With beans and broccolini, tomato and quinoa, it'll make a belly-filling bowl that can power you through an afternoon, or quench a serious dinner hunger. Get the recipe for Vegetable Soup. Nothing beats mac and cheese for filling bellies! What makes this extra easy is that the macaroni cooks right in the sauce.

So you don't have to boil it ahead of time! Get the recipe for Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese. Puff pastry makes this extra-yummy pot pie both simple and delicious! Get the recipe for Chicken Pot Pie. Serve this staple-filled soup with good, crusty bread for a simple, effective, and delicious meal.

Get the recipe for Slow Cooker Potato Soup. Perhaps the only thing more warming and delicious than chicken soup on a cold day is chicken and dumplings.

Get the recipe for Crock Pot Chicken and Dumplings. This fast stovetop recipe skips roasting, but is steeped in flavor. And with just a few ingredients mostly squash , it's easy on the wallet! You can skip the brandy and use a little more cider to save some cost.

Get the recipe for One-Pot Butternut Squash Soup. Some chicken cutlets and pantry staples — and plenty of Parmesan, of course — can quickly turn into this family favorite.

Get the recipe for Chicken Parmesan. The underrated tuna melt, that staple of diners and lunch plates everywhere, deserves to be making a big time comeback.

You probably have most of the ingredients in your fridge right now. What are you waiting for? Get the recipe for Tuna Melt. If you're looking for a way to use ground beef in a spicy, simple dinner that'll make the whole family happy, then you've just found your recipe for tonight!

Get the recipe for Tamale Pie. This ground beef enchilada dinner is especially a winner. A little taco seasoning, some corn tortillas, a can of enchilada sauce, cover it with cheese and boom! You've got a powerhouse meal for four or for two, with leftovers ready to go.

Family-style meals offer an engaging dining experience while being cost-effective for catering. Caterers can set up the room and offer serving tips upon delivery.

Then your team can take over for self-serve. This is one of the cheap catering ideas to reduce labor costs and catering prices. Hamburgers, hotdogs, pizza, quiche, barbecue, taco bars, and pasta are all great classic comfort food options for generous servings.

It also comes in handy when considering how much food per person to serve at an event. Family-style meals encourage guests to share and interact with one another, making them a perfect option for events that prioritize socializing and bonding.

Plus, you can forego wait staff and the large expense that may come with it! Perfect for a more relaxed event or meal. Potlucks are an affordable and engaging catering option where guests contribute their own dishes to share.

Having a few different people bring their favorite meals or sides in a crockpot is sure to be a delicious hit while also not breaking your bank. Potlucks are both an economical catering option and affordable, yet engaging catering option that is very budget-friendly.

Everyone is contributing! The collaborative nature of a potluck allows guests to showcase their culinary talents. It also provides a diverse range of dishes for everyone to enjoy. While potlucks may require a bit more coordination and communication, the end result is a unique and memorable dining experience.

This option allows guests to connect over their shared love of food. Any type of event can be creatively transformed into a delightful brunch, including a wedding reception. Brunch catering is an exciting catering option that offers a delicious variety of breakfast and lunch items.

Some of the most delightful brunch catering ideas include buffet style pancakes, waffles, fresh berries, grapefruits, bananas, colorful fruit trays, delectable tea cakes, yogurt bars, and scrumptious pastries. Your picky eaters are sure to enjoy this versatile options.

Use different food stations, mixing between breakfast foods and lunch foods, and keep everyone happy. Brunch is a flexible catering option that provides breakfast and lunch items, is customizable to your wedding menu preferences, and encourages friendly conversation among guests. By having a relaxed atmosphere and the versatility of brunch, guests can enjoy a variety of dishes that cater to their individual tastes and preferences while also being cheap catering options.

Make it buffet style for the ultimate versatile catering option and utilize budget friendly ingredients! Serve a variety of sweet treats such as cookies, cakes, and fruit cups as an affordable, easy-to-handle, and versatile dessert option for any event.

Desserts are a great economical choice, and can be easily prepared in large quantities to serve a large number of people, costing less money while being just as yummy. Offering more variety of desserts can help save money by encouraging people to enjoy smaller bites and be just as satisfied, helping you determine how much food to serve per person.

