19 Creative Oscar Party Food Ideas

As the celebrities make their speeches and cross the stage during your Oscar party, what will your guests be munching on? We need some snacks as impressive as the stars on display. So let Peerspace inspire you with 19 creative Oscar party food ideas that are guaranteed to wow your audience!

1. Combine Southern classics in mini deviled crab corn muffins

Cornbread and crab cakes are two of the most brilliant flavors American cuisine has to offer. And it turns out they both taste even better when paired into mini deviled crab corn muffins! You get a touch of sweet, salty, and spicy using this recipe from Food and Wine. Any list of Oscar party food ideas should have some one-bite appetizers included and these are some of our favorites.

2. Prepare an artistic olive & Cheese board

Food boards offer endless possibilities as Oscar party food ideas. Let’s skip the usual charcuterie and try something a bit more unique: an olive and cheese board! These two buttery flavors will absolutely melt in your mouth. Add some crackers and dip for the ultimate Oscar party appetizer alongside toothpicks.

Before you start picking what kind of cheese you’ll be using, you should have a venue booked in advance! What’s that, you don’t have one ready yet? Well don’t despair; Peerspace has hundreds of party venues near you with amenities like big-screen TVs, outdoor patios, and even rooftop spaces with urban skyline views!

3. Elevate your snacks with smoked salmon dip

Smoky salmon and creamy dairy come together as smoked salmon dip using this recipe from Once Upon a Chef! The dip is incredible as a standalone bowl for chips or crackers. You could also use it as a spread for bread or bagels. Besides the tabasco sauce, the recipe calls for you could also add cracked pepper, paprika, or other seasonings for variations that are sure to impress your guests.

4. Bring the tastes of Italy over with chicken piccata

Chicken can be a meat that’s hard to impress people with since it’s so common. But how about we get creative with wine and lemon-bathed chicken piccata? The dish is restaurant-quality yet easy enough for even the most kitchen-phobic Oscar party planner to pull off! Check out this recipe from Red Shallot Kitchen to get you started.

Keep the “ciao, bella” spirit going with these unique Italian-themed party ideas!

5. Get creative with stuffed mushrooms

Stuffed mushrooms are an easy Oscar party food idea that can become almost anything you like! Depending on the stuffing you use they can be spicy or bland, sweet or savory, but always guaranteed to leave no leftovers. Cheese and bacon are some of the most popular stuffings but you can always choose lighter options like hummus or breadcrumbs for fewer calories. It’s sure hard to say no to blue cheese and bacon-stuffed mushrooms, however!

6. Dress up some tuxedo cake pops

Oscar celebrations are about more than the awards; you also get to see actors dressing their very best for the occasion. You can do the same with some well-dressed Oscar party food ideas like these tuxedo cake pops! These are an ambitious baking project but with a little time and frosting talent you’ll have cake pops that everyone is sure to admire.

7. Serve some sweet champagne jellies

You don’t have to drink your alcohol; not when you can mix them into a beautiful dessert like these champagne jellies! These little squares of gold are classy looking served in a glass or on a plate. What’s more, they only take a handful of ingredients to make and are one of the easiest Oscar party menu options we have to share!

8. Use spinach artichoke dip as a side or main dish

Spinach artichoke dip is one of those recipes that everyone buys at the store when it’s so much easier – and more satisfying – to make it yourself! Use this recipe from Once Upon a Chef to get you started. It’s the perfect dip for pita chips, bread, crackers, and other crunchy snack options, or you can smother it over chicken or pork as a main dish.

9. Put bacon on everything with bourbon bacon jam

How about a sweet spread to balance out the creamy smoked salmon dip we introduced to you earlier? Some bourbon bacon jam is just as likely to disappear fast from the snack table. We’d want to use both sweet and savory Oscar party food ideas for a cheese or cracker food board! After all, everything is made better with a bit of bacon.

