I used to make my kids mini pizzas with canned biscuits.
just make the biscuts as can recommends, cut in half, add sauce, cheese, and any toppings desired, microwave until cheese melts.
They can make their own with the items you choose!

Trin

Same idea as Trinity tx but using English muffins. The biscuits would probably taste better, but the E-muffs would be easier.

My 20 year old DD likes to have "Puppy Chow" at all of her get-togethers. They also like decorated cookies or cupcakes (if they do the decorating it's even more fun for them) and chocolate covered strawberries. The pickle wraps are always a bit hit too.

Not sure about the spice nuts, but maybe a nut/pretzel/cracker mix instead. If you know the teens well, just ask them. Again not sure about the candy, but maybe a cookie assortment. Candy piece seem to get out of hands on the floor etc. Or buy an assortment of mini candy bars.
Mini donuts
cheese and crackers, Also if you have a good grocery store, ask the people in the deli. Different trays, like veggies, cheese and meat, with breads
Chili, if it is cold.
Hope this helps

Ah yes, puppy chow. Got that made already. I feel like I need to balance out all the protein and carbs with something light and yummy. I'd set out apples but they get brown fast, fruit kabobs, same problem. I'm leaning towards pineapple something but I don't know what that something is yet! Thanks for all the good ideas so far.

After thinking about this longer, finger foods is what I'm going for. or toothpick foods. something they can easily eat from a plate with minimal utensils. Over the years I've noticed how they love finger foods. They can walk around and gab with different friends, go back for more to eat at will. I will provide utensils though, just in case they want it.

Bite sized (about 3" long) cheese steaks.

Mexican Munch

1 3-oz. can French-fried onions
3 c. bite-size shredded corn squares (CRISPEX)
3/4 c. Spanish peanuts
1 4-oz. can potato sticks
1/4 c. butter (or oil)
1 t. taco seasoning mix

In a 13x9x2-inch baking pan, combine onions, cereal, peanuts, and potato sticks. Melt butter over low heat; drizzle over mixture in baking pan and stir well. Sprinkle the seasoning mix evenly over mixture, mixing well. Bake in 300°F oven for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Allow to cool. Makes about 8 cups.

My teens went wild for the Buffalo Chicken dip- we used all kinds of breads and chips to go with it.

Trish

Just about anything a chip can go into. A seven layer dip with tortilla chips. A meat and cheese tray with an assortment of mini breads to make their own sandwiches.

Lil Smokies wrapped in bacon are SO good.Sprinkle with brown sugar and bake, then you can toss in the crock pot. Cut up melon and pineapple? I found a recipe at the RF for Jalapeno Popper Dip if your interested in that?

These are so good and you can make the mixture up ahead of time. Then put a dollop on each nacho chip at the last minute before heating. They were a hit at the party I took them to.

Nacho Chips with Bacon Jalapenos and Cheddar
Michael Smith

A recipe is merely words on paper; a guideline, a starting point from which to improvise. It cannot pretend to replace the practiced hand and telling glance of a watchful cook. For that reason feel free to stir your own ideas into this dish. When you cook it once, it becomes yours, so personalize it a bit. Add more of an ingredient you like or less of something you don't like. Try substituting one ingredient for another. Remember words have no flavour, you have to add your own!

Ingredients:

 6 slices bacon, roughly chopped
 2 x onions, finely diced
 1 x jalapeno pepper, seeds removed and minced
 2 cups grated cheddar cheese
 1 bag restaurant style tortilla chips
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1. Preheat oven to 400°F.

2. Heat a skillet over medium-high heat and add bacon.

3. Let brown and then add onions and jalapeno and cook until they have softened and are beginning to caramelize.

4. Cool slightly and then pour into a bowl and add grated cheese.

5. Toss to combine.

6. Spread the tortilla chips in a single layer on a large baking sheet and top each one generously with a spoonful of the cheese mixture.

