birthday party menu on a budget

10 Budget-friendly Ideas for Children's Birthday Party Menus

1. Popsicles. Homemade popsicles are quick and easy to make and can easily cool off any kids' summertime birthday party.
2. Taco Bar. Kids love anything they can build, so let them build their own tacos with all kinds of fun ingredients.
3. Pasta. ...
4. Drink Mix. ...
5. Homemade Cookies. ...
Pizza Perfection. ...
Superb Sandwiches. ...
Tasty Trail Mix. ...
Hot Dogs. ...
Ice Cream Parlor. ...

Full Answer

What do you serve at a birthday party?

A few popular types of food you can serve at a birthday party include pizza, sandwiches, hot dogs or tacos. For dessert, a few popular ideas are ice cream, birthday cake or homemade cookies. Cite This! Julia Layton & Cristen Conger "10 Budget-friendly Ideas for Children's Birthday Party Menus" 11 March 2009.

How do I plan a budget birthday party for kids?

Trimming the food budget is one of the easiest ways to cut the cost of hosting a kid's birthday party. Start by asking the guest of honor what he or she would like to eat during the festivities.

What are some cheap food ideas for a dinner party?

Here are some great cheap food ideas for lunch and dinner parties. 5. Pasta Bar A pasta bar is one of my favorite things to serve at parties. Here’s what you’ll need: Two or three varieties of pasta (Trader Joe’s and warehouse club stores like Sam’s sell it for $1 a pound or less).

What are the most expensive parts of a party food budget?

One of the most expensive parts of a party food budget is beverages. I’ve used all of these ideas at parties before and they go over just fine with guests. Bonus: Make a game out of it by setting a budget and see if you can beat it. Knowing which stores sell what types of foods for cheaper is another bonus that will help you save cash.

Which menu is best for birthday party?

Fantastic Food Ideas for Kids Birthday Parties at HomeBhel Puri. Very easy and quick to make, Indian bhel puri is a dish loved by all no matter what age group they belong to. ... Mini Sandwiches. ... Fruit Salad. ... Mini Fried Idlis. ... Mini Aloo Tikkis. ... Mini Samosas.

How do you make a low budget birthday party?

How to Throw a Birthday Party on a BudgetKeep your guest list small. ... Make your own invitations. ... Use free printables to decorate. ... Pick a theme you already have decorations for. ... Have the party at your house. ... Don't party at meal time. ... Make or decorate your own cake. ... Use the dollar store for party supplies.More items...•

How can I feed a lot of people cheap?

What is the Best Way to Feed A Lot of People?Chose a recipe that can be scaled up without having to cook or bake more batches.Create a “Bar” and feed everyone cafeteria style, such as a potato bar. ... Slow cooker/Instant Pot to the rescue!Make as much food ahead of time as you can.

What food is good for birthday celebration?

55 Birthday Dinner Ideas Guaranteed to Make Their DayMoules-Frites (Mussels and Fries) ... Whole Roasted Chipotle Chicken. ... Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas. ... Rodney Scott's Honey-Butter Fish. ... Chrissy Teigen's Cheesy Chicken Milanese. ... Cheater's Spicy Sausage Pizza with Burrata. ... Perfect Meatballs with Cherry Tomato Sauce.More items...•

How can I arrange a small birthday party at home?

Step 1: Check for budget constraints. Set a budget before you start with the birthday planning. ... Step 2: Select a theme for the party. ... Step 3: How to select a date and day. ... Step 4: Space available and rooms needed. ... Step 5: Guest List and invites. ... Step 6: Food and Snacks. ... Step 7: Plan Games & Fun Time. ... Step 8: Goodie Bags.

How do you make a simple birthday party?

7 Steps to Planning a Kid's Birthday PartyChoose a Theme.Determine the Guest List & Send Invitations.Pick the Location.Order Food.Purchase (or Make) Decor & Party Favors.Choose & Gather Materials for Games.Create a Checklist for the Day Of.

