https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 23 May 2026 08:03:01 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/quick-simple-menu-dinner-suggestions-for-a-25-30-person-party#post-1641580 Sat, 17 May 2014 10:17:56 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 1641580@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Lasagna and another baked pasta with Caesar salad. Make the bed pasta the night before and bake the next day. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/quick-simple-menu-dinner-suggestions-for-a-25-30-person-party#post-1641566 Sat, 17 May 2014 10:08:31 +0000 HeartAbandoned 1641566@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Chili is my go-to when I'm having a lot of people over. I brown ground beef, throw in some chili beans (hot or mild, depending on taste), and tomato sauce. A single recipe will feed at least 10, and I use 1 lb ground beef (or ground turkey), 3 15-oz cans of beans, and 3 15-oz cans of sauce. Add cumin and/or chili powder or a packet of chili seasoning to taste. Mix it all up and keep it warm in a crock pot. I serve mine with corn chips or crackers, shredded cheese, sour cream, onions, and usually jalapeños and tomatoes. It's also good over a baked potato, and if you bake your potatoes in aluminum foil, you can throw them down in a cooler (no ice, obviously), and it will keep them warm for hours. Have fun at the party! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/quick-simple-menu-dinner-suggestions-for-a-25-30-person-party#post-1641560 Sat, 17 May 2014 10:05:32 +0000 Mrs.Panda 1641560@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Depending on where you live there are a lot of places that will cater for pretty cheap. Noodles and Co (I've never eaten here but have heard great things) is supposed to be cost effective and there is also Tijuana Flats if you're in the South and want to stick with the taco feel. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/quick-simple-menu-dinner-suggestions-for-a-25-30-person-party#post-1641545 Sat, 17 May 2014 09:56:15 +0000 bunnylovesbear 1641545@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think tacos sound like a fun idea!! Like others suggested, do the prep work the day before. We keep our tacos pretty simple: shredded cheese, sour cream, shredded lettuce, and chopped tomatoes. Add a container or two of salsa (mild and medium), give choice of hard/soft shells, and you're good to go! </p> <p>I like the suggestion of keeping the meat warm in a crock pot...i'd cook it in 1-lb batches the night before, then reheat it all in the crock pot the next day. </p> <p>If you want a chicken option, you can just throw chicken breast in a crock pot with a can of salsa and a little taco seasoning...then just shred it up and it's ready to serve. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/quick-simple-menu-dinner-suggestions-for-a-25-30-person-party#post-1641432 Sat, 17 May 2014 08:09:37 +0000 luckypenny 1641432@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Rainbow Sprinkles: I know right?! I think she's smart, funny and always posts good shopping things :) can't wait up see party pics!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/quick-simple-menu-dinner-suggestions-for-a-25-30-person-party#post-1641318 Sat, 17 May 2014 06:05:27 +0000 MrsTiz 1641318@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I did a nacho bar not too long ago. I made a cheese dip and put it in the crockpot to keep warm. I cooked 3 pounds of grous beef, 1 pound at a time and then put it into a crock pot to keep warm. Heated up re fried beans in the microwave and put it in a crockpot to warm. I have One of those 3 part crock pots. </p> <p>We had store bought guacamole, chopped tomatoes, onions and peppers. Cans of black beans and black olives. A bowl of taco sauce and chips! Oh and regular sauce. </p> <p>All of that for around $100. We had 30 people. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/quick-simple-menu-dinner-suggestions-for-a-25-30-person-party#post-1641317 Sat, 17 May 2014 06:02:14 +0000 Sparkler 1641317@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Pulled pork or chicken sliders, homemade Mac and cheese and a veggie salad side? We did this recently for a similar size party and it was super easy. Kids love Mac and cheese and it isn't that messy! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/quick-simple-menu-dinner-suggestions-for-a-25-30-person-party#post-1641310 Sat, 17 May 2014 05:51:26 +0000 T.H.O.U. 1641310@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Cater from a BBQ place can also be cheap. To really cut costs order the BBQ meat by the pound and make your own sides (green/baked beans from a can, a nice salad, rolls, drinks). </p> <p>You also could look at doing chili for the group? No burgers and dogs? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/quick-simple-menu-dinner-suggestions-for-a-25-30-person-party#post-1641215 Sat, 17 May 2014 01:27:21 +0000 Boogs 1641215@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>What about pasta with salad? You can totally do all the prep work the day before and the day of just toss your pasta trays in the oven. