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what is a cheap meal to serve about 35 kids/adults/babies?

We have Quint's birthday party next Sunday.  I've priced out pizza and a big a$$ Subway sub.  Both those options will cost about $100 and that doesn't include drinks, chips, cupcakes, etc.

I can't stomach feeding people cheap pizza like Little Caesars or Cici's pizza and Chik fil A is closed on Sundays so I can't get cheap chicken nugget platters.

Let's hear your ideas please!

Re: what is a cheap meal to serve about 35 kids/adults/babies?

  • Nachos with fixings? 
  • How about hot dogs on the grill?  That is cheap right? 

    Look i am making my own suggestions :)

  • Hot dogs and some veggie burgers with a small salad (make your own) would be seriously awesome. 

    In fact, a hot dog sounds pretty tasty right now... 

  • Or you can have people make their own sandwiches from bulk-purchased cold cuts and a couple kinds of bread and cheese. It might even out cheaper, although probably still not cheap.
  • Can you go to a Cotsco or a Sams and get some lunchmeat trays made up? Or maybe check with a local Italian restaurant for some baked ziti.
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  • imagedulcemariamar1:
    Can you go to a Cotsco or a Sams and get some lunchmeat trays made up? Or maybe check with a local Italian restaurant for some baked ziti.

    We don't belong to a costco or Sam's.  I'm wondering if we should.  We belonged when we lived here last time and NEVER went there although it is not very far away.  When we would go there, we would buy ridiculous stuff we didn't actually need like 40 counts of brownies and stuff :)

    I guess if we got paper products there it would make sense.

  • imageooolalalolo:
    Or you can have people make their own sandwiches from bulk-purchased cold cuts and a couple kinds of bread and cheese. It might even out cheaper, although probably still not cheap.

    I think this sounds like an awesome idea for an adult party but 12 little kid fingers trying to make their own stuff does not sound like fun to me at all :)

    I think we'll do hot dogs, potato chips, and juice boxes and be done with it.  No one expects much from me anyway I stink at cooking!!!

  • imageObsession:

    imageooolalalolo:
    Or you can have people make their own sandwiches from bulk-purchased cold cuts and a couple kinds of bread and cheese. It might even out cheaper, although probably still not cheap.

    I think this sounds like an awesome idea for an adult party but 12 little kid fingers trying to make their own stuff does not sound like fun to me at all :)

    I think we'll do hot dogs, potato chips, and juice boxes and be done with it.  No one expects much from me anyway I stink at cooking!!!

    Good point. Juice boxes for the win! 

  • Hot dogs, chips, salad, and sodas/juice boxes sounds awesome.  If you're up for it, you could throw some brats on the grill for the adults:-)    
    DSC_9275
  • This is at your house right? You can get Chick Fil A on Saturday, and cook it on Sunday. They give you instructions on how to heat the chicken, and you just pop it in. We have done it for more than one party and it turns out great.
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  • For a pretty cheap dinner to serve a lot of people, you could make a bunch of spaghetti and then two sauces - one with meat and one without (if you've got vegetarians in the group). Add a salad and some garlic bread and you're good to go. You probably don't even need a lot of salad since it's unlikely the kids will eat it.
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  • I vote hot dogs on teh grill, veggie burgers, and kid-friendly salad. You could even do cheap ready made burgers from teh grocery store for variety? Throw in some cheese cubes and  lots of fruit, and I think you're good! :) 
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  • I like the pasta idea, but only because pasta is my most favorite food ever. It might be a bit heavy though if you're having cake too.
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  • imagefrlcb:
    This is at your house right? You can get Chick Fil A on Saturday, and cook it on Sunday. They give you instructions on how to heat the chicken, and you just pop it in. We have done it for more than one party and it turns out great.
    Chick Fil A does surprisingly reheat well. I've put leftover nuggets in the oven the next day an they still taste yummy. Now I want to hop on the EL to the Loop for some. *dreams*
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  • imageallibally:
    imagefrlcb:
    This is at your house right? You can get Chick Fil A on Saturday, and cook it on Sunday. They give you instructions on how to heat the chicken, and you just pop it in. We have done it for more than one party and it turns out great.
    Chick Fil A does surprisingly reheat well. I've put leftover nuggets in the oven the next day an they still taste yummy. Now I want to hop on the EL to the Loop for some. *dreams*

    Jealous!!! I love Chick Fil A. I wish I could hop on a train and get some.

