14 Tips for Hosting Brunch on a Budget (2024)

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Going out for brunchmeans long lines, slow service, overpriced pancakes, andexpensive co*cktails. So, in the interest of saving money, and being able to enjoy a much more relaxed, laid-back start to the day, we have taken tohosting our brunch get-togethers in our own homes. However,hosting brunchdoesn't always come cheap:Smoked salmonandDIY co*cktailsaren't exactlythe most affordable items at the grocery store. Thankfully, we have collected our top tips, recipes, and styling tricks to help youhost brunchwithout blowing your weekend budget.

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Eggs are a brunch staple, and thankfully, they're never going to be the item that blows your budget. Make sure you use them as much as possible —serve them fried, scrambled, in an omelette or frittata, in pancakes and waffles, orsoft poachedon top of a salad.

Click here to see the best make-ahead brunch egg dishes.

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Serving co*cktails at your brunch partyis obviously an easy way to quickly increase the cost of hosting. Given that you're serving all the food, ask your guests to provide the alcohol: It's only fair to share the cost, and this will help your budget go a lot further.

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You obviously don't want your friends to know that you'rehosting brunchon a tight budget, so make sure you hide it well by filling the table with food, drinks, andpretty tableware. A full table always looks like you've created the most generous offering. If you aren't serving many dishes, divide them up into several different serving bowls so that they occupy more space.

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The key ingredients for delicious, crispy, friedFrench toastare eggs andstale bread. I think we can agree that no matter what your budget, these are two ingredients that we can definitely afford.

For the Best French Toast recipe, click here.

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Make your eggs feed more people bycooking a frittata or omelette. Fill them withcheap vegetablesor anytasty leftoversyou have in your refrigerator (ham, kimchi, cheese, potatoes) to stretch the eggs even further.

For Five Quick and Easy Frittata recipes, click here.

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You're obviously going to need something to serve on top of the French toast,pancakes, and waffles, but serving bowls full offresh berriesand seasonal fruit fromthe farmers marketmay be out of your budget. Instead,buy frozen berries, place them in a saucepan with some sugar or honey, and heat until warmed through and beginning to become a sticky purée.

For the Berry and Apple Compôte recipe, click here.

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Fancy homemade smoothies andcold-pressed juicesare going to be above budget, butwater infused with your favorite fruits and herbswon't be. We love a combination of mint, lemon, and lime, but let your tastes, or whatever fruits and herbs you have, guide you.

Click here to see the best fruits to add to your water.

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Although it is less work and hassle to set up a self-serve bar for your guests to help themselves to, it's an invitation for them to use as much alcohol as they can and want. Instead, mix up a pitcher ofmimosasorBloody Marysbefore they arrive so you can control how much alcohol gets used.

For the Fresh Tomato Bloody Mary recipe, click here.

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Yes,fresh flowersand carefully laid place settings with personalized place names and napkins are a lovely touch, but they're also totally unnecessary. If your table is filled with home-cooked food, drinks, and your prettiest tableware, you won't have any space (or any need) for fresh-cut flowers,flickering scented candles, or monogrammed napkins.

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When you go out for brunch, you pay a fortune forpancakes and waffles, but they are made of such cheap ingredients —which you probably already have in your kitchen —that there's no need to skip these weekend-perfect treats atyour brunch party. Top with yourberry compôtefor a sweet brunch course.

For the Banana Pancakes recipe, click here.

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Don't mess around making fancy caffeinated drinks for your brunch. Yes, your guests' typical order may be for aniced vanilla latte, but if you only offer yournormal filter coffee, they'll be more than happy to drink it.

To learn how to make pour-over coffee at home, click here.

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As long as you fill your table with enough tasty food, ranging fromscrambled eggstostacks of pancakestofreshly brewed coffee,you don't need to mess around withsmoked salmon, seared shrimp, andsmashed avocado. Fill your guests up with eggs and flour, and they'll never notice the absent caviar.

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Serve your brunchon small plates and co*cktails in small glasses to stop your guestsfrom over-eatingand over-drinking: They'll consume less (and therefore cost you less) if they're using smaller vessels.

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To make sure your brunch really is a fun, relaxed, and happy party, put some tunes on —something upbeat but still appropriate for the late morning —to make you look like thecalmest, happiest, most welcoming hostas soon as your guests walk through the door.