10 Budget Friendly Food And Beverage Ideas For Events

  • By Jessica Elmore
  • •
  • 13 Oct, 2016
  • •
Putting on an event can be stressful and expensive so it’s only natural to look for ways to make easier and budget friendly. Here is a list of 10 Budget Friendly Food And Beverage Ideas For Events:

1. Meatball Appetizers

Meatballs are a fun, pop-in-your-mouth, great kind of appetizer. There are a ton of different ways to make meatballs that taste great and you can form them to be tiny   or large. Either way, they are a great way to fill people up. You could also make a bunch ahead of time and freeze them until the event.

2. Pasta Dishes

It doesn’t really matter what type of pasta you make, it all tastes good and it’s always filling. Depending on when your event is, you might choose a certain kind of pasta. If you’re having an event in the winter time, you might want to go with a heavier, saucier, pasta that can warm you up. If your event is in the summer, you might opt for a cold pasta salad. It’s inexpensive to make and a little pasta goes a long way. You can also make and freeze most pasta dishes ahead of time.

3. Yummy Sliders

Sliders are a great option for any event and there are many different ways to make them. You could use ground beef to make small patties or use pulled chicken. Slider buns are inexpensive and you can get a few toppings of your choice to add on top like relish, onions, sauces, different cheeses, lettuce, tomatoes, etc.

4. Flat Bread Pizzas

Find some flat bread dough and roll it out nice and long. Put your desired toppings on and bake. When it’s done baking you can cut the flat bread to into nice portions and serve. Bite sized portions are enough to feed guests and it’s also a popular dish for kids. Toppings can include but are not limited to mozzarella cheese, marinara sauce, pineapples, olives, ground beef, peppers, pepperoni, onions, etc.

5. Cookies!

Who doesn’t love cookies? They taste great and are easy to make. If you don’t feel like making them from scratch, you can cheat a little and use the pre-made packets or the cut and cook dough. They are inexpensive to buy and you can make a lot of them at once. You can also elevate the cookies by adding some of your own ingredients like nuts, dried fruits, white chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, etc.

6. Cupcakes!

Cupcakes are the best dessert at an event. They can easily be made and can be regular or mini. If you don’t want to make the cake batter from scratch, use the pre-made mixes found in the baking aisle of any grocery store. There are a lot of delicious flavor options and icing combinations you can choose from. To make the icing look professional, get a sealable baggy and an icing tip and pipe on the icing. It may seem scary at first but even the worst bakers can do it and it will be a time saver once you get the hang of it.

7. Brownies Bites

Brownies are another easy to make baked good. You can make from scratch or buy the boxed mix. Make a few pans of them and put some glaze on top to make them extra delicious. You can even add chocolate chips, peanut butter cups, sprinkles, nuts, raspberry sauce, etc. Cut them into nice little squares that are easy to pick up and eat.

8. Lemonade

Lemonade is one of those beverages that no one really remembers about but is relieved when it’s available. Especially for summer months, a cold glass of lemonade would be refreshing for guests. The best part about this beverage is that it’s easy to make and you can make a lot of it. Cut some corners and go for the lemonade powder. You can make gallons of this stuff all at once and store to have on hand.

9. Water, No, Really

It may seem like an obvious beverage to have at an event but it’s inexpensive and well liked. To make it more interesting, you can add berries, mint leaves, lemons, and other foods. By adding flavors to the water you are making it more desirable but still keeping it budget friendly because it won’t take much to flavor water.

10. Sangria

For an alcoholic beverage that is inexpensive, make sangria. Either white or red or make both to have on hand. To keep the cost down, buy fruits that are inexpensive and large like oranges, apples and pineapples. Berries can get costly and are small. Choose a less expensive wine or sangria mix. By the time you mix it with other fruit juices and fruit, no one will be able to tell it’s cheap wine. You can make a lot of this and when you’re done you can take out the fruit and make a boozy fruit salad out of it. A two for one deal.

Often times the most inexpensive way to make food and beverages for an event is to do it yourself, however these items can both be made at home or be bought or catered. As always, contact elm planning to make the most of your upcoming meeting!

How Does the Pilot Shortage Affect Your Travels?

By Jessica Elmore • July 20, 2022

During the pandemic, thousands of pilots were offered early retirement packages in order to cut labor bills due to the lack of travel demand. Now that travel for pleasure and business is rebounding from the pandemic, approximately 14,000 flights in the US were recently cancelled or delayed due to the lack of pilots, carriers, and other staff.

Meet our newest edition to the elm Planning/nest Event Rentals team!

By Jessica Elmore • August 24, 2020
We are beyond excited to introduce our newest member to the elm team. Get to know, Claire O'Brien, our Program Coordinator/Event Designer.

The Future of Meetings and Events Post Coronavirus 

By Jessica Elmore • June 18, 2020
Now that gatherings are reconvening, it’s crucial for event and meeting planners to properly convey their reaction and implementation of changes regarding their events.

How Hotels are Ensuring Health and Safety in Response to COVID-19

By Jessica Elmore • May 13, 2020
Hotels are revamping their cleaning measures to restore customer confidence and bring guests back to their properties.

Airlines Efforts to Make Flying Safer 

By Jessica Elmore • April 29, 2020
In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, airlines are stepping up their efforts to provide a safe and healthy environment for crews and passengers before takeoff and after landing.

Ways the Travel Industry is Giving Back During COVID-19 

By Jessica Elmore • April 14, 2020
The coronavirus outbreak has dealt the hospitality and travel industry a huge blow. Here's how companies are stepping up and providing aid during these unprecedented times.

Traveling Smart 

By Jessica Elmore • March 10, 2020
Coronavirus has those traveling on edge. In order to protect yourself, you need to be aware of the virus, adhere to travel advisories, avoid impacted areas and exercise preventive measures.

Looking Back at 2019

By Jessica Elmore • January 6, 2020
Elm has had a busy 2019. Take a look to see what we've been up to this year.

How to Keep Common Travel Ailments from Ruining Your Trip

By Jessica Elmore • November 14, 2018
Traveling does not have to make you sick - if you take simple precautions then you have a good chance of staying, and coming home, healthy.

The Evolution of the Ever-Changing Airplane Seat Continues

By Jessica Elmore • October 10, 2018
Airlines are constantly creating ways to save space and maximize passenger counts. The airplane seat is ever-changing and that's not about to stop now.
More Posts