18 Under the Sea Party Food Ideas

I made these under-the-sea party snacks for a themed party, and they were such a fun way to make the food table feel extra special without making everything too complicated. Some are sweet, some are savory, and a few are fresh fruit or veggie ideas, so there’s a nice mix for kids and adults.

The best part is that most of these are easy to make with simple ingredients. You don’t need everything to look perfect either. A playful homemade look actually makes these snacks even cuter.

1. Watermelon Mermaid Tail Strawberry Skewers

These fresh fruit skewers look so cute on a party tray, and they add a bright pop of color to the table.

Ingredients

• Seedless watermelon
• Fresh strawberries
• Wooden skewers
• Mermaid tail cookie cutter
• Knife
• Cutting board

Directions

1. Slice the watermelon into flat slices, about ½ inch thick.
2. Use a mermaid tail cookie cutter to cut tail shapes from the watermelon.
3. Wash the strawberries and pat them dry.
4. Trim the strawberry tops if desired, or leave them whole for a fuller look.
5. Thread one strawberry onto each wooden skewer.
6. Add one watermelon mermaid tail above the strawberry.
7. Arrange the skewers on a platter and chill until ready to serve.

2. Blue Jello Ocean Cups With Gummy Fish

These blue ocean cups are one of those treats kids notice right away because they look so bright and fun.

Ingredients

• Blue gelatin mix
• Water, according to package directions
• Clear plastic cups
• Crushed graham crackers or vanilla wafer crumbs
• Gummy fish
• Mini paper umbrellas, optional

Directions

1. Prepare the blue gelatin according to the package directions.
2. Pour the gelatin into clear plastic cups, leaving a little room at the top.
3. Chill the cups until the gelatin is fully set.
4. Sprinkle crushed graham crackers or vanilla wafer crumbs over the top to look like sand.
5. Place 2 or 3 gummy fish on top of the crumbs.
6. Add a mini paper umbrella to each cup if you want a beachy look.
7. Keep chilled until ready to serve.

3. Banana Dolphin Fruit Cups

This is such a sweet little fruit idea, and the banana dolphin makes a simple fruit cup feel party-ready.

Ingredients

• Bananas
• Green grapes
• Blueberries
• Strawberries
• Clear plastic cups
• Mini chocolate chips or black decorating gel, optional

Directions

1. Wash the blueberries, strawberries, and grapes well.
2. Cut the strawberries into halves or smaller pieces if needed.
3. Fill each clear cup with blueberries and strawberries.
4. Peel each banana and cut it in half.
5. At the cut end of each banana half, make a small slit to create the dolphin’s mouth.
6. Tuck one green grape into the slit so it looks like the dolphin is holding a ball.
7. Add a small dot of black decorating gel or a mini chocolate chip for the eye, if desired.
8. Stand one banana dolphin into each fruit cup and serve right away.

4. Octopus Hot Dogs

These silly little hot dog octopuses are a fun savory snack, especially if you want something besides sweets.

Ingredients

• Hot dogs or mini hot dogs
• Pasta, cucumber strips, or lettuce
• Green peas, optional
• Black sesame seeds, black decorating gel, or tiny olive pieces
• Blue serving plate

Directions

1. Cut each hot dog in half crosswise if using regular hot dogs, or leave mini hot dogs whole.
2. Slice the bottom half of each hot dog into thin strips to make the octopus legs, leaving the top half whole for the head.
3. Boil or pan-cook the hot dogs until the legs curl outward.
4. Arrange pasta, cucumber strips, or lettuce on a blue plate as “seaweed.”
5. Add a few green peas around the pasta if desired for extra color.
6. Stand or nestle the hot dog octopuses on top of the “seaweed.”
7. Add tiny eyes and a mouth using black sesame seeds, black decorating gel, or small olive pieces.
8. Serve warm.

5. Starfish Sandwiches

Regular sandwiches feel much more special when they’re cut into starfish shapes for the party table.

