Budget Dinner Party: 14 Holiday Dishes That Feed a Crowd and Look Like You Spent a Fortune

A budget dinner party is the smartest way to host this holiday season. NYT Cooking’s video about throwing a dinner party for under $100 pulled in more than 700,000 views in two weeks, and it is easy to see why. Food prices are on everyone’s mind, but the urge to gather friends around a full table has not gone anywhere. The secret is choosing cheap stars that look generous: a big roast, a giant pan of pasta, homemade bread and one dessert baked on a single sheet pan. Here is a complete menu that feeds 6 to 8 people, from starters to dessert, with tips to stretch every dish..

Budget Dinner Party: The Plan

A full table does not need a full wallet. The trick is cheap stars that look generous: one big roast, one big pan of pasta, homemade bread, and a dessert baked in a single sheet pan. Here is the simple game plan most smart hosts follow..

You will need: One main, one big pasta or casserole, two vegetable sides, one bread, one punch and one sheet-pan dessert. Plus a big platter, a 9×13 dish and two sheet pans.

How to make it: 1. Pick one roast and one pasta so nobody leaves hungry. 2. Shop sales and buy whole chickens or pork shoulder, not steaks. 3. Bake bread and dessert the day before. 4. Prep the sides in the morning. 5. Ask guests to bring drinks or flowers. 6. Serve family style on big platters so the table looks abundant.

Budget Dinner Party Starter: Whipped White Bean Dip

A can of white beans becomes a silky, garlicky dip that tastes far more expensive than it is. Blend it with olive oil, lemon and garlic, swirl it into a shallow bowl and top with herbs and a drizzle of oil. Serve with toasted bread or crackers you make from the end of a loaf. Do you like a lot of garlic?

You will need: 2 cans (15 oz each) cannellini beans drained, 1 clove garlic, juice of 1 lemon, 1/4 cup olive oil plus more to drizzle, 1/2 tsp salt, 2 tbsp water, parsley and chili flakes to top.

How to make it: 1. Add the beans, garlic, lemon, salt and water to a blender. 2. Blend while slowly adding the olive oil. 3. Blend until very smooth. 4. Taste and add more lemon or salt. 5. Spread in a shallow bowl. 6. Top with oil, parsley and chili flakes.

Spiced Roasted Chickpeas and Marinated Olives

Put out little bowls of crunchy roasted chickpeas and garlicky olives and guests will think you hired a caterer. Roasted chickpeas cost almost nothing, and they are addictive with smoked paprika and cumin. Warm a cup of olives in olive oil with lemon peel and herbs. Both can be made the day before. Salty snack lover?

You will need: 2 cans (15 oz each) chickpeas drained and dried, 2 tbsp olive oil, 1 tsp smoked paprika, 1/2 tsp cumin, 1/2 tsp salt. Olives: 1 1/2 cups mixed olives, 3 tbsp olive oil, 2 strips lemon peel, 1 clove garlic sliced, 1 sprig rosemary.

How to make it: 1. Heat the oven to 425F. 2. Toss the chickpeas with oil and spices. 3. Roast 25 to 30 minutes, shaking the pan, until crunchy. 4. Warm the olive oil with lemon peel, garlic and rosemary. 5. Pour over the olives and cool. 6. Serve both in small bowls.

Budget Dinner Party Main: Two Roast Chickens

For a budget dinner party, two whole roast chickens give you the wow of a holiday roast for a fraction of the price of beef. They roast at the same time on one big pan, and the drippings make a quick gravy. NYT Cooking’s roast chicken is one of its most rated recipes ever, with more than 10,000 ratings. Carve at the table for drama. White or dark meat?

You will need: 2 whole chickens (4 lb each), 4 tbsp soft butter, 1 head garlic halved, 2 lemons halved, a bunch of thyme, 2 tsp salt, 1 tsp pepper, 2 onions in thick slices.

How to make it: 1. Heat the oven to 425F. 2. Pat the chickens dry and rub with butter, salt and pepper. 3. Stuff each with half a lemon, garlic and thyme. 4. Set them on the onion slices on a big pan. 5. Roast 1 hour 10 to 1 hour 20 minutes, until 165F in the thigh. 6. Rest 15 minutes before carving.

Slow-Roasted Pork Shoulder for Tacos or Sandwiches

Pork shoulder is a budget dinner party hero and one of the cheapest cuts in the meat case, and slow roasting turns it into tender, juicy meat that feeds a crowd. Rub it with spices in the morning and let the oven do the work. Set out tortillas, buns, slaw and salsa so guests build their own plates. It feels like a party. Tacos or sandwiches?

