Published June 4, 2026
Food is half the fun of a pool party, and the menu works best when most of it can be made ahead so you are swimming with your guests instead of stuck at the stove. Here are eight crowd-pleasers Foxx Pools has long recommended for a backyard pool party, grouped by how they fit into the day.
Make-ahead sides
- Party pasta salad. A cold pasta salad you can toss together the night before and pull straight from the fridge when guests arrive.
- Taco dip. A layered dip that comes together fast, holds up on a warm day, and tends to disappear before everything else.
Off the grill
- Beef shish kebobs. Skewered beef and vegetables cook quickly and feed a crowd without much fuss.
- Grilled ratatouille. A colorful mix of summer vegetables off the grill, an easy win for the lighter eaters in the group.
Something to drink
- White sangria. A refreshing wine punch for the adults that is simple to batch in a pitcher and keep cold.
- Party lemonade. The classic non-alcoholic crowd-pleaser that works for kids and grown-ups alike.
A little something sweet
- Blackberry cobbler. A warm summer dessert that pairs perfectly with a scoop of vanilla.
- Fruity fun skewers. Skewered fresh fruit that doubles as a snack and a bit of natural decoration on the table.
Any good recipe book or a quick search will get you the exact measurements for each of these. Once the menu is set, run through the rest of the day with our pool party planning checklist, and if the pool itself needs attention before the big day, Foxx Pools is here to help.