Feeling The Stress Of Planning The Menu For Your Housewarming Party? Stress No More, We’ve Got You Covered With Our Guide To The Best Crowd-Pleasing Food For Housewarming Party!

Congratulations! Moving homes is a huge milestone that deserves to be celebrated, and there is honestly no better way to do so than to invite your nearest and dearest over to fill the home up with warmth. All over delicious and comforting food, of course!

But while having a housewarming party is one of the most exciting things to do after you’ve settled in nicely in the new home, there’s no denying that it does come with its challenges.

I’m sure you know deep down who you’ll want to invite over to the new home, but then comes the next set of challenges. How much food and drink should you prepare, and what should the menu of the night be?

It can be pretty stressful, especially when you have dietary restrictions and food preferences to consider. Budget comes into play as well, along with how easy it is to prepare the food.

With these in mind, we’ve compiled a variety of only the best dishes that have delighted our own housewarming party guests. These dishes are simple to make, absolutely delicious, and are typically meant to be shared (as with most good food!).

Top 13 Crowd-Pleasing Food For Housewarming Parties That Will Leave Your Guests Wanting More

1. Charcuterie Board

A charcuterie board is an assortment of cured meats, cheeses, and accompaniments like olives, nuts, fruits, crackers, pâtés, jams, and artisanal bread served on a wooden board or serving platter. And there’s a great reason why charcuterie boards are one of the most highly recommended party food by almost every new homeowner who has hosted their very own housewarming party.

For starters, it’s one of the most versatile dishes around as its colourful assortment caters to diverse palates. It gives your guests a fun opportunity to sample or mix and match each and every featured food item, which serves as a conversation starter. 

Not forgetting that charcuterie boards are easy to prepare ahead because no cooking is needed, and if you assemble it beautifully - it will serve as a stunning centrepiece in your housewarming party that also enhances the home’s ambiance!

2. Crispy Vegan Rice Paper Dumplings

When it comes to a party, you’ll definitely want at least some finger foods that guests can easily munch on. So if you want finger food that is healthy and will easily suit most dietary requirements, I highly recommend serving up a batch of these delicious rice paper dumplings.

It’s a great dish for housewarming parties because you can easily tweak the recipe to suit vegans, vegetarians, and gluten-free guests. Then there’s also their compact size, which allows your guests to easily munch on it while mingling, and it’s also an interesting alternative to traditional dumplings and spring rolls.

You can easily prepare the rice paper dumplings’ filling ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator, then quickly assemble it and cook them closer to serving time. What’s more, guests who turn up early can also join in on the dumpling making fun!

3. Mezze Platter

Love the idea of a charcuterie platter but most of your guests (or you) don’t particularly fancy cured meat? Then you’ll want to check out mezze platters instead! A mezze platter is typically the meatless version of a charcuterie board, where Mediterranean and Middle Eastern dishes are prepared across the board (no pun intended). Some even refer to it as a vegetable platter.

Think foods like hummus, moutabel, baba ganoush, falafel, dolma (stuffed grape leaves), olives, feta cheese, and lavash or the more popular pita bread. It’s purely designed for sharing while catering to various dietary needs, and it is also known as one of the healthiest appetisers around.

Assembling it is relatively simple because the board’s usual suspects, dips, and spreads like hummus, olives, falafel, and feta cheese can be bought from the supermarket (or you can also make them fresh), then placed in little saucers to be served on a larger platter as a quick little cheat version. ;)

4. Vegan Carbonara

Carbonara can be pretty controversial amongst Singaporeans. It’s one of the most comforting creamy dishes that are regularly served in parties, buffets, and intimate dinners, while for some it may be an incredibly jelak dish because of the dairy and fatty bacon oil present.

Which leads us to our very own plant-based vegan carbonara with smokey tofu bacon. This vegan-twist on the classic Italian pasta dish was specially crafted to bring you the best of what a traditional carbonara offers, only without the jelak-ness.

It’s suitable for guests with dairy or egg allergies, and vegans as well. You can also easily prepare a large batch of this ahead of time to make sure no guest goes home hungry!

