Small Chops Guide: What to Include in Your Party Tray

"Small chops" is the catch-all name for the bite-sized fried and baked snacks served at Nigerian parties — finger food that's easy to eat standing up, drink in hand. If you're planning a party and not sure where to start, here's how we'd approach it.

What usually goes in a small chops tray

• Spring rolls and samosas

• Puff puff

• Chicken wings or drumettes, plain or peppered

• Mini meat pies and sausage rolls

• Suya skewers

A good mix usually covers something fried and light (spring rolls, puff puff), something with meat (wings, suya), and something pastry-based (meat pies, sausage rolls) — that spread tends to suit the widest range of guests.

How much to order

As a rough starting point: if small chops are one part of a wider spread, plan for a handful of pieces per guest. If they're the main food for the event — a cocktail-style party, for example — plan for considerably more, and lean toward a wider variety rather than large quantities of fewer items.

Guest numbers, event length and what else is being served all change the maths, so it's always worth talking it through with whoever's catering rather than guessing.

Serving tips

Small chops are best served hot or freshly fried where possible — most items lose their texture quickly once they sit out. If you're ordering for a long event, ask about serving in staggered batches rather than all at once.

Tell us your guest numbers, event type and any dietary requirements and we'll help you put a tray together.