Best Finger Foods for Parties (No Actual Cooking Required)

We’ve all floated around parties at some point, picking at tiny foods on fancy platters to kill some time and maybe even some awkward tension. Finger foods are irresistible. So, when it’s your turn to throw a party, the question arises: What are the best finger foods for parties? If you need a creative array to outdo whoever threw that last party (with no real cooking required) or if your mind is just going completely blank, we are here for you!

Parmesan Pastry Pups

Check them out at Trader Joe’s

Pigs in a blanket are a party staple and have been for decades. But if you’re feeling too lazy to make them yourself, pick these puppies up from your local Trader Joe’s. They’ve been a staple on our lists here at Sporked for some time and for good reason. As Sporked’s managing editor Gwynedd Stuart wrote in her ranking of Trader Joe’s best frozen appetizers, “The juicy mini hot dogs and buttery puff pastry combine to create a delicious, greasy slurry, and the parm on top gives them even more savory flavor.” Ugh. Does that not sound delicious? Smoky, juicy meat, flaky buttery crust, and cheese. They say you’re not supposed to mess with a good thing, but Trader Joe’s truly elevates pigs in a blanket. And the biggest perk? Getting to tell everyone they’re called “Parmesan Pastry Pups.” How cute!

Stacy’s Simply Naked Pita Chips

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“These chips are sexy,” Gwynedd wrote in her review of the best pita chips. They are oh so sexy. And very naked. But they’re still a little buttery and savory. They pair well with pretty much any dip, be it healthy or more indulgent. Alternatively, if you’re like me, you can just stuff your face with these, call it a meal, and never even take that second step to buy the dip. They’re crunchy but never too thin, and each bag comes with chips of varying sizes and thicknesses so your mouth will never, never get bored. Oh, and for all you health-conscious folks out there, Stacy’s pita chips are baked. Toss these ladies in a bowl and we can guarantee that they’ll be a huge hit.

Related: Best Chips for Dipping

Ore-Ida Gourmet Onion Rings

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Onion rings are seriously, dangerously fun. They’re an excellent finger food for parties and will probably be a hit with the kids who enjoy turning them into earrings and nose rings and, well… all sorts of rings. Now if you’re a big kid or an adult and actually plan to eat these bad boys, be prepared for a flavor journey. These onion rings are the real deal. Perfectly sized onion-y pieces in breading that, as Gwynedd wrote, “separated from the onion rather than creating a homogenous, slightly wet mishmosh.” Gwynedd’s point about “mishmosh” is critical. Ore-Ida Onion Ringers are a lie. They’re made with minced onion that’s shaped into an onion ring. I do not endorse them whatsoever.

Related: Best Frozen Onion Rings

Mini Vegetable Samosas

Check them out at Trader Joe’s

Yes, yes. Another Trader Joe’s frozen appetizer makes the list. How predictable. It’s pretty common knowledge that Trader Joe’s has some of the best grocery store Indian food—by a landslide. Be it a frozen meal or some naan bread. But we’re talking finger foods for parties here, and these mini vegetable samosas—along with their chicken tikka counterparts—are perfect for parties. Whether you have vegans, vegetarians, spice-lovers, or just plain old hungry humans coming over, these are sure to please. They’re stuffed with carrots, peas, lentils, onions, potatoes, and spices. And all of that spicy vegetable goodness is wrapped in a flaky golden dough. So, so good! Buy a little chutney or go crazy in the kitchen and whip up some of your own. Either way, we’re rooting for you!

Foster Farms Take Out Crispy Classic Buffalo Wings

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A major requirement of finger foods is that they aren’t too messy. Although I’ve ignored that rule to some regard in my previous recommendations, wings can really, really get messy when they’re covered in sauce. You don’t want your guests to be desperately licking their fingers clean. It’s just improper. Foster Farms’s Crispy Classic Buffalo Wings are plain. But don’t worry; for you sauce lovers out there, they do come with a separate sauce packet. To be completely honest, though, they shine on their own. They’re meaty, crispy, and moist all at once. Even though we’re fans of spice and flavor, we ranked them highly on our best frozen wings list. As Sporked senior staff writer Jordan Myrick said when tasting them, “I kind of forgot I was on camera for a minute.” Not only are these utterly mesmerizing, but they’re also a fantastic gluten-free option.

Related: Best Frozen Wings

Fried Olive Bites

Check them out at Trader Joe’s

Olives: You either love ‘em or you hate ‘em. But one thing is an unchanging truth and that is that they’re infinitely better when they’re breaded, fried, and stuffed with cheese. I’m sorry, did you say breaded, fried, and stuffed with cheese? Yes, yes I did. For some reason, fried olives just aren’t a thing, and if you’re looking to stand out from all your party-throwing friends, this finger food is an excellent move. Trader Joe’s uses chopped green Castelvetrano olives and purple Kalamata olives—giving you the best of Italy and Greece—which are rebound into a sort of dough. According to the Trader Joe’s site, these are stuffed with “mascarpone, Roquefort, and cream cheese” and then breaded with panko bread crumbs and fried. The blue cheese compliments the strong olive flavor and the cream cheese creates the perfect, smooth texture, all while the mascarpone brings a mildness that rounds out all the funky flavors. This, my olive-loving friends, is heaven.