How Can I Feed 50 Guests Cheaply?

Kiaanroy

Wedding Caterers in Delhi don’t have to drain your wallet. With smart planning, bulk buying, and simple recipes, you can serve hearty, crowd-pleasing food for under $3–$5 per person. The key is choosing affordable ingredients, minimizing waste, and leaning on one-pot or sheet-pan meals that scale easily. Below is a practical, step-by-step guide to pull it off without stress.

1. Strategic Menu Planning
The menu is the biggest factor in cost. Focus on dishes that are naturally filling, inexpensive per serving, and can be made in bulk.

Choose "Starch-Heavy" Main Dishes: Dishes where the main ingredient is an affordable carbohydrate (like pasta, rice, or potatoes) and meat is used as a flavor accent, not the main component.

Examples: Baked Ziti or Lasagna (easy to make ahead and freeze), Pulled Pork or Chicken Sandwiches (use cheaper cuts of meat and slow-cook), or a large Chili or Stew served with rice or cornbread.

Embrace Casseroles and Sheet Pan Meals: These are incredibly efficient for large batches. Think about a simple Taco Bar—rice, beans, tortillas, and seasoned ground meat/lentils—guests serve themselves, and it's generally very cost-effective.

Skip Expensive Proteins: Avoid steak, shrimp, or exotic fish. Stick to ground meat, chicken thighs, and legumes.

The Potluck Alternative: The absolute cheapest option is hosting a themed potluck where guests contribute a dish. You can supply the main course (like ham or a roast) and drinks.

2. Volume-Based Side Dishes
Side dishes should be your inexpensive filler and provide color and nutrition.

Focus on Grains and Beans: A massive bowl of three-bean salad, rice pilaf, or a hearty quinoa salad is cheap per person.

Budget-Friendly Vegetables: Stick to inexpensive, seasonal vegetables like carrots, cabbage, and potatoes. A large Coleslaw or a simple Potato Salad is a great way to feed a crowd.

Bread and Rolls: Always provide plenty of bread and butter or rolls. It's an affordable way to ensure guests feel full.

3. Smart Shopping & Preparation
This is where you save the most money.

Buy in Bulk: For ingredients like flour, sugar, pasta, rice, and oils, buying the largest size bag or container is always cheaper per unit.

Shop at Warehouse Clubs: Stores like Costco or Sam's Club offer significant discounts on meat, dairy, and large quantities of non-perishables.

Hit the Farmer's Market/Discount Grocer: Shop for produce at discount grocers or towards the end of the day at farmer's markets for better deals.

Do It Yourself (DIY): Avoid pre-cut or pre-made items. Cutting your own vegetables and making sauces from scratch is significantly cheaper.

Make Ahead: Preparing food in advance (like chopping vegetables, making sauces, or freezing casseroles) saves you time and reduces stress on the day of the event.

4. Beverages and Dessert Savings
Drinks and dessert can sneakily increase your costs.

Simple Drinks: The cheapest and most effective strategy is to serve water (infused with lemon/cucumber for a nice touch), a large batch of iced tea, or a simple lemonade. Skip soda, bottled juice, and specialty coffees, as these are costly.

BYOB Policy (If Appropriate): If you plan to serve alcohol, consider making it a "Bring Your Own Beer/Bottle" (BYOB) event to shift the cost to your guests.

Simple Dessert: Skip fancy cakes. A large sheet pan of Brownies or Blondies, a fruit crumble or crisp made with inexpensive seasonal fruit (apples, berries), or cookies are much cheaper to make in bulk.