21 Cheap Party Food Ideas

Cheap Party Food Ideas - I love to provide fun but save money while doing so. This I do particularly in the area of food. I have become a planner for food on a budget for events as it has now become a specialty for me for over five years.

This became like a hustle for me at the time when my family owed up to $60k in consumer debts. I still wanted the regular gathering for family and friends but still plan food within a budget.

I believe you can do the same too, planning great foods in a nice budget.

Brunch Ideas

You can get an awesome brunch menu for a cheap price. Here’s something:

1. Fruit Salad

This is another excellent food idea. Whichever way you want, it could be high or low in price. All you need is the right amount of fruits. We will use grapes as the foundation to prepare a cheap salad.

Other fruits include

· Melons e.g. watermelon, honeydew

· Sliced bananas

· Strawberries

· Blueberries

· Mandarin oranges

It’s better to choose fruits on sale because it’s cheaper that way. Just check out the fruits on sale and use them to prepare a healthy inexpensive salad.

2. Egg Bake

This recipe still gives that amazing flavor 20 years after first making it.

Ingredients

· 12 large eggs

· 5 c. shredded cheddar cheese

· ½ can milk and a can of mushroom soup

· Slices of bread (8)

· Large eggs (12)

· 16 oz. tube jimmy dean sausage (1)

· 1-2 milk cans

· ½ t. ground sage

Before we get to the directions, you should know that the mixture will have to stay overnight in the refrigerator.

Directions

Beat thoroughly both eggs and milk in a large bowl. Add cheese or the bread mixture. Put it in a refrigerator for the night after covering it with a foil. In a well-greased 9x13 pan, spread the bread and brown sausage into the pan on-top the bread. You can also add some cheddar cheese on the sausage and bread.

In the morning, add the mushroom soup and half the can of milk and mix in a bowl. Spread over the egg bake. Then put in the oven at 325 degrees.

This recipe can be adjusted, example, use sausage instead of ham.

Baked Products

3. French Toast

French toast is a very popular brunch. It costs less to prepare too. All you need is eggs prepared like scrambled, then coat both sides of the bread with the egg beat. Fry it just like pancakes. Once turned brown, it’s done.

It can be served with syrup or jam.

4. Banana Bread

Here, I am going to share a secret recipe my great grandmum used to prepare banana bread. Its super delicious and easy to make by the way.

Here’s a tip to making awesome low budget meals; homemade is the best.

Ingredients

· 2 c. flour

· 2 well-beaten eggs

· 1 t. baking soda

· ½ c. vegetable oil

· 1 c. sugar

Directions

Mash peeled bananas in a large bowl. Heat the oven to 350 degrees. In the bowl, add eggs, baking soda, vegetable oil and sugar and stir. Add flour and mix it well. Grease two pans, size 8x4. Pour the batter half into the pans.

It will be done when a toothpick inserted in the mixture is clean when brought out or baked within 35-45 minutes.

For added flavor, add ½ cups of chopped walnuts. Let the bread cool first before it is sliced and served.

Lunch or Dinner Ideas

5. Pasta Bar

This is relatively my favorite. You’ll need

· Garden salad

· A loaf of French bread

· Three different sauce types, I normally serve this Homemade Alfredo Sauce

· Three different types of pasta

· This serves as a great option for a little amount of money

6. Taco Bar

What we require to make this nutritious meal includes

· Salsa and sour cream

· Diced cheese

· Ground beef already prepared and diced

· Taco shells (hard and soft)

· Diced lettuce.

7. Baked Potato Bar

Potato bar is quite cheap to prepare. Here are the ingredients:

· Butter and sour cream

· Baked potato for each visitor

· Other toppings like red pepper, BBQ sauce

You can serve this in the buffet style.

8. Italian Pasta Casserole

The major difference between this and the traditional pasta is you add the spice to the pasta before serving. It’s quite easier to prepare than lasagna. Recipe includes

· Parmesan cheese

· ½ pound of cooked Italian sausage

· Diced onion, ½ pound

· Pasta (1 lb.)

· Mozzarella cheese (1 c.)

This ingredient is just for 6 visitors. You can increase it according to the number needed.

Directions

Cook the pasta normally and place in a pan already greased. Make sure to heat the oven to 350 degrees. You can add all the ingredients except the Parmesan cheese. You can use the parmesan cheese as topping.

The casserole is done when the cheese turns golden. It is best served with French bread.

