What Is the Cheapest Food to Cater on a Budget? (2025 Guide)
If you’re trying to plan a beautiful wedding (or any event) on a budget, one of the first questions you’ll ask is:
“What is the cheapest food to cater?”
The great news? Affordable doesn’t mean boring. There are tons of delicious, crowd-pleasing, wedding-worthy catering menus that work beautifully for small and large events….without blowing your budget.
Whether you’re searching “cheap catering near me,” “affordable buffet ideas,” “budget wedding food,” or “drop-off catering Louisville KY,” here’s your full 2025 guide to the cheapest foods to cater and how to stretch every dollar.
Top 10 Cheapest Foods to Cater (That People Actually Love)
Below are the most budget-friendly catering options used by caterers, restaurants, and wedding companies, including why they’re cheap and what makes them easy for feeding groups on a budget.
1. Pasta Bars (Italian Catering) – One of the Cheapest & Most Popular
Cost: $3–$7 per person (DIY), $8–$14 per person (catered)
Why it’s cheap:
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Pasta is extremely cost-effective
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Sauces are simple and scalable
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Add-ons can be optional
Popular budget options:
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Alfredo + marinara
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Baked ziti
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Pasta primavera
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Garlic bread + Caesar salad
This is one of the most common low-cost wedding buffet options.
2. Taco Bars (Mexican or Tex-Mex Catering)
Cost: $6–$12 per person
Why it’s cheap:
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Affordable proteins (chicken, pork, ground beef)
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Beans, rice, tortillas, salsa = low-cost fillers
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Easy for buffets + drop-off catering
Perfect for:
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Small weddings
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Casual receptions
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Backyard weddings
3. BBQ & Southern Comfort Food
Cost: $8–$15 per person
Why it’s cheap:
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Comfort foods are inexpensive to bulk-make
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Sides are extremely budget-friendly
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Can be delivered or offered “to-go”
Budget-friendly sides:
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Mac & cheese
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Cornbread
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Green beans
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Pulled pork sliders
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Mashed potatoes
This works very well in Kentucky, Tennessee, and the South.
4. Baked Potato Bars (Ultra-Cheap)
Cost: $4–$8 per person
Why it’s cheap:
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Potatoes feed large groups cheaply
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Toppings can be simple and low-cost
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Very filling
Popular toppings:
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Shredded cheese
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Sour cream
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Bacon bits
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Chives
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Chili
Perfect for daytime receptions and casual dinners.
5. Sandwich & Deli Platter Catering
Cost: $5–$10 per person
Why it’s cheap:
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Bread + protein = cost-efficient
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Easy for drop-off catering
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Great for showers, rehearsal dinners, or micro weddings
Includes:
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Sub trays
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Wraps
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Deli platters
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Sandwich boards
6. Pizza + Flatbread Catering (The OG Cheap Option)
Cost: $4–$8 per person
Why it’s cheap:
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Low ingredient cost
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Easy bulk ordering
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Loved by all ages
Pizza + salad is still one of the most affordable catering menus on earth. (Make it more of a luxury option by elevating the standard pizza to a flatbread with high-end toppings and a fresh farm to table feel.)
7. Breakfast or Brunch Catering (Much Cheaper Than Dinner)
Cost: $6–$12 per person
Why it’s cheap:
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Eggs, pancakes, biscuits, and pastries are budget-friendly
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Fewer proteins needed
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Works great for morning or midday weddings
Popular brunch items:
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Breakfast casseroles
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Bagel boards
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French toast
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Biscuit bar
8. Asian Stir-Fry or Noodle Bars (Chinese/Japanese)
Cost: $7–$12 per person
Why it’s cheap:
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Vegetables + noodles = filling and affordable
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Can be served buffet-style
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Great for diverse palates
Affordable options include:
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Fried rice
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Lo mein
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Teriyaki chicken
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Stir-fry bowls
9. Chili or Soup Bars (Cold-Weather Weddings)
Cost: $3–$7 per person
Why it’s cheap:
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Low ingredient cost
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Very filling
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Great for October–March events
Pair with:
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Cornbread
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Salad
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Rolls
10. Rotisserie Chicken Buffet
Cost: $6–$10 per person
Why it’s cheap:
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Chicken is one of the most cost-effective proteins
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Caterers can cook it in bulk
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Works well with inexpensive sides
Pairs with:
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Mashed potatoes
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Green beans
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Corn
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Salad
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Rolls
Cheapest Catering Styles (Ranked by Cost)
Want the cheapest service style? Here’s the order from least expensive to most expensive:
1. Drop-Off / Delivery Catering (cheapest)
No staff, no setup. Perfect for:
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Simple weddings
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Backyard receptions
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Bridal showers
2. Self-Serve Buffet
Most affordable full-service option.
3. Family-Style Dinner
More serving dishes, slightly more expensive.
4. Plated Dinner
Most expensive due to staffing and kitchen labor.
How to Cater a Wedding Cheaply (50, 75, or 100 Guests)
Here are tips any caterer (including Michaelis Events!) would recommend:
✔ Pick one entrée, not three
Cuts food cost + labor.
✔ Choose chicken, pulled pork, or pasta
Cheapest proteins.
✔ Add filling sides
Mashed potatoes, pasta salad, mac & cheese, rice, rolls.
✔ Skip stationery appetizers
Swap for 1–2 passed apps instead. Smaller and easier to control food portions per person.
✔ Beer & wine only bar
Avoid premium liquor.
✔ Choose drop-off instead of staffed service
Saves 20–40%.
Cheapest Wedding Foods (Quick List)
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Pasta
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Pizza / Flatbread
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Taco bars
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Baked potatoes
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BBQ + southern sides
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Deli platters
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Sandwich boards
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Sliders
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Soup / chili bars
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Stir fry
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Breakfast / brunch items
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Chicken – based meals
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Rice bowls
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Vegetarian menus
Example Cheap Catering Menu for a Wedding
A beautiful budget-friendly menu could include:
✨ Italian Buffet
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Baked ziti
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Chicken Alfredo
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Caesar salad
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Breadsticks
Or:
✨ Mexican Taco Bar
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Chicken + beef tacos
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Rice + beans
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Chips + salsa
Or:
✨ Southern Comfort Buffet
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Pulled pork
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Mac & cheese
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Green beans
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Rolls
These are all under $10–$15 per person for most caterers.
Final Takeaway: What Is the Cheapest Food to Cater?
If you’re trying to feed guests cheaply but deliciously, the best catering options are:
🍝 Pasta
🌮 Tacos
🍗 Southern BBQ
🥪 Sandwich/deli platters
🍕 Pizza
🍳 Breakfast/brunch
🥣 Soup or chili bars
These are the lowest-cost, highest-impact, crowd-favorite catering categories.
If you’re in Louisville KY or Kentucky, full-service companies like Michaelis Events can help create affordable buffet packages, hot drop-off menus, or budget-friendly wedding menus that still feel beautiful and wedding-worthy.
