19 Delicious Employee Appreciation Food Ideas

An employee appreciation event is the best way to let your team know just how much they mean to you! Have you thought about what kind of menu you’ll be serving? Peerspace is full of resources for an employee appreciation day, including recipes and event venues near you. Why not skip the chips and dip and try a few of our delicious employee appreciation food ideas? From taco stations to carnival food, there’s something here for any team! 

1. Grab a few boxes of donuts from a local bakery

Most cities have a few bakeries offering artisan donuts that are famous for being both beautiful and delicious. A donut party is perfect if you aren’t planning on serving a large meal. Of course, you can also include donuts at the end of an awesome lunch or dinner. There’s no bad time for artisan donuts!

2. Book a local coffee shop for the event

Many local coffee cafes and bars open their doors for employee appreciation parties and other events! You can even hire a barista to keep the hot drinks flowing for a few hours while your team celebrates achieving milestones together. 

Not sure where to find a coffee shop space for rent? Let Peerspace help! We have venues like this upscale coffee shop in Denver, CO, with industrial decor, a barista for hire, and space for up to 75 guests! 

3. Take them on an international food tour

Introduce everyone to some truly unique flavors with international food ideas! This is the best idea for companies focused on travel, international business, and other themes. Even so, you can make an international food event a part of any employee appreciation day. Check out this list from Taste of Home if you want employee appreciation food ideas from Ireland, Brazil, Japan, and other far-flung destinations!

4. Make it an entertaining event with a cooking class

Do you want to offer an experience for your employees along with a good meal? Cooking classes are a fun idea for small to medium-sized teams! Let everyone top their perfect pizza or stuff some homemade ravioli before enjoying it together. They’ll leave with some new kitchen skills as well as a full belly.

5. Serve breakfast boards any time of the day

Food boards offer unlimited potential and a breakfast-themed board is just the thing to put a smile on everyone’s face. You don’t have to serve one at the beginning of the day, either. A pancake, waffle, or bagel board is delicious anytime, plus they look as good as they taste! Breakfast food boards are perfect for employee appreciation events because everyone can choose what they want, ensuring picky eaters are satisfied.

Get more unique food board ideas for your next party here!

6. Please the vegetarians with Buddha bowls

No list of employee appreciation food ideas would be complete without a few vegetarian and vegan-friendly options! All you need for Buddha bowls is enough fresh and prepared grains, fruit, and vegetables for everyone to make their own version. If your team and/or organization is health-conscious, there are few better options for a lunch employee appreciation event.

7. Hire a caterer for a lunch party

Catering services are the easiest way to host a successful employee appreciation day. They typically offer classic American cuisine like sandwiches, pasta, and desserts, but choosing a local restaurant known for unique cuisine is even more fun. Classic Southern cooking, street tacos, poke bowls, and pizza are just a few of the catering options restaurants near you are likely to offer! 

8. Throw an ice cream party 

Why not have dessert for dinner or lunch? An ice cream party isn’t just for kids; everyone loves a few scoops of ice cream with their favorite toppings. This is an especially good employee appreciation food idea for outdoor summer parties where you want to beat the heat! 

9. Let everyone contribute with a potluck party

Make your employee appreciation event truly memorable by hosting a potluck party! A potluck means you aren’t relying on caterers to feed everyone, cutting costs. Everyone gets to bring something, which makes the event feel far more collaborative. Plus you all get to see how talented your coworkers are in the kitchen! If you need further inspiration, check out our potluck party ideas and food ideas to get you started.

10. Jazz up the snack table with a french fry board

French fries deserve a place at any employee appreciation table but you don’t have to make them look boring. Use different kinds of potatoes and fries cut in intriguing ways, like wavy and waffle. Include multiple kinds of dip, too. Mustard, wasabi aioli, ketchup, and sriracha all add splashes of color to a delicious french fry charcuterie board! 

11. Set up a taco bar

Tacos are close to the perfect food but few of us agree on how to make the best taco. Fortunately, you can let everyone make the best taco with a taco bar! This employee appreciation food idea is creative, simple, and satisfying since you just need enough ingredients to please everyone. Even vegetarians and vegans can enjoy a taco bar with tofu, seitan, and other meat substitutes.

12. Host an employee appreciation brunch party

Does your team have a favorite local restaurant known for a good brunch menu? Book the entire dining room or one of their private event rooms for a brunch party. Brunch includes the best of breakfast and lunch, ensuring everyone will find something on the menu to please them.

13. Throw an outdoor BBQ party

Outdoor employee appreciation parties are all the rage when the weather is fine! You can make it a truly cozy event with a grillmaster on hand to whip up burgers and steaks while everyone relaxes by the pool for the perfect BBQ party.  Did you know Peerspace has hundreds of outdoor event venues near you with BBQ grills, swimming pools, and other backyard party essentials? For a small to mid-sized outdoor party, check out this rooftop deck in San Francisco, CA, with skyline views, a BBQ grill, WiFi, and more.

14. Celebrate comfort food with macaroni and cheese

Macaroni and cheese is a dish that almost everyone will appreciate. It’s rich, filling, and best of all, easy to make. There are so many ways to make this classic casserole but we think this version from Tastes Better from Scratch is one of the best!

Check out these happy hour food ideas for more comfort food classics perfect for your team.

15. Warm things up with a hot chocolate station

Is your employee appreciation day a fall or winter event? Give everyone a chance to warm up with a hot chocolate station! The rich chocolate drink is only the beginning, though. You’ll need some sweet and spicy toppings, like whipped cream, cinnamon sticks, and sprinkles so everyone can make a delightful drink. This is a wonderful employee appreciation food idea when the event is part of a holiday party like Christmas. Head to Smartblend for some ideas on designing the perfect hot chocolate station.

16. Get creative with waffle tacos for breakfast, lunch, and dinner

Ditch the tortilla shell for something a bit more filling: waffles! A waffle taco is truly delicious with the right ingredients. Stick to breakfast-themed waffle tacos with chopped bacon and eggs, or make them more like a traditional taco with ground beef, sour cream, and lettuce. Waffle tacos can easily be a dessert option as well with ice cream and sprinkles!

17. Offer antipasto skewers as appetizers

Looking for an employee appreciation food idea that works as finger food for a social mixer-style event? Antipasto skewers are hard to beat! You can customize them to your liking with the right cheese, meat, or vegetables. Many professional catering companies offer them as well if you don’t want to make them yourself.

18. Arrange a cheese and charcuterie board

Charcuterie and cheese is a classic party option for good reason. It’s easy to find the ingredients at your local grocery store, they’re inexpensive to create, and they sure do taste great! You might be feeling overwhelmed by the sheer amount of options you have, though. So head to Taste of Home for some epic charcuterie board ideas.

19. Liven things up with a carnival-themed event

Bring the fair to your office or party venue with carnival food! Corn dogs, popcorn, funnel cake, lemonade…The sweeter and messier it is, the better, especially if it’s been battered and fried. Maybe it’s been a few years since your last trip to the carnival so check out Food Network for some of our favorite carnival food ideas for a unique employee appreciation event.

Employee appreciation food ideas: conclusion

We’ve all had sandwiches, chips, and other classic employee appreciation event food ideas before. So why not offer some of the delicious yet truly memorable options listed here? Your team is sure to thank you! If you’ve found Peerspace to be a helpful resource for food ideas, check out some of our party venues near you! After all, we offer spaces for special events of all kinds!

Find unique corporate event venues for your employee appreciation party on Peerspace