Planning the perfect party does not have to be stressful. When you are the host for any type of event, planning and preparing are important.
Have a holiday, birthday party, or event coming up that you are hosting? Costco party platters are the key to saving the day and making your party a breeze.
I started hosting large groups of people when I had my first baby. Since I have a large family, our guest list for a birthday party was high. Through the years, I hosted many bridal showers, baby showers, birthday parties, and holidays.
Those first events I hosted were a crazy hot mess. I would spend days cleaning and hours shopping for the perfect menu. I would put up themed decorations and send out cute little invites if you need more tips on how to be a super host on a tight budget check out our post here.
At the end of the party I would be utterly exhausted, have spent way too much money, and left with a huge mess to clean up.
Ten years later, I am a little more experienced and have mapped out how to successfully throw a simple party that serves it purpose and does not disrupt life for more than the day itself.
Of course, there are certain events where you may choose to pull out some fun decorations and match the napkins to the plate, but for most everyday gatherings, I recommend keeping it simple and let the convenience of Costco help you out.
These 14 Costco party food ideas will make your party planning a breeze.
Get a Costco membership. T
This might seem like a no-brainer, but if you don’t already have a Costco membership, now is the time to get one. The membership fee is small, and you’ll save big on everything from hot dogs to veggie platters.
MEAT
Decide what you are serving for the main course. Want to keep things cost-effective? We typically serve up ham on rolls, sloppy joes, or shredded chicken sandwiches.
Hot dogs are your friend. Yes, really. Not only are hot dogs a classic party food, but you can buy 24 hot dogs for under ten dollars at Costco. Add a few buns, and you’ve got a cheap, easy, and crowd-pleasing main dish.
I can make this ahead of time and warm it in a crock pot. Chicken thighs are full of flavor and low on cost. You can get them for $2.79 lb at Costco. Leftovers will freeze well.
Allen Brothers steaks for a classy touch. Want to take your party to the next level? Pick up some high-quality Allen Brothers steaks from Costco’s meat department. Your guests will be impressed, and you’ll still save money compared to going out to a restaurant.
*Check out my first shopping trip and meal menu at Costco here.
PARTY PLATTERS
No time to make your own main dish? Sometimes, You can pick up party platters in-store, but calling ahead is your best bet. These roll-ups are my bridal shower favorite.
Cheese platters for the win. Cheese and finger foods are always a hit, and Costco has a fantastic selection of cheese platters. Just add crackers, and you’ve got a tasty and budget-friendly appetizer.
ROLLS
These rolls will go with any type of meat sandwich. I love that two dozen come in a bag for $ 5.99. That price is a $2 savings from our local grocery store bakery.
PIZZA
Maybe, it’s your first time hosting, and you want to keep things simple; you can grab a large Costco Pizza for $10 and then have fun with platters and other finger foods. Costco pizzas are pretty good and you don’t even have to bake them.
APPETIZERS
Little smokie sausages are $8.49 for two huge packages and the big meatball bag is $16.99. If you are going to shop Costco for party tips this is the easiest one. Everyone always raves over these heated up in a Crockpot with some BBQ sauce.
Tortilla chips galore. Tortilla chips are incredibly versatile and are perfect for both dips and as a standalone snack. Get a big bag from Costco and pair it with some fresh salsa, and you’ve got a party hit on your hands.
Go big with shrimp and cocktail sauce. If you want to impress your guests, snag some jumbo shrimp from Costco’s seafood counter and serve it with cocktail sauce. It’s a fancier option that doesn’t break the bank.
More Ways To Save at Costco:
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CHEESE PLATTER AND SAUSAGE
Keep it incredibly simple, and just buy the cheese platter and sausage tray for $14.99. It’s a good option that tastes fresh and saves you extra time.
Costco is known for its amazing cheese and sausage prices, so if you insist, you can still do great buying it and cutting it yourself.
COOKIES
When I host any type of event I like to have a small dessert out with the meal and serve a larger dessert after.
Depending on my menu I might whip up some homemade cookies or I will keep it simple and purchase one of these cookie sampler trays for $ 7.99 each.
