I am having 4 friends over and need something easy, cheap and good to make for dinner. But what?

Answer 1

I would go with pasta. Spaghetti is easy to make and inexpensive. I would make it look more impressive through table settings and including a small bowl of paremsan cheese (instead of a shaker - use a fancy desert bowl), and a matching little bowl of red pepper flakes.
A side salad (you can buy prepared salads where all you have to do is mix the ingredients -- but do this at the very last minute as your guests are sitting down because you don't want a soggy salad.) You could have the greens on the table in a salad bowl and the dressing in a side dish.
I often buy those pre-cooked loaves/rolls that are found in the bakery section of the supermarket. All you have to do is pop them in the oven for 10 minutes or so and you have fresh warm bread. And your whole house smells like you've spent hours baking .... and everyone is SO impressed!

Just because your meal is inexpensive to make, doesn't mean it has to look that way! Enjoy!

Answer 2

meatloaf tuna casserole fish sticks chili chicken tenders add potatoes, noodles or rice, then a veg. or/ and a nice crisp salad. When I make out my shopping list- I also do a menu guide thing...That way if I am having lasagna, I know I will want garlic bread and what I need for a salad too. I never get so stuck to my list that I have to make a certain meal on a certain day, but I know how many meals can be made within 30 min.s and how many that is better when I have a longer time to cook it. I don't mind cooking but I hate going grocery shopping so I like to do as much as I can only twice a month.

Answer 3

Smoked Sasuage cut into 1/2 inch pieces, You will probably need 2 packages, two large bags of frozen hash browns, the kind that it in cubes. Place sasuages in a skillet and heat for about 15 min. on med heat then add the hashbrowns and heat until done. You can add a little bit of water if you need to. Serve with a salad and maybe some corn on the cob. My kids love this and it's cheap. About 13.00

Answer 4

When we have friends over and want something quick and chip we make Crab tostada's. You buy a bag of imitation crab, tomatoes, green onion or regular onion, cucumbers, lemons(use the juice of the lemons)cilantro and don't forget the tostada's, they come in a big bag. You will need to shred the crab and then dice all the rest of the ingredients, put all in a big bowl mix squeez the lemon juice and also add some tomato sauce, not to much depending on how yu like it. You can also dice Jalapenos if you like it hot. Serve on the tostada, Oh yes you will also need some avacados all diced up and mixed in there also.

Answer 5

Chicken Spaghetti Marinera.

Ingredients:
Spaghetti (two 1 lb boxes should do it for four people)
Sauce -- 2 cans/jars of your favorite will be more than enough (try Hunt's..remarkably good sauce for stuff that comes in a can).

Prepare spaghetti and sauce.

Chicken -- get a bag of frozen breasts and defrost/cook four in the microwave--(to defrost, cook on medium/defrost for about 6 minutes per breast, then cook until no longer pink when cut on high--about 4 more minutes). For really tender, tasty chicken, cook it in a semi-covered glass dish with Italian dressing (get the flavor packets in the dressing aisle if you don't want to buy a whole bottle of Italian dressing).

A loaf of Italian bread with olive oil and salt and pepper is a nice appetizer if your friends are coming over while you cook.

Answer 6

when I have friends over and we want something simple and cheap we like to make chicken salad and buy some cresoints to serve the salad in. Grab a few bags of chips and dip and dont forget the ice cream and you have a real treat. This is great for the figure even you can use low fat mayo and all white meat chicken. Have fun

Answer 7

Beef Nacho Casserole

Ingredients

(6 servings)

1 lb Ground beef
12 oz Chunky salsa (1 jar)
1 c Sweet corn
3/4 c Mircale Whip(R)
1 tb Chili powder
2 c Tortilla chips (crushed)
2 c Colby/Monterey Jack cheese


Instructions

1). Heat oven to 350°F. Brown meat; drain. Stir in salsa, corn, Miracle Whip(R) and chili powder. 2). Layer 1/2 meat mixture, chips and cheese in 2-quart casserole. Repeat layers. 3). Bake 20 minutes or until thoroughly heated. Top with shredded lettuce and chopped tomato, if desired.

Answer 8

Leafy green salad... good dressing.
Speggetty (I can not spell) use store bought sauce.. brand name. Add a small jar of good sliced mushrooms, let the sauce simmer for at least 10 minutes before assembling it with the pasta. And have a good bread.

It is cheap but you can dress up the salad and the bread if you want to look more of a big spender

Answer 9

If I were having friends over I'd probably either do a 20 item salad, or tacos. I've done tacos for $15 for two people with lots left over for later.

Answer 10

a salad with with bright colored veggies.garlic bread.fettuccine alfrdo.you neeed good butter-not margarine,cream,hives,a good parmesan-invest in a chunk of cheese reahter than the green cvontainer everyone uses.
have a great time
oh! i for get a bottle of wine.
dessert:a can of condensed milk,a can of pumkin puree.mix in blender ,add a little cinnamon,saran wrap stick in fridge.or condensed milk with berries or stawberries mis in blender.