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.

spring table decor ideas with fresh cut tulips in glass vase with crystal chandelier, black china cabinet and hutch, lenox dinnerware and birds nests at each placesetiing.

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

Main Course

Dessert

  • Fruit salad or fruit skewers
  • Mini cakes or cupcakes
  • Cheesecake
  • Dump Cake
  • Macarons
  • Chocolate-covered strawberries
easter flowers on table decorated for spring with crystal chandelier and pink tulips

Beverages:

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.

close up of Easter brunch table decor ideas in french country farmhouse dining room with crystal chandelier

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.

lemonade iced tea by midwest life and style

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.

Close up of the best recipe for strawberry lemonade
Strawberry Lemonade

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!

close up of white wine spritzer recipe with strawberry and limes
Wine Spritzer

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.

pitcher of Peach Sangria and peach sangria in ball jar glasses outside on table
Peach Sangria

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.

best bellini recipe in champagne flutes

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.

grilled chicken and blueberry salad with lemon vinaigrette by simply 2 moms

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.

cobb salad stack with chicken in green house on salad bar table by the ponds farmhouse

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.

close up of the best recipe for caprese salad

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.

Close Up of Simple Spinach Salad
Quick and Easy Spinach Salad

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 making it 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!

zucchini quiche with a slice cut out

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!

close up of quick and easy chicken salad with grapes sandwiches
Chicken Salad with Grapes 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.

Refreshing Cucumber Sandwich with Cream Cheese on a wood cutting board
Refreshing Cucumber Sandwiches

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.

close up of a naked cake with pansy flowers and mint on a stone wall on a glass cake stand

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.

diy edible fruit arrangement by cottage on bunker hill

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!

Close up of a slice of The Best Coffee Cake Recipe
The Best Coffee Cake 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!

old fashioned buttermilk pie with lemon curd by vintage home designs

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.

And don’t miss joining my Gardening DIY and Decorating Community on Facebook for more chatter. And follow along there and on Instagram as well. There are behind-the-scenes daily things that I share on Instagram that don’t make it to the blog. Would love to see you there too!

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Next up in our supper club is my good friend Jennifer from Cottage on Bunker Hill.

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Ladies luncheon recipes ideas with caprese salad, fruit salad arrangement, chicken and blueberry salad and iced tea lemonade
Colorful hyacinths and tulips bloom in raised wooden garden beds, with green fencing and leafy trees in the background on a bright, spring day.

Bricks ‘n Blooms Weekly 227

Hi there! I hope you had an amazing week! Random Things Happening Behind the Scenes at Bricks ‘n Blooms In the Garden This was a big week for planting! I finally got all of my seedlings in the ground and got around to planting elfin thyme around the stone patio in the secret garden. I…
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Enjoy a beautiful day! xo

Stacy Ling
Home and Garden Blogger Stacy Ling cutting zinnia flowers in her cottage garden with wood picket fence in front of garden shed

Spring Fling Salad Bar with the Ladies

salad bar menu recipes with caprese salad, lemonade iced tea, blueberry and chicken salad, stacked cobb salad, and old fashioned buttermilk lemon pie

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.

The bricks \'n Blooms guide to a beautiful and easy-care flower garden book by stacy ling
The Bricks ‘n Blooms Guide to a Beautiful and Easy Care Flower Garden
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  • Have you dug around in the dirt with nothing to show for it except a sunburn and a sore back?
  • Do you currently enjoy growing flowers, but are looking for more tips and ideas to level up your gardening game?

Then the Bricks ‘n Blooms Guide is for YOU

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12 Comments

  1. Stacy, I shouldn’t have read this on an empty stomach! All the recipes look delicious and great ideas for lunch with friends. I need to try that buttermilk pie with lemon curd as I’ve never made one before. Great, delicious stuff today!

  2. Stacy, your post is timely because I am thinking of hosting a luncheon for my birthday in April with my girlfriends. Now I need to start planning! Thanks for sharing.