There are bound to be some good games and upsets this March Madness and we are rooting for several of our hometown favorites - go Bluejays and Cyclones!

Entertaining a crowd for the big tournament doesn’t have to be expensive. Here are my top three tips for a budget-friendly meal for entertaining.

Litehouse Zesty Italian is an easy, delicious marinade for meats and vegetables

 

Stock Up On Meat and Poultry. Meat can be expensive. I can’t fathom buying meat at regular price, especially for a party. With the prices here in Iowa, my price to buy chicken, ground beef and pork ribs is $1.99 and under per pound. Chicken legs and wings are even less when on sale. I rarely buy steaks because of the price, but flank steak is a relatively cheap cut and what we use in these kabobs. Stocking up when meat is on sale means your less likely to overpay when your preparing for a large group. Use what you have on hand. When planning your meal, consider what you have on hand. I did not need to buy any new ingredients for these skillet herb potatoes. Litehouse herbs and a 5 lb. bag of potatoes is all you need! Buy in season. Buying fresh fruit and vegetables can get expensive when cooking for a group. Fruits and veggies are usually cheapest when they are in season. Here is a list to help you purchase what’s in season!

Kabobs For A Crowd

 

Now that you’ve got a delicious budget meal, here are some quick twenty-minute appetizer recipes. What are your favorite meals to serve when entertaining?