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These party platter ideas are easy to assemble and the perfect fuss-free entertainment meal ideas.

There’s nothing better than fuss-free entertainment when you want to enjoy the company and these party platter ideas are fresh and delicious and easy to make!

Whether it’s a birthday or a chance to kick back and hang out, summer is filled with get-togethers and lots of food! On the occasions that I’m the host and want to minimize the back-and-forth running to the kitchen, I’ve found that a platter or board is always the perfect meal for the occasion.

Making Your Own Summer Party Platters

The key to an epic party platter is to include a variety of items, color, and having lots of ingredients to choose from! You can get fancy or keep it simple, that’s entirely up to you -variety is key.

Keep reading to get inspired by tasty ingredients that will help you build a delicious party platter filled with veggies, dip, breads and protein!

If you’re having trouble finding a flavor combination for your perfect Summer platter, skip to the end where I’ll share a few winning combos & the printable recipe for my famous Greek Nacho platter.

grilled vegetables on a tray with sabra hummus and tortillas

Vegetables for Party Platters

When thinking of veggies for a delicious and show-stopping party platter, you want something coloful, easy to pick up, and dunkable in your favorite dip. The ideas below cover the basics and a few new options to fall in love with.

Cucumbers: slice into wedges and serve with anything creamy.
Bell Peppers: red, green, yellow, orange- it’s up to you!
Grape tomatoes: is it even a veggie tray if these red gems aren’t on it?
Sugar snap peas: have a sweet, crisp flavor that goes with everything from ranch to hummus.
Carrots: make your own carrot sticks or opt for baby carrots.
Cauliflower florets: use regular white cauliflower, or make it colorful with purple cauliflower- both taste delicious with any kind of ranch.
Broccoli florets: a classic veggie for dipping in ranch or hummus.
Grilled zucchini: goes with just about any dip!
Roasted sweet potato wedges: this is the equivalent to sweet potato fries, but baked not fried, and they taste incredible with any kind of hummus or Tzatziki dip.
Grilled red peppers: sweet, savory, smoky- what’s not to love here?
Buffalo Roasted Cauli Bites: this cauliflower is dippable, and has a little more kick to it.
Pickles: kosher spears or mini pickles are great for parties.
Pepperoncinis: sweet, peppery flavor pairs wonderfully with savory meats and cheese.

Fruit for Party Platters

Apples: add color to your platter with thinly sliced apples.
Pears: delicious pairs can be spiced and cut into small pieces.
Grapes: popable, crunchy, and great for platters.
Strawberries: thinly slice sweet strawberries for a sweet and tangy bite.
Pineapple: sweet, tangy, and perfectly contrasts savory sides.
Cantalope: wow guests with this colorful and mouthwatering fruit.
Honeydew: dice full of sweet subtle flavor for the ultimate shindig.
Watermelon: refreshing, hydrating, and sweet for your party.
Sliced orange: full of vitamin C, oranges give your platter a burst of sweetness.
Kiwi: thinly slice sweet kiwis for a colorfully decorated platter.
Dried fruit: dried fruit is crispy, crunchy, and delicious. Local stores sell pre-made packs.
Black olives: every party needs olives!
Kalamata olives: these olives are a popular Mediterranean side.
Castelvetrano olives: green olives that are nutritious and delish.

Cheese

Gouda: smoky sharp cheese for ultimate platters.
Brie: this soft cheese makes for a great appetizer.
Sharp Cheddar: best paired with crackers or other small crunchy items.
Burrata: similar to fresh Mozzerella, this soft oozing cheese adds a WOW factor to party platters.
Manchego: sweet cheese that pairs well with ham, olives, and bread (platter essentials).
Pepper Jack: soft, peppery cheese that has a sharper taste.
Colby Jack: similar to Pepperjack without the added heat.
Feta cheese: the perfect crumbly cheese for a Mediterranean style platter!

Meats

Salami: props if you roll these into cute little decorations.
Prosciutto: easy to pop in your mouth and serve!
Deli turkey: winner winner turkey dinner!
Deli ham: grab your Oscar Meyer or deli favorite for the ultimate platter.
Pepperoni: cheaper, but always a fan-favorite.
Soppressata: gourmet Italian salami that tastes great.
Beef jerky: a quick and delicious snackable platter option.
Smoked Salmon Pinwheels: these gorgeous pinwheels are a flavorful addition to any party platter!

Best Party Platter Dips

Greek Hummus: great for dipping veggies or fruits.
Sun-Dried Tomato Hummus: subtly earthy and flavorful, this dip is a hit at platter parties.
Edamame Hummus: this green dip is healthy and delicious.
Sweet Potato Hummus: creamy, out-of-this-world hummus packed with health benefits.
Hummus & Spinach Dip: a twist on the original spinach and artichoke dip for your epic party.
Guacamole: guests will love yours because it doesn’t cost extra!
Ranch Dressing: make your own with a ranch packet or buy the bottle! Ranch is a staple.
Avocado Lime Ranch Dressing: avocado makes this dressing irresistibly creamy and tangy-perfect for dipping.
Cilantro Lime Sauce: if cilantro is your jam, you’ll love this dip combination on your platter.
Tzatziki: goes great with cucumbers, pretzels, and other dippable sides.
French Onion Dip: tastes amazing with chips, pretzels, or any dipping sides.
Salsa: buy pre-made salsa cups for your guests to dip into.
Caramel Fruit Dip: pairs great with the pineapple, apple, or other popable fruits.
Fruit Dip: store buy, or make your own!
Greek yogurt: high protein, low-carb dip for better substitutions.
Homemade Caramel Dip: everything tastes better when it’s homemade!
Chocolate Peanut Butter Dip: mmm..chocolate and peanut butter are a winning combo.
Honey: an all-natural, semi-sweet dipping option.
Nutella: chocolate hazelnut is universally delish and pairs with almost anything.
Fig spread: pair with bread slices or as a unique dip in your platter.

