Cheap Holiday Party

[freeazabird]

We are starting an annual tradition of having people over for a Christmas party. We expect 30-40 guests. Any ideas (besides a potluck) for what to serve to keep costs down? Thanks.

[iknowiyam]

Finger foods or all types of food?

[DividendMoney]

Pulled pork in the crock pot.
Easy to make and relatively cheap (as far as meat goes).

[freeazabird]

Thanks. I'm open to all types of foods.

[Digital Dogma]

Pulled pork in the crock pot.
Easy to make and relatively cheap (as far as meat goes).

I came in to post this same thing!! Pulled pork in the crock pot, corn bread in the oven, a large side of beans with bacon/sausage and you've got yourself a very happy family that farts all night. :)

[FIRE Artist]

I love this pulled pork recipe for something a little different.

http://www.justataste.com/easy-slow-cooker-balsamic-honey-pulled-pork-recipe/

[moneyandmillennials]

what is your budget per person?

do you like to cook from scratch or more semi- homemade concoctions?

are you doing appetizers, entrees, dessery. buffet style?

more details please!

our tradition for the last couple years is a restaurant in the $15-20 range.  everyone pays for themselves. I give out small useful favors that cost me $2-3 a person.  and organize a secret Santa $20 gift exchange.

[2ndTimer]

Homemade kettle corn.  People adore it.

[Trudie]

Pulled pork in the crock pot.
Easy to make and relatively cheap (as far as meat goes).

Yep.  This is what I'm doing for my party.  I got a huge pork loin for 99 cents a pound and can make lots of pulled pork.  Couple it with slider buns and a few accompaniments and it's easy.

[Trudie]

My birthday falls during the holiday season and I usually try to host a little get-together.  But, I also realize people are partied out and I didn't really want to go to the expense and work of a party at my house this year.  I enjoy cooking and can get a little carried away.  That seems to be all-right for a holiday party, but not for your own birthday party.  And I really don't want gifts or cards... sometimes I think people feel more obligated if you're hosting an event at your own home.

So, this year I decided to really low-key it.  There's a cool craft brewery in town that allows people to bring in their own food.  I've reserved a table and will take some light snacks (Gardettos, cheese board) and do an after work thing.  Everyone can buy their drink of choice and be on their way without making an all-night production of it.

[sunday]

Make a large pan of baked penne or other pasta. A can of parmesan for sprinkling on after serving.

[elaine amj]

I usually do a search for "cheap party food" or "cheap food for a crowd". lots of great recipes/suggestions out there.

One time I did a steak dinner for about 20 people that didn't cost me very much. I bought a cheap cut of steak on sale. With a yummy marinade and careful grilling, it turned out delish. And my guests felt pampered. (keep in mind that I live in a "blue collar" city and none of my friends expect fancy foodie things. They were just happy since it is very rare to be served steak in someone else's home).

Other ideas:

- Potato based dishes are cheap and filling and a great way to stretch a meal.
- Chicken quarters are one of the cheapest meats that are easy to cook for a crowd and "look large".
- Pans of pasta are cheap. Although I don't always like the presentation so I don't do them very frequently.
- popcorn/kettle corn is a great idea. Dirt cheap, feeds a lot of people, and everyone loves popcorn

I find the main thing is to be willing to be creative, see what's on sale, and constantly keep an eye on the costs. I mentally add up the total of all the ingredients for each dish and that keeps me in check. It's easy to spend more when you are not paying attention (i.e. oh yeah, I need a $3.49 can of pie filling for that dessert that I forgot about and didn't buy on sale). I can often host large parties for very little. One time I had over a dozen people I had to feed for an entire day (lunch, snacks, dinner) and I didn't want it to look cheap or meager. I ended up doing it really inexpensively while making sure there was an overflowing abundance of food and I was very pleased.

Around here, my friends consider $10-$15 "normal" to spend on a potluck dish. I try to keep my dishes around $5 simply by being careful about my ingredients and what I choose to bring. I'm not going to bring (or serve in my home) something that looks miserable - but a fabulous batch of made-from-scratch cream puffs that cost me well under $5 is just as appreciated as an expensive $15 cheesecake.