You might also like the best budget-friendly recipes for the Mediterranean diet. Here's an inexpensive and fast weeknight menu. If you like, garnish the turkey chili with shredded Cheddar cheese, green onions, cilantro, and sour cream, and serve with a side of baked cornbread.

If you're in a time crunch, it's also delicious with crackers. Roast the red potatoes along with the bird. Baby carrots gussied up with butter and dill make an inexpensive side. Use limited data to select advertising. Create profiles for personalised advertising.

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Carl Hanson. Like the other casual options we mentioned, having a spread of finger foods also makes it easier for guests to mingle at your event without being tied to a table.

With finger foods, you promote more socialization and engagement while providing a large selection of delicious options. Finger foods can be well-suited for large sports gatherings , birthday parties, pool parties or even cocktail hour at your wedding. Other examples of finger foods might include sliders, meatballs, spring rolls, crab cakes and hummus.

Not all events necessarily require a sit-down formal dinner. While charcuterie boards are certainly popular and delicious, having a wide variety of meats may be a bit more expensive.

Not to mention, menus heavily relying on charcuterie meat can exclude vegetarian or vegan guests. With a lighter afternoon tea menu, you can save money on the cured meats.

For example, your social event menu could include a pimento cheese tea sandwich, cheese and crackers, or chicken salad croissants. Like finger foods and cheese boards, catering assorted snack items can also be a cost-effective way of feeding your guests. Some caterers offer sides or snack options that you can pick and choose from to create a simple lunch.

If you want more of an afternoon appetizer theme, combining several snack items can give you a flavorful yet cheaper menu. Some examples of snack items or appetizers you can offer include:.

These items would be perfect for a celebratory lunch in the office, a movie night event or a social hour for new employees. Some will have specific inexpensive catering menus or cost-conscious options for this purpose.

Working with a caterer that offers cheaper alternatives means you can worry less and focus on other event priorities.

Budget-friendly lunch or dinner menus may offer classic items like chicken marsala, potatoes, grilled veggies and dinner rolls. To reduce costs even further, ask about making your menu into a buffet-style.

Hosting a family reunion, birthday party or holiday event? Catering an event with your closest loved ones is the perfect opportunity to choose a family-style menu. You can enjoy all the classic foods you love around the holidays, such as a juicy carved turkey or Virginia baked ham, without overspending.

Talk to your caterer about their family-style options and see if they offer additional upgrades. Have other questions about keeping your catering costs low? Depending on the type of event, you might be able to offer various desserts in large quantities that still fit your budget, including:.

To save extra money, consider cutting back on beverages or desserts. You might consider setting up a DIY beverage bar where guests can mix their drinks to their liking without having to pay for individual drinks or an open bar. To minimize costs, the most effective thing you can do is start with a simple menu.

You can also use disposable dinnerware and utensils to save money and time on cleanup. Finally, consider your portions. If you have a plated dinner, stick to smaller plate sizes to prevent guests from feeling overly full and limit food waste.

If you want quality food for your upcoming event without breaking the bank, Catering By Design can help you find a menu that fits your needs. We provide preparation, delivery, presentation and cleanup options.

We also make it easy to customize our made-to-order menu options so you can create something truly unique. Contact us today to plan your next catering event or view our menus online. General Tips for Catering on a Budget Before we dive into some inexpensive catering menu ideas, here are some budget-related catering tips.

Opt for a Buffet Style Catering a plated dinner service is often more expensive than offering a buffet. Choose Cheaper Alternatives Whether hosting a black-tie wedding or a casual corporate lunch , you can offer guests delicious food without serving top-dollar filet mignon.

Control the Duration of the Event Some catering businesses charge by the hour, especially if servers are included. Consider the Alcohol Serving alcohol — such as via an open bar — can increase your catering price. Consider the Time of Day When catering to large groups , the time of day can also influence your bill.

Budget-Friendly Catering Ideas Affordable meals can make just as much of an impression as pricier options. Breakfast for Dinner Breakfast foods tend to be less expensive than dinner menu items.

Boxed Lunches A top concern with catering for any event is food waste. Some common Southern BBQ items include: Macaroni and cheese Beef brisket BBQ chicken Baked ham Green beans Cornbread Bread rolls Salads Corn on the cob Strawberry shortcake You can find many caterers who offer BBQ options and work with them to find the perfect menu that fits your needs.

Build-Your-Own Soup and Salad Bar Similar to a buffet, a soup and salad bar is one of the most budget-friendly catering options out there.

Your guests can choose from several classic mouthwatering soups, such as: Chicken tortilla Chicken noodle Broccoli cheddar Tomato bisque Vegetable soup After that, they can create a salad of their choice from a limited menu. Functional Finger Foods Catering finger foods like sandwiches, pigs in a blanket and buffalo chicken dip is a great way to offer plenty of variety on a budget.

Tea Sandwiches and Cheese Boards Not all events necessarily require a sit-down formal dinner. Appetizers Instead of Entrees Like finger foods and cheese boards, catering assorted snack items can also be a cost-effective way of feeding your guests. Some examples of snack items or appetizers you can offer include: Chips and salsa Cheese and crackers Assorted fruit Assorted nuts Vegetable or artichoke dip Potato chips Granola bars Trail mix Cookies and brownies Popcorn Assorted mini candy bars These items would be perfect for a celebratory lunch in the office, a movie night event or a social hour for new employees.

