Dinner and drinks for you and three friends, all for $50? It’s possible – here’s how.
Having a few mates over for a meal can get pretty pricey. Even grabbing some cheese, dips and olives can blow the budget before you’ve even started. There’s always the option of everyone chipping in for takeaway, and we’re big fans of this easy solution. Guests can always bring a dish, too. But sometimes, when the mood to cook strikes, it’s nice to tell everyone to just bring themselves (PSA: don’t just bring yourself).
For those times, we’ve crunched the numbers, planned some meals and paired up some drinks to see if we can do it all for $50. Turns out, we can – and you can, too. That said, our grocery prices are based on the cheapest available options, and these prices will vary wherever you shop. The drinks prices will also shift from the costs here, depending on when you buy them and if you’re a My Dan’s member (if not, sign up now). However, we’re confident you’ll still hit a similar ballpark cost if you stick with these general outlines, so choose from the following budget-friendly meal ideas and prepare to shine in all your domestic glory.
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The meal: Tomato, bacon and chilli spaghetti and crusty white loaf
For a bargain dinner that over-delivers, it has to be pasta all the way. We put $10 against the bacon here to get the good stuff at a deli, but you’ll find it cheaper in the supermarket. We’re going to assume you already have olive oil, so fry up that sliced bacon, add the chopped onion, a few cloves of garlic and sliced fresh chilli (bird’s eye or long red, seeds in or out, depending on how much kick you like), and add the tomatoes. Let it simmer and reduce slightly (you might want a pinch of sugar in there, too). Add your cooked spaghetti to the sauce with a splash of cooking water and mix, stirring through a healthy handful of basil leaves to finish. The crusty loaf is there to mop it all up.
The wine: 2 x bottles of Red Knot Shiraz
You could go many ways here, but we’re all about a crowd-pleasing shiraz. Two, in fact (which also gives you some to splash in the sauce). From McLaren Vale’s Shingleback Wines, this shiraz has deep, concentrated blackberry flavours, along with notes of red fruits, dark plums and complex spices. No wonder it picked up a top value gong in the Dan Murphy’s Best in Glass Awards. No one will ever guess you got an absolute steal.
The meal: Marinated chicken, corn and potato salad with a bottle of chardonnay
Here’s another deceivingly easy meal to fill everyone up. Earlier that same day, halve the chicken breasts horizontally and pop them in a bowl with olive oil (it’s not on the list – we’re assuming you have some), lemon zest, crushed garlic, a handful of chopped parsley leaves, salt and pepper. If you’re stocked with other herbs and seasonings, throw in your favourites; you can’t get this wrong. Leave them to marinate while you prep the salad. Simply boil potatoes, throw them into a big bowl, add lemon juice, a crushed garlic clove, salt and pepper (maybe use up that old vinegar or forgotten mayo in the fridge) and stir it all through with the rocket and chopped parsley. Cut the corn cobs in half, and they can be grilled, steamed or even microwaved. When you’re ready to eat, throw the chicken onto the barbie – don’t walk away, they’ll cook fast – and serve it all together.
The wine: Oakridge Over the Shoulder Chardonnay
Chardonnay and chicken are a classic match, but this variety also goes down a treat with all these garlicky, citrusy flavours. There are plenty of great bottles at this price, but we’re choosing the Oakridge Over the Shoulder. This Yarra Valley producer nails a very approachable style, which is minerally, fine and full of stone fruit flavours. It’s a great pick, even when your guests aren’t usually into chardy.
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The meal: fish tacos
There are hundreds of ways to customise a taco, but we’re keeping it simple here with just a few key ingredients. We’re also cheating with a packet of taco seasoning, but if you have a healthy spice collection, have a go at making your own – there are loads of recipes online. When choosing fish, see which fresh, firm white fillets look best at the supermarket or grab a pack of frozen fillets (they’ll be cheaper, leaving spare change for corn chips). Cut the fillets into taco-sized chunks and pop them in a plastic bag with the seasoning so it coats each piece, and leave for about an hour. You might like to mash your avocados with some lime and onion, if you have some, or simply slice them so they’re ready to go. When you’re ready to eat, fry the fish until it’s just cooked through, and serve on warm tortillas with the avocado, sliced cabbage and any leftover lime squeezed on top. Your fave hot sauce on the go is also very welcome. Hot tip: if you already have red wine vinegar and sugar on hand, the cabbage will be transformed with a quick pickle that afternoon.
The premix: Espolon Sparkling Margarita
We’re all about mixing up classic Margs for guests, but you’re already doing the cooking, so take the easy route and pick up a four-pack of the Espolon Sparkling Margarita. They may be in cans, but you can still dress them up. Salt the rims of your favourite glasses, load them up with ice, and pour out these premixes to serve with dinner. We love a tasty hack.
