A table spread with trays of various dishes for a large group meal, including pasta, salad, and breadsticks.

11 Easy Meals for Large Groups (Anything But Pizza!)

What are your favorite easy meals for large groups that you like to make when you've got a lot of hungry people to think about? All helpful ideas are welcome here, whether you want to share links to your go-to recipes for feeding a crowd or just have a great idea for a large meal theme with tips for how to pull it off.

There are times when we all find ourselves needing to feed a lot of people at once. Big family gatherings, graduation parties, sports team dinners, large groups on vacation and more. Remember that hosting a crowd can bring a lot of stress, so don't overdo it when you're planning the menu. If you enjoy cooking, plan to only make a couple elements of the meal from scratch and purchase the rest, or ask guests to bring certain components. If you don't love to cook, there are likely great restaurant catering platters or store bought options in your area that will help you execute one of the ideas on this list.

Share your favorite meal ideas for large groups, along with any tips and tricks that you have for feeding a crowd without spending too much time and money. Want more inspiration? Check out our kid-friendly casserole recommendations, many of which can be made in advance and multiplied to feed a crowd.


 
    Sandie Clarke on Unsplash

    Walking Tacos

    This is a crowd-pleasing idea that is easy to eat standing up, which is a big plus if you are feeding a large group and have limited seating. Make a big batch of ground beef taco meat, and another one of shredded taco chicken if you need a second option. Offer a variety of toppings like shredded lettuce, salsa, cheese, sour cream, guacamole, etc. Guests can assemble their own walking tacos by putting the toppings over Doritos, Fritos or regular tortilla chips. Do it the "traditional" way and buy individual mini bags for everyone to add their toppings to, or buy a few giant bags and a bunch of disposable paper boats for people to fill. Everyone loves it, most of the work can be done ahead of time, and cleanup is easy.

    Jeswin Thomas on Unsplash

    Taco Bar

    Tacos are one of the most crowd-pleasing easy meals for large groups, and putting out all of the fixings will allow each person to build their own just as they like it. You can keep it simple with one protein and a few topping options, or really go for it with different proteins, salsas, hard and soft shells, queso and more. This is an especially good option if you want to ask your guests to bring something.

    Baked Potato Bar

    Make enough baked potatoes to feed your crowd. They retain heat very well, or keep them warm in the crockpot if you want to make them early. Offer a variety of toppings like sour cream, shredded cheese, steamed broccoli, crumbled bacon, green onions. Heartier toppings like chili, pulled BBQ chicken or pork are great, too.

    Chili Bar

    Make a big batch of chili in the crockpot and put out all the fixins...shredded cheddar, onion, jalapeƱos, cilantro, Fritos, hot sauce, avocado, oyster crackers, tortilla chips, sour cream. Serve with cornbread or corn muffins.

    belleofthekitchen.com

    Mississippi Pot Roast

    This is one of the easiest recipes for feeding a crowd, and simmers in the slow cooker all day if you start it in the morning. Pair with mashed potatoes (store bought is fine!) and a veggie.

    Soup Bar

    Get a couple crockpots going with a variety of soups - borrow extra crockpots from friends if you need them. You can buy many different kinds of pre-made soup from Costco, make your own soups, or mix and match. Serve with warmed breadsticks, and maybe a salad.

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    Hot Dog Bar

    Pre-grill a bunch of hot dogs before your gathering and keep them warm in a crockpot. Offer a large variety of fun fixings so everyone can create their own creative hot dogs. Serve with watermelon and chips.

    Meatball Subs

    If you want an Italian theme but don't want to deal with boiling pasta and keeping it warm, meatball subs are an easy dinner idea for a large crowd. Keep meatballs and marinara warm in a slow cooker, and offer rolls and shredded mozzarella for guests to assemble their own subs. Serve with a big salad.

    Pasta Bar

    Nothing like a traditional spaghetti dinner to feed a crowd, but you can also add some variety by offering a choice of sauces, pasta shapes and toppings.

    hostthetoast.com

    French Onion Beef Sliders For A Crowd

    These delicious beef sliders will disappear quickly, and you can prep the filling ahead of time and assemble the sandwiches just prior to baking. The recipe is easy to scale up if you have a really big group, or make a second slider recipe to offer everyone a choice.

    spendwithpennies.com

    Crock Pot Italian Beef Sandwiches

    To feed a large group, keep this Italian beef warm in the slow cooker and let everyone assemble their own sandwich. If you're feeding a mix of kids and adults, stick with smaller rolls to reduce waste, and plan for the hungrier people to have two.

Primary photo:   Jessica Tan on Unsplash

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