Ingredients

• Soft sandwich bread
• Ham slices
• Cheese slices
• Mayonnaise, mustard, or butter, optional
• Star-shaped cookie cutter
• Cucumber strips
• Large serving platter

Directions

1. Make simple ham and cheese sandwiches using soft sandwich bread.
2. Add mayonnaise, mustard, or butter if desired.
3. Press a star-shaped cookie cutter firmly into each sandwich.
4. Gently remove the extra bread around the edges.
5. Arrange the star sandwiches on a large serving platter.
6. Cut cucumber into long thin strips.
7. Tuck the cucumber strips around the sandwiches to look like seaweed.
8. Keep chilled until ready to serve.

6. Ocean Pretzel Rods

These dipped pretzel rods are crunchy, sweet, and easy to make ahead before the party.

Ingredients

• Pretzel rods
• Blue candy melts
• White candy melts
• Blue sprinkles or sanding sugar
• White sugar pearls
• Blue edible pearls
• Small candy seashells or starfish, optional
• Parchment paper

Directions

1. Melt the blue candy melts in one small bowl and the white candy melts in another bowl, following the package directions.
2. Spoon some of the white melted candy into the blue candy, then gently drag a toothpick or skewer through it once or twice to create a swirl. Don’t fully mix it, or you’ll lose the marbled ocean look.
3. Dip each pretzel rod into the swirled candy coating, turning it gently so the blue and white colors wrap around the pretzel.
4. Let the extra coating drip off, then place the pretzel rods on parchment paper.
5. While the coating is still soft, add blue sprinkles, sanding sugar, edible pearls, or small shell/starfish candies.
6. Let the pretzel rods set completely before serving. You can stand them in a jar or lay them on a tray.

7. Crab Croissant Sandwiches

Mini croissants are perfect for making little crabs, and they look adorable on a blue party tray.

Ingredients

• Mini croissants
• Ham slices
• Cheese slices
• Pretzel sticks
• Candy eyes
• A little cream cheese or frosting, optional

Directions

1. Slice each mini croissant in half, but don’t cut all the way through if you want it to stay hinged.
2. Fill each croissant with ham and cheese.
3. Warm them slightly if you want the cheese to melt, then let them cool just enough to handle.
4. Slide pretzel sticks into both sides of each croissant to make crab legs.
5. Add two candy eyes on top of each croissant. Use a tiny dab of cream cheese or frosting to help them stick if needed.
6. Arrange the crab croissants on a platter and serve warm or at room temperature.

8. Sea Turtle Kiwi Grapes Snack Plate

This fresh fruit snack is simple, cute, and a nice way to add something lighter to the table.

Ingredients

• Kiwis
• Green grapes
• Black decorating icing or an edible marker
• Large serving tray

Directions

1. Peel the kiwis and slice them into thick rounds for the turtle shells.
2. Wash and dry the green grapes.
3. Place one kiwi slice on the tray for each turtle shell.
4. Cut some grapes in half lengthwise to make the flippers.
5. Place one whole grape at the front of each kiwi slice for the turtle head.
6. Arrange the halved grapes around the kiwi slice to make the flippers.
7. Add two small dots of black decorating icing or edible marker on each grape head for the eyes.
8. Chill until ready to serve.

9. Fish-Shaped Rice Krispie Treats

These sweet fish treats are colorful, fun, and perfect for an under-the-sea dessert tray. The candy coating and sprinkles make them look playful, while the Rice Krispie base keeps them easy and kid-friendly.

Ingredients

• Rice Krispie treats, homemade or store-bought
• Blue candy melts
• Teal candy melts
• Candy eyes
• Ocean-colored sprinkles
• Parchment paper

Directions

1. Cut or shape the Rice Krispie treats into simple fish shapes, making a rounded body and a small triangle tail.
2. Melt the blue and teal candy melts in separate bowls, following the package directions.
3. Dip or spread melted candy over the fish body, leaving the tail plain so it stands out.
4. Place each fish on parchment paper.
5. Add one candy eye while the coating is still soft.
6. Add ocean-colored sprinkles on top for scales.
7. Let the coating set completely before serving.

