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Beach Party Food Ideas

Marian K
The beach party food ideas that are all time hits include salads, seafood, and fruits. Here we talk about the many options for you to use your creativity and create a great menu for this high energy fun event.
Sand, sea breeze, turquoise waters, great food, music and friends; a beach party brings together some of the best things in life! While the words 'beach party' immediately bring to mind a beautiful stretch of sand hugged by the ocean, not all beach parties are held along the seashore.
Some are held indoors, where with creative décor, a similar ambiance is created. If held indoors, food will play a very important part in creating the right feel, while if held at the beach, it won't be quite complete without the appropriate menu.
Creating a menu for your beach party is very simple. All you have to do is close your eyes and recollect what are the best foods and drinks you enjoyed at the beach. Is it a shrimp cocktail with an iced pinacolada, or is it grilled fish with a citrus mojito? Apart from your favorites, here are some other popular beach party food ideas you can use.

Beach Party Food Options

Drinks

There should always be a steady flow of drinks, so that no one gets dehydrated. Set up a drink area that offers a variety of beach cocktails, adorned with little cocktail umbrellas.
Pina coladas, margaritas, and mojitos are a must! Carry plenty of ice and tubs or coolers filled with an assortment of beer and wine.
However, make sure you check out the alcoholic beverage policy with beach officials well ahead of time. If glass bottles are prohibited, you can arrange for kegs or party balls of beer and boxes of wine.

Appetizers

Beach and boardwalk foods such as corndogs and hotdogs are a must at any casual beach party. You can cook up hamburgers and hotdogs on a grill. These are especially good beach party food ideas for kids.
To make it more 'formal' you can serve grilled margarita chicken on skewers. There should be plenty of snacks placed all over the venue. Chips, pretzel rods, and popcorn are good options. Parmesan pita crisps with dips work well too.
For great presentation, serve these foods out off plastic sand buckets, overturned straw island hats and in colorful platters. You can fill picnic baskets with paper napkins, plates, and cups so they won't get blown away.

Salads

Food for beach parties should'nt spoil. Carry meats and salads with mayonnaise in a cooler.There are different options, from a potato salad to a fresh sweet corn and tomato salad with fresh cilantro. A great option is a summer garden salad with shrimp.
It is also very important to have a fruit salad of some kind. For a tropical feel, include fruits like pineapple, papaya, banana, and watermelon. You can make anything from a nectarine and berry salad, to a melon cup mixed fruit salad.

Seafood Dishes

Seafood is a must at beach party. Pick a type, and settle on the preparation. Shrimp cocktail is an all time favorite, though summer garden salad with chili garlic shrimp is a good variation too. Another delicious exotic option is mango shrimp summer rolls.
Grilled fish is another choice, along with a fresh cilantro mint dip. If you don't mind spending, lobster can find a place on your menu, an alternate to which can be a clam bar comprising raw clams on the half-shell and cooked shrimp served cold, with cocktail sauce and lemon wedges.
Irrespective of the kind of party you are hosting, you will find something from among these beach party food ideas that you can incorporate, and also that there are quite a number of recipes for you to make a selection from, according to your need and choice.
If possible, include time and opportunity to roast marshmallows on the grill or bonfire to make the party truly complete.