Food for a teenage party

pinkyponkyplink · 2026-10-20T23:16:59+00:00

I have 20 teenagers coming to my house this weekend for a party. Never done anything of this size before but it’s for my daughter’s birthday. I’m thinking of pizza, hot dogs and nuggets. can anyone recommend a supermarket pizza that tastes ok and won’t cost me a fortune? do I serve the food and leave it out like on a buffet table? What about the hot dogs as they will go cold? I’ve eaten cold pizza and nuggets but not hot dogs. would you do bottles of fizzy drink or cans? any other suggestions? Dreading it but hoping it goes well and they have fun.

Everybodysinthehousetonight · 25/10/2026 11:47

Aleveldilemma · 24/10/2026 11:08

Not sure what’s wrong with you on this thread… but FWIW I served proper sausages and hot dog rolls, not those things you get in a tin. HTH

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We call sausages in a roll hot dogs too. So do all the teens and their parents we know. It's one of the standard offerings around here when teens host in summer to do sausages on the BBQ, aka hot dogs!

HumbleHun · 24/10/2026 23:30

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HumbleHun · 24/10/2026 23:27

AuroraBloom · 24/10/2026 22:17

Don't feed it.

If by 'it' you mean s group of teens then you really need to reevaluate your prejudices and roll back the clove sbd remember what its like to be a ravenous teenager.. yes they eat alot andbarntbakwats grateful but they deserve a bite to eat no matter what.

HumbleHun · 24/10/2026 23:25

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AuroraBloom · 24/10/2026 22:17

Don't feed it.

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 24/10/2026 22:12

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WTAF?!

BCBird · 24/10/2026 21:45

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?????

HumbleHun · 24/10/2026 21:16

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ExquisiteDecoration · 24/10/2026 16:14

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 24/10/2026 14:33

Because who has an oven big enough to make enough pizza to accommodate 20 people at once? Not me. They'd be waiting ages for a slice.

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Agree, we have an outdoor pizza oven and tend to limit ourselves to 10 people when using that, indoors would be worse as they take so much longer. I’d want to be hidden away in another part of the house not running in between kitchen and eating area with pizzas all evening.

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 24/10/2026 14:33

Aleveldilemma · 24/10/2026 14:30

How is pizza a nightmare - it’s literally the easiest party food in the world (if you don’t try and get kids making their own), and suitable for veggies, GF etc.

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Because who has an oven big enough to make enough pizza to accommodate 20 people at once? Not me. They'd be waiting ages for a slice.

Aleveldilemma · 24/10/2026 14:30

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 24/10/2026 11:58

Agree that pizza for twenty would be a nightmare.

Chilli could be a good option.

How is pizza a nightmare - it’s literally the easiest party food in the world (if you don’t try and get kids making their own), and suitable for veggies, GF etc.

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 24/10/2026 12:46

It would be carnage. Who’s got a kitchen big enough for 20 teens to be assembling pizzas in?!

Aleveldilemma · 24/10/2026 12:00

bababamama · 24/10/2026 11:34

Make the dough now (3 cups flour, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon sugar, 1 tablespoon oil, 1 pack yeast, 1 cup lukewarm water warm water) makes 2 large pizzas, so make 3 - 4 lots of this then have a bowl of passata, grated cheese, sliced pepperoni, sliced peppers, sliced onions, drained sweetcorn maybe and make smaller bases (precook for 5 minutes before they arrive) then let them make their own pizzas, it’s an activity as well as dinner. Have a buffet of dips with carrots, breadsticks, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, chicken drumsticks maybe (don’t put anything on them as that covers you for a lot of allergies) plain bagged ready salted crisps which again covers a lot of allergy potential issues. I wouldn’t bother with hot dogs, perhaps just do a load of those little frozen sausage rolls and the cheese and onion ones too, see the Christmas ranges for cheap filling options

With respect, don’t do this - they’re teens and don’t need an activity, this sounds lovely but would be more suitable for younger children.

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 24/10/2026 11:58

Agree that pizza for twenty would be a nightmare.

Chilli could be a good option.

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 24/10/2026 11:57

HumbleHun · 24/10/2026 11:01

Do you know what's in a hotdogs and how they are made? Don't confuse hotdogs with bratwurst or frankfurters. No one serves hotdogs anymore to either guests or customers. If you boiled up 5 tins of hotdogs md left finger buns out for teenagers they wouldn't get eaten amd the sad sight would ne ll over Instagram being mocked for being put up.aa a birthday treat. Do you actually know people that still serve hotdogs at parties in 2026

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Wowsers.

