1980s Party Food and Drink Ideas for a Rad Time

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Are you ready for a roaring good time? Today, I’m writing to give you ideas for 1980s party food and 1980s cocktails – for the best 1980s party ever! I even have a couple of free printables for your own 1980s party! And don’t miss the recipe linked below for our special pitcher Fuzzy Naval.

woman holds Seagram's Escapes in front of a printable 1980s drink menu

If you are here, you may have already checked out my other posts – 1980s Murder Mystery Party and 1980s Murder High Reunion Ideas. This post is a follow up with the food and drink suggestions. Originally, I wrote the posts as one whole piece of content, but it became far too long so I split them.

1980s Party Drink Ideas

From the research on 1980s cocktails that I did, it seems that wine coolers and cocktails with orange juice were the way to go!

This made for super easy hosting.

I pre-made a pitcher Fuzzy Naval as our house drink. And then I popped Smirnoff Wine Coolers of all kinds of fun flavors into large bowls of ice and into a cooler.

Another easy pitcher drink from the 1980s is the pitcher Tequila Sunrise.

Free Printables for 1980s Cocktails Station

I announced to guests to serve themselves from the pitchers in the fridge. I displayed my free printable 1980s drink menu so guests could easily see how to prepare their own cocktails if the pitchers were to run out before the night was over.

I set out additional ingredients on the counter so they could make a new pitcher or at least make themselves one drink if needed.

1980s party drinks on tray with printable menu

Don’t forget to print your own downloadable menu from the link above! You can print in color or black-and-white. I printed in black-and-white because my printer was low on color ink.

rad 1980s party drink menu with fuzzy naval and wine coolers options

Rad 1980s Food Ideas

Being a child of the 80s, I didn’t have to think too hard on our food menu for our 1980s party! I knew exactly what was good back in the day!

I created a potluck list and posted in in my Facebook event group for my guests. Then, I asked each guest to comment below the post with the item(s) they wished to sign up for. (That way I could stay on top of what foods were coming and we avoided too many duplicates.)

I also told them they were welcome to bring any other wonderful 1980s food they thought of instead of one of my suggestions. Most of the items I suggested were claimed, and we had plenty of food for 30 guests.

Note that not all of the items are true 1980s party food ideas…but we did have to have some filler items. Feel free to borrow my wording for your own 1980s party!

Here is the exact wording I used in my post to the guests:

1980s Potluck Sign Up

Our party menu will be made up of favorite 1980s party foods and drinks, of course! The party hosts will be serving homemade sloppy joes. We will also serve Fuzzy Navel cocktails and wine coolers as the house specialty drinks – as a fun nod to the 1980s. (Feel free to BYOB for any other drink you might like.)

Please comment on this post with the item you would like to claim from the list. Of course, you are welcome to bring any throw-back food from the 1980s that it isn’t on the list.

Bonus points if you show up with your stuff in your mom or grandma’s old school Tupperware!

Potato skins
Little Smokies in slow cooker
Meatballs in slow cooker
Pizza rolls
Ham and cheese sandwiches (can be sliders or regular sandwiches)
Mini quiches
Rotel cheese dip (no chips necessary)
7 layer dip (no chips necessary)
Pasta salad
Cheese and crackers
Fruit pizza
Veggie tray
Jello poke cake
Chocolate chip cookies
Tortilla chips (2 bags) #1
Tortilla chips (2 bags) #2
Tortilla chips (2 bags) #3
French onion dip (no chips necessary)
Potato chips (2 bags)
Orange juice – No sugar added version, if possible
12 pack of Cokes
12 pack of Sprites
Peach schnapps

By the time the party started and the food started to be brought in by the guests, I didn’t have time to get any good food pictures. It was go time! These are the only shots I managed to get.

utensil holder with 1980s party ware and cassette tape cutout on front

double tier tray of 1980s party food - mini quiche, pizza rolls with Tupperware of pasta salad nearby

Don’t Forget to Have Fun at Your Totally Tubular 1980s Party!

Throwing a totally tubular 1980s party is a great way to host a memorable event that will keep guests talking for weeks to come. Just be sure to allow yourself some fun, too, as the host or hostess! Whether you’re looking to celebrate a milestone birthday, New Year’s Eve, or just want to host a fun night with friends, this theme is sure to bring a tubular time to your friends!