15 Delicious Food Bar Ideas to Save Time at Your Next Party
If you want to save time at your next gathering so you can mingle with guests instead of cooking, you need to try one of these food bar ideas! They’re fun, easy, and self-serve, so people can come and go as they please.
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One of the first things I think about when looking into food bar ideas is what I can keep in a crockpot so I don’t have to keep running back and forth to the kitchen heating things up. Having a few crockpots in various sizes will really help with toppings or meats, but aren’t necessary. Foil pans and Sterno work just as well!
Also, make sure to keep lots of plates on hand. I’ve noticed that when food is self-serve like this, people tend to go up more than once.
This post is full of more tips to help you prep a food bar for your next event that will allow you to spend more time with your loved ones!
Best Food Bar Ideas
Potato Bar
For the past couple years my cousin has been making a mashed potato bar for our New Year’s Day game day and it is a HUGE hit! He keeps the potatoes warm in a crockpot which is incredible when you put cheese on it because it gets to that perfect melty consistency.
You can also do this with baked potatoes! I would keep them in a foil pan with a Sterno to keep them warm. Slicing them down the middle will be a huge help for your guests so they don’t have to worry about cutting them and it makes them easier to fill with all the good toppings!
Suggested Toppings:
- Sour Cream
- Shredded Cheese
- Chives
- Bacon
- Butter
- Salt & Pepper
- Broccoli
- Pulled Pork
- Everything Bagel Seasoning
Pizza Bar
There are so many ways to do a pizza bar! Buying pre-made crusts like in the picture above will save you time, or you can buy the little bags of dough and everyone can make their own shape.
You also have a few choices in how to cook them. One option is to take turns in the oven and everyone can cook their own, or, if you have nice enough weather to be outdoors, you can invest in a nice wood fire pizza oven. I got this one as a gift and it is so cool to be able to cook fresh pizzas in minutes! Just be careful to watch your pizza because they can burn easily.
Suggested Toppings:
- Olive Oil
- Italian Seasoning
- Pizza Sauce
- Mozzarella
- Basil
- Pepperoni
- Mushrooms
- Sausage
- Green Pepper
- Shredded Chicken
Mimosa Bar
While not technically a food bar, drinks are still an important part of any get together. Mimosas are usually found at brunches because of the orange juice, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy one any time of day!
I’m not an orange juice fan myself, so the beauty of these babies is you can use any kind juice you want. You can even make them seasonal by mixing the champagne with apple cider or peppermint schnapps.
Suggested Toppings:
- Apple Juice
- Cranberry Juice
- Muddled Berries
- Grenadine
- Fruit to Garnish
- Flowers to Garnish
- Herbs to Garnish
Nacho Bar
I love a good nacho bar as an appetizer, but I wouldn’t count it as a meal. In order to really get full of you would have to eat a lot of chips, so I would suggest pairing this food bar with something else.
Small crockpots will really come in handy here so you can keep the queso and meat toppings warm. This little 1.5qt one is the perfect size!
Suggested Toppings:
- Queso
- Shredded Cheddar
- Salsa
- Guacamole
- Ground Beef
- Shredded Chicken
- Jalapenos
- Sour Cream
- Lettuce
Hot Dog Bar
This is another great option to do in the crock pot! You can keep the hot dogs steaming in there so people can grab a warm hot dog any time they want.
This food bar is great in the summertime when you’re having a pool party. Swimming always makes me hungry so being able to get out and grab a snack is the perfect summer day!
If you’re having a picnic with lots of other foods I would go with baby hot dogs instead of full size so people can have a little bit of everything.
Suggested Toppings:
- Ketchup & Mustard
- Chili
- Onions
- Relish
- Sauerkraut
- Shredded Cheese
- Bacon
Waffle Bar
Perfect for a brunch or even a breakfast for dinner night, you can’t go wrong with a waffle bar!
If you’re making homemade waffles on a waffle iron I would suggest getting one that makes multiple waffles at once, just because they can take a bit to cook and you don’t want people waiting. This cute one makes 5 at a time and they’re heart shaped!
What’s great about waffles is that you can make them sweet or savory depending on the toppings. With mini waffles you can have one of each!
Suggested Toppings:
- Maple and Flavored Syrup
- Whipped Cream
- Powdered Sugar
- Fresh Berries
- Mini Chocolate Chips
- Nutella
- Fried Chicken
- Bacon
Chili Bar
A game day favorite, you can easily make this ahead of time in the crockpot and then set up the rest of the food bar when you’re ready to eat.
Some people like it classic by itself, but others like to mix it with a base like rice or noodles, so make sure you have a couple options!