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/quick-simple-menu-dinner-suggestions-for-a-25-30-person-party#post-1641213 Sat, 17 May 2014 01:18:15 +0000 Freckles 1641213@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Rainbow Sprinkles: Honestly, if i had 2 kiddos and was stressing out i would totally cater!!</p> <p>If you still want to cook i would keep it simple. Crock-pot will definitely save on the cooking stress. Dump and go! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/quick-simple-menu-dinner-suggestions-for-a-25-30-person-party#post-1641211 Sat, 17 May 2014 01:14:41 +0000 Running Elley 1641211@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Pulled pork in the crockpot? With a big batch of slaw and maybe corn on the cob on the side! With a fruit salad or just chopped watermelon! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/quick-simple-menu-dinner-suggestions-for-a-25-30-person-party#post-1641210 Sat, 17 May 2014 01:14:37 +0000 sunny 1641210@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Rainbow Sprinkles: I would just call them tomorrow and ask if they have any special pricing for larger orders or party sized orders. And I bet it's not too late to order. I think most Chinese places are pretty flexible. The place I ordered from said they needed only a 30 min heads up when I asked.</p> <p>I just remembered that my friend had Vietnamese catered at her party and she said it was also very affordable.</p> <p>Good luck and happy birthday to your cutie pie! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/quick-simple-menu-dinner-suggestions-for-a-25-30-person-party#post-1641202 Sat, 17 May 2014 00:51:34 +0000 Rainbow Sprinkles 1641202@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@luckypenny: ummm....I just wasted a ton of time on her blog. I have never seen that blog before but I think I am obsessed now. Her living room.... :heart: :heart: :heart: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/quick-simple-menu-dinner-suggestions-for-a-25-30-person-party#post-1641200 Sat, 17 May 2014 00:50:56 +0000 Rainbow Sprinkles 1641200@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sunny: under $200 for 50 people? Now there's an idea. There is a chinese place close by that I know caters. I should look into it. I am so last minute--I am terrible! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/quick-simple-menu-dinner-suggestions-for-a-25-30-person-party#post-1641199 Sat, 17 May 2014 00:50:16 +0000 Rainbow Sprinkles 1641199@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Freckles: Oh, I didn't even think of a crock pot!</p> <p>I was going to do either turkey and beef or chicken and beef and I couldn't figure out the logistics of cooking multiple pounds of meat in a frying pan when I only have two large(ish) frying pans. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/quick-simple-menu-dinner-suggestions-for-a-25-30-person-party#post-1641194 Sat, 17 May 2014 00:40:36 +0000 Freckles 1641194@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I personally would stick with the taco bar because you can prep everything the night before.</p> <p>I would try and borrow a crock pot so you can have two crock pots going at the same time and that will take care of the meat/beans. Maybe you can do 1 meat instead of 2? </p> <p>What veggies are you prepping? I'd try and keep it simple to tomatoes, slaw, and corn. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/quick-simple-menu-dinner-suggestions-for-a-25-30-person-party#post-1641193 Sat, 17 May 2014 00:39:03 +0000 sunny 1641193@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Is catering Chinese food or maybe Mexican in the budget? You could get a large party sized container of a few things like fried rice, beef with broccoli, etc. We were able to cater Chinese for 50 people for &lt;$200 and we actually ordered way too much. </p> <p>Otherwise, could you do lasagna or pasta? You'd probably need to make 2 pans. Then you could do salad and bread as sides. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/quick-simple-menu-dinner-suggestions-for-a-25-30-person-party#post-1641190 Sat, 17 May 2014 00:31:48 +0000 luckypenny 1641190@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Baked potato bar?</p> <p><a href="http://joannagoddard.blogspot.com/2012/01/baked-potato-bar.html?m=1" rel="nofollow">http://joannagoddard.blogspot.com/2012/01/baked-potato-bar.html?m=1</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/quick-simple-menu-dinner-suggestions-for-a-25-30-person-party#post-1641188 Sat, 17 May 2014 00:23:20 +0000 Rainbow Sprinkles 1641188@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My LO's birthday party is this Sunday evening at 4:00. We are planning on providing dinner.</p> <p>All along we had planned on doing tacos. But now I am afraid that it is going to be too much work to cook all of this food for so many people.</p> <p>It seems like cooking 2 kinds of meat, beans, slaw, chopping all the veggies, etc. is a LOT of prep work and I am nervous about cooking for such a large group in my kitchen (do I cook the meat in multiple batches?). I am not even sure of the logistics!</p> <p>Do you have any suggestions for dinner options that would be easier and less prep work, that are not pizza? I am racking my brain but can't think of "simple" meal options for a large crowd. Or is tacos my best bet?</p> <p>ETA: It is supposed to rain, so no BBQ. </p>