You will need: 1 bone-in pork shoulder (5 to 6 lb), 2 tbsp brown sugar, 1 tbsp smoked paprika, 1 tbsp salt, 2 tsp garlic powder, 2 tsp cumin, 1 tsp pepper, 1 cup broth, tortillas or buns to serve.

How to make it: 1. Mix the sugar and spices and rub all over the pork. 2. Set it in a roasting pan with the broth. 3. Cover tightly with foil. 4. Roast at 300F for 5 to 6 hours until it shreds easily. 5. Uncover for the last 30 minutes to crisp. 6. Shred and toss with the pan juices.

Budget Dinner Party Pasta: A Big Pan of Baked Ziti

Every budget dinner party needs a big pan of pasta, and baked ziti is the king. One pound of pasta, a jar of sauce, ricotta and mozzarella fill a 9×13 dish and feed eight people. Assemble it the day before and bake it while the chicken rests. Nobody ever goes home hungry when baked ziti is on the table. Extra cheese on top?

You will need: 1 lb ziti or penne, 1 jar (24 oz) marinara, 1 lb Italian sausage or ground beef optional, 15 oz ricotta, 1 egg, 3 cups shredded mozzarella, 1/2 cup grated Parmesan, 1 tsp Italian seasoning.

How to make it: 1. Cook the pasta 2 minutes less than the box says. 2. Brown the sausage if using and stir in the sauce. 3. Mix ricotta, egg, half the Parmesan and seasoning. 4. Toss the pasta with the sauce and layer with the ricotta in a 9×13 dish. 5. Top with mozzarella and Parmesan. 6. Bake at 375F for 25 to 30 minutes.

Honey Roasted Carrots With Thyme

A bag of carrots costs very little, but roasted whole with honey and thyme they look like a fancy restaurant side. Leave a little of the green tops on if you can find them. They roast on a sheet pan while the chicken rests, which makes them perfect for a budget dinner party. The sweet glaze is a hit with kids and grown-ups alike. Sweet sides: yes or no?

You will need: 2 lb carrots peeled, 2 tbsp olive oil, 2 tbsp honey, 1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves, 1/2 tsp salt, pepper, flaky salt to finish.

How to make it: 1. Heat the oven to 425F. 2. Toss the carrots with oil, salt and pepper. 3. Roast 20 minutes on a sheet pan. 4. Drizzle with honey and add thyme. 5. Roast 10 more minutes until caramelized. 6. Sprinkle with flaky salt.

Big Winter Slaw With Apples

A crunchy slaw brightens a rich holiday plate and costs pennies per serving. Shred a head of cabbage, add carrots and thin apple slices, then toss with a tangy cider vinegar dressing. It holds well for hours, so you can make it before guests arrive. This is the budget dinner party side people ask about. Creamy or vinegar slaw?

You will need: 1 small head cabbage thinly sliced, 2 carrots shredded, 2 apples cut in matchsticks, 1/4 cup chopped parsley. Dressing: 1/3 cup olive oil, 3 tbsp cider vinegar, 1 tbsp honey, 1 tsp Dijon mustard, salt, pepper.

How to make it: 1. Whisk the dressing in a big bowl. 2. Add the cabbage and carrots. 3. Toss well and let sit 15 minutes. 4. Add the apples and parsley. 5. Toss again and taste for salt. 6. Chill until serving.

A Pot of Garlicky White Beans

Italian grandmothers have fed crowds with a pot of beans for centuries. Simmer white beans with plenty of garlic, rosemary and olive oil until creamy, then finish with Parmesan and lemon. They are hearty, comforting and almost free. Serve them in a big bowl with bread for scooping. Would you serve beans at a holiday dinner?

You will need: 3 cans (15 oz each) white beans with liquid, 1/3 cup olive oil, 6 cloves garlic sliced, 2 sprigs rosemary, 1/2 tsp chili flakes, 1 cup broth, 1/4 cup grated Parmesan, juice of 1/2 lemon, salt.

How to make it: 1. Warm the oil, garlic, rosemary and chili flakes in a pot over low heat. 2. Cook until the garlic is pale gold. 3. Add the beans and broth. 4. Simmer 15 minutes, mashing a few beans. 5. Stir in Parmesan and lemon. 6. Season and drizzle with more oil.

Crispy Smashed Potatoes

Potatoes are the cheapest way to make a table feel full, and smashed potatoes look the most impressive. Boil small potatoes, smash them flat on a sheet pan and roast until the edges are shatteringly crisp. Top with garlic butter and herbs. One pan easily serves eight at a budget dinner party. Do you fight over the crispy edges?

