If you are hoping to find some tropical foods ideas for a luau or summer party, we’ve got you covered! We have rounded up more than 35 of the best luau foods from all over the interwebs from the best bloggers out there! This collection includes tropical entrees, tropical desserts, tropical appetizers, and tropical side dishes!
Selecting Appetizer Luau Foods
When determining which tropical appetizers you should serve, keep in mind your ability to heat or keep things cold at the location of the party. Also, do you want something people can grab and go with, or do you want something that people will need to scoop? What kind of scoopers will you need to buy in advance – fancy crackers, tortilla chips, etc. Keep these types of things in mind!
Choosing Tropical Entrees for a Luau
When it comes to choosing tropical entrees for a luau or summer party, you probably need to consider how many people you are feeding. If it is a larger event, you will want to go with things that can be served quickly or that people can assemble themselves. Some choices would be the tropical hot dog bar, slow cooker Hawaiian chicken, or pulled pork sandwiches – all listed below. This way, folks can serve themselves and the meat will stretch further.
On the other hand, if your gathering is a smaller affair, you might prefer to serve a pork tenderloin, shrimp tacos, chicken kebabs, or Hawaiian Huli Huli chicken – all listed below. As much as I love beef, chicken, and shrimp kebabs, I find them rather tedious to prep and put together for larger groups (like 10 or more people). But for smaller groups, they make wonderful tropical entrees!
Choosing Tropical Side Dishes
Tropical side dishes are a plenty. When weighing which tropical side dishes, again consider the size of the gathering. It is hard to go wrong with a batch of macaroni salad like the Hawaiian macaroni salad contributed later in the post. Or maybe the tropical coleslaw is more your fancy. A festive pineapple fried rice can be served as both an entree or a side dish!
Tropical Desserts for Your Tropical Party
Is it a potluck in which many people will contribute? If so, you might can get away with a tray of the Hawaiian Rice Krispie Treats, linked below. Or maybe you are attending a small gathering in which a batch of homemade pineapple ice cream or the pineapple dole whip, both linked below, might bring the tropical charm.
Best Tropical Foods for a Luau
Thes tropical foods include the best potluck foods for attending or hosting a luau or other tropical summer party! We have tropical appetizers, tropical side dishes, tropical entrees, and tropical desserts!
Main Entree Tropical Foods for a Party
These tropical entrees will be a hit at your party!
These jerk chicken kebabs are loaded with traditional jerk flavor and lightened with some lime and pineapple.
Coconut lime shrimp from Three Olives Branch can be on your table in around 15 minutes!
This Slow Cooker Hawaiian Barbecue Chicken is simple, easy, and delicious! Using only five ingredients and your slow cooker, this is the epitome of a “set it and forget it” meal that is perfect for potlucks, parties, and busy weeknights!
Savory, delicious Spicy Grilled Shrimp topped off with cilantro, lime, and a sweet minced tomato and pineapple sauce. This healthy recipe is perfect for a fun spring and summer weeknight dinner or having friends over!
Fresh fruit salsa, quinoa, and roasted broccolini pair up with Omega-rich salmon in this crazy easy and super healthy Macadamia Crusted Salmon with Pineapple Mango Salsa.
These Mini Shrimp Tacos with Pineapple are filled with slightly spicy shrimp and diced pineapple, and topped with a creamy yogurt sauce. These tiny tacos are healthy, easy, and perfect for parties!
Grill Hawaiian Huli Huli Chicken, pineapple, and add some coconut lime rice into pineapple bowls. A gorgeous way to entertain for luaus, graduation celebrations, pool parties, or summer cookouts.
Kalua pork is a feature of any good Hawaiian luau. This version of Kalua Style Pork by Carnedium is made at home on a BBQ grill or smoker and is easy to make.
The star of the show for these simple fish tacos is the easy-to-make mango salsa. It's a chunky, chopped salsa that comes together very quickly and can be served with many different Mexican dishes.
Cilantro Lime Marinated Pork Tenderloin with Tropical Fruit Salsa
This cilantro lime pork tenderloin is of the easiest, healthiest and most delicious ways to enjoy pork tenderloin.
Tropical Chicken Nachos with Tropical Salsa - The Taste of the Islands.
These Tropical Chicken Nachos by An Affair from the Heart are a deliciously simple sheet pan nacho recipe. Serve them with a Tropical Salsa for a true island vibe!
Drive Me Hungry features a Loco moco - a comforting Hawaiian dish made of a rice topped with a juicy hamburger patty, brown gravy, and a fried egg.
Set up a fun summer hot dog bar, including homemade spicy kiwi relish and Maui onion slaw, for a festive tropical luau or summer party!
This recipe for Hawaiian chicken is chicken thighs that are flavored with a tropical coconut marinade then grilled to perfection.
Tropical Fruit Salsas
Try one of these tropical fruit salsas for your summer party! Each one has a different variation of fruit and other ingredients to help you find the perfect one for you! We have the best tropical salsa varieties - mango salsa, pineapple salsa, mango pineapple salsa, peach salsa recipes, and fruit and avocado salsa recipes!
