Good Chow for a Birthday Party -- That Won't Break the Bank.

First off, drop ALL the bottled drinks. Those are a huge waste of $$.

Make homemade lemonade, or frozen lemonade.

Offer pitchers of ice water with a few fresh fruits cut up and tossed in to make it pretty and tasty.

Fresh cut veggies and fruits are cheap and easy: one huge watermelon, a stalk of celery, fresh cut carrots, cucumber are all cheap. Make you own dips.

The cheapest, healthiest summer fares: are

Taco Bars, lasagna, pasta salads, grilled hot dogs and beans, potato salad and grilled or baked chicken legs.

I agree, cut out the drinks. Serve water in pitchers, make Kool-Aid for the kids and maybe iced tea for the adults. A punch can also cut costs.

A taco buffet might be less expensive! Ground beef is inexpensive, and you can get shredded cheese, tomatoes and such for cheap.

We have a Little Caesar's Pizza near us, you can get a large pizza for $5. That's what we tend to do for parties.

Taco parties are fun, easy and reasonably priced.

I did a ravioli party recently - I had two crock pots going - one meat, one cheese. Big bowls of salad, fruit and a basket of garlic bread. Easy, reasonably priced and everyone seemed to enjoy it.

Good luck!!

Not sure if this will help you cut costs, but perhaps you can save some money buy buying bulk and having people dole out their own portions.
i.e. a few gallons of water, a few gallons of iced tea or apple juice and a sleeve of cups might be cheaper than bottled water and juice boxes and lemonade.

You might be able to save costs too buy buying baby carrots, a box of cherry tomatoes and a bag of sugar snap peas and a tub of hummos or ranch dressing, rather than the veggie platter.

price out how much it costs to buy grapes or blueberries and strawberries in lieu of the fruit platter.

Good luck to you and yours,
F. B.

Yep, it's not the food that's killing your budget, it's the drinks. You can make lemonade, fruit punch, Gatorade (powdered, but very nice on a hot day) or ice tea very cheap, and everyone will be happy.

Hamburgers and hot dogs on the grill can be done for very little money.

I am like you. We have a huge family, because they all live in town.. Blessing and a curse..
Here are some of the least expensive things I have done.

Grilled Hot dogs and sausage wraps, huge tray of raw vegetables and dip, fruit salad.. just cut up, fresh fruit, chips, lemonade and Iced tea. Cake..

Pizzas delivered.. Call your local place and see if they will give you a deal..

At our neighborhood Pizza place sometimes, we can get large Cheese or 1 topping pizzas for $5.99 each.. Sometimes a Major Pizza company will sell them for $8.99 for a large pizza.
You make a huge salad, Ice Cream and Cake..
Popcorn for snack..

I once had fried chicken made at Churches Chicken (local owner stand) for .69 cents for each leg and .89 cents for breasts.. I made a green salad, a potato salad, and a pasta salad.. I purchased rolls. I kept the chicken in a cooler (no ice of course) to keep it warm..

BBQ chicken is easy to make and if you get a good price on chicken.. it can really be a great options..

I also would not hesitate to accept any food that people offer. In our family every one asks, What can I bring? I take them up on it.. They love feeling like they helped out..

Make punch, a lot cheaper. Also serve water in pitchers. You'll just need to spend money plastic cups. That right there will save you a lot of money. If you want juice then get a bottle instead of juice boxes/pouches.

As for fruits and veggies, go simple with whatever is on sale. Get carrots to cut up yourself, peppers, cucumbers, celery. For fruit berries have been pretty cheap lately, watermelon, cantaloupe. I mean it's a lot of prep ahead of time but saves you money. Also for veggie dip I usually just pour some ranch dressing into a small bowl.

For food do hot dogs, hamburgers, which will probably be the simplest. Or taco bar, sloppy joes in a crockpot. I've done meatball subs before. I put the meatballs and marinara sauce in the crockpot. I get cheese and hoagie buns and everyone liked it. Chips use coupons and get whatever is on sale. Make a simple pasta salad: noodles, cherry tomatoes and other veggies and italian dressing.

Good luck!

