How To Throw a Party on a Budget - Costco Food Ideas

I wouldn't call us pro party hosters or planners but we have hosted a few close neighbors and family holidays. We're lucky that our neighbors, friends, and family are not very demanding because we are super laid back about hosting. If you feel the same way, keep reading.

As you know from our numerous previous posts, we love Costco. When we plan on having people over we get almost everything from Costco. It's very convenient and cost-effective. You know by now that we are ALL about saving money. As I was thinking about Super Bowl parties and all of the other events coming up (Easter, graduation parties, school parties, pool parties, etc.), it came to me that I should share how we host ours on a budget! So, here's how we throw a party on a budget - with food ideas from Costco!

P.S. If you are getting ready for the Super Bowl, check out our fun Super Bowl Workout & Meal Plan!

You could host a complete party with a vegetable tray ($9.99), croissant sandwich platter ($29.99), and a pie ($11.99) for less than $52.

Please note that this post is not associated with Costco (and neither are we, other than we love to shop there!). Prices, selection, availability, and the process to order may vary depending on location so call your local store to be sure your location has the same procedure.

Let's start with dessert first.

Sure, Costco cakes wouldn't be considered "clean" but if you eat a piece of cake a few times a year, I think you will be just fine. Remember, what you do every day matters more than what you do once in a while (I heard that quote from Gretchen Rubin and love it!).

Costco cakes are AMAZING. And the price is amazing too. At our local Costco, the price is $18.99 for a sheet cake that serves 48 people. They have limited designs to choose from and from what I understand, they do not do custom work but for the price, you can't beat it! I have a post on How to Order a Cake from Costco where I keep the designs updated. They always seem to have designs for all of the major holidays and plenty of birthday designs to choose from.

If cake isn't your thing they also have cookie platters (60 count for $15.99) or pies (varies by season but ours carries: key lime pie, apple pie, pecan pie, and pumpkin pie - 68 oz for $11.99), and cheesecake ($13.99). I'll take one of each. Please and thank you.

Need A LOT of pies? You can special order those too.

Let's go to finger foods/appetizers next.

Maybe our neighborhood is strange (?!) but the first things to always disappear are the fruit and vegetable trays! I am just simply amazed at the price of Costco's premade vegetable trays and fruit bowls. Sometimes we just buy them when we don't feel like cutting up our own vegetables for the week!

Check out these prices:

Vegetable Platter (4 lbs!!!!!): $9.99
Fresh Cut Fruit Bowl (3 lbs!!!!!): $9.99

I wasn't sure whether to consider these party platters as appetizers or the main course so I'll just include them here. You can order a party platter from Costco! The options at our local Costco are listed below:

• Croissant Sandwich Platter (serves 16-20): $29.99
• Chicken & Swiss Rollers (serves 20-24): $29.99
• Shrimp Platter (serves 20-24): $39.99
• Meat & Cheese Platter (serves 16-20): $26.99

Now, on to the real deal. The main course.

Scott loves to smoke on his Kamado Joe so for Christmas last year he smoked chicken and pork. I also made our Clean & Simple Roasted Chicken in the oven. It was all delicious!

We've also made our Instant Pot Bison Chili when we had some neighbors over. It was super easy to make and fed plenty!

We spend about $20 on two organic whole chickens (usually around $2.50 per pound) and $20 on the bison meat (2.5 lbs). These prices may vary but those are two very inexpensive options to feed a crowd!

If you don't want to cook, I get it! There's plenty to choose from where only minimal effort will be needed on your part! Again, not the healthiest option but definitely a crowd pleaser: Costco's take & bake pizza for $8.99! Or, if you think the party platters will be enough food, they are a great deal!

Looking for more Costco resources?! Never fear, we have you covered!

• Eating Clean at Costco {Shopping List}
• Healthy Kid-Friendly Snacks from Costco {Refrigerated}
• Healthy Kid-Friendly Snacks from Costco {Shelf-Stable}
• How to Order a Cake from Costco
• How to Order a Party Platter from Costco
• How to Order a Pie from Costco

Healthy Instant Pot Bison Chili

We FINALLY used the Instant Pot for something other than eggs and quinoa! Even if you don't have an Instant Pot, keep reading...you can make this in a crock pot!

We make this bison chili almost every week in the crock pot. A few weeks ago we decided to try it out in the Instant Pot and it was a keeper! I LOVE the fact that I can do everything right in the Instant Pot, which means I only have to clean ONE item! I can saute the onions and garlic add all of the ingredients and then just press a button. It took us less than 5 minutes to get everything started and then the Instant Pot did the rest of the work.

Lifesaver.

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We even made a quick time-lapse how-to video for Instagram! Watch how to make our Healthy Instant Pot Bison Chili.

We have the 6 quart Instant Pot (it has over 22,000 customer reviews on Amazon with 4.5 stars!

Healthy Instant Pot Bison Chili

• 1 lb ground beef, bison, or chicken breast
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 1/2 Tbsp minced garlic
• 1-10 oz cans of diced tomatoes & green chilies
• 1-15 oz can of black beans (drained)
• 1/2 Tbsp chili powder
• 1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 1/2 Tbsp mustard (spicy, regular or a combination of both)
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 Tbsp olive oil (to saute onions and garlic)

Directions:

1. Saute the onion and garlic in the Instant Pot (press the saute button and add olive oil, onion, and garlic).
2. Once onions are translucent add your meat (ground chicken, beef, or bison) to the pot and cook until brown. Once cooked, drain if desired.
3. Add the remaining ingredients, mix well, cover and lock the lid. Press the “Keep Warm/Cancel” button on the Instant Pot, then press the “Chili/Stew” button to begin the pressure cooking. It will automatically be set for 30 minutes. Make sure the steam valve is closed.
4. Once the chili is done, the Instant Pot will automatically switch to the “Keep Warm” mode. Allow the pressure to release naturally or use the quick release.
5. Top with cheese, cilantro, or green onions - if desired.

If using a crockpot, saute the onion and garlic and brown the meat in a separate pan. Add the onion, garlic, and meat to the crockpot. Add all remaining ingredients and cook on low for 4 hours.

This recipe is perfect for food prep! We portion ours out and when it's time to eat we mix in quinoa and warm it up!

Paleo Coleslaw

When does something officially become an addiction? Asking for a friend.

Introducing our clean eating paleo coleslaw. It takes about 3 minutes to make and we've been making it every. single. weekend. Sometimes we just eat it out of the container in the fridge,  sometimes it doesn't even make it into the fridge, and if we have enough self-control we will wait and eat it with our lean mean cheeseburgers or simple roasted chicken. We've been known to eat it with breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

You might have to actually grab the bowl out of our hand to make us quit eating it. It's that good.

Watch How to Make Our Clean Eating Paleo Coleslaw

Clean Eating Paleo Coleslaw

Ingredients:

• 1 bag of Fresh Express Diced Southern Slaw (14 oz)
• 2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
• heaping 1/4 tsp sea salt
• heaping 1/4 tsp pepper
• heaping 1/4 tsp dill
• heaping 1/4 tsp garlic powder
• heaping 1/4 tsp dry mustard
• heaping 1/3 cup avocado mayo

Directions:

1. Combine all ingredients together, excluding slaw mix.
2. Add to slaw mix and stir to ensure consistent coating.
3. Refrigerate before eating for best taste.