Street party recipe ideas

We all love a street party. Neighbours mingle with one another, colourful bunting lines the streets, and people are brought together in celebration, with a selection of dishes from every corner of the world.

What’s not to love? Get street party ready ahead of the Coronation with this list of exciting dishes.

Coronation chicken

Nothing says royal celebration like coronation chicken. Also known as Poulet Reine Elizabeth, this classic dish is made by coating chicken in an Indian-inspired creamy sauce.

It was created by Rosemary Hume and the students at London’s renowned culinary school Le Cordon Bleu and served at the official coronation luncheon for Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. Ever since, it’s been spotted at bustling street parties, on restaurant menus and inside lunchboxes. This coronation chicken recipe features everything it should – mild spices, sultanas and delicious mango chutney. 

Classic potato salad

Potato salad is a dish you’ll find at every British street party, picnic or BBQ. Creamy, tangy, and packed with a tiny bit of crunch from those shallots, it’s a real family favourite. Often enjoyed on its own or eaten with a meaty main (think rosemary-roasted chicken or lightly baked lemony sea bass) it’s a very versatile dish – and perfect to eat alongside plenty of other flavours.

But if you’re someone who finds potato salad a little drab, Vineet Bhatia’s spiced potatoes from his course Modern Indian Cooking may do just the trick. Roasted with chilli and garlic, and served with mint, coriander and a drizzle of lemon juice, these are bound to be a welcome addition to the table. And if spice isn’t your friend, try Marco Pierre White’s buttery fondant potatoes instead for something equally as delicious.

Stuffed mushrooms

Perfect on their own or alongside warm crusty sourdough or a lightly dressed green salad, these stuffed mushrooms from Marco Pierre White are destined to please. Made by mixing chestnut mushrooms, butter and (optional) port into a soft filling, they’re topped off with a garlic and parsley herb crust. They're vegan-friendly too – just swap the butter for olive oil or a vegan butter alternative.

If you’re someone who dreads the last-minute kitchen rush, these taste better if made the day before. As Marco says in his vegetarian cooking course, “the truth is, if you make it today and then use it tomorrow, the intensity is way greater because it’s matured. So, when possible, in a perfect world, make it a day in advance.”

Arancini 

For a more indulgent party food, look no further than the Sicilian favourite – arancini. These rice balls are stuffed with different fillings (popular choices are cheeses, ragù and chopped roasted vegetables) and deep fried. They’re perfect for those grazers who like to fill their plate with a little bit of everything on offer at a street party.

In his BBC Maestro course, Delicious Vegetarian Cooking, Marco Pierre White gets resourceful and stuffs his arancini with leftover risotto. “If you have some leftover, it’s a great second use of it,” he says, and they’re very quick to make.

Eton mess 

To cater for those with a sweet tooth, an Eton mess is a dessert everyone can get stuck into. Packed with crunchy meringue, juicy strawberries and topped with whipped cream, it’s a light but indulgent summery dessert (depending on how much you eat of it, of course).

Onion bhaji

Another one for those grazers shifting from dish to dish, these crispy onion bhajis are the perfect street party snack. Whether you love them on their own, drizzled with mango chutney or mint yoghurt or dunked into ketchup like India’s first Michelin-starred chef Vineet Bhatia himself, you’re in for a treat. They’re not only destined to be a party favourite as one of Britain’s favourite Indian snacks, but they also only take around 15 minutes to make so it’s easy to whip up a batch in no time. Take a look at Vineet Bhatia’s onion bhaji recipe here.

Quiche Lorraine 

Bring a touch of France to the table with this classic quiche Lorraine recipe from chef Pierre Koffmann. It calls for freshly made pastry (though there’s no shame in replacing it with shop-bought shortcrust) as well as salty bacon lardons, cream and some Gruyère cheese. It can be served warm, fresh from the oven or cooled in the fridge so it’s a dish that won’t lose its magic as the day goes on.

Sausage rolls

If shortcrust pastry hasn’t got you drooling, these puff pastry sausage rolls may do the trick. Stuffed with sausages, parsley and garlic, they’ll make a simple but tasty addition to your street party menu. If you follow a plant-based diet, try these vegan sausage rolls instead – made using mushrooms, leeks, chestnuts and mustard.

So there you have it, eight street-party-friendly dishes fit for any celebration. And to help everything go down smoothly, why not pair them with your favourite sparkling wine? Or if you’re craving more inspiration, take a look at our online cooking courses to help spark some ideas.