Include a veggie tray for a nutritious touch for the healthy eaters at a dessert party. Desserts add the perfect finish to a well-prepared meal. They can also be the perfect topic for conversation during dinner.

These meals can be customized to suit personal dietary needs, such as those who follow a gluten-free or vegan diet. With a wide range of sweet treats to choose from, your guests will be sure to have a memorable and fun experience.

Serve soups, stews, and salads as a main dish or side as an excellent, budget-friendly, and easily-customizable cheap catering idea. Baked potato bars, soup bars, and pasta bars — all sure to be a hit at a wedding reception.

Plated meals are the most luxurious serving style for weddings and can be very expensive. Buffet style meals are a cheap catering alternative to feed a large number of people and they give your guests the freedom to choose their preferred dishes.

Thus, helping you manage your wedding budget! Keep it fun while keeping costs low. Soups and salads provide a healthy alternative to heavier main courses. These food options are a great way to create a meal for a wide range of tastes and preferences. Use this catering idea at your next event!

When knowing how many people will be at your event, you can better plan your menu and your budget. Appetizer spreads are a cheap, versatile, and easy-to-handle option to serve small bite-sized dishes to guests before the main course.

Usually at less cost than other dishes, appetizer spreads can be prepared in large quantities, and can be tailored to meet dietary restrictions or preferences. You can also consider vegetables platters with dips or cheese and cracker trays, classic appetizers that are sure to be a hit with your guests.

Karla Walsh began her career at FITNESS magazine in Since, she's worked at a wide variety of publications full-time, including BHG. com, Recipe. com and as a cross-brand social media specialist. From search engine optimization to features for print to video strategy, she has a diverse background in all things magazines.

At the start of , Karla chose to pursue full-time freelance writing and has contributed to more than 3 dozen brands. Marcus Reeves is an experienced writer, publisher, and fact-checker.

He began his writing career reporting for The Source magazine. His writing has appeared in The New York Times, Playboy, The Washington Post, and Rolling Stone, among other publications. His book Somebody Scream: Rap Music's Rise to Prominence in the Aftershock of Black Power was nominated for a Zora Neale Hurston Award.

He is an adjunct instructor at New York University, where he teaches writing and communications. Marcus received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey.

If you're looking for cheap, healthy meals, these ideas are guaranteed to satisfy any of your cravings. With more than a month's worth of nutritious meals on a budget , you'll soon learn how to use inexpensive but flavor-packed ingredients to bring well-balanced meals to your table.

Choose your own adventure with this North African-inspired feast. The chicken, chickpea, and veggie stew can be made on your stove top in a Dutch oven, or you can hit fast-forward with a pressure cooker or go low and slow with a slow cooker.

Using either of these methods will treat you to a healthy meal on a budget that's low in calories, high in protein, and nicely spiced with cumin, ginger, cinnamon, and cayenne. This traditional Southern comfort dish is said to bring good luck if you eat it on New Year's Day.

But we're so obsessed with this cheap, healthy meal, we eat it all year. Instead of calling for bacon or ham, our vegetarian variation of this rice and black-eyed peas dish features several spices and heaps of veggies, including bell peppers, carrots, tomatoes, and frozen corn.

The spice—and the price—are right for this Indian-inspired cheap, healthy meal. Serve the turmeric- and ginger-infused grilled chicken on a bed of basmati rice included in the price estimate to round out the meal.

Save leftover sliced meat to tuck inside warm pita bread or a tortilla for a lunch wrap the next day. Meatloaf secures a top spot on the list of easy, cheap, healthy meals when you use lean ground beef and boost the filling factor with inexpensive spuds. And don't you love how sheet-pan dinners like this one require so little cleanup time?

Cooking everything on one foil-lined pan speeds it up. You'd be hard-pressed to find a delivery pizza as affordable as this homemade healthy dinner recipe.

Start with store-bought dough to make the Mediterranean meal a practical choice, even on a weeknight. Look for the dough in the refrigerated section of your supermarket or ask your local pizza shop if you can purchase an extra pound of their secret recipe!

Noodle dishes are known to be easy on the wallet. Not so much. Fortunately, a small handful of heart-healthy nuts can go a long way to add a rich flavor to cheap, healthy meals like this one. Whole wheat noodles help too.

