Confession: I typically lose sleep the night time earlier than internet hosting a cocktail party. I blame it on a mix of pleasure and nerves, however wow, entertaining could be traumatic. As a part of my mission to unravel my internet hosting anxiousness, I’ve compiled a listing of scrumptious, simple, and cheap meals for big teams that I at all times return to—and that each visitor will love.
These recipes remedy the dilemma of deciding what to prepare dinner for big teams however keep away from the hefty price ticket that may typically include group dinners. As we all know, cooking for greater than 4 individuals can get actual expensive, actual quick. The underside line? Spectacular doesn’t should imply costly. These meals make the most of grocery retailer staples, store-bought elements, and inexpensive meats—with out sacrificing taste or high quality.
Learn on for my go-to cheap meals for big teams, plus Camille’s ideas for cooking for a crowd.
Camille’s Prime Suggestions for Cooking for a Crowd
Do all doable prep prematurely with the intention to benefit from the night, too. Something that may be made beforehand is vital. It takes the stress out of your day-of prep and makes positive you get to benefit from the occasion your self. Soups, sauces, and salad dressings could be made fully prematurely so when the clock strikes blissful hour, you’re forward of the sport. It’s additionally useful to do any knife work prematurely and retailer your chopped items within the fridge. That means, when it’s time to prepare dinner, you’ve already achieved quite a lot of the grunt work.
Select crowd-pleasing dishes that everybody can take pleasure in. While you’re cooking for a bunch, it’s essential to contemplate your company’ dietary wants. Dairy-free, gluten-free, vegetarian, and/or vegan recipes fare nicely for big teams. That means, everybody can savor the second collectively. Comforting meals are additionally at all times successful at dinner events. If it’s one thing you like, the percentages are excessive that your company will find it irresistible, too!
Leverage batch cooking and “build-your-own” parts. Sheet pan recipes, casual spreads, and topping bars are heroes with regards to meeting. Prep the primary parts and let your company construct their completed items. Not solely does this make your job simpler, nevertheless it’s an effective way to spark dialog and creativity!
Meat & Hen Recipes for Massive Teams
Why We Love It: These simpler-than-they-seem Mexican-inspired tacos are certainly one of Camille’s favourite summer time meals for weeknights and entertaining. Due to a zesty marinade and the right mixture of garlic, herbs, and spices, they pack loads of daring and shiny taste. Plus, they use flank steak—a scrumptious however comparatively low cost minimize that makes for tasty tacos. Merely add toppings of your alternative and luxuriate in!
Hero Ingredient: Tacos are nothing with out their toppings. I go for loads of cilantro and salsa verde. And don’t skimp on the guacamole.
Serve With: 4-Ingredient Watermelon Mint Margaritas, please.
Why We Love It: Camille took this basic technique of getting ready hen and turned the amount up with a twist. Marinating hen in yogurt tenderizes the meat, lending tons of taste and making a scrumptious crust. It makes for the right cheap meal for a big group as a result of you’ll be able to merely scale up as wanted, marinate forward of time, and throw your hen on the grill. No stress!
Hero Ingredient: This recipe is about as simple and easy because it will get. With so few elements, what’s included all performs a key function. That being mentioned, the lemon infuses your marinade with recent, summery taste.
Serve With: The Finest Easy Inexperienced Salad and a crisp, chilly glass of rosé.
Why We Love It: There are such a lot of explanation why I really like this easy sheet pan dinner. It’s quicker than takeout, full of loads of entire and nutritious elements, and tastes merely divine. It additionally occurs to align with varied diets as a result of its exclusion of grains, processed elements, and added sugars.
Hero Ingredient: Any recipe with goat cheese has my coronary heart.
Serve With: Rosemary and Olive Oil Focaccia
Why We Love It: This saucy hen and veggie meal will get higher the longer it marinates, and it’s the right flavorful meal for greater than two. This recipe could be made with hen breasts or thighs and quite a lot of cheap spices and pantry staples. Serve over a mattress of white rice for that cozy, home-cooked meal you crave all day.
Hero Ingredient: Coconut milk offers this slow-cooker meal an added creaminess.
Serve With: Baked Chili Miso Broccoli
Why We Love It: Soup is likely one of the finest issues to serve to massive teams as a result of it’s cheap and many of the cooking time is hands-off. Plus, so long as you’ve gotten a large enough pot, it’s simple to double. To at the present time, this Hen Tortilla Soup is certainly one of Camille’s hottest Instagram recipes, so when you haven’t made it but, that is your signal. It’s the right serve-yourself recipe for giant gatherings as nicely.
Hero Ingredient: The home made tortilla strips are next-level.
Serve With: Skillet Vegetarian Cornbread Stuffing
Why We Love It: Bone-in, skin-on hen thighs get the low and gradual remedy on this easy sheet pan recipe. They’re roasted alongside artichokes, pink onions, cherry tomatoes, garlic, lemon slices, and inexperienced olives till golden brown and scrumptious. The most effective half? All it’s important to do is throw every thing on a sheet pan and roast for an hour. That is a kind of recipes that’s a lot greater than the sum of its components.
