Throwing a birthday party can be a lot of fun. It’s a lot to plan and a lot to prepare. Food is often the staple of holiday gatherings, so it makes sense that this would be something to focus on.
What kinds of foods can make the party exciting without being too stressful? Today’s list compiles ideas for side dishes, birthday cake alternatives, favor bags, and more to help you brainstorm the perfect menu for the next party you host.
The Easiest Side Dishes
One of the easiest ways to make party prep easy is to prepare a variety of simple side dishes rather than one big main course. This allows people to eat as they please, getting a bit more each time they visit the food table.
Here are some great ideas for easy side dishes that are perfect for any birthday celebration.
Tater Tots
Tater tots can be an exceptional side dish. Preparing a large batch of them is easy, and you can make things more exciting by allowing guests to add their own toppings.
Create a spread of toppings to go with your tater tots:
- Shredder cheese
- Chives
- Bacon bits
- Sauces like ranch and ketchup
- Nacho cheese
If you’re looking for something lighter but still delicious, try making zucchini tater tots. These tots are easy to make and help keep things healthier whenever guests are sure to eat a lot.
Pasta Salad
There are many pasta salad variations, but they all have one commonality. They are easy to prepare! Pasta salad usually takes only as long as it takes to chop veggies and boil water to prepare.
Make your pasta salad by combining any of the following elements:
- Noodles (try fusilli for the best bites!)
- Dressing (Italian is classic, but oil with seasonings works well too)
- Veggies (make sure to cut them to size and cook if needed)
- Cheese (feta, mozzarella, and parmesan all work great in pasta salad)
- Seasonings (choose seasonings that match your dressing and cheeses)
That’s all it takes! By combining any five ingredients in this way, you can make a unique pasta salad. Mix it up and see what flavors you want to prepare for your next party.
Feeding the Crowd
Need to prepare the main course for your next birthday party? This can be intimidating, especially if you have a large group attending. Thankfully, there are many different meals that you can prepare in large quantities without becoming too stressed.
Some of these are more complex than others, but the focus is creating food for a crowd and dishes that work well in bulk. Choose whichever fits best with your upcoming party plans.
Spaghetti (and Meatballs)
One of the most classic dishes with catering companies is pasta with meatballs, and there’s a good reason for that. Pasta is a great option when making food for a large group of people, as preparing it in large quantities isn’t too tricky.
Boil up your favorite pasta and head sauce. If you also want to add meatballs or another protein, consider serving this on the side so people can choose whether or not they want to include it.
Mac ‘n Cheese
Is there a better classic cozy food than mac ‘n cheese? This makes it the perfect staple for your birthday party meal. Like spaghetti, making mac ‘n cheese in large quantities is easy. Make a few trays of this in advance. Then, you can simply throw it in the oven on party day without any day-of prep work.
Birthday Cake Alternatives
Tired of the same old birthday cake at every single birthday party? Many people are moving away from standard birthday cakes and instead preparing another fun dessert that is memorable for party guests.
If you’re ready for something unique that differs from the old standard, try serving one of these yummy dishes instead.
Donuts
Why not try serving donuts instead of cake? Everyone can have their own individual dessert. Even though you can usually get donuts for a great price at a local bakery, you can also try making your own.
These vanilla cream donuts are a great option if you want to make a festive treat as you foray into the world of donuts. Change up the frosting and sprinkle colors to match the party theme, and you’ll have a dessert as award-worthy as a standard birthday cake.
Birthday Brownies
Brownies are well-loved by many, so why not try to replace birthday cake with them? Whether you prefer your brownies cake-like or fudgy, there’s no doubt that they’re a tasty treat.
Make a large tray of birthday brownies by cooking your favorite brownie recipe (or box mix). Then, decorate the top of the brownies like you would a cake! Rather than stopping with icing, add some decorative flourishes like icing flowers, words, or sprinkles. You can get creative with this treat without complicating things.
Party Goodie Bag Ideas
Party favors are one of the best things about birthday celebrations! However, figuring out what to put inside the goodie bags after you’ve already been prepping for a whole party can be challenging.
Here are some ideas of what to fill your goodie bags with to ensure they’re delicious while not being too difficult to prepare.
Pre-packaged Treat Bags
A pre-packaged snack is one of the best things you can give out as a party favor. This is something that you don’t have to prepare. After preparing everything else for the party, that’s okay!
Try choosing some snacks that match the theme of the party. Any party goes well with birthday cake-flavored popcorn, but you could also try something like dinosaur-shaped gummies for a prehistoric party favor.
Scoop It Yourself
Another excellent idea for goodie bags is to set up a station with bowls of various candies and treats. Allow everything to take a bag, scoop up some treats, and take that to go as their goodie bag. Setting this station up near the door is a good way to keep things organized and provide a fun treat on the way out.
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