6 Easy Cold Buffet Food Ideas for a Party

Having a party at your place can be a great way to unwind and catch up with your friends and family.

But before you get your party going, you need to plan your catering menu.

A delicious buffet can make any party a smash hit. But your buffet doesn’t always need to include hot foods—there are plenty of cold buffet options out there that can be just as good as their hotter counterparts!

When we say “cold” buffet food, we don’t mean that the food needs to be served chilled—these food items can be served chilled or at room temperature. This makes them a pretty easy buffet option as you won’t need to have the food heated before serving.

Also, if you want to have some hot food items in your buffet, you can always include some sold sides to go along with them. So, let’s take a look at six cold buffet food ideas for a party.

1. A Variety of Coleslaw

This is a simple yet very tasty dish that can be both a meal and a side dish. Made from raw cabbage and plenty of delicious dressing, including mayo, coleslaw can be a healthy meal option for guests who are health-conscious.

You can also try having coleslaw made from different kinds of cabbages, aside from the usual green cabbage. Other great cabbages for coleslaw include napa cabbage, savoy cabbage, and red cabbage.

Also, you can try pairing your coleslaw with other buffet items, like beef, chicken, or vegetable sliders!

2. A Non-Boring Potato Salad

Potato salad is a popular dish at potlucks everywhere. Now, we all love potato salad, but sometimes it can get a bit boring. Since this is potato salad for a party, why not make it a bit more interesting?

In addition to traditional potato salad, you can treat your guests to a selection of unique styles of potato salad.

For example, BLT potato salad, potato salad with smoked salmon, crunchy potato salad with onion and celery, and Japanese-style potato salad are great variations of traditional potato salad.

3. A DIY Sandwich Station

Everyone loves a good sandwich, and your guests will too—especially when you let them make their own!

By setting up a sandwich station with a selection of breads, deli meat, cheeses, and veggies, you can give your guest the chance to build their own sandwich while they mingle.

Make sure to include some sauces on the side too so your guests can make sure their favorite sauce is included.

4. A Big, Bold Selection of Cheese

There are so many kinds of cheese out there, that it would be a crime not to include them in your cold buffet. So set up a table where your guests can enjoy a variety of delicious cheeses.

Some great cheeses you can serve in your buffet are romano, aged cheddar, blue cheese, brie, and havarti. You can also include some savory crackers and dinner rolls for your guests to enjoy the cheese with.

If cheese isn’t enough, throw in a great selection of fruits and you’ve got yourself a nice big charcuterie board!

5. A Fruit Salad

Vegetable salads are a staple in most party buffets, so why not try something a little different? Fruit salads!

Fruit salads are nothing new, but if you want to try something other than the traditional vegetable salad bar—a fruit salad bar is a great choice! Just make sure to add a good selection of fresh fruits, and maybe even some dried ones, for your guests to enjoy.

Also, try to include some exotic fruits for more variety and some honey and custard as toppings so that your guests can jazz up their fruit salads.

6. A Selection of Desserts from Around the World

No food buffet is complete without a dessert table, but most of the time, the desserts we offer guests are traditional, all-American treats.

So have you considered going international with your dessert options? Well, it might be just the thing you need to spruce up your party.

Some delicious international desserts you can try are mochi, German apple cake, Thai sticky rice with mango, Spanish flan, and pistachio baklava.

Experiment with new cold buffet food ideas for a party

A good buffet can make a party unforgettable, especially when you try out some unique cold buffet food ideas for a party. Planning a hit buffet can be just as tough as planning an entire party so get in touch with a good catering service in Pittsburgh that offers both hot and cold buffet menus to help you serve up the ultimate cold food buffet!