9 Easy Potluck Recipes Under $5 (some less than $3)

Photo courtesy of tablespoon.com

 

 

Everyone loves a good potluck!  But what happens when you have to bring a dish and the budget is tighter than bark on a tree?  Here's a few great budget options that don't feel cheap:

Photo courtesy of sunset.com

Sweet and Sour Cucumbers

4-5 large cucumbers
2 large onions
Salt
1 cup vinegar
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup water

Slice cucumbers & onion very thin. Layer into a high-wall casserole dish or large bowl, salt each layer and let sit for about an hour.  Combine vinegar, sugar, & water separately then pour over cucumbers & onion.  Refrigerate overnight or at least for 4 hours. Makes 10-12 servings.

Cornbread Mini Muffins with Honey Butter Spread

Photo: babble.com

Mini muffin tins
2 boxes Jiffy Corn Bread Mix
1/2 cup milk
2 eggs

1 cup softened butter or cold margarine
1/3 cup honey
(a dash or 2 of cinnamon would be amazing, too)

Make Cornbread per specifications of the box.  Should make approx. 24-30 mini muffins. Blend butter and honey and chill until ready to serve (bring real butter back to room temperature for easy spreading).

Deviled Eggs

one of the thousands of photos
 on allrecipes.com

Ohhhhh no. You're not going to trick me into putting up a deviled egg recipe!  Offering someone a deviled egg recipe is like offering to name their first-born.  Everyone has a favorite set of ingredients... and if you don't, I suggest you ask a trusted relative or jump out to Allrecipes.com for a great recipe...there are 159 waiting.   And as long as you don't get all fancy schmancy with your ingredient add-ins, you should easily be able to make 24 egg halves for less than $3.

 

Ribbon Jell-O

The commodity for this dish is time. You'll need 4-6 hours in order to allow each layer to set up before adding another. But since each box of gelatin is only about 50 cents each, this is a very budget friendly show-stopper.

flickr.com
 

8 small 3oz boxes of flavored gelatin (4 flavors, 2 of each flavor)
2 cans evaporated milk
9x13 clear casserole dish or trifle dish

You will alternate a clear layer with a milky layer. start with a clear layer.  Mix one box of gelatin with 1 c. boiling water in a separate bowl or large measuring cup.  Dissolve.  then add 1/2 c. cold water and mix well.  Pour into serving dish and refrigerate for 30 minutes or until set. Next make a milky layer of the same flavor. Mix one box of gelatin with 3/4 c. boiling water. Dissolve. Then add 3/4 cup evaporated milk and mix well.  Pour over clear layer and refrigerate 30 minutes or until set. Continue to make the clear and cloudy layers until all 8 layers are complete.

Rice Cereal Treats

Recently, a box of Post Brand Rice Krispies has become a bit pricey.  So for this potluck, I suggest using the store or generic brand of rice cereal for $2-$3/box.  This treat also lends itself to lots variations.  But the Original still seems to be the most cost effective (minus the Post branded cereal).  Although if you happen to have some extra peanut butter or chocolate chips lying around the kitchen, you might look into other recipes.



so many different rice treat recipes

3 tablespoons butter (not margarine) 

1 package (10 oz., about 40) Marshmallows   

or                                                                                      

4 cups Miniature Marshmallows      

or

1 jar (7oz) marshmallow creme                         

6 cups rice cereal                                                           

In large saucepan melt butter over low heat. Add marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Remove from heat. Add cereal. Stir until well coated. Using buttered spatula or wax paper evenly press mixture into 13 x 9 x 2-inch pan coated with cooking spray. Cool. Cut into 2-inch squares. Best if served the same day.  Makes 24 servings

Italian Pasta Salad

When boxes of pasta go on sale for a buck, it's hard not to stock up.  Take advantage and make a pasta salad that everyone will love.