Suggested Toppings:
- Cornbread
- Shredded Cheese
- Sour Cream
- Raw Onions
- Fritos
- Jalapenos
- Fresh Herbs
Parfait Bar
One of the healthier options on the list, a parfait bar is a great option for a brunch get together!
I would suggest having a few yogurts on hand, like a regular Greek and a non-dairy for people who have dairy sensitivities. You could even have varied flavors for more options.
Topping Suggestions:
- Fresh Fruit
- Granola
- Mini Chocolate Chips
- Toasted Coconut
- Honey
- Nuts
- Chia Seeds
Mac & Cheese Bar
Yet another super easy food bar base to make in a crockpot! You could just make one huge pot of classic mac and cheese, or you could do a few varieties, like white cheddar or different shapes.
I like keeping small bowls next to the crockpot so people don’t take too much and waste it. If they want more, they can always come back!
Suggested Toppings:
- Bacon
- Hot Sauce
- Shredded Chicken
- Broccoli
- Bread Crumbs
- Shredded Cheese
- Diced Tomatoes
Popcorn Bar
I recently did one of these when I hosted a movie night and it was a big hit! I had a popcorn machine set up to make fresh popcorn but you could also use microwave popcorn.
Another great thing about a popcorn bar is you can have both sweet and savory toppings, so everyone can make it exactly the way they like it.
Suggested Toppings:
- Popcorn Seasonings
- M&Ms
- Salt
- Cinnamon Sugar
- Melted Chocolate
- Everything Bagel Seasoning
- Crushed Peppermint (perfect for the holidays!)
Hot Chocolate Bar
This is more of a seasonal food bar idea but it’s so fun around the holidays!
I like to set up a few different flavors of hot chocolate and you can use a tea kettle or keurig to fill everyone’s mug with hot water quickly.
If you get a cute assortment of holiday mugs you can even let everyone bring theirs home as a favor. Or you can always hit up TJ Maxx or Marshall’s for festive paper cups with lids.
Suggested Toppings:
- Mini Marshmallows
- Whipped Cream
- Marshmallow Fluff
- Peppermint (Whole candy canes or just pieces to stir in)
- Cinnamon
- Shaved Chocolate
- Sprinkles
- Mini Chocolate Chips
Taco Bar
Tacos are a great food bar idea if you have picky eaters in the family because they can keep it super simple with chicken, lettuce, and cheese, while everyone else can load theirs up!
I would definitely recommend margaritas to go along with the tacos for a full festive experience. To make things extra fun you could have each guest bring a different flavor pitcher of margaritas and do margarita flights!
Topping Suggestions:
- Ground Beef
- Shredded Chicken
- Assorted Shredded Cheese
- Sour Cream
- Guacamole
- Pico de Gallo
- Chopped Veggies (tomatoes, lettuce, onions)
- Jalapenos
- Black Beans
Bagel Bar
Another great breakfast option, I find that bagel bars work best when they are your main breakfast because they are so filling. If you are adding them to a brunch, I would go for mini bagels.
Another thing I love about bagels is they come in many flavors, both savory and sweet, so everyone can find one they like!
Suggested Toppings:
- Cream Cheese Assortment
- Butter
- Peanut Butter
- Meats (bacon, ham, smoked salmon)
- Sliced Veggies (tomatoes, onions)
- Sliced Fruits (strawberries, apples, bananas)
Pasta Bar
This is another food bar that works well when you will have some picky eaters in the crowd. I have a cousin who eats plain noodles with just salt. No sauce, no toppings. Just salt.
You can make it fun by having one string noodle, and one shaped noodle, or you can even add in something like gnocchi or risotto for a unique addition.
Suggested Toppings:
- Variety of Sauces (red, white, pesto)
- Parmesan and Mozzarella Cheese
- Butter
- Meats (meatballs, sausage, chicken)
- Fresh Herbs (basil, parsley)
- Cooked Veggies (broccoli, mushrooms, spinach)
- Garlic
Ice Cream Bar
The options are endless with an ice cream bar! To make it easier on you though, I recommend sticking with chocolate and vanilla ice cream as the bases and then letting everyone customize with toppings.
Now that there are so many ice cream variations on the market, like sugar free and dairy free, this is a food bar that all your guests can enjoy.
I love these little bowls for my ice cream bars! They are so festive and the perfect size so people don’t take more than they can eat.
Suggested Toppings:
- Whipped Cream
- Sprinkles
- Sauces (chocolate, caramel, strawberry)
- Fruit
- Nuts
- Candy
- Pretzels
- Chocolate chips
This post was all about 15 easy food bar ideas that will save you time at your next get together so you can focus more on having fun than cooking!
If you’re looking for more food bar ideas check out my Pinterest board!
