Kitty Party Menu Ideas for 10–15 Guests

The best kitty parties have one thing in common: the host actually gets to sit down. They play the games, catch up on the gossip and are there when the kitty is drawn, instead of running between the kitchen and the drawing room.

That comes down to the menu. Here are menu ideas for 10–15 guests, how to plan the timing, and a few things that make the afternoon easier on you.

How a kitty party menu usually works

Most kitty parties run in the afternoon, something like 1 to 4 PM, with games in the middle. The food tends to come in two rounds:

• On arrival: a welcome drink and something to nibble on while everyone settles in.
• After the games: the main spread, then dessert and chai.

Plan the menu around that. Starters should be easy to eat while chatting, and the main course should be something that holds well for an hour without losing its taste.

Menu 1: The chaat afternoon

This one rarely fails, especially in Delhi, where everyone has an opinion about the best gol gappe.

• Welcome drink: aam panna in summer, masala shikanji, or kesar thandai in winter
• Chaat counter: gol gappe with two kinds of pani (khatta and meetha), papdi chaat and dahi bhalle
• Hot snacks: mini samosas or aloo tikki
• Light mains: chhole kulche or pav bhaji
• Dessert: rasmalai or moong dal halwa

A chaat menu works so well because most of it can be prepped earlier and assembled when someone wants a plate.

Menu 2: The Punjabi lunch

For groups who'd rather sit down to a proper meal.

• Welcome drink: sweet or salted lassi
• Starters: paneer tikka and hara bhara kebab
• Mains: dal makhani, paneer butter masala or kadhai paneer, and a seasonal dry sabzi
• Breads and rice: butter naan or laccha paratha, and jeera rice
• Sides: boondi raita and salad
• Dessert: gulab jamun, warm

Menu 3: Light and easy

For a smaller group, a summer afternoon, or a crowd that's counting calories (there's always one).

• Welcome drink: nimbu pani or a fruit punch
• Starters: dhokla, mini idlis with chutney, or corn chaat
• Mains: veg pulao with raita, or a South Indian spread with idli, sambar and coconut chutney
• Dessert: fruit cream or shrikhand

How much food do you need?

A rough guide for 12 guests, assuming starters and a full main course:

• Starters: two or three kinds, about 4–6 pieces per person in total
• Mains: two or three dishes, plus rice and a bread
• Dessert: one dish is plenty; make it a good one

The common mistake isn't making too little food, it's making too many dishes. Four excellent dishes beat eight average ones, and they're far easier to keep hot.

Don't forget dietary preferences

In most kitty groups, at least one or two people eat Jain food or avoid onion and garlic. Ask a week before, not on the day. The easiest fix is to make the whole menu Jain-friendly instead of cooking separately for two people, and dishes like paneer tikka, dhokla and most chaat adapt well.

A timing plan that leaves you free

• The day before: buy groceries, make the chutneys, soak the dal, set the dessert if it's a cold one.
• Morning: prep the vegetables, set out serving dishes and spoons, chill the drinks.
• An hour before guests arrive: starters ready to fry or grill, mains cooking.
• Once guests are here: you're hosting, not cooking.

That last line is easy to write and hard to do. Which is why a lot of hosts now bring in help for the day.

Let a chef handle the kitchen

With a chef for your kitty party, the cooking happens in your kitchen while you're with your friends. You can pick exact dishes from the menu, or just ask for, say, two starters, two mains and a dessert and let the chef plan the rest. Set a Jain or no onion-garlic preference and the whole menu follows it. You see the full price before you pay, and the chef cooks with your groceries, so you know exactly what goes into the food.

Book at least a few hours ahead, or earlier if it's a weekend. Then all you need to do is set up the housie tickets.

Hosting more than a kitty? A party chef at home can cook any menu for 1 to 100 guests, and our food quantity chart helps you plan how much to make.