Making a meal for a large group is not always an easy feat. That’s why it is important to plan and make sure you have the right recipe and enough ingredients. We thought it would be helpful to compile some delicious ideas. Here are 20 easy-to-make meals for a large gathering!
20. Homemade Pizza
Homemade pizza can be great for a large group. It is easy to make and you can make several pizzas to feed many. If you need a group activity, you can all make pizzas together! The trick will be to get organized, because oven space will be at a premium. Thankfully, some pizza recipes don’t call for long cook times if they aren’t starting from the frozen state. We recommend thin crust varieties if you need to make a lot of pies!
19. Tacos
Tacos are perfect when you have many mouths to feed. You can make them buffet-style, by having a lot of different toppings and meats so people can choose what they want on their tacos. This is a great solution because you don’t need to deal with ingredient lists for picky eaters. If Bob hates cilantro, that’s just fine — he can skip the cilantro bowl and move right on down the buffet. Plus, tacos just make people happy, the end.
18. Stir-Fry
Stir-fry is a great treat for big groups. You will need to do a little bit of prep for this meal, but it will be worth it in the long run when everyone is enjoying their stir-fry! You can buy some pretty supersized woks online to fry tons of veggies! As for the rice, you can make it ahead of time and freeze it. It’s good for up to 6 months.
17. Spaghetti and Meatballs
Spaghetti and meatballs is a simple meal to make for a lot of people. You can make meatballs and spaghetti in bulk. Just add sauce and you have got a delicious meal ready to serve! If you want to add variety, then we suggest offering different sauce options — some with meat, some with mushrooms, some with chunky tomatoes. People can add multiple sauces to their noodles for a kitchen sink approach. Set out a big bowl of parmesan cheese and you’re set to feed a small army!
16. Skewers
There are no rules when it comes to skewers. You can add whatever meat or vegetables you want to them and they will be tasty. Skewers are also easy to make for a big crowd. This will require manpower and grill space, so it may not be ideal for all occasions, but if you are hosting a big cookout, then you can prep ahead of time by making a ton of skewers to break out and grill up! It’ll be worth the effort.
15. Dumplings
If you need the perfect appetizer for a party, look no further than dumplings! They are nice and compact and can be stuffed with different meats and vegetables. You could have these for the meal, but I think they work better as a first course. If you don’t want to make your own dumplings, then of course there are a ton of frozen varieties for you to choose from.
14. Grilled Cheese Sandwiches and Tomato Soup
Grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup are among the best comfort foods. Especially if it is cold outside! We recommend using something like a Foreman Grill to mass-produce grilled cheese sandwiches efficiently. It only takes about three minutes to cook in the Foreman once the sandwich is prepped. As for the tomato soup, we recommend using the boxed soup varieties or even the big tubs of Panera soup. Skip the cheap stuff, it’s thin and unsatisfying.
13. Lasagna
Lasagna can be made for bigger crowds with a few giant casserole dishes. You can add as many layers as you want to your lasagna and it will still be a crowd-pleaser! If you decide to make your lasagna in batches ahead of time, don’t forget to let it thaw for a day before you throw it back in the oven for your gathering — otherwise it will take forever to warm back up!
12. Sliders
Sliders might be small, but they sure are mighty! You can make so many different types of sliders – the combinations are limitless. Just know that you should make enough of these delicious goodies, otherwise you might run out. You may want to estimate 3 sliders per adult and 2 per child. You can fill out your offering with fries or tater tots, baked beans, and vegetables like corn.
11. Chili
Chili is another comfort food that can be cooked in a big batch. You can either make a meat chili or go vegetarian and only use vegetables. Either way, it is perfect for the cold time of year! Just get yourself a large slow cooker and let that baby cook! Most importantly, chili always tastes better the next day, so feel free to cook it up a day before your gathering and let it steep in the fridge for a day before warming back up to serve.
10. Roasted Chicken
A whole roasted chicken should be enough to satisfy your large group. You can make it with potatoes or rice, depending on what type of food vibe you are going for. And of course, don’t forget the vegetables! You’ll have to set up carving stations for these birds, so if that sounds like a hassle, then you may want to keep looking for other ideas. It’s certainly not compatible with every type of gathering.
9. Stuffed Peppers
Stuffed peppers might take a little longer than other meals on this list, but they are surely worth it when they are done! They make a great meal for big groups. Be careful – you don’t want to run out of delicious stuffed peppers. You can make these in the oven or even a slow cooker. My favorite is ground turkey meat mixed with rinsed black beans and corn. But you can also use beef or even veggie crumbles and still end up with a delicious meal! Treat them like tacos with salsa, sour cream, and avocado. Superb!
8. Burgers
Hey, when you gotta mass produce a single food, burgers are a safe choice. Every fast food restaurant in the country would agree. Burgers are a staple at a cookout and they also are wonderful for big groups. It is so easy to make a lot of burgers and grill them. You can even grill veggie burgers for those who don’t eat meat. Be sure to have plenty of toppings available and, like sliders, don’t forget the sides! Fries, tater tots, corn, baked beans, and grilled veggies are all great choices.
7. Sundae Bar
This might be for after dinner, but after all, dessert is a meal. You can whip up a sundae bar so people can make their own delicious treats. Just make sure you have plenty of toppings! This one can get a little messy, as you can imagine, so make sure you think this one through before you end up regretting the clean up phase!
6. Enchiladas
Spice things up with enchiladas! They make for the perfect meal and will satisfy your large group. Serve them with chips and salsa or some rice. You can make a lot of varieties here and appeal to different tastes. Beef, chicken, pork, and veggie varieties will satisfy most crowds. Be sure to have plenty of chips, salsa, guac, and sour cream available!
5. Chicken Pot Pie
For smaller groups, a big meat pie might be enough. Chicken pot pie might take a while to make, but your guests are guaranteed to love it! It will be worth the little bit of preparation it takes to make this fan favorite. And a plus is that your group will be gushing about how great of a cook you are. The best thing about dishes like chicken pot pies is that you don’t really need to worry about sides.
4. Sloppy Joe
A Sloppy Joe is a great alternative to the burger. It’s easy to make and most people love it. It’s kid-friendly and nostalgia-triggering for most adults! You can also mix things up a bit and offer varieties. Some people may prefer beef, while others may want ground turkey to watch their cholesterol. And, of course, veggie crumbles can be used to satisfy any vegetarians attending. You don’t need toppings like burgers do, but you will need sides.
3. Nachos
Nachos pack on the flavor and can be made in a variety of different ways. You can either make the nachos for everyone or have a nacho bar where people can pick what they want on their plate. The only downside to nachos is that they will get soggy if you preassemble them. But if you can work around that issue, nachos are generally a crowd pleaser and great for gatherings that don’t really require a “full meal.”
2. Ravioli
Ravioli is great for large groups because you can make a huge batch in a big pot and be done with it. It is super easy to make and quite frankly, very delicious. There are tons of varieties out there that you can offer. While you can offer some with meat, there are also plenty of cheese varieties for those who aren’t feeling the animal options.
1. Butter Chicken
Butter chicken is a bit spicier than the other foods on this list, but it is so worth the spice! It’s pretty simple to prepare, even in larger batches. It is a way to mix things up and introduce people to a different culture. Your guests will want more after you serve this dish! It is a heavy dish, however, so keep your sides on the lighter side. A salad bar would be perfect.
