Looking for some fresh recipe ideas for a ladies luncheon? Whether you are hosting book club or enjoying lunch with your besties, wait until you try these easy salad bar menu recipes for a luncheon.
There is nothing like a day with your besties, am I right? There’s something undeniably special about getting together with your favorite ladies for a leisurely lunch. It’s a chance to catch up, share stories, and enjoy delicious food in a relaxed atmosphere.
Whether you’re planning a ladies’ luncheon for a special occasion or just want an excuse to get together, there are plenty of recipe ideas that will make your gathering extra special.
From fresh salads and sandwiches to indulgent desserts and refreshing drinks, the options are endless.
So why not gather your girlfriends, break out the good china, and prepare to enjoy a wonderful afternoon filled with laughter, good food, and great company?
Wait until you see these ladies lunch ideas with quick and easy recipes that I know you’ll love!
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Why Get Together for a Ladies Luncheon and How Do You Host One?
A ladies luncheon is a social gathering where women come together to enjoy a meal and have a good time. It is typically a daytime event that is hosted by a woman in her home or a group of women at a restaurant.
Ladies luncheons are often organized around a particular theme, such as a holiday or a charity event, and may include activities like games, speakers, or a silent auction. But they can also just be totally casual and centered around food with your besties!
Ladies luncheons are a great opportunity for women to socialize, network, and build relationships with other women in their community or industry. And they are also a fun way to celebrate a special occasion or simply enjoy good food and friends.
What Do You Serve at a Ladies Luncheon?
The menu for a ladies luncheon depends on the host’s preferences, budget, and occasion. Here are some ideas for a typical ladies’ luncheon menu.
Appetizers
- Crudites (vegetable platter with dip)
- Hummus with vegetables
- Cheese platter with crackers or bread
- Bruschetta Tomatoes
- Shrimp co*cktail
- Mini quiches or frittatas
Main Course
- Salad with grilled chicken or shrimp
- Sandwiches or wraps (such as chicken salad, tuna salad, or veggie wrap)
- Quiche with a side salad
- Pasta salad with chicken or vegetables
- Soup
- Salads
Dessert
- Fruit salad or fruit skewers
- Mini cakes or cupcakes
- Cheesecake
- Dump Cake
- Macarons
- Chocolate-covered strawberries
Beverages:
- Iced tea or lemonade (I love this strawberry lemonade recipe.)
- Sparkling water or soda
- Wine or champagne
- Mimosas
- Bellinis
- Wine Spritzer
When planning your menu, ask your guests in advance if they have any dietary restrictions or preferences so that you can accommodate them. Consider offering a variety of options to accommodate different dietary preferences, such as vegetarian, keto-friendly, gluten-free, or dairy-free.
If you’re not sure what to serve, consider foods that will complement the season and ambiance of the occasion.
Easy Ladies Luncheon Recipes You Should Try
When it comes to hosting a ladies’ luncheon, the menu is a crucial aspect to consider. Whether you’re hosting a small gathering of friends or a larger event, the right menu can set the tone for the occasion and make your guests feel welcomed and appreciated.
From light salads and sandwiches to more substantial main courses and desserts, there are countless options to choose from when planning your ladies’ luncheon menu.
Here are some mouthwatering recipes that are perfect for a light meal or salad bar that are sure to impress your friends and family.
Simple Lemonade Iced Tea
My good friend Jen from Midwest Life and Style shared this light refreshing beverage that pairs perfectly with a salad bar menu. It’s easy to make and looks so good, doesn’t it? This would make a great summer sip on the porch.
Refreshing Strawberry Lemonade
One of my favorite ladies lunch ideas is making this refreshing strawberry lemonade recipe. Imagine, crystal glasses clinking under the spring sun, filled with a vibrant swirl of pink and gold. Every sip bursts with the juicy tang of strawberry, the citrusy kiss of lemon, a perfect harmony for lunching with your besties.
But the best part? You can spike this recipe up with some booze if you want to kick things up a notch.