10. Wow your guests with mini cannoli cups

Desserts don’t have to be a guilt-inducing experience. Not when you can easily make portion-controlled dishes like a plate of fancy mini cannoli cups! That said, we won’t judge if you have more than one – they’re incredibly good. The smooth, sweet cream and crispy cannoli crust are a combination few can resist.

11. Add some fresh flavors with ginger pork lettuce wraps

Not everything on this list of Oscar party food ideas needs to be sweet, creamy, or heavy. How about the fresh, spicy taste of ginger pork lettuce wraps? These Vietnamese creations are easy to make yet include bold colors and a zesty flavor that’s hard to resist! Best of all, a batch takes just 35 minutes to make, for a quick Oscar party appetizer option. 

12. Serve the best chocolate mousse ever

Chocolate mousse is one of those desserts we’ve all had but are rarely wow’d by. So how about changing that using this amazing chocolate mousse recipe from Food and Wine? You’ll be making it from scratch using both eggs and heavy cream for incredible richness. The addition of sweet liqueur gives it a nice kick as well for an unbeatable upscale dessert experience!

13. Down some pea soup shooters

Soup doesn’t have to be an involved dish with bowls and large portions. Not when you can serve pea soup shooters instead as a tasty liquid appetizer! Considering it takes just 20 minutes of prep time (not including chilling) to make a batch, these are a quick party food idea to blend for any upcoming special event.

14. Mix grapefruit crushes for summer cocktails

Freshly crushed grapefruit goes well with Sprite, vodka, and triple sec, as the grapefruit crush proves. It’s an easy-to-make cocktail with great flavor. Not to mention the beautiful pink hue makes it a really eye-catching beverage to serve as an Oscar party food idea!

Score more pretty-in-pink menu suggestions using these pink food ideas for your next party.

15. Spice up the snack table with drunken gummies

Gummy bears aren’t just for kids. Not when you can give them a bit of a kick by making some drunken gummies! All you need are gummy bears and time: 3 to 4 days of soaking time is necessary so you’ll need to plan well in advance for your upcoming Oscar party. Rum, tequila, whiskey, the alcohol type doesn’t matter. Choose your gummy bear colors, your beverage flavor, and let them set for a few days before serving.

16. Whip up some oysters Rockefeller

Even though oysters are a wonderful Oscar party food idea not everyone enjoys eating them raw. So how about a seafood appetizer option that’s more widely appealing: oysters Rockefeller? The recipe was created over a century ago and named for the world’s richest man at the time. If these oysters were good enough for J. D. Rockefeller then they’re certainly good enough for your Oscar party! 

17. Serve rich brie & Nutella grilled cheese sandwiches

Cheese and chocolate are two flavors that go amazing together. If you don’t want to do a cheese and chocolate fondue, make some brie & Nutella grilled cheese sandwiches instead! You already have sweet, creamy, and salty, so add crispy to the mix with some toasted bread for an incredible party sandwich.

18. Serve fancy cheesecake bars

Oscar party desserts are best served as appetizers and finger foods. Small portions are the name of the game and these cheesecake bars fit the theme nicely! The ingredients list is a little long but homemade cheesecake is easy to make and can be ready for the party in less than an hour.

19. Improve the snack platter with Union Square Cafe bar nuts

A bowl of nuts is a tasty, if uninspiring Oscar party food idea. But what if we made roasted nuts better with some of the seasonings that Union Square Cafe is famous for? These spiced bar nuts go great with cocktails or in a bowl along with cheese, chips and dip, or other Oscar party snacks!

Oscar party food ideas: conclusion

Our Oscar party food ideas include some finger foods that are far more creative than pigs in a blanket or popcorn! From rich chicken dishes to champagne jellies, we hope you’ve found some amazing recipes to whip up. After all, helping people plan amazing events is what Peerspace does best! And the party venues near you we have ready to book make it even easier to have a great time with friends and families.

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