Cheap and low maintenance for a crowd
I'm cooking dinner for my boyfriend's birthday this weekend and I'm looking for a little menu inspiration. There may be about 10 to 15 of us in attendance. Here's my criteria: I want something delicious and satisfying but inexpensive for a crowd. There's one vegetarian and a few kiddos among us. I would ideally like something that I can (for the most part) make ahead of time, in order to maximize my face time with my guests. Help me fellow nerds. I want to make this meal a slam dunk.
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17 Comments:
Veggie lasagna is great made ahead, you can customize it by adding your favorite grilled or roasted veggies like zuccini, portabellas, eggplant, or asparagus. All you need is a salad (caprese is nice), bread and wine. On his birthday just pop the lasagna in the oven and enjoy the party.
KtMc24 at 3:05PM on 08/31/09
Lasagna or macaroni and cheese would be easy. You could also do a baked potato bar with lots of different toppings and serve a nice green salad with it.
dhorst at 3:16PM on 08/31/09
Would chili not be fancy enough? You can make half a batch vegetarian, and half with meat. Adults love it and kids love it.
Come up with some fun toppings: avocadoes, cheese, tomatoes, sour cream and make some cornbread. How does that sound?
Once I even combined chili and cornbread together in one pot!
orchidgirl at 3:18PM on 08/31/09
Well, I was gonna suggest jambalaya, then you mentioned the vegetarian...
You could make two different dishes -- one veggie soup and a chicken & sausage jambalaya. That would satisy everyone. Both could be made ahead of time and they're relatively inexpensive to feed a crowd.
I've never tried to make a veggie jambalaya, but maybe it could be done?
Editmom at 3:26PM on 08/31/09
chili and a baked potato bar are terrific ideas! (as is the lasagna-didn't mean to leave you out)
i just did a birthday party dinner for my boyfriend and we had about the same number of people. luckily, they were all carnivores, so i made a few roast chickens, 2 kinds of salad (pasta and potato) and 2 kinds of apple pie.
tacos might also be a fun, easy solution for you?
gastronomeg at 3:29PM on 08/31/09
Chicken drumsticks are usually pretty inexpensive in the large packs at the grocery store. You can grill them or roast them in advance with bbq rub and then just reheat them for your party. Kids and adults seem to like this alot. Baked potato bars seem to be popular too and that's also an easy do ahead for the most part.
You can also do a taco bar with grilled-in-advance chicken, beef, pork and/or vegetables. Provide corn and flour tortillas and a few sides.
jdbknits at 3:32PM on 08/31/09
oh yeah, taco bar would be fun and can be vegetarian without feeding vegetarian-only food to the whole crowd.
canned beans are inexpensive and it's even cheaper if you use dried beans. they can be made ahead.
Mexican rice- cheap to make
shredded iceberg lettuce- cheap
carnitas- relatively cheap if you use pork butt and more impressive & tasty than ground beef
kiddos may make mess eating them, tho :-)
hmw0029 at 5:06PM on 08/31/09
Pasta bar is always fun, a couple types of pasta, a few sauces that is actually better the next day so you could make it ahead like marinara, pesto, and/or alfredo, served with a nice salad and some garlic bread or breadsticks. Also i agree with above with the Mac and cheese, make it with a couple different types of cheese divide it and make one with ham, sausage or what ever and the other plain, serve with salad or broc and garlic bread.
pjracz10 at 5:16PM on 08/31/09
@editmom, it is quite possible to make a veggie jambalaya.
http://www.gumbopages.com/food/veg/veg-jambalaya.html
sounds delicious too....
blizcheetah at 6:02PM on 08/31/09
I have a large crew over for dinner pretty frequently, and they really love when I do a taco or burrito bar. You could make black beans and rice for the vegetarians, taco beef or carnitas for the meat eaters, and I serve soft and hard shells as well as tortilla chips for making nachos. In addition to the usual suspects - lettuce, tomato, raw onion, cheese, sour cream, salsa - I fry up some onions and green peppers like I'm making fajitas too.
refried beans (homemade, but with canned beans) for a side dish, and a corn tomalito or cornbread. or just corn on the cob. and margaritas...
AliceBlue at 6:36PM on 08/31/09
Meatball subs with beautifully toasted rolls and loads of shredded cheese and sauteed onions, plus a side pan of fried eggplant slices for the veggie person- add a tray of antipasto nibblies and a huge Caesar salad with devilled eggs on the side.
Meatballs and eggplant can be done ahead, as well as the eggs. Just fill 'em and make the salad, get a take-out antipasto (or have someone who volunteered to "bring something" bring it!), and you're well ahead of the curve.
moibec at 7:00PM on 08/31/09
Sesame Noodles (recipe by America's Test Kitchen, it makes a lot and has a vegetarian variation).
Pair with a large bag (or 2) of vegetable lumpia, dumplings, and asian slaw, and you've got a pretty satisfying meal that has a little of everything for everyone.
AnnieNT at 7:15PM on 08/31/09
As mentioned above-
Taco bar, baked potato bar or pasta bar.
Almost everything can be prepped ahead and is budget, vegetarian, vegan friendly.
Just don't forget cake..... ;oP
CJ McD at 7:25PM on 08/31/09
i also think the taco thing is good, it's interactive and people always enjoy that kind of thing....... lots of hot spicy stuff and lots of sour cream and cheese .... avocado's..... and whatever else grabs your fancy.
pooch at 9:52PM on 08/31/09
I do a taco bar type thing, but more fajita like in flavors. Marinate chicken in lime juice, then use that juice to cook dow,n some onions. Marinate skirt steak. Grill both meats so you have variety. Then a good bean pesto, some guacamole, fresh salsa - and then the usual suspects - cheese, sour cream, etc. Most everything can be done ahead of time except the guacamole - and you can always just purchase that. A stack of flour tortillas and your good to go. A good accompaniment would be a fresh corn salad of some sort.
maryannm at 9:08AM on 09/01/09
Mac and cheese is also a good crowd pleaser, and it goes great with this delish veggie chili from a former NYC Fire Department chief:
http://www.marthastewart.com/recipe/false-alarm-vegetable-chili
The above recipe is also great with cheese enchiladas served on the side.
I also love Ina Garten's Penne With Five Cheeses:
http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,1977,FOOD_9936_32177,00.html
Eggplant parm or rollatini are also good choices, as is Spanakopita if you're in the mood for Greek food.
MMinNYC at 5:09PM on 09/01/09
I heart you guys for all your responses. I decided to go with baked mac and cheese (thank you, pioneer woman), a nice fresh salad and pork tenderloins with onion jam (from the kitchn), and a big skillet corn bread. I'm going to make ahead the corn bread and jam as well as prep everything tonight. Tomorrow afternoon I'm going to make the mac n cheese and simply refrigerate it for an hour or two before baking (this is okay, right?) and then while everybody is snacking on appetizers, I'm going to quickly pan sear and then bake my pork. The macaroni and the pork both cook on 350 so it works out awesome and everything else will be ready. Cake- purchased. I'm not a masochist!
porkydickens at 2:43PM on 09/04/09