mytwomonkeys Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 Every Sunday we have a group of 8-12 people here to watch a TV show. I provide a meal. I don't make it a potluck, it is something we do and guests just bring drinks. I would love some cheap meal ideas. Here are my last three, please help me add to it. Potato soup Rotini with meat sauce and garlic bread Chili Thanks for your help! :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
history_junkie Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 Things I've done for groups of about 15: Taco Bar Chicken Pot Pie with a side veggie, Salad, Rolls Other ideas: Pulled Pork BBQ in the crockpot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TammyinTN Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 Taco bar, baked potato bar, homemade pizza w/ salad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QueenCat Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 Chicken & Dumplings Lasagna Tacos w/beans and rice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bambam Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 Grilled cheese sandwiches (cook them all in the oven) with soup (Broccoli Cheese? Tomato basil?) Fried rice 15 Bean Soup with cornbread Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThelmaLou Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 Pioneer Woman's Chicken Spaghetti, or something like it. http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2007/06/chicken_spaghet/ Stretches your chicken a long way. Serve with garlic bread and salad. You listed chili. I would think that would be pretty expensive. Taco salad, though, might be cheaper. Again, stretch the meat. Pinto Beans and Rice with cornbread. Hillbilly Housewife has a good recipe for the beans. I use real butter instead of margarine or pork fat. http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/mybestpintobeans.htm Creamy Chicken and Wild Rice Soup.http://allrecipes.com/recipe/creamy-chicken-and-wild-rice-soup/ I triple the recipe, and also sautee 1.5 cups each of onion, celery, and carrots in some oil prior to cooking the rest of the soup. Also, you can skip the half and half and easily substitute with whole milk or 2%. This will feed a crowd pretty inexpensively. Breakfast for dinner: pancakes! Black Beans and Rice : http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/black-beans--n--rice (I omit the liquid smoke and jalapeno peppers) Here's a great recipe for chicken taco meat: http://www.food.com/recipe/crock-pot-chicken-taco-meat-4957 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mama Geek Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 http://chefpablos.com/asian-recipes/filipino-pancit-recipe/ This is a recipe for pandit that is similar to what I have made. It is really yummy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-rap Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 Ha, that is how I tried to cook for years for my own family! :) Some favorites were pasta with tomato sauce (which I flavored myself with herbs) -- no meat, but veggies on the side with french bread; black beans over rice with grated cheese, onions and cilantro on top; homemade refried beans (basically pinto beans with a whole onion and enough water to cover, cooked all day in the slow cooker; mix in a jar of salsa and mash) -- they can be served in tortillas as burritos; lentil soup (you can add nearly any vegetable, but make sure it has potatoes and tomatoes/tomatoes/sauce). You can see that we ate a lot of legumes! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissKNG Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 Stoeffer's has large meals to bake for $10-$12. Lasagna and cheese enchiladas are both tasty. Couple them with a salad or bread. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monica_in_Switzerland Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 Black bean tostadas Cobb Salad with fresh bread Pioneer Woman NY Chop Salad with fresh bread Pasta with cream sauce Hors d'ouvres for dinner: devilied eggs, chips and dip, twice baked potatoes, veggies and dip, canned fruit for dessert Deli sandwiches Breakfast casserole for dinner Hot dogs + cheap side (potato salad, cole slaw) Mac and Cheese Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mytwomonkeys Posted March 3, 2014 Author Share Posted March 3, 2014 Great ideas --thank you!!!!! :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momto10blessings Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 Breakfast for dinner would be perfect! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happypamama Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 Quiche or spanakopitta. Pulled pork -- if you get the roast on sale, it should be inexpensive and easy. I also would have no problem saying to people something like, "feel free to bring a side dish to share." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pippen Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 I can usually do best by buying whatever meat is the best price and then working recipes/menus around those. Sometimes I can get pork shoulder roasts for around $4-5 a piece so then I'm likely making this recipe (usually without the veggies, and sometimes adding more Mexican spices) http://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-cook-and-shred-a-pork-s-79485 Chicken thighs (this recipe is great even without the bbq sauce) http://www.thekitchn.com/dinner-recipe-barbecue-pulled-chicken-in-the-oven-or-slow-cooker-recipes-from-the-kitchn-168003 Turkey breast (or whole turkey (buy on sale) and make up following a basic Italian beef recipe.(Italian Good Seasonings Dry dressing, plus pepperocinis) Baked potato bar Potato pancakes Homemade chicken rice soup (big roasters go on sale here buy one get one free) After holiday prices on spiral sliced hams here run about $8 so I buy several to put away in the freezer. I make homemade french bread, slice horizontally and pile with ham and slices of American Cheese. Cover with foil and bake in oven until cheese is melty. Slice and serve). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KungFuPanda Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 I'm chiming in with the pulled pork folks. I get a boston butt and cook it all day in the crockpot. I add BBQ sauce for sandwiches and serve with coleslaw and baked beans. If I want a burrito bar instead, I add salsa and taco seasoning during the last hour. With this I'd offer a crockpot full of seasoned rice and some cheese and veggies for toppings. Another nice meal is a giant pot of soup (chicken noodle, italian wedding, or Zuppa Toscana) and a homemade deli platter with meats, cheeses, breads, and condiments. If you want to control portions, assemble the sandwiches, slice in half or quarters, and arrange on a platter. Also good for a crowd pasta (every noodle is easier to eat than spaghetti) and two sauces so guests can choose. I usually do a red meat sauce and a white veggie sauce. A lasagna pan full of chicken, veggies, and thickened sauce with biscuits baked on top makes a great chicken pit pie meal for a crowd. Once my sister and I did an all-appetizer Christmas Eve and our kids have insisted upon it every year since. This is more work than the other things, but a lot of appetizers can be made the day or two before. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VeteranMom Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 Sloppy joes and spaghetti and meatballs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
umsami Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 You can do a tray of sliders in the oven pretty easily. This Pinterest board might help: http://www.pinterest.com/code3654/cooking-for-a-crowd/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seasider Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 Jambalaya! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G5052 Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 Taco soup: http://southernfood.about.com/od/soupandstew/r/bl30414v.htm (with a million variations, I leave out the ranch dressing mix) Serve with tortilla chips, grated cheese, and sour cream. Sometimes I make cornbread as a go-along. I've also done hot dogs in the crock pot, and served with chips and various toppings (chili, cole slaw, ketchup, mustard, etc). I like baked sandwiches, both for a crowd and for lunch at home: http://busycooks.about.com/od/top10lists/tp/Top-10-Baked-Sandwiches.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beth S Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 Subway-style sandwiches, sliced into single servings. With chips? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tammi K Posted March 4, 2014 Share Posted March 4, 2014 Taco bar, baked potato bar, homemade pizza w/ salad. Well, that was pretty much exactly what I was going to say. Just another example of great minds thinking alike! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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