9 Fun Hen Night Food Ideas

If you’re skipping the wild night out in favour of a cosy stay at home or a fun-filled weekend in an Airbnb, don’t forget – you’ve still got a hungry crowd to feed! Hen night food should be sociable, a little bit special, and definitely more exciting than your usual Tuesday tea. But feeding a group of gals isn’t always easy, especially when you want to keep things stress-free.

To help, we’ve rounded up our favourite hen night food ideas – each one tasty, fun, and ideal for sharing. Plus, we’ve thrown in some handy tips to make prep an absolute breeze. So, let’s jump right in, what is the best type of food for a hen party?

Hen night food should work with a large crowd, be easy to serve, and a little indulgent. Our favourite hen party food ideas include things like a grazing table, pizza making, a pasta bar, or large sharing platters of salads & grilled meats.

For more delicious hen party catering ideas, keep reading!

 

1. A Grazing Table

A grazing table is a go-to for hen parties for a reason – they are not only incredibly tasty, but look absolutely stunning as well. They are super informal, avoiding the need for a sit-down meal, allowing the girls to nibble all evening over a glass or two of fizz.

To create your own, start with a base of wooden boards, bowls and baskets, with different height variations for visual interest. Nestle some vases of flowers and foliage in between. Then, add your nibbles, like:

• A variety of cheeses (hard, soft, blue, brie – go wild)
• Charcuterie – salami, prosciutto, chorizo
• Crackers and fresh bread
• Hummus, dips, olives, and nuts
• Fresh fruit – grapes, strawberries, figs
• Something sweet – chocolate-covered strawberries or macaroons

If you’re hosting your hen partyin the Peak District, Sheffield, or surrounding areas, why not book Savery Grazing for your grazing table? We’ll come right to where you are, set up a table of delicious handmade food, and provide everything you need to enjoy it – including plates, cutlery, napkins, and serving utensils. Check out our hen do catering page for more information.

2. Pasta Bar

A pasta bar is a brilliant option for feeding a group without the stress. You can make the sauces ahead of time – either in slow cookers or on the hob – and just reheat when you’re ready to serve.

Cook the pasta fresh (it’s so worth it), or even turn it into a fun group activity by making your own from scratch. If that feels a bit ambitious, just go for a mix of pasta shapes – penne, fusilli, or spaghetti all work well.

Offer a few sauce options to suit everyone, like:

• A classic tomato and basil
• Creamy mushroom or Alfredo
• Rich meat ragu or Bolognese
• A dairy-free or vegan-friendly option, if needed

Serve everything buffet-style with toppings so each guest can build their own plate just how they like it. Include:

• Grated parmesan or veggie hard cheese
• Good olive oil for drizzling over top
• Chilli oil or chilli flakes
• Fresh basil leaves
• Cracked black pepper
• Garlic bread on the side – non-negotiable, obviously!

 

3. Pizza Making

If your bride-to-be is a pizza lover, this one’s a no-brainer. It’s interactive, tasty, and you don’t have to be a chef to make it work.

Use either shop-bought bases or pre-made dough balls – or, if you’re feeling confident, make your own. Let each hen roll out their dough and add their favourite toppings. Here are some of my favourite topping ideas to get you started:

• Tomato sauce, BBQ sauce, or pesto as the base
• Mozzarella, cheddar, goat’s cheese
• Pepperoni, chorizo, ham, chicken, or prosciutto
• Mushrooms, peppers, sweetcorn, red onion
• Rocket, fresh basil, chilli flakes for garnishing

Cook in batches using your regular oven or, if you’ve got access to one, an Ooni or pizza oven makes it feel extra special. You could even chip in for a pizza oven as a group and gift it to the bride after the party!

Fun extra: Get custom printed pizza boxes made with the bride’s name or hen do date – this makes for a fabulous Instagram photo!

4. Afternoon Tea

Afternoon tea is always a lovely option if you want something a bit more elegant. It also works well if you’ve got a mix of ages or are planning a relaxed, sit-down afternoon.

You don’t need to go too over-the-top with matching china and silverware (unless you want to!), but ensure you serve your afternoon tea on some pretty cake stands and platters. Here’s what we’d recommend serving:

• Finger sandwiches – cucumber, smoked salmon, egg mayo, beef & horseradish
• Fruit scones with clotted cream and jam
• A few dainty cakes or cupcakes
• Strawberries, macarons, or chocolate-dipped strawberries
• Savoury canapes, such as prawn cocktail cups or puff pastry tartlets
• Serve with tea, coffee, or champagne, depending on your vibe

Set the table with fresh flowers and napkins to make it feel a little more special – easy to do, but it’ll look lovely in photos.

 

5. Sharing Platters Of Salads, Sandwiches & Nibbles

If you want to keep things fresh and light, this is a great option – especially for lunchtime or if you’re celebrating in the height of summer! Go for a mix of colourful, seasonal salads, grilled meats, and homemade-style sandwiches, served on big wooden boards or sharing platters. A mezze or Greek-style theme works really well here:

• Couscous or dense bean salads salad with roasted veg
• Grilled meats or fish
• Caprese skewers or tomato & mozzarella
• Flatbreads with dips (think tzatziki, hummus, aubergine dip)
• Sandwich or wraps – veggie, meat, and vegan options
• Mini falafel, olives, dolmades

You can either prep these yourselves (and ask each hen to bring a platter with them), or order from a local catering company. If you’re based in Sheffield or Derbyshire, our made-to-order grazing platters are perfect for this style of hen do catering.