Sweets

Dark chocolate: dark chocolate lovers this one is for you!
Pirouette Cookies: these crispy wafers are best served for grab-and-go snacking!
Milano Cookies: these buttery soft cookies are perfect for party platters.
Chocolate Chip Cookies: always a hit, no matter the guest list.
Oreos: vanilla or chocolate Oreos are a great choice because who doesn’t like Oreos?
Rip Van Wafels: these European cookies will take your party to a new level.
Biscottis: long twice baked cookies will be perfectly crunchy at your next party.
Biscoff cookies: these epic buttery cookies are semi-sweet and melt in your mouth.
Graham crackers: pair with a caramel dip or other sweet choices.
Gingersnaps: make your own or buy a box for a knock-your-socks-off sweet combo.
Sliced Shortbread Cake: shortbread cake will bring your platter new life at your next gathering.
Sliced Brownies: brownies can be storebought or homemade, depending on your party preference.
Marshmallows: perfectly popable marshmallows are nostalgic and kids love them.
Macaroons: your guests will love these French cookies at your party.
Caramels: mini caramel candies create an especially sweet platter.
Chocolate-Covered Strawberries: these are usually the first to go at any party!
Waffle Cone Chips: forget about the ice cream, waffle cones are where the party’s at.
Chocolate Caramels: ooey gooey, popable caramels will be a hit!

Salty and Savory

Chocolate Covered Pretzels: an epic combination for a party platter.
Honey Roasted Peanuts: sweet, roasted peanuts are popable and perfect for snacking.
Peanut Butter Filled Pretzels: these are not normal pretzels, the insides are full of peanut butter!
Caramel Corn: these flavored popcorns are another crunchy snacking option for your party platter.
Banana Chips: crunchy banana chips are great for dipping or alone.
Plantain Chips: similar to banana chips, but less sweet-great for snacking.

Carbs for Party Platters

Crackers: pick your favorite, the options are limitless.
Breton Multi-Grain Crackers: these muti-grain crackers pair great with fruit or any dips you serve!
Nut-Thin Gluten Free Crackers: cater to everyone’s diet with these GF crackers!
Pita wedges: slice pita into thin wedges and pair with an epic hummus or other dip.
Pita chips: the best crunch for hummus and other dips!
Pretzel chips: thin pretzel-chips are great on their own or served with special dips.
Bagel chips: these are a bit thicker and crunchier, but great for spreading dips or fruit.
Tortilla chips: great for a fiesta party platter!
Sliced Hearty Bread: or your favorite sliced bread can elevate any party platter and keep guests full.
Stuffed Grape Leaves: oily grape leaves are stuffed with ground meat or other protein for an amazing Mediterranean party.
Deli Meat & Cheese Pinwheels: easy to wrap and slice for a great party presentation.
Avocado, Bacon, & Cheese Pinwheels: another popular dish that is easy to recreate-wrap ingredients in a tortilla and thinly slice.
Baked Parmesan & Spinach Balls: delicious, popable spinach balls will be your guests’ new favorite!

Epic Party Platter Flavor Combinations

Need help combining these ingredients into an unforgettable Summer Party Platter? Try one of these delish combos!

Greek: grape leaves, sliced ripe tomatoes, kalamata olives, bell pepper, feta cheese, pita wedges, and Tzatziki sauce.
Spanish: Manchego cheese, prosciutto, almonds, olives, hearty bread,
Italian: sliced tomato, Burrata (Mozzarella), salami, prosciutto, hearty bread, olive oil with cracker black pepper.
Grilled Party Platter: grilled zucchini, grilled bell peppers, pita wedges, hummus, and feta cheese.
Sweet Party Platter: dark chocolate pieces, Milano cookies, strawberries, apples, sliced pound cake, and caramel sauce.
Picnic: sliced deli meat and ham, sliced Cheddar, carrot sticks, sliced cucumber, whole grain crackers, and ranch dressing or hummus.
Fiesta: black olives, red bell pepper, tortilla chips, Cheddar cheese, and guacamole.
Low-Carb: sliced cucumber, bell pepper, deli or Italian cuts, Cheddar cheese
Hummus Party Platter: hummus, pita chips, feta cheese, cucumbers
Classic Charcuterie: rolled lunch meat, cheese, grapes, crackers
Sweet & Savory: apple slices, caramel dip, pretzels, pepper jack cheese, buffalo-roasted cauli bites

Party Platter Ideas for your Summer Gathering

Servings: 6

Prep Time: 10

Total Time: 10

These party platter ideas are easy to assemble and the perfect fuss-free entertainment meal ideas.

5 from 5 votes

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Ingredients

Greek Nacho Party Platter

6 ounces Hummus
4 pita rounds, sliced into wedges
1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
1 English cucumber, diced
1 cup pitted kalamata olives, halved
½-1 cup feta cheese , crumbles
½ cup red onion, diced
fresh parsley, chopped

Instructions

Line a rimmed baking sheet or serving platter with parchment paper.
Place 1 tub Sabra Classic hummus in the center of the baking sheet. Place the pita wedges around the edges of the sheet or serving platter.
Making alternate sections, evenly divide the tomatoes, cucumber, olives, feta cheese, and red onion around the hummus. Sprinkle with freshly chopped parsley.