10. Cheese and Cracker Starfish Snacks

This is one of the quickest savory snacks to put together, but it still looks cute and themed.

Ingredients

• Crackers
• Cheese slices
• Star-shaped cookie cutter

Directions

1. Cut cheese slices into star shapes.
2. Place one cheese star on each cracker.
3. Arrange the crackers on a platter.
4. Keep chilled until serving.

11. Celery Boats With Blue Cream Cheese

These celery boats are crunchy, creamy, and fun with little goldfish crackers on top.

Ingredients

• Celery sticks
• Cream cheese, softened
• Blue food coloring
• Goldfish crackers

Directions

1. Wash the celery and pat it dry well.
2. Cut the celery into short sticks, about 3 to 4 inches long.
3. Stir a tiny bit of blue food coloring into softened cream cheese until it turns light ocean blue.
4. Spoon or pipe the blue cream cheese into the hollow center of each celery stick.
5. Place Goldfish crackers on top of the cream cheese, like little fish swimming in the water.
6. Arrange the celery boats on a platter and chill until ready to serve.

12. Marshmallow Jellyfish Treats

These jellyfish treats are playful and sweet, and kids can help add the little tentacles.

Ingredients

• Large marshmallows
• Colorful candy ropes or sour candy strings
• Kitchen scissors
• Small knife, optional

Directions

1. Cut the candy ropes or sour candy strings into shorter pieces for the jellyfish tentacles.
2. Use kitchen scissors or a small knife to make a small slit in the bottom of each marshmallow.
3. Gather a few candy strings together.
4. Push one end of the candy strings into the slit at the bottom of the marshmallow.
5. Gently press the marshmallow around the candy so the tentacles stay in place.
6. Arrange the marshmallow jellyfish on a platter with the candy strings hanging down.

13. Cucumber and Tomato Sea Creatures

This veggie tray is such a cute way to make fresh snacks feel fun for an under-the-sea party. The cucumbers make little turtle shells, the tomatoes add bright color, and the cheese pieces can be turned into simple little fish.

Ingredients

• Cucumber slices
• Cherry tomatoes
• Cheese cubes or cheese slices
• Black olives
• Broccoli florets
• Baby carrots or carrot sticks
• Black decorating gel, optional
• Large serving platter

Directions

1. Slice the cucumbers into thin rounds for the turtle shells.
2. Arrange several cucumber slices in small overlapping circles to make each turtle body.
3. Cut a few cucumber slices into small pieces for the turtle heads and flippers.
4. Cut cherry tomatoes in half and add tiny black olive pieces or black decorating gel dots for eyes and spots.
5. Cut cheese into small squares or fish-like pieces for simple sea creatures.
6. Use small olive pieces for fish tails, fins, and eyes.
7. Add broccoli florets and carrot sticks around the platter to fill in the tray.
8. Keep chilled until ready to serve.

14. Blue Popcorn Ocean Snack Mix

This colorful snack mix is great for serving in little cups and makes the table look instantly festive.

Ingredients

• Popped popcorn
• Blue candy melts
• Mini pretzels
• Mini marshmallows
• Goldfish crackers
• Gummy fish or gummy sharks
• Pastel fish-shaped candies, optional
• Parchment paper
• Small paper cups, optional

Directions

1. Spread the popped popcorn onto a parchment-lined baking sheet.
2. Melt the blue candy melts according to the package directions.
3. Drizzle the melted blue candy over the popcorn.
4. While the drizzle is still soft, add pretzels, mini marshmallows, Goldfish crackers, gummy fish, and any fish-shaped candies.
5. Gently toss everything together so the mix-ins are evenly spread without crushing the popcorn.
6. Let the candy drizzle set completely.
7. Transfer the snack mix to a large bowl or scoop it into small paper cups for easy party serving.

