We are having about 25 people for LO's first birthday next week. It is a 4pm party. I live in a warm area but it is supposed to be a little chilly that day-- like in the 50s or 60s--but not like NE winter. The theme is Where the Wild Things Are (but I don't necessarily care if things are themey). I need low prep (preferably no prep! 
), buffet style options. We are NOT having a sit down meal. And since it's early, lighter is probably OK right? What genius ideas does the hive have??
You might also enjoy...
-
I try to do only one item in the oven and one in the crockpot if I can and the rest cold stuff to cut down on how many things I need to keep track of. LO's bday is in April in the south so temps are often similar. I do a cheese tray with crackers, fruit tray, veggie tray with hummus and dips, chips and salsa, and potato chips. Two or three hot items. Then drinks cake and sometimes ice cream.
-
Pasta bar! Make a crockpot full of sauce, a tray of Costco or similar meatballs, and boil up pasta of choice. Serve buffet style, so everyone can do their favorite ratio of sauce/pasta/optional meatballs / cheese. Maybe salad as well? Lots of my friends do this for birthday parties and it's always a hit!
-
Lasagna and green salad? Hot dog bar and bags of chips?
-
For 4pm, you might want to have something a little heavier. I know I wouldn't eat again at 6 if I'd snacked at 4. You could do store bought subs or something you could stick in the oven, like frozen pizza or meatballs.
-
Chili bar!
-
Easy things: Chick-fil-a nuggets, veggie tray and fruit tray from Costco, a crockpot full of meatballs and a platter of mini rolls for the meatballs. Easiest sauce for meatballs - jars of spaghetti sauce.
Put out bowls of goldfish, chips and pretzels.
I don't do themes with food well...
-
For DD's 2nd birthday we did a taco bar and it was super easy. I made crockpot chicken tacos (2 lbs chicken, taco seasoning, and a jar of salsa - cook on low 6-8 hours, shred the chicken a half hour before serving), and also had beef taco meat. We had taco shells and chips, toppings, and queso. It was so easy. We did most of the prep the day before. It was a huge hit!
Her party was at 11, so people ate lunch.
-
@Boogs: We went to a party recently with a hot dog bar and it was fun. The kids all seemed to love it!
-
My favorite thing for this type of situation is shredded chicken! Cook it in a pressure cooker/crockpot/oven/whatever, shred it (if you have a stand mixer, it's super easy to do with the paddle!), throw it in a crockpot with some BBQ or buffalo sauce. Serve with buns. Easy main dish and decently heavy for a meal!
-
@Mrs. Microscope: I like this idea! I also recently saw a pasta salad bar for summer. Saving both ideas for my own future parties!
-
I went to Costco to get most of the food for DD's birthday party. The main dish was a croissant sandwich platter. I also got some of their chicken salad and more croissants to add to it. I also served fruit, veggies, and pasta salad.
-
@Mrs. Pickle: oooh I might do chicken salad and croissants too!
-
Pasta bar sounds tasty
For ours we had no theme and I did sausage rolls and samosas (everything vegetarian) which were a big hit and can be cooked and served hot, warm, or cold. We also had chips, munchie mix, hummus and pita bread, a quinoa salad, veggie tray, crackers, and a cheeseball, mini cupcakes, and an ice cream cake. I put out goldfish, juice boxes, and some pouches for kids. Everything was pretty easy. Samosas were pre made and my sister rolled the veggie sausages in pastry and cut them up for me. I made everything else except the ice cream cake, but it was easy stuff to do like quick cupcakes and chopping veggies.
-
@travellingbee: Costco chicken salad + croissants are my fave! So easy. We served them at M's first birthday party.
-
@Mrs. Goose: @jhd: I seriously love the pasta bar! Also easy to please vegetarian guests (we always have a few) and you could use gluten free pasta for allergies, and since the cheese is separate that's also good for allergies. We have high needs friends, hahaha!
-
We do crockpot sandwiches for something like this - BBQ pulled chicken and meatballs usually. I try to keep sides pretty simple - fruit salad, chips and salsa, veggies and dip. I'm lus a couple small desserts to complement cake like brownies, cookie bars, etc.
-
@Mrs. Microscope: just pinned some pasta bar ideas to my board for Lo's next birthday! We just have picky and outspoken family members to please!
-
First birthday already?! How is that possible??
-
Pizza bar- 3 or 4 dif kinds of pizza cut in squares. Set them up at various heights for visual interest.
Veggie tray
Fruit & dip tray
Pop corn- serve 2 dif kinds or just butter or butter and them have 3 or 4 candies for people to personal their treat -
I am planning an early afternoon mini home party for my 5 year old (I am only inviting 6 kids and their grown ups+some families, so hopefully under/around 20 people?). You mention this is a 1 year old party I imagine you mostly only need to worry about grown ups, right? For me I will have DH bake 2 varieties of Trader Joe's bought appetizer snacks. Maybe a veggie tray. For the kids we will have a fruit tray (will make kabobs with pocky chocolate sticks), ham and cheese skewers (pin together with popsicle sticks), and sunflower-seed-butter jelly tea sandwiches. Then goldfish crackers and skinny popcorn available. We may have a bottle of white wine and champagne for the grown ups if budget allows
Then of course the cake.If you are not serving dinner don't worry too much, the grown ups don't eat much really at a kid's birthday party. I am actually worried if I am offering too much food items and maybe I should cut back.
-
@LemonJack: We did a hot diggity dog bar for a party this year, it was super easy and a hit with everyone! I haven't personally done it, but I've seen people do a bunch of hot dogs in the crock pot to make it even easier.
-
So many great ideas!
Then of course the cake.Reply
Subscribe to our newsletter
- Google Plus
- Stumbleupon
- Twitter
- Facebook
- Pinterest
- Favorite1
22 comments