What Are The Cheapest Catering Options and Top Buffet Menu Ideas? (2026 Guide)
If you’re trying to plan a beautiful wedding (or any event) on a budget, some of the first questions you’ll ask are: what are the cheapest catering options, inexpensive catering menu ideas, or top menu buffet ideas?
“What is the cheapest catering options?”
The great news? Affordable doesn’t mean boring. There are tons of delicious, crowd-pleasing, inexpensive catering menus ideas, and top menu buffet ideas that will 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 “inexpensive catering buffet menus,” here’s your full 2026 guide to the cheapest catering options and how to stretch every dollar.
Top 10 Cheapest Catering Options and Top Buffet Menu Ideas (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 & Top Buffet Menu Catering Options
Cost: $3–$7 per person (DIY), $8–$14 per person (catered)
Why it’s a cheap catering option:
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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 catering 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 catering option:
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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 a cheap catering option:
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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.
CHECK OUT OUR BBQ & SOUTHERN COMFORT MENUS
4. Baked Potato Bars (Ultra-Cheap)
Cost: $4–$8 per person
Why it’s a cheap catering option:
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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.
CHECK OUT OUR BAKED POTATO BAR MENUS
5. Sandwich & Deli Platter Catering
Cost: $5–$10 per person
Why it’s a cheap catering:
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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
CHECK OUT OUR SANDWICH AND DELI PLATTER MENUS
6. Pizza + Flatbread Catering (The OG Cheap Option)
Cost: $4–$8 per person
Why it’s a cheap catering option:
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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.)
CHECK OUT OUR PIZZA AND FLATBREAD MENUS
7. Breakfast or Brunch Catering (Much Cheaper Than Dinner)
Cost: $6–$12 per person
Why it’s a cheap catering option:
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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
CHECK OUT OUR BREAKFAST AND BRUNCH MENUS
8. Asian Stir-Fry or Noodle Bars (Chinese/Japanese)
Cost: $7–$12 per person
Why it’s a cheap catering option:
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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 a cheap catering option:
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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 a cheap catering option:
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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 Option 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 or Event 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 Event and Wedding Foods for Cheap Catering Options (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 Options – Sample Menus for a Wedding or Event
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 Catering Options?
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.
Sources: Cheapest Catering Options & Pricing
The Knot (Top Wedding Cost Authority)
Cheapest Catering Styles + Menu Types
WeddingWire (Nationwide Vendor Pricing Data)
Affordable Catering Options & Menu Costs
Brides Magazine (Editorial + Expert Cost Analysis)
Budget Wedding Food Ideas
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https://www.brides.com/story/how-to-save-money-on-wedding-food
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https://www.brides.com/cheap-wedding-food-ideas-5070704
Zola (Modern Wedding Planning Authority)
Affordable Catering & Buffet Menus
Thumbtack (Real Quotes From Caterers)
Low-Cost Catering by Menu Type
Food Network (Ingredient Cost & Bulk Cooking Authority)
Why Certain Foods Are Cheap to Cater
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https://www.foodnetwork.com/how-to/packages/food-network-essentials/cheap-dinner-ideas
Better Homes & Gardens (Large-Group Food Planning)
Feeding Groups Cheaply
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https://www.bhg.com/recipes/cooking/budget/cheap-meals-for-a-crowd/
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (Food Cost Trends)
Protein & Ingredient Cost Comparisons
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https://www.bls.gov/regions/midwest/data/averagefoodprices_selectedareas_table.htm
