16 Red Food Ideas For Your Next Party

Color parties are a fun way to celebrate for no particular reason at all! Or you can use color as a theme to tie together a wedding, anniversary, or dinner party. Of all the colors you could choose, a red color party is guaranteed to be a striking affair. Red party decorations and outfits are just part of the formula, though. How about red food ideas for the occasion? Let Peerspace give you a hand here, with a few of our favorite red recipes for a red-themed celebration! 

1. Bake a classic cherry pie

Cherry pie is one of those dishes most people buy because the thought of baking their own pie is too intimidating. But this recipe proves that making a cherry pie from scratch is easy, satisfying, and so much better than the store-bought version. The prep time is well worth the effort here!

2. Toss a pomegranate salad

Pomegranate seeds are so versatile that you can work them into almost any dish! The bright red specks of color add both visual interest and sweet flavor. We think fresh pomegranates are best, which you can use in a simple pomegranate salad! It’s a delightful fresh dish you can bring to an outdoor summer party!

What’s that, you haven’t chosen your party venue yet? Then let Peerspace help! We have hundreds of party venues near you for special occasions of all kinds. This garden venue and urban farm in Seattle, WA, is just one place where you can celebrate the coming of summer with your favorite folks!

3. Break out the crockpot for some BBQ pulled chicken

BBQ pulled chicken is a meat dish that’s great as a standalone helping. Or you can add it to tacos or inside of a hamburger bun! Best of all, it’s an easy-to-make dish that you can set and forget in a crockpot using this recipe! Don’t forget to use a vibrant red BBQ sauce of your choice since that’s where all of the color comes from. 

4. Try making strawberry ice cream yourself

It is a shame that so many people opt to buy strawberry ice cream when making it yourself is so satisfying! Not to mention you can add flavorful bits like white chocolate chips or almond flakes that the store-bought version might not have. You’ll need a few hours to let it chill so plan accordingly for your upcoming red color party!

Check out our ice cream party ideas to help make everyone’s favorite frozen treat the star of your red party!

5. Get fancy with tomato bruschetta

Impress your guests with a more upscale offering like this tomato bruschetta recipe! Tart and tangy tomatoes are a staple in Italian cuisine. They only get better when you add white cheese, balsamic vinaigrette reduction, and sliced basil on top!  

6. Create the perfect red diavolo pasta sauce

Red tomato sauces are as beautiful to look at as they are enjoyable to eat. A classic marinara sauce like diavolo adds a bit of spicy kick to your spaghetti or other pasta of choice. You can also use it for shrimp, fish, and other seafood dishes.

7. Blend refreshing watermelon smoothies

There are few drinks more refreshing for a summer outdoor party than a watermelon smoothie. The sweet watermelon is made even better with a touch of creaminess from yogurt blended into the beverage. Herbs like mint and basil elevate it even more. Since you’re bound to run out of this drink, the quick preparation time of this recipe ensures you won’t need to take too much time from your party to make more!

8. Dip your own candy apples

Are you looking to replicate the feel of a fall festival for your next party? How about making some candy apples for the occasion? Candy apples aren’t hard to make yourself. Plus you can customize them with sprinkles, crushed nuts, and other pretty toppings! It only takes 30 minutes to have a dessert that looks as great as it tastes!

9. Mix a red fruit salad

Fruit salads are one of the easiest red food ideas to work with! Red is one of the most common fruit colors. You can choose from watermelon, apples, pomegranates, strawberries, cherries, cranberries, and dragonfruit, just to name a few options. You can toss the salad and serve it as a traditional side. Or you can place the fruit onto skewers and whip up an easy fruit dip with a bit of red food coloring as a tasty side! 

10. Get healthy with salmon poke bowls

How about salmon poke bowls as a light and healthy addition to the dinner table? You’ll need sushi-grade raw salmon for this recipe; some people opt to add some teriyaki glaze, which adds even more red color. Red vegetables like red cabbage, kidney beans, and bell peppers cleave to the theme even more strongly. You could even use purple rice as the poke bowl base! 

11. Serve a bowl or three of red popcorn chicken

Ditch the bones with popcorn chicken, a dish that’s easy to make, and a surefire hit at the dinner table! You’ll want to add some paprika, hot sauce, or chili powder to the flour mixture to really enhance the red color. Blue cheese dressing is the most common sauce but you can add some hot sauce to help the dish stick to the red theme even more strongly!

12. Get spicy with chipotle hot salsa

Tomato chile salsa is one of the first red food ideas most people think of! Don’t bother with the store-bought stuff, though. Not when it’s so simple to make your own flavor-packed chipotle hot salsa that goes great on chips, chicken, tacos, and more! Since you’ll be using dried red peppers, pepper seeds, and other ingredients, this salsa has some serious kick. But you can moderate the heat level by mixing and matching your favorite peppers! 

Did someone say tacos? Oh yeah, we did! Get more flavorful kicks after perusing these awesome taco party ideas.

13. Try making your own Buffalo chicken wings

Buffalo chicken wings might be the best red food idea if you want something simple that’s guaranteed to be a hit! Baked, oil-fried, or air fried, these wings are simultaneously crispy and saucy. You’ll need 50 minutes of baking time plus prep time so plan accordingly if your party is coming up soon!

Once you have settled on buffalo wings as a party dish, think carefully about the venue you’ve chosen for the occasion. Did you know that Peerspace has all kinds of party spaces where you can bring your homemade wings to a game day, birthday party, or other special event? All you need to do is head over to our party venue search page where you can find a space with just a few clicks of the mouse!

14. Mix cranberry salsa for a holiday party

You don’t have to stick to tomatoes if you’re looking for a chip dip that’s unique without being too weird. Cranberry salsa is one of our favorite holiday dips! It’s sweet and even spicy if you decide to add a few peppers. You can even make a large batch to freeze ahead of time since it keeps for up to a month!

15. Serve grape jelly meatball appetizers

With just four ingredients needed, grape jelly meatballs are the ultimate party meal for folks who don’t want to spend much time in the kitchen but still want to avoid a grocery store meal. You can stick each meatball onto a toothpick skewer for an instant appetizer. Or open the pot up for guests to stick a spoon in and help themselves!

16. Set out a jug of red sangria

Fruit, wine, and color are what make sangria so great! A cold pitcher of this red, red beverage is a welcome addition to any special event. Sangria is Iberian in origin but there are as many ways to make it as there are restaurants. Try this recipe to get you started and mix the fruit, wine, and juices as you like! 

Red food ideas: conclusion

A red party demands more than just a red venue with decorations to match. You also need red food ideas to really immerse yourselves in this theme. As lovers of party planning, Peerspace is all about sharing our favorite ideas with you! We hope you’ll use a few of our favorite recipes for your upcoming special occasion. And maybe while you’re here, you’ll take a look at a few of our party venues near you that have the amenities and space that you need!

Find unique event venues for your red party on Peerspace