How would you feed 100 guests on a budget?

Wedding Menu- 5 Lunch ideas to feed up to 100 people for under $250Pizza and Breadsticks. Nothing could be simpler than pizza and breadsticks for a lunchtime reception- and you don;t even have to cook it! ... Tacos, Rice and Beans. ... Pasta and Bread. ... Burgers and Fries. ... Sub Sandwich Bar.

What is the cheapest food to make?

Meals to Make When You Have No Money1.) Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. This one's a bit obvious, but PB&J is a classic staple and a REALLY simple meal. ... 2.) Pasta and jarred sauce. ... 3.) Bean and cheese burritos. ... 4.) Pancakes/waffles. ... 5.) Grilled cheese sandwiches. ... 6.) Chili cheese dogs. ... 7.) Sloppy Joes. ... 8.) Goulash.More items...•

What is the cheapest food to cater?

The cheapest food to cater is any rice or noodle-based cultural cuisine. Mexican, Indian, and Thai dishes are delicious and affordable. Or, if you're hosting an event during the day, serve brunch and breakfast items.

What should I eat instead of birthday cake?

10 Best Birthday Treats That Aren't CakeCookie Cakes. Getty. Skip the cake and celebrate with a giant chocolate chip cookie. ... Dirt Pie. Getty. Dirt pie was a big hit at my son's 8th birthday party. ... Rice Krispie Treats. Getty. ... Ice Cream Sundae Bar. Getty. ... Fruit Parfaits. Getty. ... S'mores. Getty. ... Churros. Getty. ... Cheesecake Cupcakes. Getty.More items...

How do birthday dinners work?

1. To celebrate your birthday, you invite a group of friends to dine at your favorite restaurant. Here's the general rule of thumb that most etiquette experts can agree on: Whoever does the hosting does the paying. So, in this situation, hosting your own birthday meal means volunteering to cover the bill.

How can I make my birthday special?

15 Ways to Make Birthdays Special (No Big Party Required)Fill their room with balloons. ... Do a birthday countdown. ... Make a birthday present scavenger hunt. ... Dress them in special birthday attire. ... Transform their chair into a birthday throne. ... Or make them an entire birthday castle. ... Give them the gift of quality time.More items...

What is the cheapest meal to feed a crowd?

A few popular and cheap meals to feed a crowd include sandwiches, pizza, hot dogs and tacos.

What is a good menu for a birthday party?

It's good to start by asking the guest of honor what they would prefer for their birthday party. If this is a child, it's likely the requests will...

What should I serve at a park birthday party?

For a park birthday party, it's a good idea to offer a menu that's easy to serve and eat such as finger foods. Some good options include hamburgers...

What are some good finger foods?

Some good finger foods include pigs in a blanket, sandwiches, wraps or pizza bites.

What kind of food do you serve at a birthday party?

A few popular types of food you can serve at a birthday party include pizza, sandwiches, hot dogs or tacos. For dessert, a few popular ideas are ic...

Pizza

This is a kid and birthday party staple. Most birthday party celebrations for kids, tweens, and teens involve pizza. Instead of ordering pies from the nearest pizza place, consider having kids make their own pizzas. Party guests will love it, and it’s cheaper and healthier than ordering from a restaurant.

Tacos

Another kid and adult favorite are tacos. Tacos make for fun and easy party food that all your guests will enjoy. Have hard and soft tacos along with basic stuffers like ground beef, black beans, lettuce, tomatoes, and of course cheese. Lay out the materials and let guests create their own.

Grilled cheese

There are entire restaurant menus dedicated to grilled cheese sandwiches. Making these at a birthday party will be a big hit and in addition to being scrumptious, grilled cheese is budget-friendly. All you’ll need is bread and cheese. Get creative and add tomato, bacon, or both.