CAKE
Get your event sheet cake or cupcakes right from Costco. You can call ahead to order if you want a special design or theme. We have had a Costco cake several times and it is always really good.
Our Costco has some pretty talented people decorating; you can ask for almost anything. A half-sheet cake is my favorite thing for a casual party and is ready to grab for $18.99.
Cut the big cakes into smaller pieces. Costco’s cakes are delicious and perfect for parties, but they’re also big. Save some money by cutting the cake into smaller pieces instead of buying more than you need.
VEGGIE PLATTER
I buy these veggie platters all the time for $9.99. They are so easy to pull out of the refrigerator and serve to my family at lunch and they are cost-effective compared to buying individual produce.
For a party, veggie trays will keep things efficient. Everything is washed for you and you can pick one up and pull it out the day of the party.
BJ’s Wholesale club is another great choice for fresh fruit and meat platters. Check out our BJs Blog here.
WINE SPIRITS and BEER
Depending on your event, you may enjoy some wine, liquor, or beer. Costco has an absolutely enormous selection of just about anything you could desire. Make a signature cocktail.
If you do want to serve cocktails, make a signature drink that uses only a few ingredients. This will save you money on buying various alcohol and mixers.
FRUIT
While you are saving time with vegetables, why not save time with a pre-cut fruit. I used to be completely against buying pre-cut fruit because of the price.
Sometimes, I make an exception when I see a great deal like this for $9.99. This can save so much time and energy. Costco has plenty of options, and during the holiday season, they offer dried fruit platters, which can be fun and different.
DISPOSABLE PLATES
When I first started shopping at Costco, I was not convinced about the paper plate prices. I whipped out my calculator and started price comparing everywhere I went.
When serving a heavier dish, I prefer to get my guests a heavy-duty plate like these. For $21.79, you can get 165 plates.
CUPS
Serving liters of soda, punch or water at your party in cups will almost always be less expensive. Now that I shop at Costco I have a constant stock of paper/plastic items to make hosting easier.
To avoid spills, I get these quality plastic cups. For $9.99 you get 140 cups. My husband had a good idea to always put out a permanent marker so that guests can write their names on their cup.
DINING SPACE
It is so important to make sure that you have plenty of table space for your guests to sit down. Elderly and children are always my first priorities as it is more difficult for them to sit on the floor or hold their plates while eating.
Invest in a few of these foldable banquet tables you will use for years. They store easily and pop up in a second. You can get them for $49.99 each.
FRIENDS BRING A DISH
Ask guests to bring a dish. There’s no shame in asking your guests to bring a dish or dessert. Not only does it take some of the pressure off of you, but it’s also a great way to get a variety of food on the table.
MAKE YOUR OWN DECORATIONS
You don’t have to spend a ton of money on decorations. Instead, add a personal touch, get crafty, and make your own. Pinterest is a fantastic resource for DIY party decor ideas.
CHAIRS
We tend to pull out chairs quite often when we are having people over for any type of event. For years we were using chairs handed down to us from grandparents weighing literally 10 lbs each.
We grabbed some cheap chairs that broke after a few uses. We decided to make the investment into a set of 6 lightweight foldable chairs like these. Costco stores has them for $ 18.99 each.
DON’T FORGET THE MUSIC
Last but not least, don’t forget to create a fantastic party playlist. Choose music that matches the theme of your party, or ask each guest to pick a song to add to the playlist.
Throwing a party is supposed to be fun. It’s always a good thing to bring your friends and family together when life gets busy and hectic. I like to make sure that I can also be a part of these parties , especially SuperBowl parties that’s my favorite thing.
I clean a little before a party because I know I will have to clean after as well. My family does not care if my bathroom or floors are spot-free for most events.
When the party is almost over, I always say yes when help is offered. I know it might be hard initially to make some of these choices, but I promise you a stress-free party is much more fun.
The next time you host, head to your local store Costco. Plan your party with these tips; I know you will have a successful event.
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David
oh those smoke links are the best, all I do is put them in sweet baby rays and let them simmer and I am good to go.
Hi Jess