling guilty! Popcorn is the best choice!
This popcorn maker can make 5-6 servings in minutes! This would be a hit on the Graduation party food table, and I know your kids, and their friends will love it too!
You can go so many ways with a popcorn station. Sweet, savory, drizzles, candy, seasonings, it’s never ending! I myself would love a sweet and salty popcorn!
You can even make some take away bags ahead of time so your guests have a snack to bring on the road after stopping by!
● Infused Water Bar
Ok, we all know Graduation season is hotter than …
I’m one of those people who hates the heat, but ironically enough my summers are always filled with activities outside, especially with the kids.
How about crating an infused water bar for your guests?! Not only will it be fun for them to customize their choice of beverage, it will beat the heat and keep everyone satisfied!
These Family Size Quick Stir Pitchers would be great for a water bar!
Have a variety of fruit for your guests to choose from and maybe a few bottles of sparkling water too! I’m a sparkling water type of Gal. I know on a hot day a plain water bottle is refreshing in itself, but this water bar ides will have everyone excited to be outside.
The Most Important Part of The Day
HAVE FUN!
Your child’s Graduation is going to be a day they remember for the rest of their lives. I still remember mine, unfortunately It wasn’t that great.. only one of my friends showed up haha, but all is good! I still had a good time with my family!
Don’t stress over anything and remember that no matter what you decide to do, it will be great. I could only imagine how sad it will be to realize your little baby has graduated Highschool already.
I have two little ones myself and this year my oldest is enrolling in preschool, and I’m already sad about that!
Time will fly by and before I know it I’ll be in your shoes watching my babies walk across the Highschool stage for Graduation.
I hope that my love for food, and pleasing a crowd with food has helped you in some way. If there’s one thing I like to accomplish in life, it’s helping you eliminate some stress from your life and help you feel confident in (one out) of the kitchen and around food.
If you decide to go with any of these ideas, please share with me some pictures, I would love that so much!