Hero Ingredient: In the event you suppose slow-roasted hen is bland—suppose once more! The bottom line is to crank up the oven for these final ten-or-so minutes to crisp up the pores and skin.
Serve With: This can be a full sheet pan dinner by itself, however when you actually wish to spherical it out, these crispy potatoes are excellent.
Lime-y Hen Tacos with Jicama, Avocado, & Mint
Why We Love It: These tacos are certainly one of my favourite recipes for the easy prep and flavors which can be something however. You may make the hen beforehand and chop all the veggies prematurely. All it’s important to do is char the tortillas and serve. You don’t even should construct the tacos your self—let the company assemble their very own.
Hero Ingredient: The lime-y hen is inexpensive and addictive.
Serve With: Mexican Chopped Salad with Honey-Shallot French dressing, Camille’s Basic Margarita
Why We Love It: This roasted hen recipe yields the juiciest fowl with the crispiest golden brown pores and skin. And all you want is olive oil, salt, pepper, and some supporting actors to make that dream a actuality. The cherry tomatoes, garlic, and lemon slices that roast alongside the hen create probably the most wonderful sauce that flavors the fowl superbly. Then, a salsa verde elevates your complete creation much more.
Hero Ingredient: The garlic caramelizes to pure perfection and is delightfully spreadable.
Serve With: Make-Forward Vegan Mashed Potatoes, Roasted Root Greens with Gremolata and Whipped Feta, or Apple Walnut Salad
Why We Love It: Speak about a showstopper! This roast hen recipe is simply as scrumptious as it’s visually interesting. It options Brussels sprouts, fingerling potatoes, inexperienced olives, carrots, and copious quantities of garlic and olive oil. The hen roasts to perfection whereas the veggies beneath create a decadent sauce all on their very own. It’s the hands-off masterpiece your subsequent gathering wants.
Hero Ingredient: Don’t you dare waste any of that liquid gold. Switch these pan juices into some form of vessel or pour straight over the hen earlier than serving—you’ll be glad you probably did.
Serve With: Kale Italian Chopped Salad, No-Knead Olive & Rosemary Focaccia
Pasta Recipes for Massive Teams
Why We Love It: This zucchini pasta recipe celebrates the season’s finest flavors. Summer time squashes, nutty parmesan, zesty lemon, and fragrant herbs come collectively for a tasty and easy pasta recipe that each dinner visitor will love. It’s the Italian countryside meal you’ll begin to lengthy for when summer time rolls round.
Hero Ingredient: Grated Parmesan is a top-tier topping.
Serve With: Easy Inexperienced Salad, Summer time Cheese Board
Why We Love It: A complete serving of greens in pasta kind? Signal me up. This silky sauce that lovingly coats every noodle is my new favourite technique to eat greens. With solely 5 elements, this make-ahead sauce is the king of cheap meals for big teams. Merely prep your sauce, select your favourite noodle and accompanying veg, and high with numerous ending touches.
Hero Ingredient: Burrata, toasted breadcrumbs, recent herbs, lemon juice, and flaky salt make glorious topping decisions.
Serve With: Grilled Peach and Asparagus Salad with Spicy Pepitas, Cashew Mozzarella, and Goji Chipotle Dressing
Why We Love It: I really like the concept of serving a giant bowl of pasta salad for a laid-back gathering. This recipe couldn’t be tastier however isn’t fussy—each impressing your company whereas additionally making them really feel proper at residence. The briny, fruity flavors of the olives and artichokes are pure Mediterranean vibes. And when mixed with just a little crispy bacon, stunning issues occur. (Be at liberty to go away the bacon out and preserve a bowl on the aspect for further sprinkling you probably have vegetarian company.)
Hero Ingredient: Cavatappi is vital on this recipe. Its quick, twisted form soaks up all the nice inexperienced dressing.
Serve With: That is the right one-dish meal, however we love beginning with this Ricotta with Pears and Honeyed Pistachios and having fun with a candy and tart Salty Canine cocktail alongside.
Why We Love It: All of us love an excellent pasta banquet, and this recipe is infinitely customizable and simply doubled. In reality, Camille lays out all the doable swaps and her finest ideas for cooking this for a crowd within the recipe put up. Apart from the simplicity of constructing this dish, it has all of my favourite issues: rigatoni, pesto, and crispy Brussels sprouts. In the event you’re searching for a no-fuss, show-stopping pasta for a big group, that is it.
Hero Ingredient: The caramelized, crispy, garlicky Brussels sprouts style much more indulgent than the noodles.
Serve With: As a result of it is a one-pot meal, any of those refreshing kombucha cocktails would convey a pleasant, funky twist to the expertise.
Why We Love It: This eggplant lasagna is a comfy one-pot dinner that company of all ages and palates will love. It’s vegetarian, which is a plus for dinner events the place company have dietary restrictions, and it’s comforting all the identical. The icing on the cake? Retailer-bought marinara makes prep a breeze.