You can get some nice vegan hotdogs - I’d be very happy if somebody presented me with a couple at a party with a load of fried onions and American mustard.

bababamama · 24/10/2026 11:38

I actually would do chilli and baked potatoes as a far easier alternative, then grated cheese, guacamole and sour cream to top plus tortilla chips. I served this for a party (a meat one and a vegan one) as I had known allergy issues with a guest, everything was gluten free, and as long as you avoided the toppings, dairy free

bababamama · 24/10/2026 11:34

Make the dough now (3 cups flour, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon sugar, 1 tablespoon oil, 1 pack yeast, 1 cup lukewarm water warm water) makes 2 large pizzas, so make 3 - 4 lots of this then have a bowl of passata, grated cheese, sliced pepperoni, sliced peppers, sliced onions, drained sweetcorn maybe and make smaller bases (precook for 5 minutes before they arrive) then let them make their own pizzas, it’s an activity as well as dinner. Have a buffet of dips with carrots, breadsticks, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, chicken drumsticks maybe (don’t put anything on them as that covers you for a lot of allergies) plain bagged ready salted crisps which again covers a lot of allergy potential issues. I wouldn’t bother with hot dogs, perhaps just do a load of those little frozen sausage rolls and the cheese and onion ones too, see the Christmas ranges for cheap filling options

ExquisiteDecoration · 24/10/2026 11:24

I second Dominos, yes it costs more but it is SO much easier and gives you a break.

HumbleHun · 24/10/2026 11:18

Aleveldilemma · 24/10/2026 11:08

Not sure what’s wrong with you on this thread… but FWIW I served proper sausages and hot dog rolls, not those things you get in a tin. HTH

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Well yes then we have crossed wires, hot dogs are the things you buy in a tin of brine that were a staple of the 80 and 90s kids party's, serving a proper sausage is a million miles away from that and certainly would let be refereed to as a hot ddog, be like serving pizza and saying its cheeses on toast.

Aleveldilemma · 24/10/2026 11:08

HumbleHun · 24/10/2026 11:01

Do you know what's in a hotdogs and how they are made? Don't confuse hotdogs with bratwurst or frankfurters. No one serves hotdogs anymore to either guests or customers. If you boiled up 5 tins of hotdogs md left finger buns out for teenagers they wouldn't get eaten amd the sad sight would ne ll over Instagram being mocked for being put up.aa a birthday treat. Do you actually know people that still serve hotdogs at parties in 2026

Show quote history

Not sure what’s wrong with you on this thread… but FWIW I served proper sausages and hot dog rolls, not those things you get in a tin. HTH

Snackpocket · 24/10/2026 11:03

Sainsbury’s and Tesco both do a takeaway pizza meal deal, 2 pizzas, sides and a dip for £10. They are pretty decent so maybe grab a few of those.

HumbleHun · 24/10/2026 11:01

Aleveldilemma · 24/10/2026 10:42

What on earth is wrong with hot dogs?

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Do you know what's in a hotdogs and how they are made? Don't confuse hotdogs with bratwurst or frankfurters. No one serves hotdogs anymore to either guests or customers. If you boiled up 5 tins of hotdogs md left finger buns out for teenagers they wouldn't get eaten amd the sad sight would ne ll over Instagram being mocked for being put up.aa a birthday treat. Do you actually know people that still serve hotdogs at parties in 2026? Thought not.

HumbleHun · 24/10/2026 11:01

Aleveldilemma · 24/10/2026 10:42

What on earth is wrong with hot dogs?

Show quote history

Do you know what's in a hotdogs and how they are made? Don't confuse hotdogs with bratwurst or frankfurters. No one serves hotdogs anymore to either guests or customers. If you boiled up 5 tins of hotdogs md left finger buns out for teenagers they wouldn't get eaten amd the sad sight would ne ll over Instagram being mocked for being put up.aa a birthday treat. Do you actually know people that still serve hotdogs at parties in 2026

gingerbreadandlemonade · 24/10/2026 10:49

For 20, steer clear of pizzas cooked at home. Even with a double oven you can still really only cook 4 at a time. If you can afford domino’s (they do hefty discounts on large orders) go for this - pad out with home cooked chips and garlic bread. Hot dogs easier but for teens you have to make it “bougie” - so cook a chilli, have toppings like chilli and cheese.
for my daughter and that number I’ve done poke bowls in the past - everything prepped in advance then a big bowl of rice to cook.
Ive also done a burger bar and pasta bar - a ton of fresh pasta cooks in moments and then a few sauces they help themselves to.

Aleveldilemma · 24/10/2026 10:42

HumbleHun · 23/10/2026 00:42

Hot dogs? Are you trying to recreate your own 13th birthday party for your daughter 30 years later?

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What on earth is wrong with hot dogs?