Confession: I generally lose sleep the night time earlier than internet hosting a cocktail party. I blame it on a mix of pleasure and nerves, however wow, internet hosting will be demanding. After all, there’s the matter of deciding what to prepare dinner for giant teams, however you then additionally need to pay for it. Cooking for greater than 4 folks can get actual expensive, actual quick. As a part of my mission to unravel my very own host-xiety, I’ve compiled an inventory of scrumptious, simple, and cheap meals for giant teams that I at all times return to–and that actually each visitor will love. The primary takeaway? Spectacular doesn’t need to imply costly. These meals make the most of grocery retailer staples, store-bought components, and reasonably priced meats–with out sacrificing taste or high quality. Learn on for my go-to cheap meals for giant teams—plus Camille’s suggestions for cooking for a crowd.
Function picture by Hannah Haston
Camille’s Prime Suggestions for Cooking for a Crowd:
- Select crowd-pleasing dishes that everybody can get pleasure from.
- Leverage batch cooking and “build-your-own” elements.
- Do all potential prep upfront in an effort to benefit from the night, too.
13 Cheap Meals Excellent for Massive Teams
Italian Stuffed Shells
Why We Love It: Alison Hersel of Plumcot Farm shared this scrumptious, simple stuffed shells recipe that’s match to feed a crowd. The entire thing will be prepped upfront and popped within the oven when the time is true (be aware: the time is at all times proper for stuffed shells). This recipe will also be made gluten-free through the use of gluten-free pasta shells.
Hero Ingredient: The ricotta is a whole-lotta yumminess.
Get the recipe for Italian Stuffed Shells.
Cauliflower Nachos
Why We Love It: This low-carb various to conventional nachos is a superb cheap meal thought for giant teams. Swap tortilla chips for cauliflower and cargo them up with the toppings of your selection. Should you’re serving a big group with a number of dietary restrictions, that is additionally a fantastic “build-your-own” recipe the place you make the bottom and let every visitor customise their toppings.
Hero Ingredient: The cauliflower has some critical veggie energy.
Get the recipe for Cauliflower Nachos.
Hatch Chile Enchilada Casserole from The Outlined Dish
Why We Love It: My pal’s response after I requested her what she thinks of when she thinks of enormous dinner events? One phrase: casserole. Not fully useful after I was making an attempt to get my artistic juices flowing, however in terms of serving a casserole, you actually can’t go flawed. And if it’s this Hatch Chile Enchilada recipe, your friends are in for a decadent dinner. It’s wholesome, cozy, filling, and simply doubled or tripled relying on get together measurement.
Hero Ingredient: Hatch chiles are the secret.
Get the recipe for Hatch Chile Enchilada Casserole.
Pork Carnitas Tacos from What’s Gaby Cooking
Why We Love It: Gaby from What’s Gaby Cooking says that this recipe is one in every of her favourite meals for entertaining, and it’s one in every of my go-to cheap meals for giant teams. It makes use of a whole pork butt, supplying you with loads of meat for a crowd. That is one other nice buffet-style choice for dinner events and is SO good. My favourite toppings are pickled onions and guacamole.
Hero Ingredient: The shredded meat on this recipe… a complete deal with.
Get the recipe for Pork Carnitas Tacos.
Rigatoni With Brussels Sprouts & Kale Pesto
Why We Love It: All of us love a superb pasta ceremonial dinner, and this recipe is infinitely customizable and simply doubled. In actual fact, Camille lays out all the potential swaps and her finest suggestions for cooking this for a crowd within the recipe put up. Except for the simplicity of creating this dish, it has all of my favourite issues: rigatoni, pesto, and crispy brussels. Should you’re on the lookout for a no-fuss, show-stopping pasta for a big group, that is it.
Hero Ingredient: The caramelized, crispy, garlic-y Brussels sprouts style much more indulgent than the noodles.
Get the recipe for Rigatoni with Brussels Sprouts & Kale Pesto.
Lime-y Hen Tacos With Jicama, Avocado, & Mint
Why We Love It: These tacos are one in every of my favourite Camille Kinds recipes for the straightforward prep and flavors which are something however. You may make the hen beforehand and chop all the veggies upfront. All you must do is char the tortillas and serve. You don’t even need to construct the tacos your self–let the friends assemble their very own.
