What can I make for lunch for about 40 people for under 30 dollars?

Question

I have to serve about 40 people lunch and I don't have much money. I'd love to do something interesting, but the budget limitations are tight. There are two vegetarians that I know of, and there might be more. It can't be pizza. Also it's really hot here, so it can't be chili or lentils unless they are cold. Thanks!

Answer 1

buy them some cookies ha ha !

Answer 2

How about a cold pasta primavera with iced tea to drink and cookies for dessert?

Macaroni is cheap and even tho veggies are expensive,the ratio is such that is would be cheaper than a crudite platter.You could use a couple bags of frozen bell pepper instead of fresh-get the mixed ones for color and add canned diced tomatoes instead of fresh(tho fresh would taste better) and use a nice Italian dressing as the marinade. Get some french bread from the day old coutner and toast it with some garlic butter.

Tea is cheap ( throw in some mint leaves to liven it up if you have a garden or know someone who grows it) as is making several dozen sugar cookies.

Answer 3

Bread and water.

Answer 4

Pasta Machine Cajun Pasta

Prep: 10 min, Cook: 10 min.

1-1/4 cups durum semolina flour

1-1/2 tsp. Cajun spice mix

1 egg

1 Tbs. vegetable oil

1 Tbs. water, as needed

Prepare dough according to your machine's directions. To cook, add slowly to a large pot of boiling water. Cook 7-8 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until al dente.

This recipe serves 4 people. Due to the nature of this recipe, it adjusts the number of servings in multiples of 4 only.

or

http://www.cheapcooking.com

Answer 5

Egg salad sandwiches.

Tuna salad sandwiches.

Peanut butter sandwiches for the vegans (?)

Buy some bagged salads and loose veggies to throw in.

Some veggies and dip on a tray, as filler.

Cheddar cheese, sliced, with crackers on a tray, as filler.

Answer 6

I know that you said it was hot there, but what about a taco bar?  Simply buy some hamburger (I'd guess at 5 lbs) and then fill different plates with the condiments (cheese, lettuce, onion, etc.) You will need to have guacamole made for the vegetarians (you could also have tostada shells available with vegetarian beans.  Don't forget salsa!

I hope this helps--have a good lunch!

Answer 7

get 2 5lb hamburger beef rolls and pat it out the day b4. go 2 a 1 day old bread store for the buns. if u want lettuce pickles and onions try a local farmer or farmers market. we did this for my son's birthday party. good luck with the party!!

Answer 8

Dissolve suger in 40 glass of water...serve it to them. :P

Answer 9

Make baked ziti without meat.  

Purchase the ziti pasta, cheap (jar) spaghetti sauce, mozzarella cheese.  Mix together and bake.

Add a salad and some Italian bread.

Answer 10

Make something incredibly healthy!!! Nobody eats it anyway, so you won't have to make much.

Answer 11

Your budget will impose certain limitations, but what you need can be accomplished.  Here are some ideas:

Menu I:

Pour and Dump Pasta:  4 lbs turkey Italian sausage, casings removed; 3 yellow onions, chopped; 4 jars Classico Pasta Sauce; 4 jars Cheesy Alfredo sauce; 4 boxes pasta.  Saute sausage with onions.  Drain and add sauces.  Toss with cooked pasta.

Green Salad:  3 max pax sizes chopped lettuces; 2 cucumbers; 2 cans garbanzo beans, drained; 2 cans kidney beans; drained; 2 cans 4 bean salad; 1 box croutons; 1 large bottle ranch dressing, 1 large bottle Italian dressing

French bread spread with margarine and sprinkled with garlic powder and Italian herbs.

Brownies

Menu II:

Shepards Pie:  4 lbs ground beef; 2 packages frozen mixed veges; 1 large container beef broth; beef gravey mix; Istant potato buds; 1 cube butter; 2 cups cheese.  Saute beef and drain.  Add mixed veges, beef broth and gravey mix.  Stir to thicken and season with salt and pepper.  Pour into baking dish and top with mashed potatos, dot with butter, and sprinkle with cheese.  Cover and bake until bubbling.