You will need: 3 lb small potatoes, 1/4 cup olive oil, 2 tbsp melted butter, 2 cloves garlic minced, 1 tsp salt, pepper, 2 tbsp chopped parsley.

How to make it: 1. Boil the potatoes in salted water 15 to 20 minutes until tender. 2. Drain and spread on an oiled sheet pan. 3. Smash each one flat with a glass. 4. Drizzle with oil and season. 5. Roast at 450F for 25 to 30 minutes. 6. Toss with garlic butter and parsley.

Budget Dinner Party Bread: No-Knead Focaccia

Homemade bread makes any budget dinner party feel special, and focaccia is the easiest bread there is. Flour, water, yeast and olive oil rise in a bowl overnight with no kneading. Press it into a pan, dimple it with your fingers and bake. The smell alone will impress your guests. Rosemary or plain?

You will need: 4 cups flour, 2 tsp salt, 1 1/2 tsp instant yeast, 2 cups warm water, 1/2 cup olive oil divided, 1 tbsp fresh rosemary, flaky salt.

How to make it: 1. Stir flour, salt, yeast and water into a sticky dough. 2. Cover and refrigerate 8 to 24 hours. 3. Pour half the oil into a 9×13 pan and add the dough. 4. Let rise 2 hours at room temperature. 5. Dimple with oiled fingers, add the rest of the oil, rosemary and salt. 6. Bake at 425F for 25 minutes.

Sparkling Cranberry Punch, No Alcohol

A big bowl of festive punch costs far less than drinks for everyone and works for all ages. Mix cranberry juice, orange juice and sparkling water or ginger ale, then float orange slices and frozen cranberries on top. It looks beautiful on the table. At a budget dinner party, ask guests to bring anything else they want to drink. Ginger ale or sparkling water?

You will need: 4 cups cranberry juice, 2 cups orange juice, 4 cups ginger ale or sparkling water chilled, 1 orange sliced, 1 cup frozen cranberries, fresh mint.

How to make it: 1. Chill all the juices. 2. Mix cranberry and orange juice in a big bowl or pitcher. 3. Add the ginger ale just before serving. 4. Float orange slices and cranberries on top. 5. Add mint sprigs. 6. Serve over ice.

Apple Slab Pie on a Sheet Pan

A slab pie feeds twice as many people as a round pie with about the same work. Roll the crust into a sheet pan, fill with sliced apples and cinnamon, and top with a second crust or a lattice. Cut it into squares and drizzle with a simple glaze. It travels well too. Love thrifty cooking? See our Depression era dinners that fed a whole family on almost nothing for more ideas from grandma’s kitchen. Ice cream on the side?

You will need: 2 refrigerated pie crust packs (4 crusts), 8 apples peeled and sliced, 3/4 cup sugar, 1/4 cup flour, 2 tsp cinnamon, 1 tbsp lemon juice, 1 egg beaten. Glaze: 1 cup powdered sugar, 2 tbsp milk.

How to make it: 1. Heat the oven to 375F. 2. Press two crusts into a rimmed sheet pan. 3. Toss the apples with sugar, flour, cinnamon and lemon and spread over the crust. 4. Top with the other crusts, seal and cut slits. 5. Brush with egg and bake 45 to 50 minutes. 6. Cool and drizzle with the glaze.

Budget Dinner Party Dessert: Chocolate Sheet Cake

Texas-style chocolate sheet cake is the classic potluck dessert because it is cheap, fast and feeds a crowd of 20. The warm fudgy frosting is poured right over the hot cake. No layers, no fancy decorating, just pure chocolate comfort. If you have leftover cake, guests will happily take it home. Nuts on top or plain?

You will need: 2 cups flour, 2 cups sugar, 1 tsp baking soda, 1/2 tsp salt, 1 cup butter, 1 cup water, 1/4 cup cocoa, 1/2 cup buttermilk, 2 eggs, 1 tsp vanilla. Frosting: 1/2 cup butter, 1/4 cup cocoa, 1/3 cup milk, 3 1/2 cups powdered sugar, 1 tsp vanilla.

How to make it: 1. Heat the oven to 350F and grease a large sheet pan. 2. Whisk flour, sugar, soda and salt. 3. Boil the butter, water and cocoa and stir into the flour. 4. Mix in buttermilk, eggs and vanilla, then pour into the pan. 5. Bake 20 minutes. 6. Boil the frosting butter, cocoa and milk, whisk in sugar and vanilla, and pour over the warm cake.