    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
  • imageallibally:
    imagefrlcb:
    This is at your house right? You can get Chick Fil A on Saturday, and cook it on Sunday. They give you instructions on how to heat the chicken, and you just pop it in. We have done it for more than one party and it turns out great.
    Chick Fil A does surprisingly reheat well. I've put leftover nuggets in the oven the next day an they still taste yummy. Now I want to hop on the EL to the Loop for some. *dreams*

    It isn't even reheated, you get platters that are basically not cooked and you cook them, so it is even better than reheating them! 

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  • imagefrlcb:

    It isn't even reheated, you get platters that are basically not cooked and you cook them, so it is even better than reheating them! 

    Ooo. I always wondered if that's how they did it. Yummy.

     

    imagedulcemariamar1:

    imageallibally:
    Chick Fil A does surprisingly reheat well. I've put leftover nuggets in the oven the next day an they still taste yummy. Now I want to hop on the EL to the Loop for some. *dreams*

    Jealous!!! I love Chick Fil A. I wish I could hop on a train and get some.

    It was quite the fantastic find when my mom and I were downtown a month after we moved trying to find a place for dinner. Then decided we would just take the red line back to our neighborhood.  But right at that station was the Chick Fil A which just opened 6 months from then. It was like finding the holy grail. And now DH and I have met there 4 times after he's done with work  for date night. haha

    When I was still living at home my mom and I would drive 1.5 hours for Chick Fil A. We are crazy about the lemonade. 

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  • imageObsession:

    We have Quint's birthday party next Sunday.  I've priced out pizza and a big a$$ Subway sub.  Both those options will cost about $100 and that doesn't include drinks, chips, cupcakes, etc.

    I can't stomach feeding people cheap pizza like Little Caesars or Cici's pizza and Chik fil A is closed on Sundays so I can't get cheap chicken nugget platters.

    Let's hear your ideas please!

    Hot dogs and Kool Aid? LOL

    or, pre-make mini pizza doughs or buy pitas and cut them in half or something and make a "make your own pizza station" and then BBQ them? Have them small enough to fit 4 across on a BBQ with pizza sauce, shredded cheese, fresh cut pineapple and different kinds of shredded or chopped up meat? Shouldn't actually be that expensive and is a nicer touch than delivery?

    Or...

    Tacos are pretty cheap and go over pretty well, or you could make tortilla roll-up sandwiches? 

    image

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  • When is the last time you people had 15 3 & 4 year olds in your house?  Spaghetti?!?!?!  Make your own anything.  I would have to cover my entire house in plastic before even letting them in the door.  They are lucky they are getting cake, in the back yard, next to the hose.

    Oh and the entire reason why chik fil a is so awesome is because it is deep fried in peanut oil AND they are consistent.  I was talking to someone about this the other day.  No matter which chik fil a you go to, no matter what time, and no matter what you order it is good.  McDonald's isn't consistent - one day it is good next day it is bad.

  • imageObsession:

    When is the last time you people had 15 3 & 4 year olds in your house?  Spaghetti?!?!?!  Make your own anything.  I would have to cover my entire house in plastic before even letting them in the door.  They are lucky they are getting cake, in the back yard, next to the hose.

    Haha - um, never? Ok, you're right about the spaghetti. For some reason in my mind you had 15 people including a few 3&4 year olds, in which case the parents could supervise their kids eating spaghetti. If the adult to kid ratio is low, though, then you're right, spaghetti is probably not the best choice :-)

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  • Is that $200 total or $100 total? If it's $200 it's about $5 pp and $3 pp if it's only $100.

    That seems pretty cheap to me... I can't really get a decent meal for $3-5.

     How much are you looking to spend?

    Perhaps you can skip the sandwiches and order some salads + bread instead?