White Wine Spritzers 3 Ways
Let’s clink to delicious sunshine! Sparkling spritzers, crisp with white wine and kissed with citrus, await. They’re light as laughter, perfect for airy conversation and afternoon secrets shared between sips. Cheers to elegance and a touch of bubbly fun!
Peach Sangria
Paint the afternoon rosy with the blush of delightful peach sangria! This recipe for peach sangria is not your average white sangria either. Imagine chilled glasses glistening with the vibrant hues of summer, sun-kissed peaches swirling amongst ruby pomegranate seeds. Each sip a sweet surrender to a symphony of flavors – ripe fruit, a whisper of citrus, and a hint of spice.
The Best Bellini Recipe
The best Bellini recipe for a ladies’ luncheon is all about capturing the essence of elegance and delight. It should be light and refreshing, with just the right touch of sweetness to complement the conversation and your lovely spread.
This timeless beauty is all about simplicity and fresh flavors. Muddle a few slices of ripe white peach with a touch of lemon juice, then blend with Prosecco until smooth. Pour into chilled champagne flutes and garnish with a delicate peach slice. It’s a whisper of summer sunshine in a glass, perfect for a sophisticated affair with your besties.
Grilled Chicken and Blueberry Salad with Sweet Lemon Vinaigrette
My good friends Anne and AnnMarie from Simply 2 Moms shared this super light and tasty grilled chicken and blueberry salad with a sweet lemon vinaigrette that sounds AMAZING. I’m sure the tartness of the lemon vinaigrette paired with the sweetness of fresh blueberries is quite a flavor combination.
This sounds like a must-try when the blueberries are in season. Which is coming up soon! I’ve got both blueberries and some arugula growing in the potager garden now, so this recipe is high on my list of new dishes to make.
Cobb Salad with Chicken Stacked Salad
My good friend Rachel from the Ponds Farmhouse made this super fun cobb salad with chicken that is stacked. Doesn’t that look like a fun dish to make and serve? I love a good cobb salad and it’s the perfect recipe for a warm summer day.
The Best Recipe for Caprese Salad
For my contribution to our ladies luncheon, I’m sharing my favorite recipe for Caprese Salad. I eat this one all summer long when we have tomatoes growing in the garden. It’s super easy to make and works well as an appetizer, side dish, or even a main course for any gathering.
One of the things I love most about caprese salad is you can make it several ways. I prefer to make it with thin slices and spiral it. But I know others that like to prepare the ciliegine mozzarella balls with cherry tomatoes too.Sometimes I’ll add chicken to make a chicken caprese salad. And other times, I like to serve it on bread as caprese appetizer bites.
My favorite though, is this beautiful, classic dish that is easy to prepare, looks beautiful, and perfect for any gathering.
Quick and Easy Spinach Salad Recipe
For a ladies’ luncheon menu that is both beautiful and refreshing, consider a vibrant spinach salad adorned with juicy strawberries. Imagine a platter adorned with emerald green spinach leaves as the base, creating a lush canvas for the pops of ruby red strawberries scattered throughout. Plump slices of the fruit, glistening with a touch of balsamic glaze, offer bursts of sweet-tartness that perfectly complement the earthy richness of the spinach.
Creamy Zucchini Quiche Recipe
Thinly sliced zucchini steals the show in this super simple quiche that works great for a ladies luncheon.It is garden-fresh, bursting with flavor and simple to serve makingit the perfect brunch, easy weeknight meal, or summer dish to boot.
And if you grow your own zucchini? This recipe is a great way to use your vegetable garden harvest. Wait until you try this mouthwatering zucchini quiche recipe!
Chicken Salad With Grapes Sandwiches
Elevate your ladies’ luncheon with a classic comfort food: chicken salad with grapes sandwiches! Imagine dainty teacups nestled amongst floral china, and between sips, delicate fingers reaching for charmingly petite triangles of bread. Each bite unveils a delightful symphony of textures and flavors.
