Meal Suggestions for First B-day Party

I had 40 adults and 6 children ages 1-10 for my eldest's first birthday. We made a big jambalaya, served with white beans, french bread, a veggie tray and dip I made that served everyone (and we ALL ate a lot), plus 2 gallon ziplocs of leftover jambalaya for about $100. We ordered a cake at Walmart, and they provided the free smash cake. Jambalaya is a great way to feed a lot of people on a budget (just need to buy the meat when it's on sale and freeze it until you need it).
My bff and mom brought waters, tea, and sodas.

My oldest's first birthday meal was blackened alligator tail, jambalaya, white beans, a little bread, and grape tomatoes with dip. His cake was chocolate. :) My youngest son: we were in the middle of moving, and were out of state away from everyone, so we didn't have a proper party for him.....The 4 of us went to an indoor playground / bouncehouse place, and I served him his favorite: torn up fried chicken, steamed broccoli, mac 'n cheese. His cake was red velvet.

I have found taco bars to be really easy and a big hit. To do the deluxe and offer the most options here are some suggestions.

hard shells, soft shells and nachoes.
taco meat, refried beans, black beans and corn ( I usually sautee them together in some olive oil) and spanish rice.
Shredded cheese, sour cream, salsa and quacamole.
onions, green pepper, red pepper and chopped greens ( I know most people use lettuce but I finely chop spinach. Very few people can tell the difference once it's all chopped up and it adds vitamins which lettuce doesn't).

That's going to be a ton of food and give people a ton of options, so I wouldn't provide anything else besides the cake. Of course you could cut anything out and people would still love it.

We've cooked a ham, a turkey and a beef roast the night before and sliced 'em up on plates. A few salads (greek pasta, potato, green), fruit plate with yogurt dip, cheesies and chips and you're good to go!

Why not just do hero's and salads?

-Lasagna can feed a crowd. Just cut into smaller pieces...people can go
back for more.
-Pigs in a blanket for the adults (not the babies).
-Build your own sandwich bar w/all the fixin's and hoagie style buns.
-Chicken nuggets
-Then have an over abundance of appetizers:
-TGIF spinach dip (in freezer section) w/pre-sliced baguette
-ready to go, salami/cheese/crackers
-Chex mix
-Veggie tray w/Ranch
-fruit salad (leave out the grapes)
-ice cream sundae bar
-brownie bites
-tray of chocolate chip cookies
Happy b-day and have fun!

You can get a pork roast and slow cook up and then make pulled pork out of it. That is one of our favorites.'

I know this may sound "eww... really, Walmart!?" but they have fried chicken meal deals and their chicken is AWESOME! For like $20 or $25 you can get a 50 piece. We have done that for birthday parties and it is always a hit.

Good luck!

How about a bunch of bbq chicken drumsticks. Precook a bit in the oven and then bbq with your favorite sauce,, potatoe salad, fruit. Id come to that party!

Everyone loves it when i make a 'watermelon basket" and vegetable tray with a dipping sauce (ranch usually) and chips and salsa. With the watermelon basket i cut the actual watermelon to look like a basket,,,,scoop it out and add fruits to it.

I've started doing sandwich trays from Costco and they are usually a hit. They taste really good and they are the cheapest sandwich trays out there. Jimmy Johns also has good ones but they cost a little more. If you want to cook then I'd do pulled pork as well. I buy a pork butt, put it with one can of root beer, cook for 8 hours then shred and mix with one bottle of sauce you like. Have another bottle of sauce on hand to top it off.

Fried chicken was also a good suggestion or you could do chicken on the grill instead.

I made Chicken Kiev, big bowl of wild rice, salad, fruit.

This was relatively easy to make ahead. My daughter's 1st bday was 16 yrs ago.... Ouch, time flies

Enjoy

Pasta and meatballs on the side. That way if there's any NON meat eaters they have something to eat.

Salad with some bread and EVERYBODY IS HAPPY!

Here are some ideas:

Make a big pot of spaghetti with sauce

large green salad with tomato, cucumber, motzarella cheese balls--vinagrette dressing

couscous salad with veggies

fruit salad

fresh lemonade/apple juice for kids

GL

M

pasta. boil pasta and get frozen meatballs or make a meat sauce and put it in the cockpot on low and it will keep nice and warm and you can add veggies and do whole wheat pasta its easy and good and do some salads and your cake and ice cream

Barbecue beef in crock is easy and will be well liked! Have a great party!