Well for starters, don't do water bottles or juice boxes. Have pitchers of ice water and juice from frozen concentrate, that's a lot cheaper.
If you have veggie and fruit platters you don't really need salad, so cut that.
*ETA: don't buy prepared platters, make your own! You can cut everything up the night before. Those prepared platters are super expensive and not very fresh*
Instead of sandwiches do little meat and cheese apps on toothpicks, or make wraps with cream cheese, meat and cheese and cut them into several small rounds.
Pretzels are usually cheaper than other kinds of chips, that's what I usually get for large parties.
And pasta is REALLY cheap, we've done pasta feeds with three types of sauce (marinara, pesto and cream) along with garlic bread, that's always a hit.

Have you ever made the ham/Swiss Sammie's on Hawaiian rolls?
Google it!
Add a green salad or pasta salad, or a veggie tray, a watermelon, drinks and chips and pretzels.
Well under $100.

Diana:

Indoor or outdoor party?

If you have access to cooling bowls - then pasta salad or potato salad is a good "filler"...

I personally like hamburgers and hot dogs on the grill - buns, condiments and a salad - pasta and/or potato salad. Deviled eggs, pickles and olives...along with chips. If you are going to costco - their hamburgers are decently priced..

WATERMELON!!! Great for summer parties!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

If you decide to go with tacos, do shredded chicken in the crock pot. I buy the frozen bulk chicken breasts on sale. You would probably need a double batch which would be 10-12 chicken breasts. that is about 12 dollars (2 bags) at Target, probably cheaper at a regular store on sale. The recipe is:

5-6 chicken breasts in a crock pot
1 jar of salsa
1 packet taco mix

cook on low 6 hours and then shred with a fork. You would double this and then add taco shells/tortillas and the fix ins and be in for maybe $30. Add some watermelon and rice and beans and you are at about $45 for a great dinner. Good luck

I would do hamburgers and hot dogs on the grill. I make fruit and veggie platters myself rather than buy expensive pre-made platters. Don't buy single serve drinks, make drinks from crystals. I wouldn't buy a Costco cake. I can make a large cake for under $5 at home (cake mix, 1 lb butter and a bag of icing sugar). Don't buy brand name chips and make your own dip.

We did carne asada, tortillas, and all different types of sides (cheese, tomatoes, sour cream, etc)... Very easy and cheap!

I asked a similar question a few months ago. Someone suggested I do a pasta bar. I did, and it was a huge hit. I provided two types of pasta (spaghetti and penne), two types of sauce (marinara and alfredo), shredded mozzarella, steamed broccoli, a green salad, garlic bread, and fruit (just strawberries and grapes). For drinks, I did lemonade and soda in the two liter bottles. I don't remember what it all cost, but it was relatively inexpensive and super easy. You could adjust the menu to fit your budget.

I saw an idea for a Sliders burger bar party. I thought it looked so cool, ground beef and little buns, the add optional fixings, ketchup mustard mayo pickles cheese, or get creative with different cheeses swiss blue cheese avocado tomatoes grilled onion n shrooms. If you have a lot of young kids this can be great because the can each have one burger their way and it fills them up, instead of them only eating half a burger and running off to play. You can probably even make the burger patties up ahead of time to save time. All the fixings can be done early to.

Or a kabob party, works with fruit or veggies and/or meats since you are planning on having them anyhow. If you want a no cook kabob you can use lunch meats and sliced veggies.

Have fun!

Not sure how many people you are expecting. But we have a huge family and we always keep it simple.

Hot dogs, and hamburgers, and we buy a bunch of veggies and cut and prepare ourselves (so much cheaper!) and I make my own dip using sour cream and a packet of Hidden Valley ranch dip. Makes a LOT of dip for only a buck or two.

Then I buy a huge watermelon carve it up, and add strawberries, apples, pears, and grapes. It's cheap and always a favorite because most everyone loves fruit.

Add a few bags of chips and potato salad and we call it good. It's always under a $100 for it all.

I had a big birthday party recently and did Mexican. It worked out really well. Everything could be cooked ahead of time and reheated right before the party.

My suggestion would be to do sloppy joes. All you need is hamburger buns and sloppy joe mix and hamburger. The hamburger can be cooked ahead and simmer in a crockpot all day til serving time. Then you have no need for condiments. If the guests are older, you could also feed a lot of people with pasta (spaghetti or an interesting pasta shape) and ragu sauce. I would do the veggie platter and skip the salad because you would also needs dressings.
Have fun with the party!