Fresh fruit salad

Lemon bars

Menu III:

Pasta salad with peas, ranch dressing; artichoke hearts; olives; roasted red pepper.

Sliced french bread

Vegetable tray

Spice cake

Menu IV:

Gazpacho (cold vegetable soup.  visit your local farmers market for fresh produce)

Hot bread

Deviled eggs

Fresh fruit

Cookies

Menu V:

Quiche:  artichoke heart and green chili; carmelized onion and mushroom; spinach and tomato; bacon and swiss chard etc.  You'll need 5 to 7 pies (8 servings per pie)

Wedge salad with blue cheese dressing and candied pecans

Fresh strawberry shortcakes

Answer 12

Go to Wal-Mart. They have deals on those really long subs or the platters with the tiny sandwiches (;

Answer 13

Your best bet is something in a pasta. You can make a cold pasta lunch salad, If you use pepperoni in it just set some aside for the vegetarian respect. just put lots of vegetables like a couple different color peppers onions shredded carrots black olives. The more colors used it'll make it more of a main dish than a side. And dress with ialian instead of mayonaise to reduce the risk of spoiling in the temperature.

Answer 14

Pasta Roni parmesan noodles(3) Boxes  -w- Shrimp 1 bag medium wally world

Sautee shrimp in margarine add flavour packets to water place 1/2 water/packet combo bring to boil add noodles and slowly stir in other 1/2 liquid as noodles cook. Use pasts fork to prevent noodle clumping.

Teriyaki/Garlic Ginger Tofu salad.

Tofu, Lettuce, Carrot, Spinach, Cucumber, Onion (optional), Shelled Sunflower seeds.  

Combine 1/2 Tofu, Onion & Teriyaki to cover tofu in a bowl leave in fridge over night.

Now Combine 1/2 Tofu, grated Carrot, Thinly sliced Cucumber & Garlic Ginger sauce to cover tofu in a bowl leave in fridge over night.

1 hour before meal drain both bowls and combine with Fresh Lettuce , Fresh Spinach & Shelled Sunflower seeds.

Dessert:

Brandied Cherry Cinnamon crust.

4 cans Cherry pie Filling

1 bottle Brandy

4 pie crusts

1 box cherry gelatin

Combine the Cherry filling, Brandy & Cherry gelatin in covered bowl mix thoroughly place in fridge over night.

Thaw pie crusts cut into strips brush with margarine & twist across a cinnamon covered cutting board. Bake on greased cookie sheet until 1/2 done.

Add Cherry mix and twists in layers to a standard 9x13 baking pan. Bake until top twists are golden brown on 325.

Let cool for 20 minutes before serving.

The Shrimp Pasta $10

The Salad  $9

The Cherry dessert $11

For a total of 30 Dollars.

Answer 15

Pasta is my go-to for feeding lots of people cheaply.  To feed 23 people a few weeks ago I made 2 pans of lasagna with salad and bread (and had half a pan left over.)

Answer 16

OK..  buy the ground turkey at .99 lb.  buy 9 lbs. brown

3 cans of tomatoe paste - add water as necessary

add brown sugar and a small amount of mustard to taste.

Buy buns at the bakery outlet store

At super walmart buy restaurant size can of bushes baked beans $4.00

2 doz eggs for the vegetarians (1 doz into egg salad - 1 doz into the pot salad)

5 lbs potatoes -

1 doz eggs

Salad Dressing

Sweet pickles

1 small onion if you like

touch of sugar and mustard

Aldi potato chips

JELLO for dessert and brownies at Aldis if the budget allows.

You should be able to have BBQs, Baked beans and Pot Salad with dessert for the $30.

Good Luck

Hottttttt  Dogggggg

Answer 17

Lasagna! Just buy:

Lasagna noodles (2 boxes) $3.00 Avg.

Pasta sauce (2 jars) $2.00-$4.00 Avg.

Cheese (The shredded-bagged kind will do well) $3.00 Avg.

Cottage cheese. $2.00-$3.00 Avg.

Ground Beef (or turkey, for some) $10.00 Avg.

And you could buy some onions to chop, or some ricotta cheese.

Whatever you think will taste good!