14 Fun Pool Party Food Ideas

Throwing a pool party? There’s lots to consider to make the celebration extra fun and relaxing—and serving delicious food should be one of your top priorities. We’ve got 14 awesome pool party food ideas to get you started.

Before we get to the pool party food ideas, a quick question: do you have a location for your pool party? After all, not everyone has a pool in their backyard. If not, consider looking for spaces with pools near you that are available for rent via Peerspace, the internet’s leading marketplace for hourly rentals of all kinds of spaces (including party venues). There are thousands of spaces with pools to be found on the site—across a range of locations, budgets, styles, sizes, and more—that are sure to make your pool party a total success.

Once you’ve got the venue established, it’s back to figuring out the other details of your party, including one of the most important: the food! So here are our top pool party food ideas for inspiration.

1. Chex mix

For a pool party, you definitely want to offer your guests snacks that are easy to grab while on the go. This homemade Chex mix is an excellent example of that—no plates or bowls necessary. 

2. BBQ smoked sausage bites

Speaking of easy-to-grab, portable snacks, these BBQ smoked sausage bites also fit the bill, making them an ideal pool party food idea. They’re also easy to make, requiring only two ingredients (sausage and the BBQ sauce of your choice), and they’re super tasty. 

3. Seven-layer dip in a cup

Foods that are bite-sized and portable can still make up a satisfying and balanced meal, like this seven-layer dip in a cup! You’ve got beans, salsa, guacamole, sour cream, cheese, olives, and chips to scoop it all up with. It’s hard to imagine a better pool party food idea!

4. Mediterranean avocado salad

Skip the usual lettuce-based salads and try this Mediterranean-inspired avocado salad with mozzarella balls, pesto, tomatoes, and cucumbers. It’s sure to be a crowd-pleaser.

A fabulous pool party needs the ultimate pool for hosting. Check out our guide on how and where to rent a pool for a day to find yours!

5. Pasta salad

Is it really a summer party without a big bowl of pasta salad? This one’s extra colorful thanks to tri-color rotini and a variety of veggies, and the recipe feeds as many as 24 guests. Plus, making pasta salad is pretty much as simple as cooking the pasta base, chopping and mixing in all your toppings, and topping it with salad dressing.

6. Cheesy turkey sliders

Baked turkey sliders on Hawaiian rolls are an easy appetizer that also happens to be extremely tasty, especially when you add plenty of cheese. The author of this recipe notes that these tend to be the first to go at parties, so you might want to double the recipe, just to be safe!

7. Rainbow fruit skewers

Stacking a variety of fruit—strawberries, melon, pineapple, blueberries, grapes, and more—on skewers in the colors of the rainbow is another amazingly quick option. Your guests will definitely appreciate this refreshing fruity snack while they take breaks from swimming in the pool and sunbathing.

8. Parmesan corn on the cob

Corn on the cob is another summery classic, and adding shredded Parmesan to the mix definitely takes things up about five notches. You can also make this recipe in the oven, so it’s easy to prepare for a crowd.

9. Deviled strawberries

You’ve probably seen deviled eggs on plenty of party food recipe lists, but how about deviled strawberries? These are a fun twist on a classic party food, using a sweet cream cheese filling (similar to cheesecake) to accent the refreshing flavor of the strawberries.

10. Stuffed celery

Celery sticks make a crunchy, refreshing vehicle for this creamy filling, which is a mix of cream cheese, Italian dressing, mayo, and mozzarella cheese—a ton of flavor and a great contrast to the celery.

Need more party planning suggestions? Then you need to check out our pool party ideas that will make a splash with your guests!

11. Frozen blueberry margaritas

At a pool party, probably the best way to cool off after lying in the hot sun is by jumping in the pool. The second best? Ice-cold margaritas, like these frozen blueberry margaritas! The blueberries also give them a beautiful purple hue, plus a healthy dose of antioxidants that might help to counteract a bit of alcohol consumption.

12. Chicken tacos

Tacos are one of the most perfectly portable foods out there, which makes them ideal for a pool party. These homemade restaurant-style chicken tacos are a great option, but pretty much any taco recipe will do!

13. Feta artichoke dip

Creamy and complex flavor, and easy to prepare for a crowd? Sign us up! This feta artichoke dip is an unbeatable choice for keeping your guests happy and well-fed at your pool party.

14. Caprese salad skewers

A regular caprese salad might be super tasty, but it’s a somewhat messy and inconvenient choice for a party where guests will be milling around and talking to one another. Skip the need for plates and utensils and offer your guests these Caprese salad skewers instead. They’re as simple to make as stacking the ingredients on a long skewer and sprinkling them with a combo of balsamic vinegar, pepper, and olive oil. Nothing says summer like fresh tomatoes and basil, especially in this absolutely delicious context!

Find unique pool party venues on Peerspace