I just did a taco bar for my DDs 2nd birthday. Made it all myself and was SUPER easy. Just used a Crockpot.

I made a side of pasta salad and cut up some cantaloupe and watermelon and had grapes.

My MIL made a bean dip and we had some chips and salsa out, too.

OH! And my parents brought some ribs, too, because that is kind of my dad's "thing", but that was just a bonus!!!

For drinks I got some 2 liters and used plastic cups with a Sharpie to write on them!

I used Chick-fil-A. I did a platter of nuggets for the kids, and wraps for the adults. I think I also had a side salad. I don't remember the exact price but I thought it was reasonable. Drinks were from the store so I could get something healthy and not pop. Depending on the age of the kids, you can get Mots for Tots, Juicy Juice Fruitifuls (*not* the regular juice) or Honest Kids (on sale) all for under $3.00.

We do sloppy joes. 1 lb meat, 1 can tomato soup, 3 table spoons of open pit BBQ sauce. Chips, and summer fruit.

Water, you can buy it by the gallon and poor into cups. By juice in the gallon and lemon aide. it is cheaper that way.

Cosstco- should have veggie platter and fruit platter.

I bake a ham that I purchase on sale and keep in the freezer for such occasions. With my electric slicer, I cut thin and small slices that will fit nicely on the small bakery rolls from Costco. I also serve baked beans, potato and or pasta salad, deviled eggs and seasonal fruit. Feeds a ton and always a big hit.

How about turkey and gravy (or beef and gravy) on buns? Our local grocery store make it up in 5 lb batches and then just heat and eat-its very yummy and goes over well. Then maybe some hot dogs for the kids.

If you have an Arbys in your area, they will do a 5lb serving of their meat too.

Hot dogs on the grill, chips, and watermelon. Did that for my son birthday and it was easy and cheap( I bought ballpark franks at Sam's). I had water bottles and I made a punch with sprite and sherbet. I forgot I also had a veggie tray too. My daughters I did sandwiches, pita chips and dip, fruit salad, veggie tray, cheese cubes, and cookies and punch. That was pain to do but have done a princes them for both parties I have had for her. My best advice keep it simple and don't break your budget I have found that people seem to be happy at my parties because I always have plenty and encourage people to have at it regardless of what I am serving.

How many are you going to feed. That would help.

Why do you have to feed them? I don't think I've ever been to any party with family or even friends that we got fed. We always had a pot luck so no one had to break the bank to provide anything.

I like the idea of a taco bar.

I have done a baked potato bar. Just buy a big bag of potatoes and cut into halves or quarters and boil and season (optional). If you want, you can also brown them in the oven. Then, serve with potato fixin's.

Save the $20 for the Costco cake & make it yourself. Put that money
towards more food to feed everyone. Plus you can make a cuter, more
personal cake yourself. Get creative. Google cute cake pix, look thru
magazines.
-Here's some food to add to what you already have listed:
*lasagna (feeds a lot, pre-cut it into little squares. Serve w/salad &garlic
bread
*several big salads (3 diff green salads, pasta salad & macaroni salad
*throw in a 5 cheap pizzas for the kids (3 peperoni & 2 chees)
*add chips & salsa
*throw in a veggie tray (carrots, celery, grape tomatoes w/Ranch dressing.)
*also, throw in a fruit tray
*buy some taquitos in the frozen section. You can get a big box of 40
*I might add some brownie bites & choc chip cookies
-Don't forget beverages (water bottles, soda ((can or 2-Liter bottles)) just
a few diff types

Updated

Save the $20 for the Costco cake & make it yourself. Put that money
towards more food to feed everyone. Plus you can make a cuter, more
personal cake yourself. Get creative. Google cute cake pix, look thru
magazines.
-Here's some food to add to what you already have listed:
*lasagna (feeds a lot, pre-cut it into little squares. Serve w/salad &garlic
bread
*several big salads (3 diff green salads, pasta salad & macaroni salad
*throw in a 5 cheap pizzas for the kids (3 peperoni & 2 chees)
*add chips & salsa
*throw in a veggie tray (carrots, celery, grape tomatoes w/Ranch dressing.)
*also, throw in a fruit tray
*buy some taquitos in the frozen section. You can get a big box of 40
*I might add some brownie bites & choc chip cookies
-Don't forget beverages (water bottles, soda ((can or 2-Liter bottles)) just
a few diff types