Fluffy croissants cradle a creamy chicken salad, its richness tempered by the burst of sweet, juicy grapes. Wait until you try this crazy good recipe!
Easy Cucumber Sandwiches
Ah, the cucumber sandwich – a timeless symbol of dainty femininity and the cornerstone of any elegant ladies’ luncheon. Imagine dainty fingers adorned with sparkling rings, reaching for these delightful little morsels nestled on a tiered platter.
Each bite reveals a symphony of textures and flavors: paper-thin cucumber slices, their refreshing coolness contrasting with the creamy richness of herb-infused cream cheese.
This delicate balance is held together by the soft embrace of crustless white bread, cut into perfect triangles or squares.
Semi-Homemade Naked Cake with Flowers
One of the prettiest desserts to serve for a ladies lunch is a naked cake with flowers. What I love most about this one is it’s semi-homemade, so the preparation couldn’t be more simple! It’s an absolute showstopper for your ladies’ luncheon menu, adding a touch of rustic elegance and whimsical charm.
Imagine tiered layers of moist, fluffy cake, each generously slathered with a whisper-thin coat of barely-there frosting, revealing the golden brown crumb beneath. Scattered across the layers, like jewels on a crown, are blossoms of edible flowers, chosen to complement the cake’s flavor and the event’s theme.
Edible Fruit Arrangement
My good friend Jennifer from Cottage on Bunker Hill is joining us this month for our spring fling salad bar. And wow did she knock this one out of the park! I love a beautiful fruit arrangement like this – you can’t go wrong serving it at any kind of gathering.
The Best Coffee Cake Recipe
One of my favorite ladies lunch ideas is serving this semi-homemade coffee cake recipes. Choosing the “best” coffee cake recipe is subjective, as taste preferences vary greatly. However, this recipe widely loved for its moist, tender crumb, delightful cinnamon streusel topping, and overall ease of preparation. Wait until you try this mouthwatering recipe!
Old Fashioned Buttermilk Pie with Lemon Curd
My good friend Michele from Vintage Home Designs shared her totally delicious old fashioned buttermilk pie with lemon curd.
I’ve never had this before, so I’m really looking forward to trying it.
Doesn’t it look so good!
More Ladies Luncheon Ideas
Do you meet up with your besties for lunch too? What are some recipe ideas that you enjoy making or bringing to a luncheon? I would love to know more in the comments below.
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Next up in our supper club is my good friend Jennifer from Cottage on Bunker Hill.
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Spring Fling Salad Bar with the Ladies
We’ve been having a great time with our supper club and this month we are celebrating all things new with a spring fling salad bar.
Whether you are hosting family or friends during the spring season, we are sharing lots of pretty spring table centerpiece and decorating ideas. To see all the pretty table decor for spring, click here.
If you are coming from Rachel’s from the Ponds Farmhouse, welcome to my home. I’m thrilled you dropped by. We’ve got quite a menu today and I’m sure you’ll love it!
In case you are new here, I’m Stacy, a self-taught master gardener who lives and gardens in northern New Jersey, zone 6a.
We recently moved to a beautiful 1850 farmhouse with 10 acres of gardens, sculptures, and statues.
I’ve been gardening for over 20 years and enjoy helping beginner gardeners find their inner green thumb, as well as discover a love for all things plants and flowers. I love to bring the outdoors inside my home too.
I hope you enjoy visiting my home today and hope you come back so we can grow stuff and create beautiful spaces together.
Stacy Ling
Stacy Ling is author of the best selling book, The Bricks 'n Blooms Guide to a Beautiful and Easy-Care Flower Garden, and writes the blog Bricks ’n Blooms from her 1850 farmhouse located in zone 6b northern New Jersey. She is a master gardener who’s been gardening for over 25 years and enjoys sharing her passion to help beginners find their inner green thumb, as well as discover a love for all things plants and flowers. Stacy loves to bring the outdoors inside her home and decorates with a comfy, casual, and cottagecore style. Come grow stuff and create beautiful spaces with her.