6. Cheese & Wine Evening 

A cheese and wine evening is not only a great way to feed a group, but also doubles as a relaxed activity for one of your nights in. It’s low-effort, a bit indulgent, and sets the scene perfectly for a laid-back evening of chatting, music, and maybe a few games. Plus, a few glasses of wine definitely helps to get the party started!

Start by picking a mix of cheeses – aim for a good variety of textures and flavours:

• A soft cheese (like brie or camembert)
• A hard cheese (cheddar, manchego, comté)
• A blue cheese (stilton or gorgonzola)
• A wildcard (truffle cheese, goat’s cheese, or a local favourite)

Pair the cheeses with plenty of accompaniments:

• Crackers, fresh bread, breadsticks
• Chutneys or onion marmalade
• Grapes, figs, or sliced apple/pear
• Nuts, olives, or cornichons
• Chocolate squares if you want to include something sweet

For the wine, go for a few different styles – a red, a white, and maybe something sparkling or rosé. You could even turn it into a DIY tasting session by numbering the bottles and guessing the wine types. Perfect as a mellow first night to ease into the hen party weekend. Looking for more guidance? Check out our guide on Hosting a Cheese & Wine Night!

 

7.  A BBQ

If facilities (and weather!) allow, hosting a BBQ is a super social way to feed a group. It’s also ideal if you want to keep the celebrations outdoors. You could nominate one of the hens to take charge of the grill or hire a local BBQ caterer if you want to take the pressure off. Add some picnic blankets, fairy lights, and buckets of booze for the perfect afternoon in the garden.

Keep it simple with the food:

• Burgers (meat and veggie)
• Sausages or skewers
• Grilled halloumi, corn on the cob, and veggie skewers
• Sharing salads – think coleslaw, pasta salad, couscous
• Bread rolls, sauces, and a side of crisps

If you’d like more tips & tricks on hosting a BBQ for a crowd, check out our helpful guide: How To Host a BBQ

8. Chilli Con Carne & All the Trimmings!

Chilli is one of the easiest things to batch cook for a group of hens – it’s one of my go-tos when hosting a crowd. Plus, you can shove it in the slow cooker all day whilst you are out enjoying various activities so it makes for a really easy evening meal! 

Start by prepping a large batch of chilli con carne (we love this recipe from Mob kitchen), as well as a vegetarian version if it’s required. Don’t forget to cook up a large batch of rice as well. Keep these warm in the slow cooker whilst dishing up.

Now, chilli con carne and rice is a bit dull on its own, so you mustn’t forget all of the extra bits that the hens can use to zhuzh up their dinner:

• Nachos / tortilla chips
• Guacamole 
• Sour cream
• Pico de gallo
• Chopped coriander & spring onions
• Pickled onions
• Grated cheese – cheddar, monterey jack, and crumbled feta work great
• Lime wedges
• Sliced cherry tomatoes

Set up your chilli con carne bar with all of the extras in lovely little serving dishes, next to the slow cooker of chilli and rice and let hens help themselves.

 

9. Raclette 

Raclette is the ultimate cosy, social dining experience – perfect for gathering everyone around the table with a glass of wine or two. It’s a bit of an experience in itself, which makes it ideal for a chilled evening activity with the hens.

Raclette works best for smaller groups (around 6–8), unless you’ve got access to multiple raclette grills. Depending on where you’re staying, you might be able to hire extra machines locally – or ask around to borrow one or two in advance.

In case you haven’t heard of Raclette before, each person has a small tray where they melt slices of cheese under a tabletop grill. The grill is used for meat, fish, and veggies. Once melted, the cheese is scraped over a plate of tasty accompaniments.

Set your table up with the following for using with the raclette machine :

• Sliced raclette cheese (or gruyère, emmental, or any melty alternative)
• Charcuterie – ham, salami, prosciutto
• Meats – steak, prawns, chicken
• Sliced veg – peppers, mushrooms, courgettes, onions

And serve with: 

• Pickles and cornichons
• Boiled baby potatoes
• Crusty bread
• A simple green salad

For guidance on using a raclette machine, or more ideas on what to serve on your raclette evening, take a look at our helpful guide: How To Host a Raclette Dinner Party

Hen Do Catering From Savery Grazing

Hen do food doesn’t have to be fancy – it just needs to be filling (to soak up the prosecco!), fun to eat, and easy to share. Whether you’re into pizza, pasta, picky bits or full-on BBQ vibes, these hens night food ideas will keep everyone happy and well-fed.

Looking for hen do catering in Derbyshire or Sheffield? Savery Grazing is here to help. We offer sharing platters for delivery as well as gorgeous grazing table set ups, which are perfect for adding that ‘wow’ factor to your celebrations. Get in touch with our team to book, or visit our Hen Party Catering page for more information. 

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