Easy recipes to feed a big crowd
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Anonymous
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We're having a big first birthday party for DD, probably around 60-70 people (big family, lots of friends, and we never had a housewarming last year, so we're kind of rolling a lot of things into one with this).
It'll be in May so we're hoping to have it mostly outside, as long as the weather is good. My first thought was to order sandwich platters from the grocery store, but I'm also considering cooking. Any easy spring-appropriate menu suggestions that will feed a crowd? We both WOH full-time, so neither of us can spend all week cooking, though the party will likely be Sunday so we will have Saturday to prepare. We want to avoid grilling, because that's usually a lot of work for the hosts during the party, and we want to enjoy the party ourselves. TIA! |
Anonymous
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Make a batch of beef BBQ in a crock pot and let people make their own sandwiches. Big pots of chili with fixings is another option. Put out bowls and let people serve themselves.
However, if I had to feed 60-70 people, I'd bring in platters of BBQ or sandwiches. |
Anonymous
| Red Hot & Blue? |
Anonymous
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Agree with pps. The first thing I thought of was pulled pork sandwiches with sides. 60-70 is just going to be a lot of work, so if you want to really enjoy the party, I would definitely think again about getting prepared food.
Other options: quiche with salads on the side or maybe something like a leg of lamb that you make at home with some store bought sides. |
Anonymous
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I cooked for a party of 70, my mother's 70th birthday, and it was an incredible amount of work. Ditto my 40th, for perhaps 40. (Coincidence that the numbers of guests equaled the birthdays!)
Do the math if you cook. Roast chicken, how many chickens? Potato salad, how many pounds of potatoes. Would your fridge hold it all. And don't forget ice and beverages! I'd order as much as possible! |
Anonymous
I have done both of these with those kind of numbers- and think they work well. You will need more than 1 crock pot. I have done up to 3 crockpots- one with chicken one beef and one pork. How big is your house? My observation is the more crowded the party the less people eat. If it is more open people are more likely to fix themselves a big plate of food. |
Anonymous
| Cooking for 70 people sounds incredibly daunting! I don't know where you live, but there are BBQ places that will do ribs, chicken, and sides for a reasonable PP rate. |
Anonymous
| cater the crap out of it. maybe indian, samosas, a couple of main stew like dishes, rice, and naan |
Anonymous
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Absolutely cater this. It's worth it. Maybe $700 for the food? If you pick it up and just put it on small burners outside, it can be picnic style and the whole thing stays warm! And cheaper than having them come to your house and set it up. It's a nightmare, no matter how big your house, to keep food rolling and keep it warm. And cold burgers are the worst!.
We do catering BBQ from Rocklands in Woodley Park. It's SO SO yummy. |
Anonymous
Absolutely do this. I've done the cook-by-yourself-for-party-for-70 thing. I like that kind of masochism. But it is a full-time, all-day, 15-hour gig. You won't talk to your guests, you will spend the entire party, and the entire time before and afterward, serving, cleaning, and managing logistics. If you want to talk to the guests, get it catered. That's just too many people to do otherwise. BTW I like BBQ. I think everyone does. (Except vegetarians/vegans. Order them a pan of bean and/or veggie enchiladas. And make sure some of your sides are vegan. Coleslaw with vegan mayonaise is pretty easy and available.) |
Anonymous
| Totally second Red Hot and Blue. They do it all and it's delish. |
Anonymous
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Pasta salad.
As long as you don't have anyone classy coming... |
Anonymous
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I would bbq two or three pork shoulders on saturday, then you can just warm them up with some seasoned vinegar/cider on Sunday. Set out a bunch of buns, prepare a large quantity of cabbage. I would also do a bunch of corn - in know you don't want to grill but it is very easy to do. have some jars of hot water with melted butter for people to dip them in.
you could also do a pickled green bean salad in advance. Very easy, and no need to cater. |