These gourmet recipes on a budget feature gourmet-style recipes that are full of flavor and flair, but won’t hurt your wallet!
Does your bank account start sobbing as soon as your car pulls into the grocery store parking lot?
Does your credit card start to hide deeper and deeper in your wallet as you approach the checkout?
If buying your usual groceries stretches your budget, buying “fancy food” for a party or date night might send you into a panicked frenzy!
Never fear– fellow budget-conscious foodies!
If you too, have “champagne tastes, but a beer budget,” these 18 Gourmet Recipes on a Budget will help you serve flavorful, gorgeous food– without stripping your savings account dry.
Some of these recipes use foraged food, others use food that is sometimes discarded (like shrimp shells), and others use inexpensive ingredients like vegetables and legumes.
You’ll also find recipes with (relatively) less pricey seafood options– such as flounder or domestic caviar.
Obviously, everyone’s budget will be different, and cooking a delicious meal for two will (almost) always be cheaper than cooking for a crowd.
Whatever your budget, however, these budget-friendly, gourmet recipes will help you serve your guests with style!
Starters
Whether you’re serving tapas, appetizers, or just want to start things off with a salad, these budget-friendly starters are here to help!
If you want to try foraging for greens (or picking up foraged greens at a farmer’s market), try this Miner’s Lettuce and Mezuna Salad from Diversivore.
To start your dinner with a soup, I like this French Shrimp Soup from Sprinkles and Sprouts.
And for an easy smoked salmon appetizer, try these Smoked Salmon Canapes from Garlic and Zest.
And then, there’s my absolute favorite party appetizers, listed below. The sardine fish cakes are my go-to appetizer!
Main Courses + Sides
When it’s time to move onto the main course, try making these impressive baked potato roses from Curry Trail and this vegan pumpkin pasta with wild mushrooms from Cilantro and Citronella.
Below are some of my favorite fancy-schmancy (and affordable) dinner ideas.
The vegan ratatouille and salmon wellington are perfect served together!
Desserts
Of course, a gourmet dinner must end with dessert!
Try these red wine poached pears by From a Chef’s Kitchen, along with some of my top desserts that I’ve listed below.
The apple puff pastry tartlets are one of my all-time favorite party desserts!
This is an amazing list of recipes! It totally puts me into a party planning mood.
Thanks Meg! Time to par-tay!
Such a beautiful collection of recipes Sarah. I see several that I am definitely going to check out as soon as I am finished giving this post the thumbs up. P.S.. love the idea of saving money on meals so I have more to spend on gifts. 😉
Thanks Lynn! Anytime I can save money and still get everything I want it’s a win! Lol
Gorgeous round up Sarah!! Definitely need to try a few of these.
Thank you!!
What beautiful recipes you chose! These all look great.
Thanks!
So many great meal planning ideas here. Thanks for the ideas.
This post speaks to me in so many ways! I recently finally shelled out the dough for some fancy, well made (EXPENSIVE) cheese to have a little wine and cheese party all by myself. Haha! I’m definitely going to save this list. Thanks for sharing!
Ahhh that’s amazing lol- I’d totally do that! How fun! Now that you’re poor again, make these lololol
It’s amazing what delicious food can be created on a budget, no reason to eat bland and boring food even if one is watching the pennies!
Exactly!!! A little spice will do wonders!
What a great round up! love the idea of gourmet on a budget, it doesn’t always have to be expensive to be fancy
Fabulous roundup, so useful at this time of year!!!!
I need to make the lentil caviar!!!! And those potato roses!!!
Thanks for including my recipes 🙂
The Shrimp soup is one of my favourite meals ever!!!
You’re welcome! I’m gonna try that soup once I’ve got enough shells saved up!
A great collection of recipes, Sarah! And perfect timing with all the upcoming holiday parties 🙂 Groceries are so expensive and it’s nice knowing that it’s possible to make good food without spending a fortune 🙂 Happy Monday!
Beautiful roundup! Thanks so much for including my pumpkin and wild mushroom pasta! Will share.
Thanks Melissa!