You will need to do a bit of forward thinking and soak your beans overnight. This recipe is about as cheap as it gets: beans, water, onion, and some spices. If baked beans aren’t your style, perhaps you’d prefer something from south of the border. If you want to stretch this even further, you can mix in sliced hot dogs, ground beef, pulled pork, or another red meat. Let me show you one of the finest frugal dishes around- the humble, New England bean pot. But bringing homemade garlic butter rolls? Now THAT will earn you a standing ovation. Homemade bread is one of those dishes that make other potluck-goers sit up and take notice. How many recipes can do that? Garlic butter pull-apart rolls

This recipe has no mayo, but does have a refreshing sweet/sour mixture with lemon and honey that’s sure to please all your party people who are vegetarian, keto, AND gluten- & dairy-free. (Though if you buy at the cheapest grocery store for produce (my article), you can get a lot more for a lot less!) Need to skip ahead in this article to check out a specific kind of dish? I got you covered:Ĭheap potluck side dishes & appetizers Carrot & apple slawĬarrots and apples are usually among the cheapest fruits and vegetables you can buy at the grocery store. While some may have more expensive spices or sauces, I’ve tried to let that be the exception rather than the rule.Īnd of course, if you need help slashing your grocery budget, you can check out my ultimate guide to saving money on groceries to make sure you’re getting the best bang for your buck. I’ve tried to choose recipes that stick to staple, less expensive ingredients like chicken, ground beef, pasta, rice, and potatoes. I’ve gathered a few dozen of the absolute best: classics, new twists, and all-out originals. So today, I pulled out my own recipe binder and also surveyed some of my favorite budget food Facebook groups.

Namely, you want them to be super EASY, and preferably super QUICK. And while you could use those recipes for potlucks (and I have!) potlucks also have a few specific quirks. My website is all about raising a family on a budget, so I’ve written about cheap meals for large families before. Except when you find out it’s a potluck, and your grocery budget is already pretty thin without trying to cook a meal for fifteen people. Gathering with family and friends can be the highlight of any week.

Easy potluck dishes vegetarian