15. Cupcake Beach Cups With Ocean Frosting

These ocean cupcakes are such a pretty dessert for an under-the-sea party. The blue frosting looks like water, the cookie crumbs look like sand, and the little shell candies make them feel beachy and cute.

Ingredients

• Cupcakes, homemade or store-bought
• Blue frosting
• Crushed vanilla wafers or graham crackers
• Shell-shaped candies
• Piping bag or zip-top bag, optional

Directions

1. Bake the cupcakes and let them cool completely, or use store-bought cupcakes.
2. Add blue frosting to a piping bag or zip-top bag with the corner snipped off.
3. Pipe a swirl of blue frosting on top of each cupcake.
4. Sprinkle crushed vanilla wafers or graham crackers over part of the frosting to look like sand.
5. Add a few shell-shaped candies on top of each cupcake.
6. Arrange the cupcakes on a tray and keep them cool until ready to serve.

16. Tuna Sandwich Fish Shapes

These fish-shaped sandwiches are a cute way to include a filling savory snack with the theme.

Ingredients

• Sandwich bread
• Tuna salad
• Fish-shaped cookie cutter
• Cucumber slices
• Thin seaweed strips or black olives
• Large serving plate

Directions

1. Make tuna sandwiches with soft sandwich bread and tuna salad.
2. Press a fish-shaped cookie cutter into each sandwich.
3. Gently remove the extra bread around the edges.
4. Add small cucumber slices on some of the fish for fins or scales.
5. Use tiny pieces of seaweed or black olive for the eyes and little mouth details.
6. Arrange the fish sandwiches on a plate.
7. Keep chilled until ready to serve.

17. Rice Cake Crabs

Rice cakes turn into funny little crabs with just a spread, pretzel legs, and simple eyes.

Ingredients

• Rice cakes
• Cream cheese, softened
• Red food coloring
• Pretzel sticks
• Candy eyes

Directions

1. Stir a tiny bit of red food coloring into softened cream cheese until it turns a crab-like red or coral color.
2. Spread the red cream cheese over the top of each rice cake.
3. Press pretzel sticks into both sides of the rice cake to make crab legs.
4. Add two candy eyes near the top while the cream cheese is still soft.
5. Use the back of a spoon or a toothpick to lightly shape a smile in the cream cheese, if desired.
6. Arrange the rice cake crabs on a tray and serve soon so the rice cakes stay crisp.

18. Ocean Pancake Bites

These mini pancake bites are a cute brunch-style snack for a mermaid or under-the-sea party.

Ingredients

• Mini pancakes
• Blue-tinted yogurt or blue frosting
• Blueberries
• Green grapes
• Strawberries
• Banana slices or extra pancake pieces, optional
• Mini chocolate chips or black decorating gel
• Large serving platter

Directions

1. Make or warm the mini pancakes and let them cool slightly.
2. Arrange some mini pancakes in a curved line on the platter.
3. Spoon or drizzle blue-tinted yogurt or frosting over them to look like ocean waves.
4. Add blueberries on top of the blue yogurt for a bubble effect.
5. Use green grapes around mini pancakes to make turtle heads and flippers.
6. Use strawberry slices on top of pancakes to make starfish or fish shapes.
7. Add mini chocolate chips or tiny dots of black decorating gel for eyes.
8. Arrange the finished pancake bites on a large platter and serve soon.

These under-the-sea party food ideas were such a fun way to make the snack table feel special without spending all day in the kitchen. I loved mixing a few sweet treats with fruit, sandwiches, and simple savory snacks so there was something for everyone.

You can make just a few of these or use several together for a full ocean-themed spread. The little details like blue frosting, gummy fish, cookie “sand,” and sea creature shapes really help everything feel magical, even when the recipes are simple.