You can either roll out the dough and top it with your favorite ingredients, or you can use a pre-made pizza crust. Once your pizza or calzone is assembled, bake it in a preheated oven until the crust is golden brown and the cheese is melted and bubbly.

Sliders and mini burgers are a great way to feed a crowd without breaking the bank. To make sliders or mini burgers, start by gathering your ingredients. Once you have your ingredients, start assembling your sliders or mini burgers.

You can either use pre-made slider buns or split regular hamburger buns in half once your sliders or mini burgers are assembled grill, or cook them in a pan until the patty is cooked through.

Hot dogs and sausages are a great way to feed a crowd without breaking the bank. To make hot dogs or sausages, start by gathering your ingredients. Once you have your ingredients, start assembling your hot dogs or sausages. You can either cook the sausages in a pan or grill them, and then put them in a bun and top them with your favorite toppings.

Fried rice and stir-fry are a great way to feed a crowd without breaking the bank. To make fried rice, start by gathering your ingredients. You can also add other ingredients, such as soy sauce, sesame oil, and chili peppers. Once you have your ingredients, start cooking your fried rice.

Heat some oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add the vegetables and cook until softened. Add the meats and cook until browned. Add the rice and cook until heated through. Season with soy sauce, sesame oil, and chili peppers to taste. To make stir-fry, start by gathering your ingredients.

Once you have your ingredients, start cooking your stir-fry. Add the meat and cook until browned. Add the noodles and cook until heated through. To make grilled cheese, start by gathering your ingredients.

You can add other ingredients, such as ham, bacon, or vegetables. Once you have your ingredients, start assembling your grilled cheese. Spread butter on one side of each slice of bread.

Place a slice of cheese on one slice of bread, butter-side down. Top with the other slice of bread, butter-side up. Heat a pan over medium heat. Place the grilled cheese in the pan and cook for minutes per side, or until the bread is golden brown and the cheese is melted.

To make tomato soup, start by gathering your ingredients. You can also add other ingredients, such as cream or milk. Once you have your ingredients, start cooking your tomato soup.

Heat some oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onions and cook until softened. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute more. Add the tomatoes, spices, and water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for minutes, or until the tomatoes are soft and the soup has thickened.

Macaroni and cheese are a classic comfort food perfect for any occasion. To make macaroni and cheese, start by gathering your ingredients. Add other ingredients, such as bread crumbs, bacon, or vegetables. Once you have your ingredients, start cooking your macaroni.

Bring a pot of water to a boil and add the macaroni. Cook according to the package directions or until the macaroni is al dente.

While the macaroni is cooking, start making your cheese sauce. In a saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the flour and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Slowly whisk in the milk until the sauce is smooth.

Add the cheese and cook until melted and the sauce is thickened. Pour the macaroni and cheese into a baking dish and top with bread crumbs, bacon, or vegetables. Bake in a preheated oven at degrees Fahrenheit for minutes, or until the top is golden brown and bubbly. Vegetable and fruit trays are a great way to add healthy and colorful options to your meals, catering, and parties.

To make a vegetable tray, start by gathering your ingredients. You can add other vegetables, such as celery, tomatoes, and radishes. Once you have your ingredients, start assembling your tray.

Cut the vegetables into bite-sized pieces and arrange them on a platter. You can add a dip, such as a ranch dressing or hummus. To make a fruit tray, start by gathering your ingredients.

You can add other fruits, such as apples, bananas, and peaches. Cut the fruits into bite-sized pieces and arrange them on a platter.

You can also add a garnish, such as mint leaves or edible flowers. Vegetable and fruit trays are a great option for events because they can be made in advance and served at room temperature, making them easy to transport and serve. Read More: 8 Cheap Breakfast Catering Ideas to Make Your Event Memorable.

Cheese and cracker platters are a simple and elegant way to add sophistication to any meal or party. To make a cheese and cracker platter, start by gathering your ingredients. You can also add other cheeses, such as goat cheese, feta cheese, or Parmesan cheese.

Once you have your cheeses, start assembling your platter. Cut the cheeses into bite-sized pieces and arrange them on a platter or board.

You can also add crackers or bread to the platter. To add flavor and texture to your platter, you can also add various accompaniments, such as jams, honey, fruit, nuts, and olives. Cheese and cracker platters are a great option for events because they can be made in advance and served at room temperature, making them easy to transport and serve.

Yogurt parfaits and fruit cups are a healthy and refreshing way to start your day or enjoy a snack. To make a yogurt parfait, start by gathering your ingredients. You can add other ingredients, such as honey, nuts, or seeds.

Once you have your ingredients, start assembling your parfait. Layer the yogurt, granola, and fruit in a cup or glass. You can also add a drizzle of honey or a sprinkle of nuts or seeds. To make a fruit cup, start by gathering your ingredients. Once you have your ingredients, start assembling your fruit cup.

Cut the fruit into bite-sized pieces and arrange them in a cup or glass. You can also add a drizzle of light syrup or yogurt. Yogurt parfaits and fruit cups are a great option for events because they can be made in advance and served cold, making them easy to transport and serve.

