In 2018, the average Super Bowl watch party cost $207.16. The majority of the expense was on food and non-alcoholic drinks.
If you like to host parties, read on, we are going to share the best types of meat to serve at your events.
The Best Types of Meat to Serve at Your Party
Before we talk about meat. You should take some time and decide on a few party details. Is this a back yard get together, or a sit-down dinner.
You also need to have an idea of how many people will be in attendance. While it is always fun to invite people over last minute you want to make sure you calculate how much food you need so you have enough for everyone who will be in attendance.
Finally, you should really set a budget. It will help to narrow down the types of meats that fit into your price range.
Chicken
Chicken is an inexpensive, versatile choice for any gathering. The great news about chicken is that you can have it prepared in so many different ways.
If you want to save money buy a whole chicken and cut it up yourself. Otherwise, you can purchase, chicken breasts, thighs, or wings already prepared for you.
All you have to do is put on some seasoning and serve. Chicken is also great if your guests tend to avoid red meat for health reasons.
Beef and Pork Ribs
Ribs, either beef or pork, are synonymous with a BBQ event.
The ideal ribs will have plenty of meat and only a little fat. The key to ribs is preparation.
You will want to make sure to season and slow cook. The fat helps to keep the meat tender and the slow cooking seals in the flavor.
Try to find ribs that have more meat and less bone to get the most out of your party budget.
Pork Shoulder
Pork shoulder is also a slice of meat that requires slow cooking. This cut can either be a picnic roast or Boston butt. Often times this is the type of meat that is then pulled off the grill and turned into pulled pork sandwiches.
If you serve the pulled pork as sliders on small sandwich buns, it becomes an easy finger food for an event where people will be standing verses sitting to eat. Don’t forget to add some fun sides like coleslaw or baked beans.
Turkey
When most people think of turkey they think of Thanksgiving or the Christmas Holiday. However, that is part of the reason that it can be so fun to have at your event.
Turkey is can be smoked, baked, or even fried. Just like with chicken you save money when you use the whole bird and cut it up yourself.
If your event is smaller you can buy just the turkey breasts or thighs.
If you are looking for a Christmas in July feel pull out all the stops and have mashed potatoes and cranberries as sides. Turkey, however, pairs well with many different sides, so you can also be creative.
Lamb Breast and Ribs
Lamb is great to have at your event because it is not common in the U.S. However, that also makes this meat more expensive and harder to find.
Lamb’s breast comes from the ribs of the lamb, it tends to be less expensive than the traditional rack of lamb. You can also sometimes find lamb riblets.
Use an acid like lemon juice to tenderize the meat. You also want to use a strong marinade to cut the strong taste of lamb. Be careful not to overcook, which can be easy with a thin cut of meat.
Hamburgers and Hot Dogs
If you are thinking a backyard BBQ the first thing you may be thinking is hamburgers and hot dogs.
This is a popular choice for large events where the ages of the individuals are mixed. Most children love hot dogs and most adults love a good hamburger.
Here are a few hits for hamburgers.
Use ground beef and form the patties your self. Season the patties as you desire, careful not to handle them too much or make them too thick. Thick burgers require longer cooking and are prone to be dried out. You can add cheese to the burger while you prepare for an added surprise for your guests.
Don’t forget about the hot dogs, create fixings bars so that your guest can add everything from cheese to chili to their dogs to spice things up.
If you are choosing one of the beef options listed below you want to ensure that you choose the best cuts of beef possible.
Chuck Eye Steak
Chuck steaks are not as tender as other steaks such as ribeye, porterhouse, and New York strip. You can address this in your meal preparation. Make sure you marinate the meat before you cook it.
Chuck eye steak is easy to overcook, it is best served medium-rare, so keep your eye on the grill.
Brisket
If you are working on a small budget consider a brisket. When calculating how much meat to buy, remember brisket will lose about half of its weight in meat after cooking.
If you take the time and slow cook the brisket in the smoker, you will end up with an amazing meal for your guests.
With brisket, unlike ribs, you want a cute with a decent layer of fat but not too thick.
Flat Steaks
In the past, the flank, skirt, and hanger cuts of meat were only used in ground beef.
This is another good deal when it comes to choosing a cut of meat, just make sure to marinade and thinly slice. This cut of meat is perfect to use in a taco or fajita bar.
Regardless of whether you chose chicken, turkey, pork or beef, you can be sure that your guests won’t go hungry.
Are You Ready to Through the Best Party of Your Life?
Now that you understand what types of meat to serve at your event, we can help you with the rest of the details.
We share all the current trends in parties. It doesn’t matter if it is a ranch-style wedding or a 16th birthday, we have all the ideas you need to make your event memorable.
