Cheap party food for 40 people?

[disneyvacalover]

I think grilled chicken breast is really reasonable. You can usually pick it up for $1.99/lb. on sale. You should only need about 7 or 8 lbs. Just cut the breats smaller. Marinate and grill. Service with pasta salad or rigatoni and baked beans and green bean casserole or a macaroni salad. You should be able to get away with under $50.00 easily.
I do this often for summer bdays

 

[sasha's goofy]

I just had a fiesta complete with taco bar. fairly easy, inexpensive and everyone loved it. I made shredded pork carnitas. buy a large pork loin usually on sale around here for $1.99 lb. put it in a large crockpot and turn it on low for approx 10-12 hrs, or high 6-8. shred (it just falls apart) and serve. check out a resteraunt supply store, ours are called cash n' carry or costco for the meat and fixings. some sell onions already chopped, lettuce shredded etc. I also did a big pot of refried bean dip- added salsa and cheese and that did double duty for an appitizer with chips and could be added to the tacos. You do not need to add anything to the pork and it is still wonderful, which is perfect if you have any picky eaters or allergies. If you have any leftovers you can add bbq sauce for sandwiches-yum
have fun

 

[semo233]

allrecipes.com has a great recipe for slow cooker italian beef for sandwiches. It makes a lot & is so easy. Maybe the beef sandwiches & meatball subs? You can use the same kind of bread/rolls & a big bag of frozen meatballs at Wal-Mart & some spaghetti sauce (I'd stretch it with a few cans of tomato sauce since you'll let it simmer for awhile). Get some mozzarella cheese to top both sandwiches & some inexpensive sides & you're good to go.
Also, maybe a taco bar. Shredded chicken & ground beef seasoned & lots of fixings. Refried beans & rice on the side. I have a seasoning mix that you add to rice & a can of diced tomatoes that makes a decent, inexpensive Spanish rice. LMK if you'd like the name of it.

Buy some cheap dried beans (black, pinto and red kidney) and add them to the meat mixture for a cheap bulking up! You'll need to soak them first.

 

[the Fidge]

I have done mac n cheese tray,chicken fingers, baked ziti, sausage and pepppers couple of loaves of italian bread.

 

[clh2]

Thanks to some great suggestions from the disboards...we did a pasta bar when my DD was confirmed. It ended up being fairly inexpensive as well.

We had about 30 people over.

We cooked the pasta the day before, and then rinsed in cold water, and to keep it from sticking together, put about a quick sprinkle of olive oil (although regular vegatable oil works too) and then put it in a ziploc bag in the fridge.

We heated up water right when we got home from church, and then were able to quickly reheat each bag of pasta before we served lunch.

We put all the spaghetti sauces in crockpots (a plain sauce, and a sauce with meatballs) before we went to church. We did homemade sauce, and then used store bought Italian meatballs from Sam's club.


We also had some store-bought alfredo sauce that we heated up right before we served lunch.
We also had 1 pan of baked Ziti and garlic bread.

I would never have done a pasta bar if i was choosing the menu, but it was DD's confirmation, and that was what she really, really wanted. Once I figured out HOW to pull this off, it was really pretty easy. And, the bonus for me...I got to actually sit down and visit with our guests.

 

[Iri920]

If you have a super Walmart by you their catering prices aren't bad. We ordered food for my daughter's party a couple of weeks ago and I think their large chicken tray with chicken fingers, popcorn chicken and other stuff was like $40. We also had one of those big sub sandwiches and it was cheaper than the subway ones.

 

[luckey-lasvegas]

How about a Mexican lasagna? Cook and shred a whole chicken, then in a
13x9 inch pan layer corn tortilias (cut into triagles) enchilada sauce, chicken, shredded cheese and green onion. Then repeat layering until it reaches the top of the pan. Finish with a layer or tortillias sauce and cheese. Bake about 30 -45 minutes in a 350' oven until the cheese is melted through. Top with sour cream and serve with spanish rice, refried beans and a green salad. You can also make this with ground beef or shredded roast beef.

Chips with guacamole or seven layer dip as an appitizer.

