Am having a lot of family from out of town in for my daughters baptismal. They will be here the nihgt before, and I want to have a dinner for them. Only problem is there will be like 20 of them. Any suggestions of what is easy, but nice, and not that expensive! We are spending a fortune the next day with the caterer, for the party. Please help!
pasta casseroles would go a long way and are easy do it ahead dishes. I don't mean lasagna because that can be expensive. But, meat, rotini, sauce, cheese in large pans would go a long way. Then breads, salad, dessert. Keep it simple. You can make these types of casseroles and then freeze before the baking step. Making the day they arrive MUCH easier if the main dish is already prepared.
any kind of soups and sandwiches
perhaps lasagna and a salad
spaghetti and a salad
something quick easy and not expensive is always best
Best wishes!
Pasta with red sauce, salad, garlic bread. Cheap and easy!!
Make a big pot of chili, a large salad, and a couple loaves of crusty bread!
I agree with the pasta idea..
Spaghetti, some garlic bread and a green salad!
BBQ beef (or pork) in the crock pot on buns. YUM!
Place a large chuck roast & a quartered onion in the pot. No liquid. Cook high 4 hr/low 8 hrs.
Drain liquid.
Return to crock.
Shred meat w/2 forks.
Mix 1/2 BBQ sauce & half apricot preserves.
Pour over meat.
Warm additional 30 mins.
Serve on yummy buns. I like Kings Hawaiian rolls with this.
Add some coleslaw or a salad.
stouffers frozen lasangna, bury the wrapper deep down in the trash can lol but really they are good and affordable, try costo if its near they have a double pack, with a nice green salad, bread if you want.
Make a pan os lasagna and get some chicken drumsticks, season, pour some BBQ sauce and bake them slowly in the oven until nicely cooked and meat separating from bone. Add a big green salad, bread, and whatever side dish you like. Good luck.
You can always make a big pot of chili in the crock pot and corn bread and salad for the sides.
Pat and Oscar's if you have one there. My husband and I got 4 family dinners there and it came out to a little over a hundred dollars, but it fed 16-20 people. The food was good and it was something for everyone, pizza, pasta, chicken and salad.
Baked spaghetti, salad, garlic bread. You can make the spaghetti ahead and freeze it!
Here are a few ideas for you. Good luck and congratulations!
- spaghetti and meatballs: buy the frozen meatballs and this is super easy. Add bread and a pre made salad and you are done
- If you can find it on sale, marinate pork loin in the McCormicks Grill Mates powder marinade (i like mesquite) and serve with roasted veggies (cut up a ton of veggies/potatoes, toss in olive oil, 1 jar dijon mustard and about a cup of white wine or cooking wine). Bake at 350 for about 45-60 minutes until potatoes are tender
- pot roast and veggies
- also those take and bake pizzas from Papa Murphys are good and you can find coupons to get a price break
Costco! There rotiserre chicken is about 5 bucks. They have big already made salads, pastas, shrimp cocktail, sandwiches, etc etc. Go there in the afternoon and you got it made.
I used to do a big pot of hot dogs with all the toppings (sauerkraut, onions, relish, etc.), including a big pot of chili so folks could have chili dogs. It's fun, easy and quick. Then buy either the individual snack size chips or a couple of big bags to put out.
when I need to feed a crowd I make beef and noodles. Large roast, cooked in crockpot (brown in skillet first) with can of cream of mushroom and can of gravy. Add cooked noddles after cooking all day - once it falls apart. Can be paired with rolls, mashed potatoes, corn (any veg). Filling and warm, good home cooking. Add a salad before and maybe some break and bake cookies for after. Cost is minimal for all the food you'll get. Roast will be most pricey, but potatoes, corn, noodles = cheap! Good luck - and enjoy your daughters day!!
A soup and salad course can add some bulk to the meal without the ka-ching!
Chili or soup. Bear Creek even hase some dry mixes that are great shortcuts. You can even put it in a crock pot or two so that they stay warm. Add bread or chips and you are good to go.
got a crock pot? Mine can serve up to 10. Borrow a second crock pot and do the same recipe in both. Have bread and salad on the side. Sounds easy, nice and not that expensive:)