Low in fat 6 grams per portion yet high in protein a strong 28 grams , this five-ingredient slow cooker pork recipe checks all the boxes. Only 10 minutes of prep required. Indeed—it's one of the lowest-cost options in this collection of cheap, healthy meals.

Here's a cheap, healthy vegetarian meal you'll want to make again and again. With 24 grams of protein and a nice portion of hunger-taming broth and noodles, this soup will fill you up for hours.

Meat-like portobello mushrooms , tofu , and a poached egg join fresh veggies in this cozy, crowd-pleasing Asian noodle soup. Breaded with whole wheat panko and baked instead of fried, this eggplant Parmesan is calories less than some classic recipes.

Keep your nutrition streak going by grabbing a couple of zucchini at the store to spiralize , toss with the rest of the marinara , and serve under the baked eggplant. Voilà—a budget dinner recipe for four that tastes up to par with its restaurant competition. A few decades ago, "stretch the meat" was the mantra for cutting costs at dinnertime.

It's still a great strategy for making cheap, healthy meals even more affordable. Here wide egg noodles , mushrooms, and a bit of cheese extend 8 ounces of ground beef to provide five hearty servings.

One bite will be all the proof you need that you can absolutely make satisfying suppers without making meat the main event. Instead of refried beans, this flavorful Mexican entrée —ready in 30 minutes—features a creamy cauliflower puree.

If you're hungry and have leftover chicken or shrimp , toss them in too.

Missing According to Forbes magazine, a fine-dining restaurant's average cost of raw food is around 38 to 42 percent of menu price, but only 5 to 8 cents of every Have big-budget tastes but low-budget pockets? Turn to these inexpensive meal ideas for easy homemade dinners the whole family will love

Cost-effective dining choices - 76 Cheap Dinner Ideas That Don't Skimp on Taste · Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup · Hearty Vegetable Soup with Parsley Gremolata · Slow Cooker Mac Missing According to Forbes magazine, a fine-dining restaurant's average cost of raw food is around 38 to 42 percent of menu price, but only 5 to 8 cents of every Have big-budget tastes but low-budget pockets? Turn to these inexpensive meal ideas for easy homemade dinners the whole family will love

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. 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. Incorporating spinach into your diet is simple.

You can add it to salads, casseroles and soups. It can also be blended into smoothies for a nutrient boost. Russet potatoes are an excellent source of nutrients and typically available for a reasonable price. Potatoes provide significant amounts of vitamins C, B6, and other nutrients. They also contain fiber , which supports digestion and appetite control 2 , 16 , 17 , 18 , Additionally, potato skins are rich in minerals, especially potassium.

In fact, a medium-sized russet potato contains nearly twice the amount of potassium found in a banana 16 , There are several ways to add potatoes to your diet. They taste great baked or boiled and make a fantastic side dish.

Sweet potatoes are extremely healthy and one of the cheapest vegetables you can buy. They are particularly high in beta-carotene, which is converted into vitamin A in the body. Sweet potatoes also contain a decent amount of B vitamins, vitamin C, potassium and fiber.

Studies show they may have anti-inflammatory effects, which help lower the risk of chronic diseases such as cancer and diabetes 21 , 23 , 24, You can pair sweet potatoes with just about any dish, and they are quite easy to prepare by steaming, baking or roasting.

Tomatoes are the most frequently consumed canned vegetable in the American diet. What really makes tomatoes shine is their vitamin C content. They also provide some B vitamins, vitamins A, E and K and many trace minerals 27 , Many of their health benefits are attributed to their lycopene content.

Lycopene is an antioxidant that may reduce inflammation, protect cells from damage and lower the risk of disease Canned tomatoes are a handy staple to have in your kitchen.

They can easily be added to soups, casseroles and stews. If your budget is tight, carrots are a cheap and nutrient-dense vegetable to include in your diet.

Carrots are one of the richest sources of beta-carotene, which is responsible for their impressive vitamin A content. Furthermore, carrots contain a significant amount of fiber, vitamin C, vitamin K, potassium and manganese Due to their high antioxidant content, eating carrots regularly may help decrease inflammation and reduce the risk of stomach cancer 35 , You can reap the health benefits of carrots by enjoying them raw or cooked.

