Feeding 25 people cheap/easy?

[auralia]

walking tacos = bit more expensive but minimum in dishes.

 

[tarheel618]

I vote pizza veg tray and a sheet cake. If you grill then you are stuck cooking and not enjoying the party. I would check all the local deals and have it delivered.


Here is a pizza calculator to estimate how many you will need. I would go with whatever deals places are having and go from there.

http://calculate-this.com/how-many-pizzas-buy-calculator

 

[sunflowerfields]

chili burgers (called sloppy joes where I live) buns, assorted chips, pasta and potato salad from a deli. a small birthday cake and then a chocolate buttermilk sheet cake or two. Iced tea and lemonade. sloppy joes can be prepared the day ahead and kept in fridge. sheet cake can be made ahead also.

 

[kwdw]

Grilling and "make your own bars" of any type are actually alot of prep work for the cook - and work during the party for the host/hostess.

I'd suggest you either try to make it potluck or go the pre-made lasagna dinner route or buy pizza, veggie tray, and cake. For that many people - most home chefs will struggle making that much spaghetti pasta to serve at the last minute - but if you go with 9x13 pans of a baked pasta dish you can prep a day or two in advance - that's easier.

Without help - for that many people - watching two kids --- I'd stick with the pizza option.

I don't have kids and love to cook - I can plan and serve the homemade great cheap meal for 25. But I'd NEVER expect that from friends with a kid. I know they have too many other responsibilities!

 

[tarheel618]

Just my opinion- I would worry about serving hotdogs to kids because of the hotdogs being a choking hazard. Im sure the kids will be running around and not wanting to slow down to eat.

 

[mmouse1239]

I just prepared a meal for 30+ people at my church this week. I found a recipe on pinterest....so easy. You simply cook a pound of spaghetti, drain, then mix with 8 oz. cream cheese and stir until cream cheese is melted. Then mix 1 lb ground beef with a 28oz. jar of spaghetti sauce. Put sauce in the bottom of a foil pan, then spaghetti/cr. cheese mixture. Then top with remaining sauce and 1 cup of grated parmesan. Of course, I multiplied this recipe x 8. It was SO EASY and SO GOOD. Would have never thought that something this easy would be so good. Serving with salad and bread. Feeding 30+ for less than 100 bucks.

 

[abcboys]

The cheapest/easiest is walmart subs. We get those often when we have large get togethers and they are actually pretty good and come with lettuce, tomatoes, and onions on the side. (Also ask for mayo/mustard packets) One 6 foot would be enough.
The next easiest would be a taco bar but it might be a little more expensive than the subs.

 

[Jake&IzzyLand]

What did you decide?

 

[powellrj]

My cheap and easy go to is ham in the crockpot and hash brown casserole. Make slaw and maybe fruit salad with cake and it won't cost much, not much work and will feed a crowd.

 

[elaine amj]

My go to for simple and cheap for a lot of people is sausages and hot dogs.

Buy a bunch of sausages and hot dogs, pop them in the oven, then finish on the grill if necessary. Put out buns and condiments, the giant tubs of potato salad and coleslaw and a big caesar salad and a Costco sheet cake and call it done. Oh and a few big bags of chips.

The other option is a large frozen trays of pasta (but I find that people don't care much for them at parties for some reason).

Alternatively, I bake a bunch of chicken quarters/drumsticks in the oven. I find that pretty easy to do in large batches and its cheap.

 

[hollypoast]

Salsa chicken=easiest ever prep:
Frozen chicken breasts
Jar of salsa
Cans of black beans
Frozen corn
8oz block of cream cheese
Just throw everything except cream cheese in the crockpot (yes the chicken breasts just go in frozen). Cook on low 8-9 hours. Top with cream cheese during the last 30 minutes of cooking.
We like this served with rice but can also be used to fill taco shells or tortillas.
Make this, buy a sheet cake and ask everyone to bring a southwest themed dish. (Tortilla chips, salsa, cheese dip, rice, guac, sour cream, salad, cheese, tortillas are all things you could suggest)
Your guests shouldn't mind bringing a dish to share because you're cooking and watching your children. I know I wouldn't mind being asked to bring something.

This is one of our favorite recipes. EVERYONE loves it regardless of age. We serve it with tortilla chips.