Pineapple Salsa Recipe (Sweet and Savory) The Art of Food and Wine
Our Pineapple Salsa Recipe is an amazing blend of sweet and savory flavors. The combination of pineapple and jalapeno is so evenly matched it creates a refreshing blast you will love serving as an appetizer or side dish.
This bright and fresh Mango Avocado Corn Salsa will make a gorgeous addition to your next summer menu. Set it out with a bowl of tortilla chips or spoon it over grilled chicken, steak, or fish for an unforgettable meal.
Great with tortilla chips or as a condiment, this easy peach mango salsa is so good that you can eat it just by itself!
Put your summer produce to use with this fresh Peach Avocado Salsa. It's crunchy with a hint of sweetness and has a smooth, yet bright finish - perfect for summer celebrations!
This tropical mango pineapple salsa is the perfect mix of sweet and tangy. It goes great with grilled salmon, chicken or even on it’s own with some chips.
Side Dish Foods for a Luau Party
Try one of these side dish foods for a luau party or summer potluck!
These Grilled BBQ Pineapple With Cinnamon Glaze are grilled to perfection with a spicy cinnamon glaze! They are an easy and super healthy summer cookout idea that everyone will LOVE! Best of all, you can serve them as an appetizer, side dish OR as a dessert.
Hawaiian Pineapple Coleslaw puts a sweet and savory tropical spin on classic coleslaw!
Fried rice with pineapple may sound strange, but after you try this recipe, you’ll see that it just works! It’s made with big chunks of ham and pineapple, veggies and an addicting sweet and sour sauce. This recipe can work as an entree or as a side!
This healthy Mango Black Bean Salad is packed with plant-based protein and fiber. It is made with 8 low-budget, pantry-friendly ingredients and prepped in 5 minutes (not including marinating time)!
Hawaiian Macaroni Salad brings a flair of the tropics with macaroni noodles, grated carrots, onions, and a creamy dressing.
Tropical Desserts
You don't need to have a luau to enjoy these amazing tropical desserts. But your guests would sure thank you if you did!
This delicious mango cake is the perfect dessert for your summer party or luau. Full of fresh tropical flavors and topped with a buttercream icing and macadamia nuts.
This Tropical Angel Food Cake is a mango-pineapple angel food cake topped with coconut whipped cream, toasted coconut, and pineapple "flowers!" This cake is light, fluffy, and has serious tropical flavor!
Easy vegan coconut lime cupcakes filled with a zesty creamy lime curd and topped with a coconut vanilla buttercream. Fluffy tropical deliciousness!
This pina colada dip is a no bake dessert recipe that’s loaded with pineapple and coconut. You can also serve this as an appetizer by serving with fresh fruit.
This dairy-free Dole Whip recipe is a delicious frozen tropical treat! Only requiring three ingredients, it is a vegan, paleo, gluten-free, nut-free, and refined sugar-free taste of the tropics!
Here is a delicious recipe for Easy Passion Fruit Bars that taste like a vacation! This sweet and tart bar is so easy to make, and with only a few ingredients, anyone can whip these up for family and friends.
These Rice Krispie Treats are made luau-fabulous with a mango glaze, macadamia nuts, and white chocolate chips!
Try these vegan mango cheesecake with layers of creamy vanilla lime cheesecake and sweet mango curd on a no-bake crust. It is the perfect vegan dessert for summer parties!
You might want to try these easy Cinnamon Sugar Malasadas. These are Hawaiian donuts made with a rich buttery dough, served hot from the fryer rolled in cinnamon sugar.
These Pineapple Coconut Magic Cookie Bars with Macadamia Nuts are fun and easy to make!
Eliminate the rum when serving these fun pina colada cupcakes at a family-friendly event!
Bring the islands to your party with this fun and festive Pina Colada Cheesecake!
Pineapple Ice Cream is a creamy no churn ice cream that is loaded with pineapple for a sweet summer dessert at your luau or summer party.
Well, did you find some tropical foods to serve as your summer luau party? I sure hope so! I know I can’t wait to try some of these! Even if you aren’t attending a luau themed party, you can still have fun bringing one of these tropical recipes to a summer potluck or barbecue.
If You Like These Tropical Foods, Check More Luau Ideas and Party Ideas
If you like the ideas here for tropical foods for a luau, be sure to check out some of our other luau ideas!
Planning a Murder Mystery Party
1980s Theme Murder Mystery Party
80s Theme Murder Mystery Party
Plan a Rad 1980s Murder Mystery Party
1980s Party Food and 1980s Drink Ideas
How to Plan a Potluck Charcuterie Table Plus 50 Charcuterie Boards
Best Fiesta and Cinco de Mayo Quotes
Patriotic Recipes for a July 4th Party
Chips and Hummus Party Plus 12 Hummus Recipes
Best Tropical Foods for a Luau
Unique Fiesta Party Theme Ideas
Leave a Reply