19 Groovy Recipes For A 1970s Cocktail Party
Picture yourself stepping into a disco-lit living room where the music is funky, the outfits are outrageous, and the food is unforgettable.
The 1970s delivered iconic party snacks that still make taste buds dance.
Throw a themed bash or simply explore what your parents snacked on back in the day, and these recipes will transport you straight to the grooviest decade ever.
1. Shrimp Cocktail
Nothing screams fancy quite like plump shrimp hanging off the edge of a chilled glass. Back in the disco era, hosts would arrange these pink beauties around tangy cocktail sauce to impress their guests.
Getting them ready takes minimal effort but delivers maximum wow factor. You simply boil the shrimp until they turn that perfect coral color, chill them in ice water, and arrange them artistically.
Your friends will think you spent hours preparing when it really took about fifteen minutes!
2. Deviled Eggs
Creamy, tangy, and topped with a sprinkle of paprika, these little bites were the MVP of every seventies gathering. Hard-boiled eggs get scooped out, mixed with mayo and mustard, then piped back into their whites like edible art.
Kids and adults alike couldn’t resist grabbing two or three from the platter. The best part is experimenting with different toppings like bacon bits or pickle relish.
3. Cheese Fondue
Bubbling pots of melted cheese became the centerpiece of countless disco-era dinner parties. Guests would gather around with long forks, dunking bread cubes and vegetables into the gooey goodness while chatting and laughing.
Swiss and Gruyere cheeses melt together with white wine to create an irresistible dip. The communal eating experience made everyone feel connected and groovy.
4. Mini Quiches
Bite-sized and bursting with flavor, these little egg pies made every guest feel sophisticated. Flaky pastry cups hold a mixture of eggs, cheese, and whatever fillings strike your fancy, from bacon to spinach.
Baking them in muffin tins makes portion control easy and presentation adorable. They taste amazing whether served hot from the oven or at room temperature.
Pop one in your mouth and you’ll understand why they never went out of style!
5. Stuffed Mushrooms
Earthy mushroom caps become edible bowls when you stuff them with breadcrumbs, cheese, and herbs. Party hosts in bell-bottoms would bake these until golden and watch them disappear within minutes of hitting the table.
The filling options are endless, from sausage to crab to vegetarian combos. Each bite delivers a satisfying crunch followed by savory goodness.
Even people who claim they don’t like mushrooms usually cave after trying just one!
6. Pigs in a Blanket
Cocktail sausages wrapped in flaky dough became the ultimate finger food for groovy gatherings. Kids begged their parents to make these while adults pretended they were only eating them to be polite, then sneaked back for thirds.
Rolling the dough around each little sausage is actually pretty fun and therapeutic. Brush them with butter before baking for extra golden perfection.
Serve with mustard for dipping and watch them vanish faster than disco music!
7. Spinach Dip in a Bread Bowl
Creamy, dreamy, and served in an edible bowl, this dip became legendary at seventies soirees. A round loaf gets hollowed out and filled with a mixture of spinach, sour cream, and seasonings that makes everyone gather around.
Guests tear off chunks of bread to scoop up the dip, eventually eating the bowl itself. The presentation alone makes you look like a culinary genius.
Pro tip: make extra because this always runs out embarrassingly fast!
8. Swedish Meatballs
Tender meatballs swimming in rich, creamy gravy warmed many a disco-era belly. Usually kept hot in a chafing dish, they’d be speared with toothpicks and devoured while people chatted about the latest episode of their favorite TV shows.
The gravy combines beef broth with cream for a sauce that’s absolutely addictive. Serve them alongside other hot appetizers for variety.
One taste explains why they’ve remained party favorites for decades!
9. Bacon-Wrapped Dates
Whoever first wrapped bacon around dates deserves a medal because this combo is pure genius. The sweet, chewy fruit contrasts perfectly with crispy, salty bacon, creating a flavor bomb that makes guests go wild.