 

[runwad]

I used to get a 50 piece party pack of chicken from my super walmart it was 50 bucks. It came with 2 dozen rolls, 5# of a side (so we usually got the jo-jo's) and just made a salad.

Admittedly I've not done this for close to 3 years so I'm sure the price has gone up but it was super easy.

 

[bdcp]

Several years ago, I fed my youngest DS and his friends who were on their way back to college from the beach (spring break)and since they passed right by us, they stopped here. There were about 18 of them and I made mexican food. Easy to make ahead of time and it fed them all and then some. Taco meat and enchiladas made ahead of time. Packaged mexican rice and refried beans heated right before.

Another thing I've done for parties is order trays of lasagna from our local Italian restaurant. A full size tray feeds quite a few people and that with a salad and bread makes it very easy.

 

[dreamin_disney]

We usually have about 50 for my daughters bday. It's all just family. I need thing that taste good and super easy to make or put together. I usually do everything myself and hubby will help if needed.

here is what I have done

1. walmart subs $28 for 6ft ( I buy 2 for 50 people)
-side of pasta salad= cork screw tri color pasta, chopped cucumbers, celery, tomatoes, McCormick salad supreme seasoning,black olives and Italian wishbone salad dressing
-MIL sometimes offers to bring a mac salad
-cut up fruit cut up watermelon is the easiest huge bowl
-nacho cheese and chips for nachos
-sometimes a veggie tray but we mainly have chips and salasa
-cake


2. baked mostaccioli ( very filling due to meat, cheese etc)
-green salad and dressing
-Costco or Sam's rolls
-veggie tray
-fruit
-nachos
** fry groundbeef and season the night before . you will save some time the day of party. Buy shredded mozzarella. If you want the recipe just message me.
3. pizzas and
-salad
-nachos
-veggie tray
-fruit

4. Mexican shredded meat (cooked over night in roaster oven)
-beans
-rice
-nachos
-watermelon
-chip and salsa

5.fried chicken(bought from store)
-potato salad
-mac salad
-rolls
-mini corn on the cob (sam/Costco have huge bag)
-watermelon
-nachos
-veggies tray


6. hamburgers and hotdogs if you have someone to help you otherwise your will be stuck on the grill.

 

[FreesiaE]

I'm not sure of your situation, but a pot luck sounds ideal here. As a guest, I would not be upset about a pot luck--I love them! Our Sams' club sells sheet cake and cupcakes very cheap. I suspect I could not make them as cheap. Lemonade and ice tea to drink. I love grilling foods, and you don't need a ton of dishes--serve ketchup, mustard, relish,etc out of their original containers. A big old crockpot of baked beans. If the idea of being at the grill sounds terrible, then you can boil up a mess of hot dogs and put out all sorts of toppings. Baked beans and fruit salad on the side.

 

[andiraye]

These are all such interesting ideas! I would probably do a couple of big trays of pasta (baked ziti, spaghetti and meatballs, penne marinara), salad, Italian bread, maybe some sliced watermelon and a sheet cake or cookies. I'd buy everything at Costco.

 

[Soulsearching]

We are having the babys birthday party this weekend. What started out small is getting bigger and bigger. Right now it looks like we are at about 25 people, mostly adults. And the clincher is that DH is working all day that day so it is me, a 5 year old and an 8 year old to prep for the party and watch the baby. As a result, I need as easy but cheap as possible. Any suggestions?

How was the party? and what did you serve? Inquiring minds want to know or did you post that already and I missed it

 

[la79al]

OP here. I went with pulled pork and large tray of macaroni and cheese. I got a watermelon and 2 pineapples and cut them up, 2 cucumbers, a bag of baby carrots and some broccoli and put that on a tray with dip. The 5 and 8 year olds wanted to make deviled eggs so they did that. I grabbed a bag of cheese curls, one of chips and one of pretzels. Ordered 30 cupcakes and got a gallon of ice cream. Had 21 people and plenty of leftovers and some sanity left at the end of the day. I would say well under $100 with the cupcakes probably being the most expensive thing. Thanks everyone for your suggestions!

 

[QueenIsabella]

Sounds like it went well! You don't need fancy food to have a great time--and the leftovers are a bonus when you're too pooped to cook the next day!

 

[powellrj]

Glad it went well!