This post may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure here.
If you’ve ever thrown a birthday party for one of your kids, you know that the costs can add up. Presents, decorations, party favors, plates and napkins and cups… oh my! My top tip to keep costs down is to choose a time when you don’t have to serve a ton of food. My favorite party times are 10 am and 3 pm. Keep it simple and choose some of these 20 birthday party food ideas for kids.
20 Birthday Party Food Ideas for Kids
Grilled cheese bites
Make grilled cheese sandwiches and then cut into squares or fun shapes.
Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches
Cut these into small squares or use cookie cutters for fun shapes. Be sure to check for any potential allergies—if there are any, use sunflower seed butter or almond butter.
Pizza pinwheels
Roll up pepperoni and mozzarella cheese in crescent rolls, slice into rounds, and bake.
Pigs in a blanket
Save money by skipping the lil’ smokies and just get regular hot dogs and cut them into four pieces! Wrap in crescent rolls and bake.
Mini meatballs
Serve plain or with a dipping sauce (BBQ, ranch, etc.).
Cheese & cracker tray
Save money by buying blocks of cheese and slicing it yourself.
Popcorn
You can just make regular buttered popcorn, or you can melt chocolate and drizzle over the top!
Pretzel sticks
Serve with a side of cheese dip or mustard.
Veggies & ranch dip
Choose easy to prep veggies like carrot sticks, celery, and cucumber slices.
Fruit skewers
Put grapes, strawberries, and bananas on toothpicks.
Banana & peanut butter bites
Slice bananas and top with peanut butter and sprinkles.
Apples & caramel dip
Serve apple slices with a simple homemade or store-bought caramel dip.
Trail mix
Mix pretzels, cereal, raisins, and chocolate chips.
Cheese sticks
Buy mozzarella string cheese, cut in half for easy grabbing.
Graham cracker s’mores dip
Melt chocolate and marshmallows in a dish and serve with graham crackers for dipping.
Rice Krispies treats
Make a big batch and cut into small squares.
Chocolate-covered pretzels
Dip pretzel rods in melted chocolate and sprinkles.
Jello cups
Make in small cups and serve with tiny spoons.
Dirt cups
Prepare chocolate pudding topped with crushed Oreos and gummy worms.
Donut tower
Stack store-bought donuts into a cake shape.
For more ideas, see my post with all my best birthday party tips!