9. Sloppy Joes

Sloppy Joes is one cheap meal I will always use for a party. I get good offers buying the beef on sale and the buns at the Aldi.

This recipe goes for a pound of beef;

· Salt, 1 tablespoon

· A quarter c. of water

· Finely chopped single onion.

· 1 t. Worcestershire sauce

· A bit of ketchup

Cook the beef and onion together. Add the remaining ingredients to the pan when the beef is done, then mix and keep hot. You can keep it in a crock pot to maintain the warmness.

10.Hot Roast Beef Sandwiches

This is a meal that never leaves without reviews on people mouths.

Ingredients include

· Diced onion(1)

· Water (3 c.)

· Salt (2 tablespoon)

· Freshly pressed Garlic cloves (10)

· Chuck roast (5 lbs)

Directions

Cook all the ingredients in a crock pot on medium for 12 hours. Add more garlic, water and salt by using a fork to separate it. Serve with any salad.

Appetizer Ideas

11.Cheese, Cracker and Fruit Tray

This appetizer can be served with a less budget by

· Purchasing cheese in bulk and slicing it yourself

· Get crackers from known stores like Aldi

· Fruits that are on sale should be the ones you buy.

These tips can give you an inexpensive meal.

12.Veggie and Dip Bar

Well, this one may include a little bit of work if you willing. The main aim is slicing the vegetables purchased yourself because the pre-chopped is quite expensive.

You can decorate a platter with a combination of vegetables including

· Carrots

· Cucumber slices

· Green pepper slices

· Celery

13.Deviled Eggs

This is an appetizer that is extremely delicious and absolutely cheap! $3 can get you about 36 deviled eggs.

It’s better to use the real mayonnaise instead of the yellow mustard for the better feel.

14 Homemade Ranch Dip

This served as a better alternative for my son when I learnt he had allergies for additives and preservatives.

The recipe includes

· Salt (1 t.)

· Garlic powder (2 t.)

· Pepper (1 t.)

· Container soy cream (1-16 oz)

· parsley flake (2 t.).

These ingredients take place in Tupperware container. Chill in the fridge for two hours before serving.

15.Mini Quiches

This appetizer is sure to give a great taste. You can serve it with a mini muffin pan. It is advisable to make pie crust at the bottoms.

Ingredients include:

· Salt and pepper

· diced cheese

· eggs (6)

· Milk (1 c.)

· diced ham or bacon (1 c)

· shredded red pepper

Directions

Divide the dough into circles using an inverted glass and put them in already greased muffin pans. Heat the oven to 375 degrees.

Beat milk and eggs into a bowl as though preparing scrambled eggs and put red pepper, meat, cheese and onion. Put salt to taste. Pour this mixture as toppings on the dough.

Bake for 15 minutes and then serve.

16.Pico de Gallo

This appetizer always leaves amazing remarks on the lips of guests when they taste it due to its rich veggie and chips taste.

Recipe:

· Salt and pepper to taste

· Well shredded onion (1)

· Shredded Roma tomatoes (8)

Directions

All you have to do is mix in a big bowl and put in a refrigerator for an hour or two before dishing it out.

17.Homemade Guacamole Dip

I usually prepare this when Mexican food is on the menu and avocado pear is available.

Ingredients

· Fresh lemon Juice (1/2)

· Powder of garlic (1 t)

· Chili powder (1 t.)

· Diced fresh cilantro

· Ripe avocados (6)

Directions

Peel, place and mash the avocados in a big bowl, add other ingredients and mix it well. Serve after one year of chilling in the refrigerator.

18.Chips, Pico de Gallo and Guacamole

Pico de Gallo with tortilla chips is one appetizer to spoil your visitors well with homemade cooking. A little increased budget and you can produce guacamole dip.

Check the recipes for both

Desert Treats

Some of these deserts are healthier than others. This homemade desserts are always easy to purchase and low budget. They include

19.Cake

Cakes are usually very cheap costing about $1 for 12 guests. Check out frosting methods online for easy ways to decorate the cake.

20.Bar Buffet

Bar is one clever way of presenting an assorted yet cheap Buffet to the table. Some of the bar include

· Seven layer Bars

· Lemon Bars

· Brownies

· Rice krispy bars e.t.c.

Summary on Cheap Party Food Ideas

It is very important that you know what you want before you go planning. You need to know stores that sell affordable foodstuffs, know the day to throw a party.

It’s all about consistency. Once you repeatedly throw this kind of parties on a budget, you become really good.