  • imageObsession:

    When is the last time you people had 15 3 & 4 year olds in your house?  Spaghetti?!?!?!  Make your own anything.  I would have to cover my entire house in plastic before even letting them in the door.  They are lucky they are getting cake, in the back yard, next to the hose.

    Oh and the entire reason why chik fil a is so awesome is because it is deep fried in peanut oil AND they are consistent.  I was talking to someone about this the other day.  No matter which chik fil a you go to, no matter what time, and no matter what you order it is good.  McDonald's isn't consistent - one day it is good next day it is bad.

     

    A friend of mine served a pasta "bar" at her two year old's party, with around 30 guests (not so many 3-4 yearolds though). It was fine with the kids, she had farfalle or penne pasta, a tomato or cream sauce, grilled chicken, broccoli and cheese to put on the pasta. There wasn't a big mess with the kids, but like I said most were around 2 years old and sat at the table to eat and their parents carried their food to the table. 

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  • imageObsession:

    When is the last time you people had 15 3 & 4 year olds in your house?  Spaghetti?!?!?!  Make your own anything.  I would have to cover my entire house in plastic before even letting them in the door.  They are lucky they are getting cake, in the back yard, next to the hose.

    Oh and the entire reason why chik fil a is so awesome is because it is deep fried in peanut oil AND they are consistent.  I was talking to someone about this the other day.  No matter which chik fil a you go to, no matter what time, and no matter what you order it is good.  McDonald's isn't consistent - one day it is good next day it is bad.

    Does any of guest suffer from a peanut allergy?

    I really want Chick Fil A after reading this post. Or just fried chickn in general.

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  • I think I had a dream that you decided to do this party at a day care. 

    I used to not care for chik fil a. I actually became a vegetarian for a year because I just didn't like the taste of the food once and then couldn't stomach any animal. But then I stopped being vegetarian and tried chik fil a again and liked it. I specifically like the nuggets - yum.

    I have nothing of value to contribute to your question, though.  

  • imagedulcemariamar1:
    imageObsession:

    When is the last time you people had 15 3 & 4 year olds in your house?  Spaghetti?!?!?!  Make your own anything.  I would have to cover my entire house in plastic before even letting them in the door.  They are lucky they are getting cake, in the back yard, next to the hose.

    Oh and the entire reason why chik fil a is so awesome is because it is deep fried in peanut oil AND they are consistent.  I was talking to someone about this the other day.  No matter which chik fil a you go to, no matter what time, and no matter what you order it is good.  McDonald's isn't consistent - one day it is good next day it is bad.

    Does any of guest suffer from a peanut allergy?

    I really want Chick Fil A after reading this post. Or just fried chickn in general.

    Their peanut oil is so refined that it doesn't bother peanut allergies, oddly enough. I have several friends whose kids have horrific peanut allergies but they can eat there. They are also phasing out the peanut oil and may have already done so 

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  • Am I too late here? Did the party happen already?

    Goldfish-shaped sandwiches were a big hit for the kids at DD's last birthday party. They sell the shaped bread pre-packaged in the U.S., but you could also get cookie cutters and make sandwiches in any shape you want. I made a set of PB & J and a set of "Cuban Birthday party paste"- basically cream cheese mixed with deviled ham. If you've never had it before, it may sound gross, but they're delicious! Just mix one can of deviled ham with one small tub of Philly cream cheese in a bowl and spread the paste on the sandwich.

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  • imageanna7602:

    Am I too late here? Did the party happen already?

    Goldfish-shaped sandwiches were a big hit for the kids at DD's last birthday party. They sell the shaped bread pre-packaged in the U.S., but you could also get cookie cutters and make sandwiches in any shape you want.

    I love this idea, I'm going to steal it for M's birthday party. 

  • Bowls of cocktail sausages... throw them in the oven, throw them in a bowl, give cocktail sticks to those who won't poke an eye out with them, let the rest use their fingers... they went down a treat at N's birthday... so much so I got 1 of them... out of a total of 70+ sausages... and there were 15 people there!  That way you don't need plates and cutlery.
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