What’s You Best Tip for Feeding a Crowd on a Budget?
Who says hosting has to come with a hefty bill?
It’s the last day of Hip2Save’s Birthday Week! 🥳
All good things must come to an end, and we’ve reached the final day of Hip2Save’s birthday week. We hope you all have had just as much fun as we have! We appreciate each and every one of you for sharing your input in the comments and for being amazing members of our Hip Community. 💗
There’s still time to enter, so be sure to check out the previous giveaway prompts, too —
- What would you buy if you had $25 to spend on Amazon?
- What’s one thing you’ll gladly pay full price for?
- Which store has the best clearance section?
- What’s one grocery name brand you’d never switch from, no matter the price?
During our birthday giveaway, all you have to do is comment for a chance to win. This format is just like our monthly reader giveaway and makes for some great conversation among our Hip2Save community. The giveaway prompt posts will be going live each day now through Friday, and your comment will get you entered to win that day’s prize. Easy peasy!
Today, we’ve got one $100 Amazon eGift card up for grabs. Comment now through Sunday, June 29th 11:59 PM MT for your chance to win.
We want to hear from you!
Today’s Birthday Giveaway Question:
What’s your best tip for feeding a crowd on a budget?
Share in the comments section below for our Hip community to read. By leaving a comment, you are entering to win a $100 Amazon eGift card!
Entries for this giveaway are now closed.
How to Enter:
- Comment Below: Share your favorite way to feed a crowd on a budget.
- Duration: The commenting entry period starts on Friday, 6/27/25 at 7 AM MT and ends on Sunday, 6/29/25 at 11:59 PM MT.
- Eligibility: All approved comments within the entry period are eligible. Winning comments will be chosen at random. Readers may only win one time during the giveaway.
Winner Notifications:
Winners will be contacted via email at the email address associated with their Hip2Save account or the email used when leaving their comments. You do not need to include your email address within your comment. All giveaway correspondence will come from our giveaway team at giveaways@hip2save.com.
Winners will be contacted by Tuesday, July 1st with the details of their Amazon eGift Card.
Here are our Hip team’s favorite ways to feed a crowd on a budget…
“A baked potato bar is always fun, especially since everyone can customize their own! Bags of potatoes are always super inexpensive, then just add bowls of different toppings like cheese, butter, sour cream, chives/green onions, chili, taco meat, etc!” – Erika
“My go to is pasta (typically baked ziti) when I’m feeding a big crowd. It’s SO cheap, easy/quick to make, and you can pre-make it all beforehand, then just heat it up and not be in a rush day of trying to cook. Plus, sides are super easy too. Just grab a few salad kits and a few loaves of garlic bread and you’re good to go! Easy peasy.“ – Liz
“My daughter hosted her church group recently – over 25 kids. I tried putting a bunch of Nathan’s hot dogs in the slow cooker and that worked so well! 🌭 The taste was awesome, and they could dish up as desired with all the toppings. Cheap and so easy/good. I served chips and cut up watermelon, and they loved it.“ – Lina
We can’t wait to hear your brilliant hosting tips to feed a hungry crowd!
Thank you for celebrating our birthday all week long with us! 🎉 Now let’s get back to the deals…
Pasta is always a go to for cheap for crowds as well as hot dogs. I once made buffalo chicken macaroni for a grad party in a roaster and it was a huge hit. Not sure how cheap, but it was good.
Big Bowl of Chili
Chili contest, everyone brings a pot of chili and you supply the chili bar toppings. It works great everytime! Or make a big batch of chili and have a chili bar, if you don’t want to have a contest.
Spaghetti and Salad
chili and cornbread
Pizza. I always buy frozen pizza in the store and cook at home.
Every Christmas I do a Nacho Bar where Tacos, Taco salads, loaded Nachos are available through our day together. My counters are cleared and everything is in ice or heat. Serve yourself. The cook gets to be a part of the fun instead of being busy feeding everyone!😍
Usually some type of casserole dish.
My go to is mixing riced cauliflower into hamburger. It bulks up dish. Anything taco flavor always wins.
I’m prepping for my daughter’s graduation party tomorrow. I bought 2 boneless pork loins for 1.55lb and made marinate for Al Pastor tacos. I’m also making refried beans, Chipotle macaroni salad and Mexican rice. Making everything from scratch is saving me a ton!
A big pork roast in the slow cooker overnight! It is usually .99c-$2.00 a pound. You can make the classic pulled pork but dont stop there, I have done Italian style like Mississippi roast, Hawaiian with rolls,Asian with rice or Hispanic style with tortillas. It has so many affordable options!
