Cooking for the masses.... large party dishes

Well, my daughter is turning 5. Each kid's birthday party seems to get bigger and bigger, and who am I to tell her not to invite every kid she has ever met? We keep it simple with backyard games, swings, and tractor rides with some kind of craft or activity my wife dreams up. I do all the cooking and try to keep it on a budget.

My goal is to have everything made, or coming out of the oven, by the time the party starts. I am not a fan of grilling during parties as I end up missing the party and half the fun.

We usually do a large breaded chicken tray, and sometimes Italian sausage/ peppers & onions and a pasta or rice side. Some guests will help out with a side dish too. I always want leftovers, no one leaves hungry!

What are your favorites that may fit the bill for feeding a large group?

I try to stay kid friendly, hence the healthier chicken finger staple. I could break out the smoker for some pulled pork, but that's a good amount of tending to while getting ready for everything else.

I think this year I'll make a large batch of soup which should go over well on a cool October day.

To give an idea, my son's 1st birthday was in May and we had about 80 folks to feed with 20 of those kids under 6.

Thanks,
Craig

 

Can't got wrong with pizza and pastas-- kids literally eat them up!

 

Crock pots and roasters are your friends Craig. Good for you making sure the guests are well fed. Nothing worse than a kids birthday party strategically scheduled between meals so that all that is served is cake

I've never tackled a group that size, but I'd probably boil a ton of hot dogs and then keep them warm in a roaster. Then have some better foods in the crock pots for the adults and kids with developed palettes or heck......chili to make conies. I think everyone likes conies.

Good luck and above all enjoy your daughters party (my son just turned 5 last month).

 

Large tray of baked beans, cold cuts, cheese, fruit and/or veggie tray.

 

Alright... what the hell is a conie?

 

Pizza for >50 $$$$$$ I'd have to start selling wood

 

cnice_37 chili dogs. Our littlest turns 1 tomorrow and we are making a big thing of barbecue in the crock pot.

 

Homemade pizza, not the takeout kind.

 

I don't know who she is, but I'm hoping my daughter invited her too.

Gotcha, pizza is smaller scale when we do it home. I literally make troughs of food.

 

Another cheap, easy thing is a big crockpot full of homemade mac and cheese. I've done big trays of it on the smoker which is delicious but you mentioned not wanting to monkey with the smoker.

 

Sellecca

 

Chili and dogs with mac n cheese trumps my thoughts...

Chicken broccoli ziti in olive oil - big casserole pan
Lasagna - not necessarily cheap to make, but made ahead of time and heated up
Meatballs in a crockpot - again made ahead of time
Pepperoni rolls for the snackers - check out the baked goods thread, or I can post a recipe

 

Baked ziti or something like that maybe?


Baked beans and mac&cheese are both good suggestions

 

Chicken on a stick. I make a ton every 4th of July (city fireworks in my backyard). Kids eat em up! Cut 3 strips from chicken breast, thread them on a skewer, season and grill. They cook fast, skewers end up in bonfire. Good walking food.

 

Chicken on a stick. I make a ton every 4th of July (city fireworks in my backyard). Kids eat em up! Cut 3 strips from chicken breast, thread them on a skewer, season and grill. They cook fast, skewers end up in bonfire. Good walking food.