A good inexpensive recipe for 15-20 people?

Question

i have a party to attend and i need to take a dish for 15-20 people that is good, yet inexpensive. Any good recipes?

It can be a main dish or a side dish or an appetizer. It's basically a pot luck, where everyone just brings something.

Answer 1

I've got an awesome recipe that's not only quick, but it's easy, too! It's cheap, because all you need is a package of pasta and a package of italian dressing mix. I call this recipe "Wacky Mac" because I use the veggie pasta that goes by the same name. You can use the pasta of your choice.

Just boil the pasta according to the package directions, and set aside. In a cruet or other dish with tight-fitting lid, mix up a store bought italian dressing mix with oil and vinegar according to the package directions. Pour the dressing over the pasta.

For more Plain-Jane types, leave as is, and just sprinkle with parmesan cheese after it cools. For more of an Italian pasta salad, add oregano, parmesan cheese, cut up pepperoni & cut up provolone cheese, and sliced grape tomatoes. You can also add black olives, if you like.

I love this recipe because it's quick, it's easy to make (especially for parties), you get the kids to eat their veggies when they don't even know it, and because you can alter it any way you want to to make it "your own" special recipe.

*TIP- It typcially calls for one package of pasta to one packet of dressing mix, but you can easily double it for a larger crowd.

Answer 2

You didn't say if you were to help with the 'main' dish or just appetizers, but here are a couple of ideas for you!

Everyone LOVES Deviled Eggs. Quick, attractive dish, and yummy...cheap too!
Meatballs - - 2 lbs gives me 45 meatballs. Can't beat that for the bucks. Use as an appetizer and use a good dipping sauce,
or just make a stroganoff using pasta, mushroom soup and sour cream with some fresh parsley and cheese (mixed in-or on top).

Hope this helps.

Answer 3

Hot Chicken Salad

6 c Chicken, cooked & chopped
6 c diced celery
6 c bread cubes, toasted
3 tblsp almonds
2 onions, grated
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 c real mayonnaise
4 tblsp lemon juice
1 1/2-2 1/2 cheese, grated
1 c bread crumbs

Combine chicken, clelery, toasted bread cubes, almonds, salt and onion. Add mayonnaise and lemon juice and mix well. Put mixture in greased pan. Combine grated cheese with bread crumbs. Sprinkle over chicken mixture and bake at 350 for 20-30 minutes, or until bubbles form around the edge.

Answer 4

Main dish idea:
Sheppard's Pie
(A beef stew made with ground beef and vegetables in a casserole dish topped with mashed potatoes or biscuit dough and baked...I'm sure foodnetwork.com has a bunch of recipes for it, if you're not willing to wing it).

Side dish idea:
Cardiac Bread (you should probably double or triple the recipe for 15-20 folks)
1 loaf of french or italian bread.
1 jar of Kraft Old English Spreadable Cheese.
Stick of butter.
1-2 Cups of mayonnaise (Best Foods/Hellmans).
Fresh Italian Parsley.
An obscene amount of garlic.

Slice the loaf of bread in half and open it up.
Nuke the cheese and butter until spreadable.
Mix in mayonnaise, chopped parsley, and a ton of minced garlic.
Spread on bread halves.
Bake in oven covered with foil until hot, then uncover and stick under broiler just long enough to crisp slightly and brown cheese.

Appetizer idea (its total white trash, but tasty).
1 box Velveeta Cheese.
2 packages of cream cheese.
1 small can of diced green chiles.

Using a rolling pin and some wax paper to roll Velveeta block into a flat square shape. Warm cream cheese just enough to mix the chiles in (some of the chile juice will help it spread nicer too). Spread cream cheese mixture on top of Velveeta square. Roll up the Velveeta, making a log with the Velveeta on the outside and cream cheese in the middle. Serve this "BLOB" with Ritz crackers.

Answer 5

do not problem about holding this warmth. it is going to bypass quick and the little old women will be fairly inspired, lol. eco-friendly Rice a million (12 oz.) pkg. Monterrey jack Cheese (grated) a million cup cooked rice (you should use one in all those boing bags for this), cooked in hen broth or if making rice from scrath use the chick broth rather than water. 2 chilies (Anchos, yet my save did no longer have any, so I used 2 clean Poblanos). This dish heavily isn't pretty spiced warm, I promise. a million bell pepper a million stick of butter (what you employ) a million (8 oz.) carton bitter cream Seed all chilies-slice into wedges-saute in butter till gentle. position in blender, upload bitter cream. blend. Layer in greased casserole- rice, then chili blend, then sprinkle the cheese over that. do not cover it. position in 325 oven for 25 minutes, or till bubbly. this will be frozen previously baking for a particular party like yours. once you've time, make it previously the party and be conscious the way you want it. it really is really uncomplicated to make. delight in!

Answer 6

vegetable dips:
2 pkt McCormic french onion mix
2 bottle sour cream
carrots
salaries

Mix french onion mix with sour cream, slice the carrots and salaries. Lay beautifully on plate with a bowl in the middle.

cheesy potato
10 potatoes, sliced
2 blocks of gruyere cheese, grated
1 medium pkt of whipping cream
salt to taste

Lay potatoes in a oven dish, add cheese and whipping cream. sprinkle salt. Bake for 1 1/2 hrs or till potatoes are soft. taste great when hot or cold!

Answer 7

You have to supply the main course? Or just take something to go around 15 - 20 people as an appetizer? How about sheppards pie...easy to make..and not overly expensive....and very yummy...always a favourite when I have people over...

Answer 8

i make a cornbread salad make it in this order in a bowl start with the corn bread.
1 corn bread on bottom
2 a can of pinto beans
3 a can of corn
4 a can of tomato's
5 is a mixture of 8 oz of sour cream and ranch dressing mix and a 1/4 cup of mayo.
6 shredded Cheddar cheese

warm pintos up before putting on cornbread you do not have to cook nothing else eating pop it in microwave to melt cheese.

Answer 9

I dont know where your from but where i live pigs in a blanket is very popular..all you need is hotdog weiners, cheese and biscuits.. can buscuits work really nice.. all you do is cut the weiners in half. wrap a piece of cheese around it and then one of the biscuits and let it bake until golden brown.. and there you go.

Answer 10

I always find that a chilli is easy to prepare and goes down well. It's cheap and tasty. Have a look at the following:

http://www.cooks.com/rec/search/0,1-0,chilli_con_carne,FF.html

Have a great party!