Looking for inexpensive recipes that serve many.

pasta is probably the cheapest

1 box of penne pasta
1lb of hamburger meat
1lb of spicy breakfast sausage
pasta sauce
mozzarella cheese
cook the pasta, cook the meat, mix with the sauce, bake for about 20 minutes or until everything is hot, spread the cheese on top and bake till melted. you can mix more cheese into the mix if you want. 2 batches would cost around 25.00

big pot of Chili & beans
have corn chips, cheese, crackers, onions

Tacos will go a long way

we usually do all the food, which is themed. This year, I need to back off on spending and running out of time, so I have made it a contest for the spooky food. I have guests sign up with what they are bringing and I will fill in the spaces. We usually have 50-75 guests. Not everyone will eat. In the past, we have had 3 kinds of wings (bat wings) macaroni and cheese using bow tie pasta (look like bats), queso dip (vomit), salsa and chips (blood clots and bone chips) red velvet brownies (blood brownies) cupcakes frosted like a brain, meatballs (zombie eyes) little smokies (witches fingers), also I put cream cheese in a brain mold and cover with raspberry chipotle sauce (you can find at Costco) served with crackers (brain hemorrhage) and veggie tray (monster fingers). Pinterest is a good place to start as well. Now I just need to figure out prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place food. Also deviled eggs are good. add a sliced black olive to make it look like an eyeball.

Macaroni and Cheese and a Tomato Bread Stuffing. You can use day old bread in the stuffing and canned tomatoes. I usually have all the ingredients on hand in my pantry.

Sauce:
1 teaspoon salt
2 or 3 Tablespoons butter
3 Tablespoon Flour
2 Cups Milk
1/2 Cup grated cheese

Put butter in sauce pan and melt over slow heat. Add salt and flour and mix well but do not brown. Add milk and cook until it thickens. Add Cheese and stir in well.

When we ate the macaroni and cheese we put the tomato stuffing on top of it.
Macaroni and Cheese:
Use additional cheese when layering in casserole dish.
Italian Breadcrumbs to cover top of casserole
Pats of butter for top. (5 or 6)

Cook macaroni, (3 Cups) in boiling salted water until tender. Drain and rinse well. Add to cheese sauce and mix. Butter casserole dish. Layer noodles, then a layer of Cheese, Repeat until all noodles are gone, layer a final layer of cheese, Sprinkle top with bread crumbs and dot with butter. Bake 1/2 hour at 375.

Tomato Bread Stuffing:
2 Cup can of tomatoes
3 slices of bread sliced in strips or cut in large 2 inch long pieces
Sugar, Salt and Pepper to taste.
If you like onion you can add 1/2 Cup of diced onion.

Butter casserole and put mixture into casserole dish. Sprinkle bread crumbs and dot with butter.

Bake 1/2 hour at 375. (Can be baked at the same time as the macaroni and cheese.

You can't go wrong with lasagna for a crowd. So many variations. You can make your own sauce or use commercial for convenience. Bulk it up with mushrooms, veggies, etc. The only expensive ingredient is the cheese but you can use as much as you like or can afford. People can choose their own serving size. Filling, hearty and delicious. I don't know many people who don't like pasta. Add some herbed garlic bread (whip 2 sticks of butter with minced garlic, salt and pepper then add about a tablespoon of parsley then whip again. Cut slices into a French bread loaf - but not all the way through - slather butter on each side of each slice and spread any remaining over the top. Cover in foil and bake in a moderate oven for about 10 minutes or until piping hot). Again, you can make as many loaves as you need and it will go far.

Enjoy!