1lb favorite pasta - bowtie, mostaccioli, macaroni, corkscrew, etc

momsdish.com
 

1 can diced Italian tomatoes, drained
1 large green pepper, finely chopped
1 large onion, any kind, finely chopped
1 bottle (16 oz) zesty Italian dressing
salt and pepper to taste

Cook pasta as directed for al dente. Rinse under cold water until completely cooled and drained.  In a large bowl, combine all ingredients.  Makes 10-14 servings.

Last, but not least...never underestimate the power of HOMEMADE.

cute tag from twiggynest
 

Potluck contributions that would otherwise be mundane are made awesome when made with love.  Tortilla Chips, Seasoned Popcorn, or Zesty Hummus are always favorites, especially when crafted in your our kitchen.









Tips and Tricks when looking for a budget friendly dish:
- Avoid meat and cheese.  Most meat and cheese is pricey.  If you absolutely must provide a meat potluck, look for dishes that incorporate a starch like pasta, rice, or potatoes.  Or look into an inexpensive options like canned tuna.
- Look out for the 90-ingredient dish.  OK, ok, no dish has 90 components, however there have been times I set my sights on a dish that ultimately ends up costing twice what I thought simply because it calls for a dozen or more things that need to be purchased at $2 each....yowzers.  
- Go in with a friend and do a group dish, for instance one brings the gourmet pita chips and the other brings the fancy dip.

A Guide to Making Meals on a Budget (for the real person)

Photo by Granny's Vital Vittles

We're all on a budget.  It's not a bad word!  Let's say it together once more, loud and proud:

B-U-D-G-E-T!!

Now that we have it out in the open, we can talk freely about ways we can shave $$$ off of something we all have to do...EAT.  In this post are my suggestions for keeping your grocery shopping in-check with your family's funds.

 

Coupons

I am not a coupon clipper; I've tried and failed at the venture many times.  I'm sure I will eventually again try my hand at clipping to save cash on groceries.  Though I find most often that the coupons promoted aren't for what I normally buy, and the $.20 cents saved on a can of soup is lost in my time spent clipping/saving/organizing/double checking the correct product size.  That said, there are millions of people who clip coupons every day.  And although most of them aren't purchasing 100 bags of cheesy-poofs for a quarter, they are successfully navigating the world of saving with scissors. 

Make a grocery list and stick to it

Don't succumb to temptation

We hear it again and again, and it makes the most sense.  But I can't count how many times  I've gone to the store with nothing more than a wish list in my head.  Just like everything else in life, a list helps keep us in task and on budget.  There are great tools available to help make a grocery list that's relevant to your household.  And remember... just because there is a big display of potato chips, doesn't mean they are needed.  You didn't seem to want them while making out the list at your kitchen table, so don't succumb to temptation.

 

Make it fun!

I like to keep myself interested and challenged when it comes to the family's meals.  There are some weeks where we just don't have the time nor inclination to make everything from scratch just to keep things cheap...and that's OK!   Here are a few ways I like to keep myself interested in cooking meals on a dime.

1.  The Pantry Challenge -  Most grocery trips end up adding food to you pantry and freezer that don't get eaten by the next grocery trip.  Compound that over several weeks or months and our kitchens have a plethora of items that we need to use up.  Make a conscious decision that for a week that you're going to eat food on hand.  There's nothing more cost effect than using what was already purchased.   I'm embarrassed to say I have successfully gone 3 weeks with only purchasing milk and a few fresh fruits & veggies for my family of 4.   You'll likely eat some interesting meal combos of tuna melts with a side of cranberry sauce & rice-a-roni, but your pocketbook will thank you and your kitchen will become a blank canvas for your next shopping "theme".
2. No processed food allowed -   Contrary to popular belief, it is indeed cheaper to eat fresh food than processed food.  A good way of buying fresh yet cost effectively is to shop the perimeter of the grocery store first.  In doing this, you'll fill your cart with the necessities first, leaving little room for the processed snack foods that drain our budget.  Remember, for the same price, a bag of apples provides twice as many snacks as a box of granola bars.  Start re-thinking anything purchased in a box: Can I replace this with something fresher?  Making this an occasional weekly or monthly challenge will help you become more familiar with what produce and proteins are on sale at certain times of the year.
3. Slow cooker week - Plan a week where at least one meal a day comes from the
   slow

   

   When taking a slow cooker challenge,
   don't forget about breakfast

   cooker.  This takes prep to ensure you have the ingredients on hand and the extra 15 minutes in the morning (or evening before) to get put everything in the pot.  But the routine allows you to coach your brain into re-thinking meals on a budget.  Plus, you'll likely be able to get multiple meals out of one preparation - saving time and money.