Hero Ingredient: Because it’s in a skillet, you’ll be able to place your complete creation straight on the desk and serve it up household fashion.
Serve With: Roasted Heirloom Carrots With Wild Rice And Tahini
Vegetarian Recipes for Massive Teams
Why We Love It: In the event you’re not placing potatoes in your pizza, take this recipe as an indication. I’m obsessive about the crispy-creamy texture play created by the melt-in-your-mouth potatoes and burrata set in opposition to the skinny, crunchy crust. It’s an excellent choice for big teams with a lightweight elements listing and shortcut tips to make all of it the better. Speak about hostess with the mostess.
Hero Ingredient: I’ll by no means, ever say no to burrata. It does creaminess to perfection.
Serve With: Heat Spinach-Artichoke Salad with Quinoa Crunchies
Why We Love It: Minimal effort meets most taste on this vegetarian tikka masala. It has all the flavour of your favourite take-out meal and might simply be scaled as much as accommodate any-sized group. Once more, it’s nice to set out in “serve yourself” style and is straightforward to double as nicely.
Hero Ingredient: The Greek yogurt deserves a medal for making this so creamy.
Serve With: Heat naan is essential—and when you actually wish to throw a celebration, this Vegan Flatbread with Roasted Carrot and Pink Pepper Hummus is a crowd-pleaser.
Butternut Squash Pizza With Arugula & Almond Ricotta
Why We Love It: If I’m invited to a pizza banquet, 10/10 occasions I’ll settle for. Everybody loves an excellent pizza, and this recipe can be prepared quicker than Domino’s can ship. In the event you’re seeking to make this meal the primary occasion of a night, you may as well let {couples} customise their very own pizzas.
Hero Ingredient: Selfmade almond ricotta, whereas delish, leans this pizza towards the dearer aspect. In the event you aren’t entertaining a plant-based crowd, be happy to swap out with store-bought entire milk ricotta.
Serve With: A number of salads are key. Go all in with this Grapefruit, Avocado, and Golden Beet Salad with Crunchy Chickpeas and Feta or Carrot, Kumquat, and Golden Beet Salad.
Why We Love It: Spiced potatoes stuffed into delicate bell peppers make for a magical dinner. These are lighter than conventional samosa, however scrumptious all the identical. It’s such a straightforward make-ahead dinner as a result of the filling will preserve in a single day. When the time comes, merely roast your bell peppers, stuff them with filling, and let company high accordingly.
Hero Ingredient: Chutney, recent herbs, yogurt, and pink onions make scrumptious ending touches.
Serve With: Chaat Masala Citrus Salad
Why We Love It: Soups are an effective way to feed a crowd with out stretching your pockets. You get much more out of them than you set in, which is pure magic. This candy potato and black bean chili exudes all the autumn flavors with stick-to-your-ribs veggies that make it hearty and wholesome. It’s loaded with black beans, flavorful veggies, and plenty of spices that preserve it heat and comforting. Only a fast sauté of these veggies and a gradual simmer takes this recipe from pot to bowl in underneath an hour.
Hero Ingredient: As with all comforting soup recipe, the secret is within the presentation. Lay out your whole toppings and let company construct their masterpiece!
Serve With: Tacky Bitter Cream and Onion Biscuits
Seafood Recipes for Massive Teams
Why We Love It: These grilled shrimp tacos are a summer time obsession. With a brief and candy ingredient listing and a important protein on the cheaper aspect, it’s an excellent batch of elements for decent days and grilling exterior. Change up your toppings with something from slices of creamy avocado to bits of recent cilantro and some squeezes of recent lime.
Hero Ingredient: Pico de Gallo is at all times a winner with these tacos!
Serve With: Guacamole, Spicy Mezcal Paloma
Why We Love It: Camille picked up this recipe from Contramar in Mexico Metropolis and we’ve been modified ever since. It’s further appropriate for big teams because the parts could be shortly prepped prematurely. When everybody is able to dig in, simply set out the tostadas and toppings and let everybody construct their very own!
Hero Ingredient: Avocado mellows out this recipe’s spicy and savory taste mix.
Serve With: Mexican Chopped Salad, Margarita on the Rocks
Why We Love It: My household has a practice of indulging in salmon for not less than one night time of our summer time trip. This salmon recipe has solely 5 elements and comes collectively in a snap. The peach salsa brings all of the summer time fruit flavors, whereas chile lime seasoning provides a kick of zest to this grilled fish.
Hero Ingredient: Peach salsa, want I say extra?
Serve With: Salt & Vinegar Potatoes, Vegan Pink Pepper Pasta
Why We Love It: What’s higher than a taco bar after a protracted day of poolside or yard enjoyable? These chimichurri fish tacos are certainly one of my go-to cheap meals for big teams, and they are often topped with varied flavorful additions that every one company can decide and select from.
Hero Ingredient: Cilantro is the hero of this chimichurri sauce.
Serve With: Mexican Road Corn Salad
This put up was final up to date on July 11, 2025 to incorporate new insights.
