Cold chicken appetizers?

[messy_chef]

I'm trying to scale back the menu of a large party we do every year. I like to have a platter of chicken out for the kids, but have found every year that I just do not have enough time or oven space to accommodate all the hot foods I serve. Any suggestions for something along the lines of cold chicken cubes that I could just set out with toothpicks?

[Sal Vanilla]

toothpicks and kids?

You could make little sandwiches out of cookie cutter cut bread or cocktail sized bread or rollups.
Cold fried chicken pieces or little bite sized cold pizza.
Pre schmeared bruschetta (with a creamy cheese mix that won't fall off)
pigs in a poke

plus veggies and fruit and chips.

[messy_chef]

Just wanted to update everyone with what I decided to do:

Cooked chicken cubes (cold)
Pepperoni
Canadian Bacon (pizza topping sized)
Cheese cubes
Toothpicks galore.

It was kind of like a kids' charcuterie plate. Easy!

[thimes]

I'm just having trouble with the "for the kids" aspect. You can do chicken any number of ways that would be interesting for adults, I'm not sure all the flavors would be great for kids.

But for the kids my first thought was lollipop chicken wings ("drums"). They require a little prep which you may not want to do for a large party where time is already an issue, but they can be done ahead. Served room temp/cold and with a few dipping sauces and the kids would love them - just don't tell them the "stick" is a bone ;)

My second choice would have been skewers - with say chicken, a little cherry tomato, and a little mozzarella ball - a-la-capreze - cute, maybe sneak in a veg for the kids . . . .

[messy_chef]

Yeah, my kids aren't picky but we have like 50 kids at this party and most of them are hot dogs and chicken tenders type of kids. I don't really want to leave out a crockpot because one of my kids burned themself once helping herself to a meatball. Chicken wings or drumsticks might be a good idea!

[travelerjjm]

Here is a variation on chicken tenders from The Frugal Gourmet Three Ancient Cuisines.http://www.cyber-kitchen.com/ubbs/arc...

I make this at home and my wife and I love it. Easy, too.She likes them better cold so maybe this would work for you. We dip the cold ones in Ranch dressing

[messy_chef]

The link is cut off so it just takes me to the main page...could you resend?

[critter101]

Chicken wings? They're good at room temp - teriyaki, or Italian style (breaded and oven fried). Also, you can cut strips of chicken tenders in half, and bread and bake as well -- all kid friendly.

[Terrie H.]

I made a ground chicken meatball with the idea of duplicating a Thai larb flavor for a big family picnic, but didn't add the heat to the meatball itself, but to the dipping sauce. I served them bite sized, with a little piece of lettuce with each. The kids loved them.

[boogiebaby]

How about something like a chicken salad, but have the chicken cut into larger cubes and not add any veggies? I'm thinking just toss the cubes in mayo, dressing, seasoning, etc.,

Or do chunks of chicken and set them out with various dips -- ranch, BBQ sauce, honey mustard. I'd skip the tzatziki and other "unusual" dips unless you know this group of kids will like them. (my kids would eat them, but I know others wouldn't).

[travelerjjm]

A friend did this last year. She cut the chicken into cubes and cooked it in a very mild yellow curry sauce. I like the satay idea, better, though. Y

ou could also marinade strips in fajita marinade and cook them up and serve them with toothpicks.

[iL Divo]

as nemo said I was also going to suggest 'hot' (sorry I know you're asking for cold) meatballs used with long toothpicks in smaller crock pot on counter.
also mini chicken salad sandwiches or cracker toppers.
mini lettuce wrapped chicken cubes

[nemo]

You know, I was thinking room temp on the meatballs. Maybe not a good idea?

I like your chicken salad suggestion. Maybe in those little phyllo cups.

[iL Divo]

well the OP has not got excess room in oven for hot stuff.
I have a 2 qt crock pot-they stay hot and don't take up much room on counter.

[iL Divo]

the new silicone baking sheets come in all sizes for all uses.
I saw one yesterday at a charity shop that had 24 indents in a mini bundt pan design for lack of better explanation. you could cut small squares or circles of phyllo or puff pastry-plop in-bake off and stuff-great idea

[nemo]

You can buy the phyllo cups in the frozen section. A little expensive, but a great time saver.

[iL Divo]

yep good tip.

there are cooks like our beautiful daughter and there are cooks like me.
different strokes.

[cheesecake17]

Chicken salad in lettuce cups is great for kids.
Or a chicken, noodle, veg stir fry in mini Chinese takeout containers

I love the idea of chicken cubes with dipping sauces.
On another thread someone mentioned ice cube trays as dip holders. Maybe give each kiddo an ice cube tray. No double dipping and kids love anything with compartments

[messy_chef]

I am leaning toward chicken cubes with sauces, but we have about 50 kids at this party every year so the ice cube trays probably wouldn't work out for this! Will have to save that idea for a smaller party.

[biggreenmatt]

Consider serving a chicken galantine.

It requires some skill to make this classical application, but it's elegant, can be prepared ahead of time and will certainly impress your guests!

[monavano]

For kids? I think most would say "yuck".
Toothpicks and dipping is where it's at for kiddos.

[todao]

I'm curious as to how you'd serve chicken galantine as an appetizer.

[nemo]

You might also consider mini chicken meatballs. Same dipping sauces that juli mentions. Or marinara, or honey mustard.

[juli5122]

I never have enough oven space so one year I cooked the chicken cubed it and served with peanut sauce like for sate, zaziki and a thick cesar dip. People loved the variety if dipping sauces .For the kids I would maybe add ranch dip.Have fun. Juli

[monavano]

satay is good at room temp

[CanadaGirl]

Exactly what I was going to say. I actually prefer it that way.

[splatgirl]

+2. Satay was the first thing that came to my mind. Although peanut sauce + kids I'm kind of paranoid about just because we have a few friends who have kids who are super allergic. Even if they know better than to eat it, I always worry about cross contamination.