5. Lamb Rendang

I’m sure most of us can agree that there’s something intrinsically comforting about a good rendang dish. So why not serve up a hearty pot of lamb rendang for your housewarming party?

Lamb rendang is a rich, aromatic semi-dry curry originating from Indonesia that both Singaporeans and Malaysians simply cannot get enough of. It is made by slow-cooking lamb in coconut milk and a complex blend of spices which include lemongrass, galangal, turmeric, chilli, and ginger for a true flavour explosion, which is also what gives rendang its fame as a deeply flavourful dish.

Guests love it for its incredibly flavourful nature and it almost never fails to be a memorable dish that stands out for all the best reasons. You can prepare it yourself a day or two ahead with our easy one-pot Malaysian Lamb Rendang recipe, depending on how deep you want the flavours to be as rendang always tastes better the day after.

6. Fruit Tartlets

While fruit tartlets sound a little underwhelming in the grand scheme of things, don’t underestimate these fun little morsels. Fruit tartlets are small, individual buttery shortcrust pastry shells filled with custard, pastry cream, or fruit curd, which are then topped with fresh fruits such as berries, mango, grapes, and figs, to name a few.

Their colourful appearance looks visually stunning no matter the setting of your housewarming party and they are incredibly convenient for guests to pick up and enjoy without the need to cut or use extra utensils. Since they’re mostly bite-sized, you won’t have to worry about crumbs falling about your home when most guests can enjoy them in one full bite.

These very properties of fruit tartlets make them one of the best housewarming party desserts that are deliciously refreshing without being heavy after a hearty meal together. Best of all? They’re really easy to make! Just bake the shortcrust pastry or buy ready-made tart shells, prepare a delicious custard or shop your favourite lemon curd, and assemble it the night before!

7. Chicken Rendang

Some of our friends and family simply aren’t fans of lamb, so you can almost never go wrong with a classic chicken rendang. Much like the flavourful complexity of lamb rendang, chicken rendang is a flavour-packed aromatic semi-dry curry where chicken is slow cooked in a spiced stew of coconut milk, lemongrass, ginger, turmeric, galangal, chilli, and garlic.

The only thing to take note of when it comes to chicken rendang is how the tenderness of the meat ties in to the length of time taken to cook the rendang. Though this can be a little tricky to achieve perfectly, our recipe for the most delicious one-pot Malaysian Chicken Rendang will help you get it right off the bat!

Once you’ve made your chicken rendang, all that’s left to do is to prepare a batch of white rice to go with your hearty chicken rendang. Even though some people may recommend serving it with noodles and bread, I personally feel that rendang is always best enjoyed with its classic accompaniment of white rice, or basmati rice.

8. Seafood Risotto

Looking for an elegant dish to fit the sophisticated theme of your housewarming party? Then you’ll want to take on the challenge of making and serving up your very own batch of comforting seafood risotto!

Seafood risotto is a creamy Italian rice dish you can make by slowly cooking Arborio rice in meat or vegetable broth that is flavoured with additional white wine, garlic, onions, and a hint of lemon zest until it reaches a rich, velvety consistency. Some even liken it to the Western version of our favourite local congee! Top it off with some grated Parmesan cheese and fresh herbs and you have a comforting masterpiece on your hands.

This particular dish is fantastic because it is both indulgent and comforting, while serving as an opportunity for you to introduce a less common dish with friends and family gathered around. While risotto tends to be a tricky dish to make for the uninitiated, you can easily cook up a batch with our easy one-pot Seafood Risotto recipe here!

9. Seafood Curry

If rendang isn’t exactly your cup of tea or if it sounds too daunting to cook, how about preparing a hearty pot of seafood curry instead? Seafood curry is a comforting, aromatic dish that features a medley of seafood like prawns, fish chunks or slices, squid, and mussels simmered in a curry broth made from coconut milk, curry powder, curry leaves, chillies, and an assortment of aromatics.

It delivers a flavourful mouthful with each bite that pairs deliciously with freshly steamed rice or flatbreads like roti canai, and the best part is how you can easily adjust the spiciness of the curry. Not only that, seafood curry also encourages communal dining which definitely livens up the atmosphere of the party!

