Five cheap, low-effort recipes for the office party
You are getting ready for work, about to leave the house, and then remember. Today is the office potluck.
Groan.
We all know that feeling. You have to bring something, and you don't have any time. You could stop at the store and get some overpriced party platter, but why should you spend a bunch of money for a company that doesn't pay you enough? You look online, but every recipe takes 2+ hours and requires 15 steps. You need something fast, cheap, and effortless that won't taste horrible. Fear not; we are here to help! Here are five simple, fast recipes that won't break the bank but will make all your coworkers think you know what you are doing in the kitchen.
Cowboy caviar - cowboy caviar, or Texas caviar, is a staple in the south for potlucks, picnics, and tailgate parties. It's a super simple salad made from canned beans and veggies and takes about 15 minutes to throw together. Plus, since a lot of it is canned, it's easy to keep in the pantry until an event pops up! It doesn't sound that special, but this dish is so delicious. With crisp veggies and hearty beans, it can be eaten as a salad or on tortilla chips as a healthy dip. It doesn't break the bank or your waste. All your coworkers will be dying for this diet delight recipe. Here is a simple recipe from spending with pennies
Pillsbury pull-apart bread - using a package of Pillsbury biscuits or cinnamon rolls, you can make a decedent pull-apart bread for any occasion. The most common is sweet monkey bread, but you can make any kind you want! Some options are bacon ranch, garlic bread, pizza roll, and ham and cheese. There are endless options so you can satisfy even the pickiest patty in your office. Pillsbury has a whole page dedicated to recipes, although you can use any brand of fridge biscuits. Pillsbury recipes here
Yummy fruit cake - If you love a yummy fruit cake, but don't want to spend hours baking for coworkers, trust a lazy girl and make a dump cake. Dump cake is exactly what it sounds like. You dump all the ingredients in a pan and bake without the hassle of mixing and whipping, frosting and chilling. The result is a sweet, fruity cobbler-like dessert that will be a hit with the whole office. If you want extra cooking cred, stop and get a gallon of cheap vanilla ice cream to scoop on top to make it rich and delish. Check out insanely good recipes for a list of 30 easy dump cakes that you can make in a hurry without sacrificing your sanity
Southern sweet tea - everyone brings food to the potluck, but what about drinks? Maybe a pot of old office coffee or some off-brand sodas? Sad. Bring the party with you in a pitcher of cold, sweet southern tea. This tea is cold and thirst-quenching but also sweet for people who like soda. You can whip this up the night before and store it in the fridge. Adding a bit of baking soda will keep the flavor just right for second-day tea. Just throw some ice in a cup and pour it over. If you are feeling extra fancy, you can garnish with lemon. Check out the country cook for an easy recipe that gets it perfect every time.
Cheese ball - ok, hear me out. The classic cheese ball seems like an unwelcome remnant of weird 1960s party recipes. That's because it is. This old-school recipe has hundreds of variations and regional recipes. The reason it's still around is that this dish has staying power! It takes about 20 minutes to whip together and can be made ahead and stored in the fridge. What's not to love about creamy flavored cheese? Nothing! A cheese ball will make you the office talk without any actual work. Just throw it down with some Buttery crackers and enjoy! Here is a collection of 20 recipes from insanity good recipes, a cheese ball for every personality
