When did birthday parties become synonymous with pizza parties? Yes, most kids love a plain cheese or pepperoni slice or two (even the lukewarm, floppy, over-cheesed offerings usually served at children's birthday parties), but there are so many other kid-friendly foods that would also be happily received. Here are 12 ideas for party fare that will help you out of the takeout pizza rut:
Grilled Cheese for a Crowd
Grilled cheese doesn't sound like a smart idea for a party—until you make it this way. You can bang out six sandwiches at a time without breaking a sweat, then cut them all up (into triangles, obvi) and watch the crowd go wild.
Fondue
For an older group of kids, fondue is a surefire winner—how could anyone complain about dipping hunks of bread, sliced apples, sausages, and boiled potatoes into melted cheese? (Don't answer that.)
Chili
For a cozy winter party, ladle out bowls of chili and let partygoers choose from assorted toppings (shredded cheese, sour cream, more shredded cheese, etc.).
Pulled pork sandwiches
If you've got a slow-cooker, you've got pulled pork. Cook a big batch of it, set out toasted buns and sauces, and make a big bowl of slaw to go with. Nailed it.
Taco bar
Put out some slow-cooker shredded chicken, ground beef, and black beans along with a stack of warm tortillas and a side of guac, and watch the kids descend like vultures.
Burgers
If you've got a grill—or, even better, a flat top—burgers are an obvious choice. Bonus points for a creative selection of toppings for the more adventurous of the lot (caramelized onions? grilled avocado?) and double bonus points for throwing in a homemade or store-bought veggie burger option.
Potato Bar
Another perfect example of a hands-on, perfect-for-crowds dinner spread: baked potatoes. Bake up a bunch of sweet or white potatoes, then put out all your kids' favorite toppings: sour cream, shredded cheese, bacon bits, chives...
Kebabs
You can skewer just about anything, flavor it however you like (Italian? Greek? Indian?) and serve it with an assortment of sauces, so kids can choose their own adventure.
Savory Waffles
Breakfast for dinner never fails with kids. Keep these savory waffles warm in the oven while you make batch after batch, then serve with (more) bacon, butter, and maple syrup. (Hey, nobody said party food has to be healthy.)
Pasta bake
It doesn't have to be lasagna—in fact, you can make any kind of cheesy baked pasta casserole without a recipe. Better yet, make a few different trays of pasta bakes and serve alongside a big green salad and some easy garlic bread.
Meatballs
Speaking of Italian food—a ton of meatballs in tomato sauce, with a big bowl of Parm for topping, is a great solution. Guests can have a few meatballs piled onto a hoagie roll or potato bun, or as is, with a simple salad. (Just be sure to put out extra napkins.)
Dippy hummus
Kids are into hummus. And they're into bread. So they'll definitely be into this finger-food assortment of grilled flatbread (hi, pre-made pizza dough on the grill), chopped vegetables, and lots of creamy hummus for spreading or dipping.
