New Year's Eve party planning on a budget - help!

[MrsBobHale]

I have minimum 15 guests for NYE house party, 6 of them children aged 3-12, and 6 of them vegetarian, with four other possible guests. One possible vegan/ gluten free person who may come, although she'll happily bring her own food if I ask her to.

I've said I'll do food for everyone so they can come early and put smaller children to bed at a sensible time. Previous similar events I've done chili or paella and salad.

Looking to keep costs to a minimum so I'm avoiding a buffet. I'm thinking either:

Curry - eg Sag Paneer, maybe a meaty option, bombay potatoes, raita, lots of rice, maybe something plain for any fussy children.

Mexican - Vegetable chili, salad, guacamole, fajitas, chips or potato wedges for any fussy children

I am happy to cook from scratch but I'd much rather do something I can do in the afternoon so I'm not faffing in the kitchen when people arrive.

Just after a few opinions to help me decide - which of the above options will be cheaper and more widely accepted? Any other ideas that I could do early and just heat up and serve in the evening?

Lasagne with veggie Mince?

I'd do veg chilli, rice with peppers and onions in, and jacket spuds. I'd also get everything from aldi!

Ooh yes to jacket spuds yummy

Jacket spuds - good idea! That will fill everyone up.

Both are lovely options!
Would you do a meat chilli as well as a veggie one? I think that increases the 'acceptability'. I agree with JPs instead of chips/wedges and would add sour cream & grated cheese.
Have you ever made your own guacamole? It is lovely and v easy (but only cheap if you can find cheap avocados - lidl/aldi? Or reduced section as they want to be ripe anyway)

Either option would suit me (as a veggie).
I think curry could work out cheaper and easier: 1 meat, 1 mixed veg and chickpea curry, rice, Bombay potatoes and raita (maybe chips/nuggets for the fussy kids?)

After consultation with DD (the head chef in our house!) we have decided to go for the chilli but probably just do a veggie one for easiness and to keep costs down. I'll be really careful with the Chilli powder, but maybe make a really spicy salsa for the grown ups.

We will have:

Veg chilli (jamie oliver recipe)
Salsa with lots of chilli
Jacket pots
Grated cheese
Soured Cream or yoghurt
Some salad bits (to include some carrot sticks for the 3yo who doesn't eat much else)
Guacamole if I can find ripe avocados

That will be plenty, and any kids who aren't keen on the chilli can just have jacket pots with cheese. I expect most of them will have fed the kids something before they come anyway so it's only an extra bit of food to see them through if they are staying up until midnight.

I reckon I can do all that for around £20 if I go to Aldi!

Thanks everyone.

Hope you had a lovely eveningx

Thanks cjel. It was fab thanks. I did the lot for £22 and enough food left over for lunch for 5!

I did this chilli except with no chillis and no coriander (Aldi didn't have any)

Went for these wedges in the end. One middle-size potato per person. Was just about enough although we'd have eaten more if I'd made them.

Was a lovely spread for just over £1 per person.

Wow that all looks amazing. Well done you. What an inspiration!!