 

[kadesha]

an appetizer that I do when I'm having lots of people over is pretty quick and easy. You get the rectangular ham (sandwich ham) and spread cream cheese on it. Then roll it up and cut it in half. Get a can of pineapple chunks and put them on decorative toothpicks and then put the ham roll on the toothpick underneath it.

 

[Chicklogic]

I think grilled chicken breast is really reasonable. You can usually pick it up for $1.99/lb. on sale. You should only need about 7 or 8 lbs. Just cut the breats smaller. Marinate and grill. Service with pasta salad or rigatoni and baked beans and green bean casserole or a macaroni salad. You should be able to get away with under $50.00 easily.
I do this often for summer bdays

A similar thread discusses slicing the chicken breasts in half making 2 thinner breasts from 1 thick breast. Combining this with par boiling makes quick cooking juicy breasts and an easier party for the chef

 

[Mililani Mouser]

hot dogs/hamburgers on the grill, chips, and birthday cake.

 

[Chicklogic]

You should only need about 7 or 8 lbs. Just cut the breats smaller.

I just keep going back to this......7 or 8 pounds for 40 people? Even with cutting them in half I would think closer to 10-12 pounds? Maybe not.

Did I mention math class not as popular with me as lunch was??

 

[Grumpy'sWife4Ever]

We have a June birthday and a Sept, and if the weather is agreeable we BBQ. We buy hamburger patties from Costco and throw on some cheap hot dogs. Buns are cheap, we usually already have all the condiments on hand, some potato chips or homemade potato salad, baked beans, and "punch" to drink (1/2 kool-aid and 1/2 7up with over ice) plus the cake and ice cream to follow.....Plenty of food for little $$$. Plus the clean-up is WAY easy, just toss the paper plates at the end!
For our March kid, we usually go the take-and-bake pizza route, plus finger snacks and sodas....

 

[d1gitman]

we do chinese take out. pork fried rice and chicken fingers go a long way and it is soooo easy. of course, bland cheese pizza is a staple int he diet of 5yr olds as well

 

[raysnkaysmom]

I usually just do big bowls of cheetos...and chips and dip

Or....you could grill hot dogs...
Pack of 10 is $2.00 (cheap brand).... say...6 packs?? = $12
Buns at $1 a pack....another $12..
so...$25 for hot dogs??

 

[Crystal0608]

I would do hamburgers & hot dogs. My step dad makes the best burgers- lil lipton onion soup mix, worchestershire sauce, & applesauce (yes applesauce-makes them fluff up).

We had dd's pool party a couple weeks ago with maybe 30 people & I had 4 packs of hot dogs (B1G1F) & about 15 hamburgers (last minute addition from my mama) & their were plenty of hot dogs left. We got chili at the local meat market since its homemade & added sliced tomato, onion, slaw, must, ketch, mayo, & buns. I used 1 1/2 bags of chips & made dip w/ sour cream & ranch mix. I also bought 2 boxes of fruit snacks & rice krispy treats which my mama insists on for parties at her house. I also had lemonade, orange soda, dr pepper, water, & mama's sweet tea. I used plain tableware, only theme was the cd & goodie bags. Total for everything was about $40 with some coupons & I had enough to serve 40 people easy.

Hope this helps!

 

[brekin67]

Go to Wal Mart or Sam's and see what is on sale during that time.
My son likes having a bon fire at granny and poppy's house. Poppy gets the fire going, we lay out tiny bags of marshmallows with the ingredients for smores. We have sticks, wire coat hangers (probably have lead in them, so I should not suggest that) and wieners. We have never had anyone get burned and everyone enjoys it.
We fill the ice chests with Soda's and put Cheap Chips in bowls around the bonfire on stumps. If you have somewhere to do this, we enjoy it very much.
Good luck finding something for his birthday.

 

[dizkids]

I did a Fiesta Party for my sons 10th and it was 35 family/friends.

Taco bar was the main dish BUT not everyone likes them so i always offer extras. I did a big tray (made ahead and only had to bake) chicken enchiladas, salad, corn bread. Some standard chicken nuggets for the plain and picky ones. I also offered regular crunchy tacos and soft shell.