Seafood curry is definitely one of the easiest dishes to cook the night before, especially with our easy one-pot seafood curry recipe. You can even prepare the curry base and chop ingredients in advance and cook it right before the party if you prefer to enjoy it totally fresh.

10. Aglio Olio with Lemon Meatballs

Everyone loves a classic aglio olio, but what if you zest things up with a side of lemon meatballs while you’re at it? Aglio olio with lemon meatballs is a delightful fusion of classic Italian flavours with a refreshing tangy twist that legitly elevates the dish, while adding a nutritious helping of protein.

The dish basically starts with a traditional Aglio e Olio, where spaghetti is tossed in garlic-infused olive oil, red pepper flakes, and parsley. Next comes the lemon meatballs which are made by combining your choice of ground meat with lemon zest, breadcrumbs, Parmigiano Reggiano, egg, garlic, and lemon zest to create these deliciously tangy meatballs.

Those who can’t get enough of sweet and sour pork or lemon chicken will have a rough idea of this, only it’s a little lighter and more refreshing than the heaviness of those Chinese cuisine classics. It’s definitely a crowd-pleaser thanks to its novel yet comforting flavours, while serving as a substantial main course that will satisfy your guests’ appetite.

11. Strawberry and Feta Cheese Salad

We’re always told to “eat your veggies!” time and again, and that’s with good reason too! That’s why I’ve included my absolute favourite housewarming party dish, a refreshing Strawberry and Feta Cheese Salad.

This light and refreshing salad is fantastic to cleanse the palate after indulging in hearty appetisers like those found on a charcuterie board or our famous rice paper dumplings. 

The best part is how easy it is to make strawberry and feta cheese salad. All you need are freshly washed baby spinach leaves, arugula (also known as rocket leaves), sliced strawberries and blueberries, toasted walnuts, and a handful of fresh mint leaves or basil with a generous amount of feta cheese cubes. 

Top these with a generous drizzle of balsamic vinaigrette (the best ones are cherry vinaigrette or pomegranate vinaigrette) or fresh squeezed lime juice, and a drizzle of olive oil to bring out the flavours without overpowering it. And there you have it, a vibrant, refreshing, and visually stunning appetiser for your housewarming party guests!

Bonus Tip: Toss the salad with the dressing right before you serve it to avoid having your salad turn soggy!

12. Classic Chocolate Truffle Cake

If there is one dessert you can never go wrong with, it’s chocolate. And since celebrations call for cake, why not a classic chocolate truffle cake? But you don’t want just any chocolate cake. There are many types of chocolate cake in Singapore, like a chocolate sponge cake, chocolate lava cake, chocolate mille crepe cake, and the list goes on.

What you want is a decadent dessert with rich layers of moist chocolate cake of the butter cake-base, which is frosted with a smooth, velvety chocolate truffle ganache or chocolate buttercream. Pick one that is made from dark chocolate and you won’t have a sweet disaster on hand, trust me on this.

Some chocolate truffle cakes also come with hints of coffee liqueur or Bailey’s Irish Cream to elevate the cake’s overall flavour. But if you have guests who don’t consume alcohol, the standard chocolate truffle cake without alcohol is also a fantastic treat.

13. Tomato and Feta Cheese Crostini

If salads and grazing boards are not your thing and you’d like something simpler to serve only an intimately sized group of friends, then you won’t want to miss out on the classic tomato and feta cheese crostini.

This delightful appetiser consists of small slices of toasted baguette topped with a flavourful mixture of freshly diced tomatoes, crumbled feta cheese, chopped garlic, oregano, and a drizzle of olive oil. You can even add a drizzle of honey to give it a touch of sweetness that beautifully complements the tanginess of the fresh tomatoes!

It’s easy for guests to indulge in while mingling amongst one another, and it offers a refreshing touch to the usually heavy main course and perhaps even dessert. It is also incredibly easy to make and assemble, so you can make a batch of it in under 30 minutes just before the party to have a fresh platter of tomato and feta cheese crostini ready to go.