Please help with party food ideas!!

[Rickandportly]

Okay not a huge party, but I have recently met some lovely people and they are coming over for the first time on Sunday.

There will be 6 adults and 4 children under ten.

Just drinks in the garden and food to pick at.

Limited budget so ideas please!

Should I go with picky food or do a couple of curries for people to help themselves to?

Not had people over in years!

I would do picnic food eg: mini picnic eggs, mini sausages, sausage rolls, salad, breadsticks. all the best x

If your budget is limited I would avoid lots of individual picky dishes as that usually makes the price list go through the roof. I'd go for several big dishes - curry, chilli, lasagne etc with rice, naan bread, garlic bread, etc. Provide some salads and baked potatoes and you're good to go.
Maybe some fruit/cheese/crackers for afters.

Have you checked if anyone has any allergies/dietary requirements?

A couple of pizzas cut up? Nice olive bread/sourdough bread warmed in oven and proper butter? Carrots/peppers/cucumber sticks with hummus? Indian bites (samosa onion baji etc). Pasta salad are good cheap fillers- pasta pesto spinach leaves and green olives? Or pasta feta black olives sundried tomatoes?
All this can be done day before and stored in fridge till you need it.
I had people over yesterday and these were all winners. Have fun.
Aldi have great reasonably priced rose sparkling wine too!

No allergies, all meat eaters so fairly easy.

Big lasagne, salad, garlic bread and some pizzas cut up maybe?

Dh suggested lots of Iceland party food stuff but it’s a ball ache getting stuff in/out of oven.

French bread, good cheese board, cold meats, pickles, crudités and dips.
What time are they coming though? If mi was invited for drinks I’d me surprised to be fed lasagne.

They are arriving about 4.

Maybe I’ll do pizza then for the children and do dips/crackers cheese etc for the adults later?

I never know if I should do a proper meal or just bits to pick at!

Marinated chicken breasts a few salads and some jacket potatoes - can pick or sit down together and can all be prepared ahead / used for lunches through the week so no waste

Nobody wants Iceland 'party' crap. Your lasagne idea is a much one.

The best budget dish is chilli and rice - will cost under £10 for that many people including cheese and sour cream toppings. Have tortilla chips and salsa on the side (buy the salted value chips, they taste better) and make salsa from chopped tomatoes, onion, and chopped coriander. Nibbles always end up costing more. If some are vegetarian think about just sticking with mixed bean chilli, it's even cheaper. you will need cumin, oregano, chilli powder etc but they will last

fruit crumble & ice cream

Right a chilli it is!!

I’ll do nachos with cheese and sour cream etc for people to munch on if they don’t want a bowl of chilli, out wraps out etc.

Thank you!

A lot of people don't like chilli, and even more so with kids.

I’m still going to get a couple of pizzas in for the kids

I don’t know anyone who doesn’t like chilli! Just send a text a few days before, ‘going to do a chilli with jackets, that alright with everyone? I’ll get some pizzas too if anyone would rather pizza’

www.marksandspencer.com/c/style-and-living/the-bonanza-meal-deal

£30 on this would get you plenty!