7. Bake for 10 minutes or so until chips are golden and cheese is melted and bubbling.

Easy and fast: bag of frozen chicken wings bbq'd ones, bagel bites, pizza rolls.

Not so easy but not hard, ham and cheese (or whatever meat you want) rollups. flour tortillas spread with cream cheese, place ham and cheese over cream cheese, and roll up tightly. Slice into almost bite-sized pieces. For adults I put a green onion in the center before rolling it up but don't think teens will like them.

every teenager I know and every young adult I know would eat just about anything they don't have to prepare or buy! LOL

I say, make it easy on yourself... have a little variety and don't stress!

Kat,,what has come over you????

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I like it!!!

Sliders? mini burgers on tiny rolls. Mine liked lil smokies in BBQ sauce,but I have to say the 2 posters ahead of me got it right. Buy a bag of stuff at Sams/Costco/BJ's.
If you heat it...they will eat it.

I have yet to meet a kid or an adult who hasn't enjoyed this.

Pumpkin dip

1 container (16 ounce size) frozen whipped topping, thawed
1 box (5 ounce size) instant vanilla pudding mix
1 can (15 ounce size) solid pack pumpkin
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
Turn this recipe into a puzzle! [click]

Directions:

In a large bowl, mix together instant vanilla pudding mix, pumpkin and pumpkin pie spice. Fold in the thawed frozen whipped topping.

Chill in the refrigerator until serving. Serve with regular or cinnamon graham crackers

****I prefer Synders whole wheat honey pretzel sticks

what about those premade meat balls (costco/sams) in a crock pot? i think the sauce is bbq and grape jelly??
or a soft taco bar. small flour totillas, cheese, lettuce and tomato, seasoned meat. the meat can be kept hot in an electric skillet...

and the never ending brownie. in fact, saw mini ones at costco last week.

does anyone eat fruit? apple wedges, chunks of pineapple...

chicken nuggets with BBQ or Ranch dressing

I make pizzas out of tortillas topped with pizza sauce and parmesan cheese - either bake in the oven or fry in non-stick pan. Be sure you heat until it is crisp enough to hold its shape when you pick int up.

mini egg rolls - (Sam's Club) and dipping sauce(thinned jelly with soy sauce added)

Little meatballs also go over great.

Just saw this on the cooking forum and thought it was a great idea for teens.

Here is a link that might be useful: Jello popcorn

This is a T&T recipe I have made many times..talk about an awesome flavor! It's made in a slow cooker & served in Pita Pockets (cut in half if not sold that way)-easy for teens to dish up themselves..using a slotted spoon.

"OVER THE TOP MEATBALL PITAS"
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* 5-6 lbs of prepared meatballs (the smaller sized balls), homemade or purchased
* 1 and 1/2 cups maple syrup
* 4 (12 ounce) jars 'medium' picante sauce
* 2 (12 ounce) jars seedless raspberry jam
* pita pocket halves

Thaw meatballs if frozen or brown homemade ones in a skillet.
In a medium bowl, combine the maple syrup, picante sauce & jam. Mix well, then pour mixture into the container of your slow cooker.
Gently add the meatballs so as not to break them. Using a rubber spatula-gently combine them in the sauce so they're completely covered. Slow cook on LOW for 3-4 hours.
You can warm the pita halves in the oven and if you wish-you can fill them & stack them neatly in a 13x9 pan or let everyone fill their own.

DELISH!!

It's breakfast time as I type and every reciepe is making me want to try it. There are so many reciepes to choose from, it will be hard to narrow down. I'm not much of a cook but these are easy enough for me. Thanks, I'm excited now!

my kids grew up on Chicken Nuggets...and they still love them at parties...I make my own Honey Mustard Dip and they love that too..

1 ounce mustard (good ole Yellow kind)
4 ounces Honey
8 ounces Mayo..(not Miracle Whip)

Mix it up good and let it set overnight in the frig...put out some dipping cups and you'll be good to go!!

Have fun Toni!!

someone suggested a taco bar - excellent idea! Another good one would be a chocolate fondue with fruit.