 
 

Find a few go-to websites that you love for budget friendly recipes and ideas

One of the great things about all this internet information is the money-saving tips and tricks.  Cost effective grocery shopping is a topic on everyone's list.  The other side of this blessing is the challenge to decipher which advice can be applied to our full-time (and then some) schedules.  As much as I'd love to spend $45/week for a family of 4-6, but it's not realistic to try and shift our lifestyles for overnight soaking of dry beans, preparation of powdered milk, and creamed tuna recipes on the table. 

 

There is no shortage of articles, blogs, postings, & pins for budget foods.  There is something for everyone to reference. It won't take you long to find a few that you can relate to, but make sure to not shy away from some that might be a little out of your comfort zone such as paleo and vegan websites.   Many of these naturally lend themselves to budget conscious ideas simply because they utilize from-scratch and non processed food methods.  Keep an open mind, but selectively choose the tips you add to your daily arsenal. 

 

The Hillbilly Housewife website has been a favorite website of mine for years.  Even though I scoffed at the $45/week list earlier, she offers some great from-scratch recipes using realistic ingredients that you'll likely have on-hand.   

Think outside of the grocery store

We all have our favorite grocery store to patron.  As much as we all love shopping at the closest specialty grocery store, we have alternative supermarkets that are more cost effective.  Personally, I usually shop both in a given shopping excursion: First Aldi, then Pick n Sav or Super Walmart, lastly Brennan's Market for a fun cheese or wine to highlight a meal.  In addition to your normal routine, make sure you consider alternative venues in search for great deals. 

 

• Places like the Dollar Tree offer some really good deals on dry goods, saving 20% or more without a coupon.  
• Hit your local Farmer's Market for in-season produce, local honey, etc.  For additional cost savings, a friend recently gave me the tip to go to the market at the tail end.  None of the vendors want to haul all that stuff back to the farm, so you can negotiate some great deals by taking several things off of the hand of a single vendor.
• If you live or drive by a rural area, look for stands or yard signs for fresh garden produce and eggs.  Many times, you can get great deals on these items. If you happen to have something with which to barter (crafts or services), don't hesitate to ask!
• Ethnic food stores carry “specialty” items for much cheaper than you’d find in the ethnic section of your usual grocery store. Asian markets are great places to find inexpensive curry, sauces, or vinegars. Middle Eastern stores often carry rice, lentils, and couscous in bulk; at a Hispanic store you might find dried chilies or fresh tamales.
• Gardening:  Even with a black thumb I'm able to grow herbs in the summer which saves me lots of cash and also inspires my grocery lists and meal preparation.
• Check out your Corner Convenience Store. These are usually the stores you think of when trying to save money, but many of them are now offering bread, eggs, milk, potatoes, etc. at very competitive prices.  And it indeed is more cost effective if it saves you gas, time, and temptation of grabbing a box of dingdongs.

 

Have a few go-to cheap staple meals on hand 

Whether at holiday times or while surfing the internet, there are times when we see a

Mexican Potato Omelet
Courtesy of www.eatingwell.com

recipe that we just have to make.  Unfortunately, many times that recipes calls for ingredients that make up half our weekly food budget.  Have no fear!

 

Spaghetti, omelets, red beans & rice are a few super cheap staple meals in your kitchen arsenal,  in order to easily have the funds to make that fancy gourmet prime rib for a special occasion. 

 

 

 

 

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Changing the way you think about grocery shopping and meal preparation in order to save money can take time and much effort, but the reward is well worth it.  Take the time to find what works for you and know it can continually improve on itself.