My soon-to-be 2 year old is having a birthday party with family in a few weeks. I need some good ideas as to what to make. We always do a big meal when all the family comes. Any suggestions on easy meals that are yummy to feed a big crowd relatively inexpensively. I have run out of ideas....in the past we have done chili, potato bar, taco salad, etc...Anyone have any good recipes to feed a lot of people?
Pasta, Garden Salad and dinner rolls. THe little ones will like it and the big ones like it too!Then it's cake and icecream for dessert. Easier thing would be pizza n salad.
Good Luck!
Annie
I would make lasagna or spaghetti. Most people like Italian food, you can make it on a budget, and it's easy to serve. If you need recipes, let me know. Good Luck!
I have a lot of friends that make a big baked ziti. Or you could do a pork tenderloin with BBQ sauce in the crockpot, then shredd for sandwiches.
L.,
A big pot of soup w/ a big salad and bread, meatballs (put in crockpot to stay warm), order fried or baked chicken with the sides Wal-Mart or if you have Kroger (Kroger chicken is real good). Just a few ideas! A.
We always throw some pulled pork barbque from Sam's Club into the crock pot, buy some buns, cole slaw, baked beans and chips and maybe some veggies and dip and there you have it...a simple serve your self meal that is ready when you are.
How about baked ziti? It is quick, easy and relatively inexpensive to make. Also, it is good for vegetarians b/c you just use marinara sauce.
I don't think you can go wrong with Costco pizza-- It's $9 a pie and is HUGE. It's always a crowd pleaser in our family!
Like the lasagna idea below. You can get some Stouffer's meat ones for the meat-eaters and make some smaller ones with lighter ingredients for others -- there are now "no-cook" lasagna noodles that make lasagnas SO much easier to make from scratch! Just get the no-cook noodles and layer them with whatever you like -- ricotta cheese, other cheeses, broccoli, carrots (precook the veggies at least a bit), tomatoes, lots of good sauces, olive oil, etc. Your six kids would have a blast making lasagnas so you could involve them too! Another idea -- pizzas. You can use pre-made crusts (Boboli brand is precooked as well) and just put on whatever you want--think about pre-shredded, bagged cheeses, pre-cut veggies and Boboli also sells its own good pizza sauce in packets. Again, kids love to make their own pizzas. Boboli has large and small, personal-sized crusts, and both white and whole wheat options. I hope this helps either for the party or just for dinners sometime!
Buy a bag of frozen meatballs, put in a crockpot with spag. sauce and have meatball subs with garlic bread or chips, veggie tray, etc.
OR : ) a big pot of spaghetti, garlic bread, mac & cheese for the little ones . . .
OR you can buy a (several!) big family size lasagna dinners from Sam's (+ mac & cheese, etc. from above). The price you pay at Sam's and the convenience of not having to worry about having all the ingredients really lowers your stress level and is worth it!! Sam's also has lots of other pre-made meals/sides that are great for large gatherings! (Nope, I don't work there . . . just a happy shopper!!) Oh, and their cakes are great!
Hope this sparks other ideas for you if these suggestions don't quite do the trick!!
D.
If you want something you don't have to worry about putting alot of effort in, how about stouffers lasanga?
I make the McCormicks pulled pork in the crockpot ahead of time. Easy, cheap and everyone loves it. (I use tomato paste instead of Ketchup). My mom also makes beef roast that we slice down for hot sandwiches.