Baked Ziti. I usually make a few trays and freeze them until I need them.
Spaghetti fast and inexpensive
Spaghetti and salad is an easy, cheap go to.
Have everyone bring something so you don’t have as much to buy.
Chili is good for fall, pancakes, pasta
pork shoulder in the crock pot – make some coleslaw, get some Hawaiian rolls, open a few cans of baked beans
Always go with pasta, salad, bread, meatballs and sausage! It fills a crowd and doesn’t cost a ton of money.
Being from Louisiana I would do a huge pot of chicken and sausage gumbo, rice, crackers, tea and Louisiana bread pudding (or cookies for those who don’t like bread pudding) for dessert! Very easy economical!
Shop at ALDI. Casseroles, soups, pasta dishes.
Lasagna is a great go to!
My oven is my favorite “convenience.” More versatile than any crockpot or insta-pot. Casseroles like lasagna, King Ranch chicken, ziti or hashbrown casserole can be made in advance and baked before the big event. Eggs, burgers, pancakes can all be made in large quantities on sheet pans. Many sandwich (such as sliders featured on Hip2Save) can be made in advance and heated in the oven.
I’d say you can’t go wrong with pasta and can prepare everything ahead of time. Always cook different dishes….baked ziti, tortellini alfredo etc. and some easy side dishes as a salad, garlic bread. Filling and inexpensive to feed crowd and everyone loves it.
You can buy chicken (wings and drums) in bulk and fry them up. I also make a delicious potato salad and a double batch goes a long way. Buy a couple watermelons and a couple pineapples and cut them in smaller portions which also goes a long way.
Love to do a potluck, everybody shares their best dishes
BBQ (root beer) Pulled pork, Baked beans and Mac-n-cheese
Shop early for the best deals. Pasta bar goes a long way and everyone can bring their favorite toppings.
Love it when everybody shares their best dishes
Baked potato bars have been a big hit for us. Pretty much everything g tastes good on top of a baked potato! If guests ask what they can contribute you can suggest that they bring a topping— sour cream, shredded cheese, bacon bits, black and pinto beans, salsa, pulled pork, shredded chicken etc.
Bonfire meatballs sandwiches! Have guests cook their own premade meatballs over the campfire on sticks. On the side have sautéed onions, peppers and mushrooms along with some warmed marinara sauce and white queso. Serve with a Cesar salad and s’mores.
For picnics we usually do hot dogs , chips , baked beans , fruit salad, watermelons and have guests bring side dishes and desserts.
We threw parties for more than 30. A mix of kids and adults. I would buy ribeye, hamburgers, hotdogs, buns and shrimp on sale and freeze just for the parties for grilling. I would make a bunch of different salads, ask the guests to bring dessert and wine. We always had fun and everyone had a great time swimming and hanging out. Sometimes guests would also bring food
Mexican buffet
Pasta salad loaded with fresh veggies and shredded chicken!!
Pasta bar, baked potato bar, or taco/nacho bar.
Someone said chili contest. I love that idea. Having everyone attending getting involved in bringing something keeps the budget at bay. So some kind of a theme with everyone bringing something that meets the theme could keep it in check.
Chili when it’s hot, and hot dogs when it’s not.
Taco Bar!!
Throw a 5-6 lb Pork Butt Roast in the crockpot, pour a small jar hamburger sliced dill pickles on top, some salt and pepper. Shred when cooked and make Pulled Pork Sandwiches…put a little BBQ Sauce on top or not and slap in a bun. Pick a couple sides like: baked beans, chips, potato salad, Texas Caviar, 3 Bean Salad, etc
Chili and corn bread. Costco for desserts and appetizers
Baked potato bar with lots of toppings they can choose from.
I always stock up on canned goods, pasta, and meat when it comes on sale. We make chipotle style burrito bowls at home when we are having a large group to feed. Healthy, easy to prepare and plan for, and it can accommodate special diets (vegans, gluten free, vegetarians etc). It makes for easy stress free hosting because everyone can serve themselves.
Pulled pork w/potato salad- normally one of the cheapest meats these days and potato’s are fairly cheap.
Spaghetti Pie, salad, and garlic bread.
Casserole or jambalaya. Always good.
I would make a huge pot of soup/ chili/ etc.
Tacos!
For my son’s friends-pizza! For more of party. I like to do a taco bar. It’s pretty cheap and easy.
For my son’s friends-pizza. For more of a party, I like to do a taco bar. It’s cheap and easy.
Walking tacos or pasta bar or baked potato bar!
Big pizza with a choice of most veg topping. This way they at least get some vegs in. and half of potatoes they can sprinkle different sause or toppings