Some hosts even stuffed the dates with cheese before wrapping for extra decadence. Baking them until the bacon crisps up takes patience but pays off big time.
Warning: you might catch people hoarding these in their pockets to take home!
10. Crab Rangoon
Crispy wonton wrappers hide a creamy surprise of crab and cream cheese inside. Although they’re actually an American invention rather than authentically Asian, they became wildly popular at seventies cocktail parties.
Frying them until golden and crunchy makes the outside shatter satisfyingly with each bite. The filling stays warm and gooey, creating a textural contrast that’s absolutely delightful.
Dip them in sweet and sour sauce for the full retro experience!
11. Waldorf Salad
Crunchy apples, celery, and walnuts mingle with grapes in a creamy mayonnaise dressing that’s surprisingly refreshing. Originally created at the Waldorf Hotel decades earlier, this salad found new life at disco-era dinner parties.
The mix of textures keeps things interesting with every forkful you take. Some people add raisins or substitute yogurt for a lighter version.
It’s proof that not everything at seventies parties was fried or covered in cheese!
12. Cheese Ball With Crackers
Cream cheese gets mixed with shredded cheddar, rolled into a ball, and coated with chopped nuts or herbs. This centerpiece of many seventies appetizer spreads looked impressive while being ridiculously easy to make.
Guests would spread the creamy mixture on crackers throughout the evening. The outside coating added crunch and visual appeal to the presentation.
Making one today instantly transports your party back to the era of shag carpeting and lava lamps!
13. Sausage Rolls
Savory sausage meat wrapped in flaky pastry dough creates handheld perfection that’s hard to resist. British in origin, these treats found a devoted following at American cocktail parties during the disco decade.
Brushing the pastry with egg wash before baking gives them that gorgeous golden shine. Cut them into bite-sized pieces so guests can grab one without committing to a full meal.
Serve them warm with mustard for dipping and prepare for compliments galore!
14. Ambrosia Salad
Fluffy marshmallows, mandarin oranges, coconut flakes, and whipped cream combine in this sweet salad that’s basically dessert in disguise. The name means food of the gods, and seventies party-goers certainly treated it that way.
Some versions include maraschino cherries or pineapple chunks for extra color and sweetness. The result is a creamy, fruity concoction that kids especially adored.
Modern nutritionists might cringe, but your taste buds will definitely thank you!
15. Grasshopper Pie
Mint green filling sits atop a chocolate cookie crust in this refreshing pie named after a classic cocktail. The color alone makes it a conversation starter, while the cool mint flavor cleanses your palate after all those savory appetizers.
Creme de menthe gives it both flavor and that distinctive hue. Some recipes add chocolate shavings on top for contrast.
Cutting into this beauty reveals layers that look as good as they taste!
16. Rumaki
Water chestnuts and chicken liver wrapped in bacon might sound adventurous, but adventurous was the seventies’ middle name. This Polynesian-inspired appetizer became a must-have at tiki-themed parties across America.
Marinating the ingredients in soy sauce and ginger before wrapping adds incredible depth of flavor. Broiling them makes the bacon crispy and slightly caramelized.
Even liver skeptics often convert after tasting these savory, crunchy bundles of joy!
17. Potato Skins
Hollowed-out potato halves get loaded with cheese, bacon, and green onions before being baked until crispy. Although they became super popular in the eighties, these treats got their start at late-seventies restaurants and parties.
The crispy skin contrasts beautifully with the melted cheese and crunchy bacon toppings. Serve them with sour cream for dipping to complete the experience.
They’re basically the ultimate comfort food disguised as a fancy appetizer!
18. Cheese Straws
Twisted strips of cheese-laden pastry bake until golden and crispy for an elegant finger food. Southern hostesses especially loved these because they looked fancy but required minimal effort to prepare.
Sharp cheddar mixed into puff pastry dough creates the perfect balance of flaky and flavorful. You can sprinkle them with paprika or cayenne for a spicy kick.
Standing them upright in a glass makes for a presentation that screams sophisticated party vibes!