Read More: 6 Last-Minute Catering Ideas to Impress Your Guests. Many cheap lunch catering ideas can be used to provide delicious and satisfying meals for any occasion, such as wrap platters, salad bowls, pasta salads, grilled chicken or vegetable skewers, quiche or frittatas, soups and stews, nacho or taco bars, pizza or calzones, sliders or mini burgers, hot dogs or sausages, fried rice or stir-fry, grilled cheese and tomato soup, macaroni and cheese, vegetable or fruit trays, cheese and cracker platters, and yogurt parfait or fruit cups.

With the use of Flex Catering Software , these ideas can be easily organized, managed, and executed. The software allows for real-time tracking of orders , inventory management, and streamlined communication with clients and vendors, saving both time and money for the catering business.

It can also help create and customize menus, track expenses and financial reports, and schedule and dispatch staff and equipment. Features Features. Seamlessly integrated with third party software such as POS and delivery services.

Online Ordering. Soups, spruced up canned goods, and all manner of delectable roasted creations combat common colds and ward off overspending on event food. Check out these light, refreshing, and floral ideas for some spring event food and beverage inspiration.

Next, be sure to brush up on your catering preparation plan. Then, get unique budget-friendly centerpiece ideas or summer event decor ideas.

The cheapest food to cater is any rice or noodle-based cultural cuisine. Pizza is also a reliably cheap option. Catering costs can vary widely depending on cuisine, location, and level of service. Webinar Spotlight: New Year, New You: Discover Tools to Make Your Events Better Than Ever!

Register now. Home » Monday Motivation: 40 Budget-Smart Event Catering Ideas for Every Season. When searching for catering menu ideas for large groups, make sure you take the time of day into account. Save money on catering with easy seating Get Started Now.

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What is the cheapest food to cater? What is the average cost per person for catering?

Set your delicious food up in one or two signposted corners of your venue and let people help themselves. It gives your event a more relaxed atmosphere and often leads to jovial conversation and mingling while guests stand around the stations. To make it more fun, you can group foods together so that each station offers a different cuisine or type of meal.

This is also really helpful for crowd control as it spreads people throughout the venue. But an easy way to elevate your dishes is to add some fresh and succulent seasonal ingredients, like fresh fruit or aromatic herbs.

You can add certain herbs to your signature cocktails, cook inexpensive dishes like fries in a specialty oil, or serve up autumnal staples like pumpkin or parsnips rather than broccoli and mash.

That adds a seasonal element to your event , making it more fun and quirky. If you collaborate with local farmers, you may be able to buy seasonal ingredients in bulk. Instead of setting up a huge hearty meal for your guests, you can set up grazing tables filled with many smaller snacks.

This eliminates the need for catering staff or plated dinners and gives your event a casual and homey feel. For lessons on how to do it, look at event creators like Grin and Graze It and their recent Holiday Charcuterie Workshop.

They put together unique and exciting grazing tables with their guests, creating gorgeous event centerpieces at the same time. There are so many affordable catering ideas for you to choose from. Enzo Carletti is a public relations and marketing specialist with a decade of experience in event management, hospitality, and live music production.

For Canadian Music Week and NXNE, he managed venues, volunteers and production logistics for a variety of artists and festival events. Having begun his career as a full-time chef, in his spare time, Enzo enjoys hosting culinary events and educating foodies on agriculture.

Home Affordable Catering Ideas for Event Planners on A Budget. Event management. by Enzo Carletti Jan 2 So having great food is a must.

Table of contents 1. Rent out food trucks 2. Set up a buffet 3. Make sure your guest numbers are precise 4. Choose a cost-effective cuisine for your menu 5.

Portion your food like a sushi master 6. Introduce food in windows 7. Scale back the drinks menu at your open bar 8.

Set up self-serve stations 9. Use seasonal ingredients to glow up cheaper dishes To help you get started, here are 10 pro tips proven to make catering costs more affordable. Rent out food trucks Hiring food trucks is one of the easiest ways to feed a large crowd on a tight catering budget.

View this post on Instagram. Ready to start planning your next event? Join Eventbrite now. WAS THIS ARTICLE HELPFUL? SPREAD THE WORD. Link copied! about the author. No matter when you plan your next event, make sure you take advantage of these creative ideas. Mexican, Indian, and Thai dishes are delicious and affordable.

This handy chart by Fun Cheap or Free proves that not every event requires a meal. These smart strategies will maximize your client or company catering budget at your next corporate or social event. Click To Tweet. Everyone knows meat is expensive. The good news is there are plenty of ways to create a classy and enjoyable menu based on vegetables, regardless of the event type.

For example, these vegetarian wedding menu ideas look absolutely stunning. Want to make it fancier? Include a larger quantity of affordable, heavier snacks like mini grilled cheese sandwiches, tortellini and sauce cups, or even items like spinach puffs.

This tip is also great for if you have a lot of children or grown up picky eaters or want to save on wait staff expenses. Which means that a slightly smaller plate might subconsciously discourage them from wasting food or taking too much of your carefully alloted dishes.

Finally, here are other ways to keep event catering costs down. Soups, spruced up canned goods, and all manner of delectable roasted creations combat common colds and ward off overspending on event food.

Check out these light, refreshing, and floral ideas for some spring event food and beverage inspiration. Next, be sure to brush up on your catering preparation plan.