Learn how to make cheap fancy meals! When you learn these tricks for food presentation, elegant plating, and budget-friendly recipes, you have all you need for an affordable date night-in that feels fancy.
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If you’ve been hungry for special meals, but don’t have the budget to match, you’re in luck. You don’t need a big grocery budget to enjoy a fine dining experience.
Serving cheap fancy meals at home is all about smart ingredient choices and pretty food presentation. With the right know-how, even the most budget foods can look and taste amazing.
At Good Cheap Eats we love to make budget meals feel like something special. These fancy dinner ideas will set you up nicely!
Fancy is as Fancy Does
Years ago I worked in a catering kitchen, assembling deli and cheese trays, preparing sandwiches, and arranging pretty fruit platters. Except for the hair net and the ugly apron, I enjoyed the job immensely — especially since I love food and I love feeding people.
One of the mantras that my manager repeated to me often was, “Presentation is everything.”
What he meant was, it doesn’t matter how good it tastes if it looks bad. And in the same vein, if the food’s not up to par, we’ll make up for it by making it pretty.
While those theories certainly breakdown at some point in home cooking, they’re helpful to think about. Even if we’re eating on a budget, I can still serve a nice dinner. And having some cheap fancy meal ideas on hand can help.
A fancy dinner makes you feel rich! Even if you aren’t.
5 Secrets to Making Cheap Meals Look Fancy
Here are some fancy dinner ideas to make your plates and your food presentation in general a little more inviting:
1. Use the freshest ingredients.
Fresh ingredients make for a prettier food presentation. No one wants wilted lettuce! So be sure to buy the freshest available.
Talk to the person working in the produce department and ask him or her to teach you how to select ripe produce. Alternatively, you can also request that he or she select the best items for you. If you have a plan for when you’ll serve it, that will help determine the right stage of ripeness to purchase your ingredients.
Fresh ingredients will take your fancy dinner ideas over the top!
2. Pay attention to color.
They say that you eat with your eyes first. If a dish is colorful, fresh-looking, and appealing to your eyes, it’s already tempted you and made you want to taste it. It gets you ready for the act of eating and enjoying the food. That’s what makes for the best fancy dinners!
Brown, white, yellow, and orange foods don’t tempt our senses, but reds and greens liven up a plate immensely.
- Add diced tomato to a salad, chopped red pepper to a pizza, or a cherry atop the sundae.
- Sprinkle chopped parsley, basil, or cilantro over the top of a savory recipe can make a difference in the food presentation.
- Go for contrasts like a dollop of sour cream next to a scoop of guacamole and a drizzle of salsa.
3. Choose pretty serving dishes and linens.
Pretty serving dishes and linens make a big difference in the food presentation, even though they aren’t edible. Food stands out nicely on white dishes, so don’t think you need to invest in fancy decorated dishes.
You also don’t have to spend a ton on new serving ware, just keep your eyes open at garage sales and thrift stores. Pretty is as pretty does, not how much pretty costs.
Your dishes don’t even need to be fancy for the food to feel special. Whenever anyone sees my lunches served in black meal prep containers, they always ask about the containers. There’s just something about the presentation of the simple salad in a black box that makes it more attractive.
How you dress up your cheap fancy meals matters!
4. Make friends with ramekins.
Ramekins are little glass dishes often used in baking or for serving individual portions. They also make great serving vessels for condiments and side salads. Buy them whenever you see a good deal and use them often.
Again, a stroll through a thrift store may garner you a decent collection for just a few pennies.
5. Transfer condiments to serving dishes.
While this may make more work for the dishwasher, it makes a huge difference to the table you set and to your food presentation in general.
Serving condiments in dishes takes the focus away from the brand of sour cream and the advertising plastered across its packaging and allows you to think more about the food and the company. It also prevents cross contamination of a larger container which reduces the risk of food waste.
A little thought into your food presentation can make a huge difference in how those at your table feel about the meal, even if it’s a cheap dinner. It attracts all their senses and gets them ready to enjoy what you’ve prepared, even if it’s budget fare.
FAQs
A garnish is something added to a prepared dish to make it more appealing, to add color, texture, or a contrasting flavor. Think of lemon slices, chopped herbs, or sliced avocado as something that will make the plate pretty and add some color. All these things add to a prettier food presentation.
Yes. Anything that you add to a plate should, in theory, be edible. It would be unsafe to assume that your guests know not to eat the decorations you’ve put on their plate, so be sure to serve only garnishes that are edible.
Easy and Cheap Fancy Meals to Try Tonight
Looking for some fancy dinner recipes? Check out this round-up of Good Cheap Eats’ special meals to make your supper super!
Ready for a quick and easy supper? This Chicken Tikka Masala is so simple to make, and it’s packed with flavor from the tomato and Indian spices.
With a homemade pizza dough, an olive oil garlic sauce, caramelized onions, sliced mushrooms, sundried tomatoes, shredded mozzarella cheese, and crumbled goat cheese, this thin crust pizza is a guaranteed hit for your next pizza dinner!
This easy one-dish, five-ingredient fish recipe comes together in just minutes. It’s the perfect quick-fix meal packed with nutrition.
Homemade spice blends are a cheap and easy way to add flavor and texture to your favorite grilled meats. Try this grilled pork tenderloin with its warm, spicy rub.
A slow cooker pot roast is a welcome sight on a cold and busy evening. The slow braise allows the flavors to develop, making this one of my favorite recipes.
Season budget-friendly pork tenderloin with Dijon mustard and spices for a quick and easy air fryer supper.
This delicious one-dish version of Chicken Florentine features a creamy Mornay sauce, chopped spinach, campanelle noodles, and tender chicken. It’s a delicious pasta bake that deserves a spot in your regular rotation.
Take hobo dinners to a new level. Wrap chunks of fish and whole shrimp in foil with vegetables, herbs, and butter for a simple and succulent supper.
Cashew Chicken was never easier than this take-out fake-out. It’s hands free in the preparation, making it a great weeknight quick fix.
Sour Cream Chicken with Salsa Verde is packed with rich flavor. Bathed in sour cream and salsa, the chicken gets extra flavor from Mexican spices and cilantro.
Baked Chicken and Vegetables is a quick fix dinner with big results. The crispy skin, tender meat, and succulent vegetables are amazingly delicious!
Dinner will come together in a jiffy with just a handful of ingredients. This recipe for Creamy Ham Pasta with Peas & Tomatoes comes together in less than 30 minutes.
These ham and cheese foldovers are incredibly easy to make. They are quick-to-assemble ham and cheese croissants that are elegant as well as delicious.
Enjoy a restaurant quality meal in just minutes. Enjoy shrimp in a luscious cream sauce over linguini tonight.
Pesto Shrimp Linguine Salad is super easy and quick to assemble. It’s packed with flavor thanks to pesto, sundried tomatoes, and black olives.
This Creamy Chicken Pasta dish is sauced with sherry with cream and dotted with bacon, tomatoes, and peas. It’s absolutely delicious!
Tell us what you think!
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This post was originally published on September 9, 2014. It has been updated for content and clarity.
