BBQ - Food Ideas ? For over 50 people. HELP :)

Hopefully some of you have experience with large parties and can calm my nerves and give me advice! We're not having it catered to save money.
It's all me and DH cooking and immediate family will pitch in here and there I'm sure.

It should be about 52 adults and 12 children (ages 9, 6, 4, toddlers and infants).

Our food plans are as follows so far :
(the size trays are approx 10x12 I think)
2 Trays of pasta with ground turkey and spinach (no sauce).
2 Trays of pasta salad.
4 Trays - any ideas ??
Id like to have 8 trays of food. Nothing to time consuming to make!

BBQ on the grill
Burgers
Hot Dogs
Chicken (breast or drumsticks?)
Maybe sausage ?

On the side
Canned Corn (on the cob is too much for this many people).
Mixed Veggies (green beans, carrots, etc).
Potato Salad - 2lbs ?
ColeSlaw - 2 lbs ?
Reg Salad (or caesar, not sure yet).

Anyone have ideas or tips for me ?
Any good foods that satisfy big crowds ? Anything I left out ? Anything I should NOT do ?
I feel like im going to be running around like a lost soul ! I'd like to be as organized as possible so that I also have time to enjoy my company and take some good pictures !

I was thinking of also doing some games, (for adults, like how well do you know 'my MIL', etc) and some for kids. but that might be too much. I'm still debating on that.

Thank you so much !!!!

Anna - Good Luck! I had Christmas dinner in my house for 35 people so I know it can get crazy . It sounds like you are moving in the right direction.

On the grill, I would do chicken breasts only because they are so quick to cook - maybe just baste them with some bbq sauce. If you do sausage, how about a cheese and parsley round sausage - 2 or 3 of those. They cook pretty quickly also. You can't beat either a homemade potato salad or just buy 3 lbs at the deli (order in advance). Do you have a crock pot? If so, you could do baked beans (you could do those in a tray also) or supplement the meats with some swedish cocktail meatballs. A giant salad in a tray with some dressing on the side is always a crowd pleaser. You could also do some roasted potatoes in a tray - not too hard or time consuming. I wouldn't go too crazy with the trays of food - it sounds like you will have plenty of meat and side dishes. Also, if you are serving veggies and dip and chips and dip and nuts and other little snackies, that will cut back on the main courses people eat (just don't overdo it or no one will eat all your great food!). Plus, if you have desserts coming out, you want people to have some room. The pasta is filling and if you do some baked beans and sauerkraut for the side, I think it would be plenty! Plus, most of that stuff you can do ahead of time. And when you think about it, most people overdo it at bbq's anyway - I mean, how often do you eat a hamburger on a bun, a frankfurter on a bun, pasta, and some chicken all at one seating?! In my opinion, people fill up faster.

My advice for big parties is to always make a list of everything you want to serve and match it up with whatever dish/bowl/plate you'll be putting it in. Then gather everything up so it is available to you when you need it. This way you are not running around searching for exactly the platter you need when you need it - gives you more time to just put out the food and enjoy the party. Have FUN!

We are also in hte midst of planning our Housewarming BBQ-- we invited 100 and thankfully will have somewhere around 50--
As for games--we have Bocci Ball, horeshoes and I am contemplating a volleyball net--
as for the food-- I agree that you should know where everytihng is going as well as what it is going in-- it def helps to plan this out ahead of time--things to think of: stuff for the kids (bubbles, balls, etc) did you rent tables? you dont have to have a seat for every person but there should be a few tables with chairs--
Ribs are also easy to do and everyone loves them--Baked ziti is always a hit as well--also for the kids think drink boxes --just makes life easier--saves on soda as well--
as for the nieghbors--we have never done anything but i think the suggestions were a nice touch--
we do chicken kebabs on the grill--real easy to do and are always a hite--especially for people who tend to eat chicken but not on the bone--
an idea for the hamburgers--the butcher will premake them for you rather than buying the premade in a box-- so that way you know you are getting quality and the price from teh butcher is not anything different--
I will stop babbling now
Laura

Thanks for all the good ideas ladies !! I just called my brother to ask to borrow his bocce set, my dad will pass the whole day playing bocce !
and thanks everyone for all the other ideas, I will keep it all in mind !

:)

I think you need more than 2 lbs of potato salad/macaroni salad.
Also, guests will bring desserts so dont worry about that. ( make sure to mention to one or 2 if you are worried.)
The big plain salad w/ tomatoes, cukes,maybe olive is always a good choice- just have a coupla different dressings.
make sure to have enough ice- place ice in a cooler. have water , and juice as well as soda.

Any use plastic plates, utensils and hot/cold cups. Make sure to have enough garbage bags and enlist a happy bro in law or cousin to be in charge of trash removal during the party.

thats all I could think of!

Also do you have one of those huge coffee makers that make 30 or so cups of coffee? Or can you borrow one? Make sure your have styrofoam cups on hand too.

Everyone's ideas sound good, I'm keeping them in mind for the future.


A few other things - Make sure you double check how much gas you have for your grill!! And ask a few people to bring some extra folding chairs, better more than not enough.

Have fun!

Thanks everyone for all the great feedback !
The party went great, 65 of us ! yikes. We really panicked about the amount of people, but it really went smoothly, friends and family pitched in here and there, and I kept all your tips in mind !

Thanks again !

:)