Hero Ingredient: The lime-y hen is reasonably priced and addictive.
Get the recipe for Lime-y Chicken Tacos with Jicama, Avocado, & Mint.
Pita and Kebab Board
Why We Love It: I like a meal that requires zero plating and nil stress–particularly when it’s nonetheless bursting with flavors like this Pita and Kebab smorgasburg. That is a kind of no-recipe recipes that’s excellent for giant teams. You possibly can assemble nevertheless many boards you need and let the friends construct their very own plate. Or, you may scratch plates altogether and serve these as an off-the-cuff grab-and-go meal.
Hero Ingredient: Hummus is a should.
Get the recipe for Pita & Kebab Board.
Half-Baked Harvest’s Pesto Pasta Alla Vodka
Why We Love It: I used to be fortunate sufficient to eat this Pesto Pasta Alla Vodka at Camille and Tieghan’s holiday dinner party, and not to be dramatic, but I’ve dreamed about it ever since. Aside from the taste of the dish itself, I also got to watch the prep and can honestly say that anyone can do it. It’s ready in 30 minutes and can be easily doubled, making it perfect for both weeknight dinners and special, large-group occasions.
Hero Ingredient: The basil pesto is a novel twist on my favourite pasta sauce.
Get the recipe for Half-Baked Harvest’s Pesto Pasta Alla Vodka.
Complete 30 Pot Roast from The Outlined Dish
Why We Love It: Pot roasts are one other giant ceremonial dinner staple, and that is my favourite recipe. It’s Complete-30 compliant, filled with nostalgic flavors, and principally hands-off. Plus, you received’t even have to mild candles—this dish fills your entire dwelling with mouthwatering aromas.
Hero Ingredient: Potatoes are my favourite a part of a pot roast. What’s yours?
Get the recipe for Whole 30 Pot Roast from The Defined Dish.
Hen Tortilla Soup
Why We Love It: Soup is likely one of the finest issues to serve to giant teams as a result of it’s cheap and a lot of the prepare dinner time is hands-off. Plus, so long as you could have a sufficiently big pot, it’s simple to double. To this present day, it’s one in every of Camille’s hottest Instagram recipes, so in the event you haven’t made it but, that is your signal. It’s the proper serve-yourself recipe for large gatherings, as properly.
Hero Ingredient: The home made tortilla strips are next-level.
Get the recipe for Hen Tortilla Soup.
Sluggish-Cooker Hen Tikka Masala
Why We Love It: Should you’ve been on the lookout for a recipe that’s minimal effort with most taste, that is it. This more healthy hen tikka masala has all the flavour of your favourite take-out meal, however all of the magic occurs in a slow-cooker whilst you’re out operating errands. Once more, it’s nice to set out in “serve your self” style and is simple to double as properly.
Hero Ingredient: The complete-fat coconut milk deserves a medal for making this so creamy.
Get the recipe for Slow-Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala.
Sheet Pan Alla Vodka Pizza from Half-Baked Harvest
Why We Love It: If I’m invited to a pizza ceremonial dinner, 10/10 occasions I’ll settle for. Everybody loves a superb pizza, and this recipe will likely be prepared sooner than Domino’s can ship. It has all of the scrumptious, creaminess of vodka sauce, however on a pizza topped with pepperoni. Should you’re seeking to make this meal the principle occasion of a night, you may as well let {couples} customise their very own pizzas.
Hero Ingredient: The sauce? Excellent.
Get the recipe for Sheet Pan Alla Vodka Pizza from Half-Baked Harvest.
Baked Italian Meatballs from Thriving Dwelling
Why We Love It: IMO—baked meatballs are at all times probably the greatest cheap meals for giant teams. These are a 30-minute model that may be doubled and frozen… in the event you don’t eat all of them first. You probably have a busy week main up to a cocktail party, I counsel making these when you could have some downtime and throwing them within the freezer till the day comes. Pile them on prime of some spaghetti, serve on a sub, or just dunk them in marinara.
Hero Ingredient: The breadcrumbs make the meatball.
Get the recipe for Baked Italian Meatballs from Thriving Home.
Do you could have a number of favourite cheap meals for giant teams? Drop them within the feedback—we’ll take all of the concepts we will get!