They make an excellent addition to salads and cooked dishes. High amounts of vitamin C are found in green cabbage, in addition to some B vitamins and trace minerals Cabbage and other cruciferous vegetables are unique because of their glucosinolate content.

Glucosinolates are antioxidants that have been studied for their ability to protect against certain types of cancer 38 , Some studies have also found that cabbage consumption may lead to a significant reduction in the risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes 40 , A versatile vegetable, cabbage is easy to add to your diet.

Compared to other winter squash varieties, butternut squash provides a higher amount of nutrients. There are several different ways to enjoy butternut squash.

Brown rice is a fantastic, cheap food that provides fiber, vitamins and minerals. It consists mostly of carbs , with 3.

The health benefits of brown rice include reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease, as well as promoting weight control 43 , 47 , 48 , Including brown rice in your diet is simple. It is quite easy to prepare and can be enjoyed with just about any meal.

It contains an impressive amount of nutrients, including B vitamins, iron, manganese, phosphorus, zinc and magnesium Fiber promotes fullness and may help lower cholesterol and blood sugar levels 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 , The combination of fiber, vitamins and minerals in oatmeal may have the potential to reduce the risk of several diseases, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease and obesity 50 , 56 , 57 , In general, oats are enjoyed as a breakfast food.

You can combine them with fruit, milk, yogurt and several other ingredients for a healthy and delicious meal. Canned beans are budget friendly, in addition to being very nutritious. Beans contain a significant amount of fiber and a variety of vitamins and minerals, including folate, iron, magnesium and potassium Furthermore, they are an excellent source of plant-based protein.

There are Protein is beneficial for weight maintenance and muscle strength 60 , Consuming beans and other legumes is also associated with a reduced risk of heart disease and diabetes. This is likely due to their ability to lower cholesterol and promote blood sugar control 62 , 63 , Beans can be incorporated into just about any dish.

They are commonly added to soups, salads and burritos. They also contain an impressive amount of protein and fiber, which is why they are so filling and helpful for weight control This may reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes and cancer Research also suggests that eating lentils is associated with improved blood pressure and cholesterol levels, which is important for preventing heart disease The use of lentils is similar to that of beans, and there are several ways that they can be incorporated into the diet, such as in salads and soups.

Edamame is a healthy food with a fairly low price. Studies show that edamame and other soy-based foods may help lower the risk of heart disease, osteoporosis and certain types of cancer. This is often attributed to their content of isoflavones, which function as antioxidants in the body 70 , 71 , Most often, edamame is prepared as a steamed side dish.

You can increase its flavor by adding seasonings of your choice. Quinoa is a complete source of protein , which means it provides all the essential amino acids your body needs. This sets it apart from other grains, which need to be paired with other foods to be considered complete protein sources.

Also, quinoa contains antioxidants, fiber, B vitamins, vitamin E, iron, manganese, zinc and several other trace minerals, all of which protect your cells from damage that often leads to disease The health-promoting properties of quinoa have been shown to promote brain health and may help prevent the development of heart disease 74 , Quinoa is also a great nutrient-dense grain that is safe for people with celiac disease The use of quinoa in cooking is similar to that of rice.

With only 31 calories per cup 8 grams , you can eat a lot of it without gaining weight Furthermore, popcorn provides some filling fiber and disease-fighting antioxidants, as well as a fair amount of B vitamins and magnesium To make air-popped popcorn, place one-fourth cup of popcorn kernels into a brown paper bag and heat it in the microwave until it stops popping.

Add toppings of your choice, such as olive oil, sea salt or Parmesan cheese. They are full of some important vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin C, vitamin B6, potassium and manganese Additionally, bananas provide a decent amount of fiber, which may benefit digestive health, promote weight loss and protect against diabetes 20 , You can enjoy bananas as a quick snack food.

They also taste great combined with peanut butter or yogurt. They are prized for their vitamin C content.

They also provide fiber, antioxidants and lots of other nutrients, including B vitamins, calcium and potassium Consuming oranges and other fruits on a regular basis has been shown to reduce inflammation in the body, thus lowering the risk of several conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes and obesity 80 , It is simple to add oranges to your diet.

They are fairly convenient and can be enjoyed as a snack on their own or mixed with yogurt, salads and smoothies. Berries are nutrition superstars and reasonably priced when you purchase them frozen.

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