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

Thanksgiving Turkey Vegetable Tray

We were having our last meeting for Girls on the Run and I wanted to bring some healthy snacks for the girls. I decided that I would make a vegetable tray and try to turn it into the shape of a turkey. For someone who isn't very good at this kind of stuff, I think it turned out pretty well! ;-) I have another one I need to make soon so I'll make it again (try to improve!) and post it here.

I went to Costco and bought a vegetable tray ($9.99) a bag of peppers (6 mixed peppers for $5.99) and a bag of cucumbers (3 for $3.99). I ended up only using one pepper and one cucumber and only half of the carrots from the tray. You could easily make this for under $10, depending on how many people you are trying to feed.

I modeled mine after this one and a few other pictures I saw floating around the internet.

You can really use any vegetables you want, just make sure you use ones with a lot of colors! As I mentioned, I started with a vegetable tray that contained carrots, broccoli, snap peas, cauliflower, and dressing. I also added cucumbers and bell peppers.

I started at the top and placed by broccoli in a semi-circle. Then I added the carrots and sliced peppers. I transferred the dressing from the plastic container into a glass one. I placed it under the peppers and then started filling in the gap with cucumbers. Around the bottom, I added snap peas.

All you have left to do is to put together the turkey face! I used a red bell pepper and cut off all of it except for the end. I also cut a hole in the middle so that the beak would fit in and stay put. For the legs, I used carrots and just carefully cut out little "toes" using kitchen scissors. For the eyes, I used raisins and just mashed a few together with my hands to make them stick (how's that for professional!?). You could also use dates. It might be best to wait and assemble the turkey face when you get your tray to where it will actually be consumed. That way you don't risk the whole thing falling into the dressing!

That's it! This is an easy and inexpensive way to dress up a vegetable tray! Enjoy creating your own. Let me know if you think of something different or have a picture to share!

How to Order a Party Platter from Costco

The response to our How to Order a Cake from Costco post has been so awesome and obviously it was helpful to so many people that I was inspired tonight on our trip to Costco to share another how-to with you! This one is how to order a party platter from Costco.

These platters are great for wedding or baby showers or even when you are hosting a crowd for the big game! I'm tempted to order one just to snack on during the week when we don't have time to cook!

You are a Costco lover too?! Check out our additional Costco related content:

• 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

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.

>>>> How to Throw a Party for less than $52 by Shopping at Costco

Roasted Chicken & Swiss Roller Platter from Costco

Sandwich Platter from Costco

Shrimp Platter with Cocktail Sauce from Costco

Updated: 1/18/18 (new order form)

Below is the party platter order form that is available at our Costco (Buford, GA).

Click here to view the form as a PDF

Below are the options listed on the form:

• 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

All you have to do is fill out the form and drop it back off at Costco. You might even be able to fax or email yours in. Call your local Costco and see if this is an option!