16 Recipes for an Oscars Viewing Party (2024)

An event as glamorous as the Academy Awards deserves equally elegant food. In this roundup, you'll find all the recipes you need to throw an epic Oscars viewing party. We recommend starting with an ice-cold Frozen Martini to set the mood and then moving on to a hearty selection of passed appetizers, like Caviar-Topped Deviled Eggs and Oysters Rockefeller. Add a few desserts like individual Orange-Cardamom Butter Cakes with Rose Water Icing and Champagne Jellies to toast the big wins, and you're all set. Read on for the full spread.

01of 16

Shrimp Wedge Salad with Old Bay Breadcrumbs and Hot Sauce Dressing

16 Recipes for an Oscars Viewing Party (1)

Taking a cue from chef Nina Compton at Bywater American Bistro, we're adding a Crystal hot sauce–spiked dressing to this mash-up of a wedge salad and a po'boy sandwich. Toasting the breadcrumbs in Old Bay–infused oil doubles down on the rich shrimp-boil flavor.

get the recipe

02of 16

Oysters Rockefeller

16 Recipes for an Oscars Viewing Party (2)

This renowned baked oyster dish was created at Antoine's Restaurant in New Orleans in 1899 by the proprietor, Jules Alciatore. According to legend, it was named in honor of John D. Rockefeller, at that time one of the world's richest men, because of the sauce's intense richness. The following recipe is the old Delmonico restaurant's take on the dish, with the Rockefeller sauce base used not only to make the Oysters Rockefeller appetizer but also used as a spread on toast to create canapés.

get the recipe

03of 16

Mini Deviled Crab Cornbread Muffins

16 Recipes for an Oscars Viewing Party (3)

At his dinner parties in Harlem, chef and cookbook author Alexander Smalls pairs creamy, slightly spicy, fresh deviled crab with tender corn muffins, barely sweetened with brown sugar and studded with corn kernels, for a quick one-bite appetizer. Choose fresh crab over pasteurized for the best flavor.

get the recipe

04of 16

Caviar-Topped Deviled Eggs

16 Recipes for an Oscars Viewing Party (4)

For these deviled eggs, chef Evan Babb channels his mother's and grandmother's classic recipes for the filling, which gets a briny kick from a splash of olive juice. A dollop of sturgeon caviar on top takes these deviled eggs to the next level.

Go to Recipe

Sausage-Stuffed Fried Olives

16 Recipes for an Oscars Viewing Party (5)

Buttery, mild Castelvetrano olives add just enough salt and tang to these fried sausage snacks that pair beautifully with a crisp martini or chilled glass of wine. Use a high quality Italian sausage for the best texture and flavor.

Go to Recipe

06of 16

Crudités and Fermented Soybean Dip

16 Recipes for an Oscars Viewing Party (6)

This dip is the perfect way to show off whatever fresh vegetables you can get your hands on.

Go to Reicpe

07of 16

Spicy Lamb Meatballs with Green Goddess Dip

16 Recipes for an Oscars Viewing Party (7)

Inspired by merguez, a North African lamb sausage, these meatballs are loaded with cumin, garlic, and paprika for the ideal one-bite nosh. Harissa gives them a fiery heat that's tempered by the herby dip. Not a fan of lamb? Try preparing these make-ahead meatballs with ground beef or a plant-based meat alternative, such as Impossible.

get the recipe

08of 16

Crab and Smoked Salmon Pintxos with Vanilla Oil

16 Recipes for an Oscars Viewing Party (8)

These delightful pintxos combine a lemony fresh crab salad with smoked salmon and salty pops of salmon roe. A drizzle of fragrant vanilla oil is a surprise complement to the seafood, but it can be optional.

Go to Recipe

Mushroom Conserva

16 Recipes for an Oscars Viewing Party (9)

Marinated in a blend of Champagne vinegar, olive oil, toasted fennel seeds, garlic, and thyme, these tender mushrooms are a winning appetizer waiting to happen. Spoon them over ricotta-topped toast, gooey baked Brie, or add them to a cheese board with plenty of crusty bread for sopping.

get the recipe

10of 16

Cheese Croustades

16 Recipes for an Oscars Viewing Party (10)

In these croustades, a dollop of sweet-tart cranberry relish hides at the center of the goat cheese and ricotta mousse for a burst of flavor. Garnish with fresh, oniony chives or tart lemon zest for some color and brightness.

get the recipe

11of 16

Garlic Toasts with Lemon Aioli and Marinated Beans

16 Recipes for an Oscars Viewing Party (11)

Tuck this recipe for "cheater's aioli" away for safekeeping—the spicy raw garlic and floral lemon transform store-bought mayonnaise into a brightly delicious (and fast-fix) condiment. Adjust the acid and spice levels to taste, or swap the lemon for lime.

Go to Recipe

12of 16

Pomegranate-Ginger Spritz

16 Recipes for an Oscars Viewing Party (12)

Pomegranates are winter's most stunning fruit; here they provide both a sweet, wine-colored base and a jewel-like garnish. The baking-spice notes of Angostura bitters soften the juice's tartness with cozy flavor.

Go to Reicpe

13of 16

Frozen Martini

16 Recipes for an Oscars Viewing Party (13)

NYC bartender and restaurateur Max Green shared his recipe for the perfect martini, which he makes ahead in big batches and freezes. With a formula of two parts gin, one part vermouth, and one part water, the ideal dilution is built into the batch. When you take it out of the freezer, the liquid won't be completely frozen but will glide right out of the bottle. Let it sit in the glass on the counter for a minute before sipping. Alcohol has a low freezing point, so it warms up quickly, and when it does, the drink will be as smooth as can be. The garnish is up to you.

get the recipe

14of 16

Champagne Jellies

16 Recipes for an Oscars Viewing Party (14)

These jellies are festive enough for any time of the year. After all, when is a bad time for a little Champagne?

Go to Recipe

15of 16

Ultimate Chocolate Mousse

16 Recipes for an Oscars Viewing Party (15)

The key to this recipe is to use the very best semisweet dark chocolate you can find—we like Valrhona. The better the chocolate, the better the mousse.

Go to Recipe

16of 16

Orange-Cardamom Butter Cakes with Rose Water Icing

16 Recipes for an Oscars Viewing Party (16)

These delicate, elegant Sri Lankan cakes from cookbook author Ruwanmali Samarakoon-Amunugama are light with a buttery, moist crumb and a hint of citrusy cardamom. The sweet frosting gets flavor and a floral aroma from rose water and orange blossom water from Curio Spice; a drizzle of raspberry jam thinned with orange juice adds the perfect sweet-tart contrast.

get the recipe