Three Fabulous Menus for Feeding Large Groups
Do you have a large crowd to feed? Check out this post for THREE fabulous menu ideas for feeding large groups.
Have you ever been put in charge of planning a menu for a large crowd? You know, like for a family reunion, community or church dinner, birthday celebration, baby or child blessing/baptism, etc? If so, you know that creating and carrying out a menu for a large group can be intimidating and kind of stressful and maybe even slightly annoying. But worry no more, because I’ve totally got your back. Today, I’m presenting you with three sample menus that will feed (and dare I say, amaze and please) 20 or more people. I’ve based the amount of food on 20 average-size eaters or a general mix of kids and adults. If you are feeding all adults or all children, you can increase or decrease as necessary.
Each menu includes the recipes and details what can be made in advance. It’s all there for you. To simplify your life.
My theory is to create a menu with a few recipes that will knock the socks of your guests. And then completely simplify the rest. For each menu plan, I’ve chosen recipes specifically because not only are they delicious, but they can, for the most part, be made in advance one way or another.
Make sure to read through the menu plan before taking my word for any of the quantities – your judgment will ultimately be best, but at the very least, the menu plans should give you a great start. I will warn you that my theory is: it is always better to have too much food than not enough. Can I get an amen to that? Clicking on the menu description will pull up a printable .pdf. Have fun!
82 Comments on “Three Fabulous Menus for Feeding Large Groups”
I am in charge of feeding the multitude after Sunday service (every Sunday, #feedmypeople ) and once a month we provide a meal at a shelter in our area. So each Sunday we feed about 60 people when it is not a special occasion and at the shelters we feed any where from 120 to 200 people depending on the location we are serving.
Our Pastor’s motto is #LETITBEGINWITHME.
We strive to make a difference in and out of our community.
I have not made any recipes—-yet!
Oh my gosh!! I love love love that you made a spread sheet for organization! Preparing a meal for 20 (or the 50+ I’m prepping for) can be so overwhelming and you just took the stress right out of it! If you have any other menus please post. Thank you kitchen goddess!!
My son is working at a bible college in the kitchen. He is only 23 and completely in charge. He has been using the same monthly menu plan for months and would like to change it up for something new. Any ideas? I could e mail you his menus if you are willing to help..Thanks
Shouldn’t “Creamy 6 Cup Fruit Salad” actually be 5 cup? There’s six items, but only a total of 5 cups for a single batch. Hmmmmm…….
Hi Mel,
I love, love your blog and cook from it several times a week. Thanks for all your great recipes! We are blessing our new baby next Sunday, so I decided to search your blog for recipes to feed a crowd. I knew you’d deliver! You are seriously the best!!
Quick question, In your recipe for the gourmet green salad in this post, it looks like you increased the salad dressing measurements from your original recipe on the blog, but not the actual salad ingredients. Am I reading that right, or should I increase the other ingredients as well?
Looking forward to a great meal. I’ll give you the credit, promise. 🙂
Lindsay – Yes, increase the other ingredients in the salad. Thank you for bringing that to my attention, I will get that fixed!
Hi, I have never made bread before by hand. So I am going to take the easy way out and just purchase it instead. But wanted to ask you what you recommend to substitute your awesome bread recipe for the pork sandwiches.
Just a really good-tasting roll – buy something you would enjoy eating. I don’t buy store-bought rolls often so I don’t have a great recommendation (each bakery/store kind of differs in what they offer) so see what your local stores have to offer.
I am planning to make the lasagna rolls for a crowd the day before serving and refrigerate them. When I bake them the next day, how long will they bake for? I assume the baking time will be longer after having them in the fridge. Thanks for your help!!
You might need to add 8-10 minutes to the baking time but it shouldn’t be much more than that.
Any new recipes good for large groups?? I need some ideas for a family birthday and these are great but I need more options! 🙂
I’ll probably be adding some in the next few months.
Yes, please!! And thank you!!
You are my hero. I’m about to have a nervous breakdown over planning food for our son’s first birthday, out of town, for 30 family members. Thank you SO much! (I’m going to cheat and buy bread… and skip desserts and have cake instead. I’m a wimp:)
Seriously amazing. Is there anything this website doesn’t have!? You are a lifesaver!
Talented Mel, I have a little question: in the Balsamic-glazed pork recipe, it states 2 cups of water under ingredients but only 1/2 cup in the instructions. Just wondering which one. p.s. you rock! Thank you for helping me sweat less this coming weekend when I have a house full of guests.
Nice catch, Sophi! I increased the ingredients to feed a crowd but didn’t change the instructions…so it should be the full 2 cups of water going in with the pork. Hope that helps!
Thank you so much for sharing these recipes. I’m hosting 25 people for Christmas and may not have to freak out after all.
Thank you! I just made the lasagna rolls and three people told me it was the best lasagna they had ever tried!
Dumb question: Do you roll ip the noodles long ways or the width! We call it the hot dog roll or the hamburger roll at school. Lol
Hi Sue, I roll them up starting with one of the short ends.
This post is great. Thanks for taking your time to put something like this together.
Hi there!
Long time reader, first time comment-er 🙂 I loved what you had to say in the “why I blog when sometimes I think I should quit” post (hope I got that right lol) blogging is lots of work! I’m of the same opinion as you…I do it when I feel like I want to and choose (or try to choose) not to get overwhelmed by all the other…stuff!
Anyway…I LOVE this post. I run a blog all about entertaining (parties, some recipes, how-to tips) I’d love to post a link to this, as we discuss how to feed large parties next week. I love how you put it together and I’d love to introduce you to my readers. Let me know if that’s okay!
Thanks so much! I depend on your recipes for dinner most nights : )
-Katie
acollectionofletters@gmail.com
You. Are. Awesome!
I am planning my daughters birthday party and wonder if I can sub chicken breasts for the pork in the pulled pork sammies. My oldest sister can’t have pork. Thanks!
Hi Stacy – I’ve never subbed chicken so you’ll have to experiment. I have a recipe on my site for slow cooker pulled chicken that might work better for you.
http://www.melskitchencafe.com/2011/09/bbq-pulled-chicken-sandwiches-slow-cooker.html