How to feed 20 teens affordably—not pizza or homemade?

[Anonymous]

Honestly I would do party subs from somewhere, and bring store bought potato chips & cookies

[Anonymous]

Chicken sandwiches at Popeyes or chick Fil a are $4.

$4x20 = $80

Add chips and a drink.

You will be a hero

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Chicken sandwiches at Popeyes or chick Fil a are $4.

$4x20 = $80

Add chips and a drink.

You will be a hero

Pretty much agree. Not only is it the easiest option, it will go over the best IMO.

Teen boys will eat more than sandwich though (so get nuggets too, or order more sandwiches)

If you bring potato chips and drinks it will still cost under $300

[Anonymous]

Talk to parents who have done this before with this group to get thoughts on “how much” and “how long”. We have done this with various groups and it can differ. Daughter’s high school soccer team was in and out in about 30 minutes. That was the surprise aspect that taught us to get some info. first.

Will they come in and chat for a few minutes or dive in to the food? Will they arrive at close to the same time or will some be arriving when others are done and leaving?

We had good luck with a homemade Mac and cheese recipe. Two baking pans was way more than enough for 20 but pretty good left over. Caesar salad dished out in disposable bowls was easy and most kids (and adults) like it. And simple. Lettuce, dressing, croutons, shredded parm. Drinks - these days - I would go for flavored and regular water in cans/bottles. You could have cookies (Costco for example) for desert.

You really want to go generic vegetarian so ziti (no meat) or Mac is a good choice. I always thought garlic bread or rolls would be good but our groups rarely ate them.

We premade everything and got set up the night before. One of us then got home early enough to heat up the Mac and cheese, dress the salad and dish it up. Don’t forget having garbage cans ready to go.

It always was odd though. You think “we’re having 20 kids over to eat.” And, less than an hour later they are all gone. Crack a bottle of wine then.

[Anonymous]

In my opinion, feeding 20 teens affordably does not include spending $200 to $300 on take-out. So I would have to cook.

- Big crockpot of chili with sides (tortilla chips, shredded cheese, sour cream, jalapenos, etc.)
- Big crockpot of pulled chicken (with hamburger buns, a big bowl of coleslaw, a big bowl of bean salad, a big bowl of chips)
- Baked potato bar (butter, sour cream, shredded cheese, sauteed peppers/onions, sauteed mushrooms, chives, shredded beef, salsa, etc.)
- Taco bar (soft or crispy shells, shredded chicken, ground beef, and all the various toppings)

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Definitely chick Fil a. Also Chipotle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pan of meatballs and pan of baked ziti with garlic bread - you can just pop each in the oven to bake but buy pre-assembled/cooked. Why did you sign up for this if you weren't prepared to do it?

You’ll need more than one Pan of each amd a ton of oven space

[Anonymous]

Burgers are a pain because people like different doneness but hot dogs (Nathan’s or Hebrew National) and marinated chicken breast are easy. Get a bunch of buns and toppings. Potato salad or pasta salad and fruit salad

[Anonymous]

Mama lucia caters and its pretty affordable. Their chicken comes with a side of pasta or ziti.

[Anonymous]

Pans of enchiladas. Inexpensive and easy to prep in advance then throw in the oven ~30 mins before. Simple green salad, some fruit and/or cookies. Pitchers of lime seltzer and cups. Easy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In my opinion, feeding 20 teens affordably does not include spending $200 to $300 on take-out. So I would have to cook.

- Big crockpot of chili with sides (tortilla chips, shredded cheese, sour cream, jalapenos, etc.)
- Big crockpot of pulled chicken (with hamburger buns, a big bowl of coleslaw, a big bowl of bean salad, a big bowl of chips)
- Baked potato bar (butter, sour cream, shredded cheese, sauteed peppers/onions, sauteed mushrooms, chives, shredded beef, salsa, etc.)
- Taco bar (soft or crispy shells, shredded chicken, ground beef, and all the various toppings)

Good luck!

I like you. Can you feed me?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In my opinion, feeding 20 teens affordably does not include spending $200 to $300 on take-out. So I would have to cook.

- Big crockpot of chili with sides (tortilla chips, shredded cheese, sour cream, jalapenos, etc.)
- Big crockpot of pulled chicken (with hamburger buns, a big bowl of coleslaw, a big bowl of bean salad, a big bowl of chips)
- Baked potato bar (butter, sour cream, shredded cheese, sauteed peppers/onions, sauteed mushrooms, chives, shredded beef, salsa, etc.)
- Taco bar (soft or crispy shells, shredded chicken, ground beef, and all the various toppings)

Good luck!

I like you. Can you feed me?

No kidding, you just meal planned for me. Especially the chili.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pans of enchiladas. Inexpensive and easy to prep in advance then throw in the oven ~30 mins before. Simple green salad, some fruit and/or cookies. Pitchers of lime seltzer and cups. Easy.

Very popular choice. Even my picky kids loved these at a friend’s house.
https://www.thecountrycook.net/creamy-chicken-enchiladas/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you're sure no one has a nut allergy, you could get pans of Vietnamese food at Eden Center (7 corners in VA). My husband is Vietnamese, and occasionally he goes there and brings back tons of food, but we have to be careful because one of our children is anaphylactically allergic to peanuts.

The meat-filled bread or rice buns from Cha Lua Ngoc Hung at Eden Center are incredibly caloric and filling, but delicious, and perfect for hungry teens!

PP - can you please tell me more about the pans of food your husband gets, and from which store? I love the Eden Center and love to do exactly this. And I just looked the menu at Cha Lua Ggoc Hung. Which is the meat filled bread that you would recommend? My son would love that.

Thank you!

He goes by himself, so I don't know the details, but I know we've tried all the buns from Cha Lua Ngoc Hung except their vegetarian one, and they're all good. The kids prefer the bread buns, which more closely hew to the American palate, and I prefer the sticky rice bun in a palm leaf, (the texture may not be pleasing to people who are unused to it).

As for the rest, he brought back a huge amount of my favorite Viet dish, Banh Cuon (very delicate rice flour crepes with mushroom and porc filling), I think it was from Thanh Long (there's another Banh Cuon place called Saigon). I can eat criminal amounts of that! But it's not a finger food, so perhaps not as suited for teen parties.

Thank you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pan of meatballs and pan of baked ziti with garlic bread - you can just pop each in the oven to bake but buy pre-assembled/cooked. Why did you sign up for this if you weren't prepared to do it?

I am doing it. I’m looking for advice on ways to make it doable and not pizza.

Yes, I'm asking why you would sign up to do it if you weren't prepared with an idea of what to do.

not OP but you are a pain in the ass...this is what the board is for....go away