Cooking cheap for a large home group?

[squiddles]

Anybody have a yummy fall soup that can be made cheaply? (Like meatless etc) I need to make dinner for 40+ people, but trying to do it on a super tight budget. I love vegetarian soups, but this is a big group of hunting meat eaters and I want them to like it

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[CelticJourney]

I LOVE potato soup. If you like meat, usually you like potatoes. Also you could add things like cheese and bacon bits as options to add on.

[Anne Ofalamo]

We host our whole church once a month or so...and in the winter chili con carne...I can do meatless, or I have in the past asked some of the hunters for some elk! mmmm yummy...but with mini corn bread muffins, served over rice...oh my goodness, will fill a happy tummy
Minestrone with a hearty garlic bread is another good one, with or without meat...

[mommylove]

This vegetable soup is super good, very inexpensive & the addition of chickpeas gives it some staying power. Check out the reviews. It makes a huge quantity, so you'll only need to triple the recipe. Bonus points that if you can gather 3 (large) crockpots, you can do it all in a slow cookers.

[houseforjoy]

i was gonna say chilli too. just a little meat can go a long way in it (like i will do a pound in a BIG BIG pot) and do lots of different beans in it (small red, cranberry beans , maybe some kidney beans) and lots of tomatoes and seasoning.

[Maedchen]

Taco soup can be made with or without meat.

[Aerynne]

I do taco soup for meat eaters. This is how I do it (for a smaller group- please feel free to multiply it)

1 onion
2 cloves of garlic
3/4 tsp cumin
1 tsp chili powder

saute until the onions start to turn golden

Add 2 cans of tomatoes, 2 cans black beans, 2 cans pinto beans, 2 c. frozen corn, some lime juice. (you could use cooked dry beans to save money)

Put about 4 cups of it into the blender with a bunch of cilantro leaves. Blend until smooth. Return it to the rest of the soup.

Serve with cheese and chips.

You could also do one of the 15-bean soup mixes and maybe throw some ham in and make cornbread to go with it.

[FaithHopeLove]

Not sure how it compares to taco soup, but we love chicken tortilla soup made with a black bean base. Black beans are super inexpensive! Basically, I just make black bean soup (or buy it from Trader Joes) and add pulled chicken cooked in Mexican seasoning, frozen corn, maybe some chopped red bell peppers and sweet onion. Top with grated cheese, sour cream, and serve with side of tortilla chips. You could have the pulled chicken in a separate pot to add to the meat eater's soup, leave out for the vegetarians.

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/black-bean-soup/