Family Style Meals Hosting a family reunion, birthday party or holiday event? Cheaper Catering Alternatives FAQ Have other questions about keeping your catering costs low? What Are Some Affordable Dessert Options?

Depending on the type of event, you might be able to offer various desserts in large quantities that still fit your budget, including: Cookies Brownies Cake squares Various cheesecake slices Miniature desserts Dessert shooters How Else Can I Save on Catering for an Event?

One-Pot Lemon Garlic Shrimp Pasta Chicken Alfredo Penne Avocado Quinoa Power Salad

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Affordable menu selections - Zucchini Noodles with Kale Pesto One-Pot Lemon Garlic Shrimp Pasta Chicken Alfredo Penne Avocado Quinoa Power Salad

This tip is also great for if you have a lot of children or grown up picky eaters or want to save on wait staff expenses. Which means that a slightly smaller plate might subconsciously discourage them from wasting food or taking too much of your carefully alloted dishes.

Finally, here are other ways to keep event catering costs down. Soups, spruced up canned goods, and all manner of delectable roasted creations combat common colds and ward off overspending on event food.

Check out these light, refreshing, and floral ideas for some spring event food and beverage inspiration.

Next, be sure to brush up on your catering preparation plan. Then, get unique budget-friendly centerpiece ideas or summer event decor ideas.

The cheapest food to cater is any rice or noodle-based cultural cuisine. Pizza is also a reliably cheap option. Catering costs can vary widely depending on cuisine, location, and level of service.

Webinar Spotlight: New Year, New You: Discover Tools to Make Your Events Better Than Ever! Register now. Home » Monday Motivation: 40 Budget-Smart Event Catering Ideas for Every Season.

When searching for catering menu ideas for large groups, make sure you take the time of day into account. Save money on catering with easy seating Get Started Now. Stay on budget with free diagramming software Get Started Now.

You can find even more inexpensive recipes and cookery advice in our budget section. This nutritious and warming red lentil dhal makes a great budget vegetarian option and is also low in calories.

Toss the carrots in garam masala for a hint of spice and serve with a little Greek yogurt for a luxuriously creamy texture. Stir up more comforting dhal recipes. Who says baking a pie isn't viable for one person?

With a few affordable ingredients and frozen veg, you can easily knock up this beauty and have it all to yourself. Using a ready-made soffrito is a cheap and easy way to create an extra layer of flavour.

Freeze the remaining puff pastry to use in another recipe — you'll find plenty of ideas in our puff pastry collection.

Budget tip: Given the recent rise in fuel prices and the implication for oven usage, it would be more cost-effective to batch cook this pie and store multiple servings in the freezer.

Try more of our perfect pie recipes. Serve up a comforting bowl of healthy fast food in a flash, using just a handful of ingredients. This easy noodle dish is low-fat and low-calorie yet makes a filling meal which you can have on the table in just 15 minutes.

Using dried noodles instead of ready-made will take a bit longer but is more cost-effective. All good things come in small packages, and this is certainly true for our flavour-packed ginger and spinach sweet potato.

This satisfying, spicy veggie meal makes a cheap and low-calorie lunch. Budget tip: As baking in the oven is a more energy intensive cooking method, it's best to batch cook several of these jacket potatoes at the same time, then store a few in the freezer for future.

See our guide for easy baked potato filling ideas to mix up your dinners. To save on energy, you could also use a microwave to cook the baked potato instead - pierce the skin several times with a fork and microwave for around 5 minutes, or until soft. Get more filling inspiration with our collection of baked potato recipes.

Sometimes, there is little more comforting than a bowl of buttery pasta topped with grated cheese. Browning the butter gives the dish a wonderfully nutty flavour and we've also added crispy breadcrumbs to soak up any extra sauce.

Find more budget-friendly pasta recipes. Combine hummus with flavourful chorizo, chickpeas and kale for a protein-packed dish that won't break the bank. Serve with a drizzle of olive oil and flatbread for a simple, speedy lunch which is ready in just 15 minutes.

Whip up our microwaveable shakshuka in just 10 minutes. The rich tomato sauce, topped with a runny egg is perfect for dipping pieces of warmed pitta bread into. Both healthy and hearty, this Middle Eastern-style meal in a mug is sure to be a student staple.

Check out more of our quick and easy microwave recipes. Tinned sardines are a cost-effective way to get more heart-healthy oily fish in your diet, so it's worth keeping a few cans in the cupboard. Here, we've combined them with juicy cherry tomatoes, watercress and parsley on toast for a speedy no-cook supper.

Budget tip: Using regular wholemeal bread instead of sourdough will make it more budget-friendly — we've got plenty more leftover bread recipes to use up the rest of your loaf, too. Rustle up this veggie stir-fry in just 20 minutes using simple yet wholesome ingredients such as brown rice and cabbage.

It's great for using up other leftover veggies you have, which you can just grate or chop in. Serve this nasi goreng with a fried egg on top and a drizzle of sriracha chilli sauce for a satisfying supper. Discover more speedy stir-fry recipes.

If you're looking for a lighter supper option, this healthy miso noodle soup is super satisfying but low in calories. Stir-fried mushrooms and tofu help to bulk up the dish, while a scattering of spring onions provides a crispy topping. We've got plenty more noodle recipes and budget soup recipes.

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