Mac and cheese

Combing two kid staples pasta and cheese is a definite do at a birthday party. This dish is delicious and a favorite of children and adults of all ages. Mac and cheese isn’t difficult to make, and the ingredients are affordable. For kids remember to keep the mac and cheese fairly simple.

Hot dogs and hamburgers

Another economical birthday party food option involves grilling up some hot dogs and/or hamburgers. Kids typically like both and you can offer basic toppings like lettuce, tomatoes, and cheese.

Pasta

For a healthy and cost-effective birthday party food kids will eat, try pasta. Pasta is economical and a delightfully appealing meal for party-goers of all ages. Change things up and offer a pasta bar with plain marinara and a meat sauce. With young kids, don’t get too crazy with the sauce options since many are picky.

Sandwiches

For something different and budget-friendly, make up a selection of sandwiches kids will definitely dig into. American cheese, turkey, ham, peanut butter and jelly, and Nutella are just a few of the classic sandwiches kids love. Before offering peanut butter and jelly or Nutella though make sure none of the guests on the list have a peanut allergy.

Can I throw a party without spending money?

With a little ingenuity, it is entirely possible to throw a party without spending a lot of money on food. Just get creative and combine your favorite menu items with the other tips I’ve mentioned above. As I have learned, the more you practice at throwing a great party with cheap foods, the better you’ll get at it.

Is finger food good for a bachelor party?

However, if you’re having a bachelor party or football party, you’ll need food with more substance. By knowing who your guests are and what the appropriate food choices for them are, you’ll plan a better party.

Is fruit salad cheap?

Fruit Salad. Fruit salad is another one of those food items that can be expensive or it can be cheap. To make it inexpensively, you simply need to choose the right ingredients by shopping on sale. Fruit salad works in just about any combination of fruits. We typically use grapes (on sale) as a base.

What is the most inexpensive party?

Potluck – The most inexpensive party idea is a potluck, but it does require a bit more planning. Provide the drinks and a dish or two. Have everyone else contribute a dish, as well. You can ask for specific dishes – main, side, or dessert.

What to serve at a family reunion?

When people will have a table to sit at, soups and taco salads are fine to serve. If people will mostly be standing and mingling, finger foods are best. When it's something like a family reunion, consider a menu that has something for everyone, something that everyone from little kids to seniors would enjoy.

What do you bring to a Byomeat BBQ?

You provide burgers, dogs, or other shredded meat of choice, plus buns and condiments. Have your guests bring a side, drink, or dessert to share. BYOMeat BBQ – You provide the grill, sides, buns, condiments and drinks. Everyone else brings their own meat and even a side to share.

What are some good recipes for winter?

Baked potato bars, soup bars, and pasta bars are perfect for winter months. Salad bars and BBQ's are perfect for spring and summer. Potlucks are great all year. Just consider what's in season, and what time of year it is.

What time is the full lunch rule?

If your party goes from 9:30-11am, that would mostly fall under the “light snacks” rule. A later party from 6pm-8pm, mostly falls under the “full dinner” rule. If your party is from 11:30am – 1pm, that mostly falls under “full lunch” rule.

Can you serve steak at a graduation party?

If you're hosting a graduation party at your house and plan to invite all your family and friends…. I wouldn't recommend serving steak. That would become an extremely expensive party! However, if you are hosting a dinner party with two of your best couple friends then sure, steak is a little more reasonable.

How much does Caesar salad cost?

It's easy to whip up a homemade version by combining mayonnaise, Worcestershire sauce, anchovy paste, a few garlic cloves, salt, and pepper. The cost of the sauce is roughly $1 a batch, much less than packaged alternatives.

How much does a roast chicken cost?

Roast Chicken. Perfect in its simplicity, a roast chicken satisfies even the pickiest eaters. At about $1.50 a pound, plan to roast two whole chickens ($15) and enjoy the leftovers, including the bones, which can be used to make a budget-friendly soup stock later.