17 Best Meals For Large Groups

Hosting a gathering, party, or Game Day with a large group of friends or family is always fun, but certainly a challenge.

You’ve got to think about decorations, where everyone is going to sit, if you’ve got enough beverages, and most importantly, what you’re going to do for food.

Feeding large groups is no easy task, which is why we’ve made this list of easy meals for large groups to make your hosting experience far easier. Here are the 17 best meals for large groups!

1. Baked Macaroni And Cheese

You can’t go wrong with a huge serving of baked macaroni and cheese. It’s the ultimate comfort food, and is ridiculously easy to make. This recipe is suitable for large gatherings, allowing you to bake several trays at a time.

Serve with salad, fries, garlic bread, or as a side dish to a BBQ. You can also add chicken or vegetables for extra deliciousness!

2. Sloppy Joes For A Crowd

Another beloved American comfort food is the humble sloppy joe. These sandwiches are easy and inexpensive, and the perfect dish to serve large groups of people on Game Day.

Just make sure to allow enough time before your gathering to make sloppy joes, as the meat needs to be cooked low and slow.

Serve with a side of fries, chips, and a lot of paper towels for inevitably messy fingers.

3. Skillet Shepherd’s Pie

Shepherd’s pie is a hearty yet comforting dish that is perfect for serving large groups in fall or winter.

It’s warming and packed with nutrition, and filled with tasty flavors from the gravy, seasoned beef, and range of vegetables. It’s also very filling, so you won’t need to plan a large dessert, either.

Serve with steamed vegetables or on its own.

4. Casserole For A Crowd

Casseroles are a true crowd-pleaser. This casserole recipe is suitable for 14 people, and takes only an hour to prepare and bake.

It’s the ideal meal for a last-minute gathering, especially if the weather is cold and rainy!

The best part about making a large casserole is that everything tends to go in the same pan. You won’t have to worry about piling up the dirty dishes – especially if guests mop up the rest of the gravy with bread.

5. Oven-Baked Dry Rub Ribs

If you’re hosting a gathering filled with a large group of meat lovers, you need to try this oven-baked ribs recipe.

This is a fool-proof recipe to ensure the meat is so tender that it falls off the bone upon impact. Covered in a savory dry rob and mustard binder, your guests are sure to be asking for more.

The best part is that you don’t need a grill or smoker for these ribs, as they are baked in the oven!

6. Party Size Lasagna

Lasagna is one of the best dishes to make for large groups. Not only does everyone love lasagna, but it’s also super easy to make, and can be prepared the day before the gathering.

All you have to do is bake it in the oven when your guests arrive!

Serve alone or with a side of vegetables or garlic bread.

7. Taco Bar

Involving your guests in the cooking process is a great way to make feeding large groups easier. A taco bar is perfect for this – all you have to do is prepare the fillings, and then allow everyone to make their own tacos.

This is also a good option for groups of picky eaters, because they can choose their own taco fillings.

8. Chili For A Crowd

A big batch of chili is one of the best ways to feed a large group of people. This recipe makes 24 servings, which is enough to feed your guests and leave some leftovers for the next day.

It’s packed with flavor and nutrition, and guests will certainly be coming back for more.

Serve alone or on a bed of rice, with pasta, or in burger buns.

9. Paella For A Crowd

Paella is another great way to feed a crowd. This recipe makes 12 servings, but it can also be doubled if you are hosting more people.

It’s packed with flavor and goodness from the chicken, pork, calamari, shrimp, clams, and mussels, and will make your guests feel like they’re on holiday on the Spanish coast.

The key is to prepare your meat the day before to allow it to properly marinate.

10. Cuban Sliders

If you’re hosting a gathering for Game Day, your guests aren’t likely to want a five course, high-end meal. They’ll be happy with Cuban sliders, loaded with swiss cheese, ham, dill pickles, and mustard.

These sliders are super quick and easy to make, so you can always make more if the demand is high.

11. Chicken Pot Pie

Everybody loves chicken pot pie. This chicken pot pie consists of a buttery, creamy chicken filling, combined with a flaky golden crust, and it’s oh-so delicious.

This recipe also calls for the secret ingredient of basil, which adds a new flavor that most pot pies lack.

Serve with steamed vegetables or mashed potatoes.

12. Honey-Glazed Baked Ham

If you really want to impress your guests, check out this honey-glazed baked ham recipe. It’ll leave your guests thinking you’re a Michelin-star chef, when in reality, this is a super easy dish to make.

Make sure to allow at least 3 hours to cook the ham before your guests arrive.

13. Chicken Enchiladas

If you’re hosting a themed gathering, why not go for a Mexican themed night? These chicken enchiladas will be the star of the evening, packed with sautéed chicken, beans, cheese, chilies, and more.

You can use canned sauce to make the recipe easier, but the homemade red enchilada sauce is a real crowd-pleaser.

14. Nachos For A Party Crowd

Nachos are one of the best meals you can make for a large gathering. Whether it’s movie night or Game Day, nachos are certain to be a success.

You can experiment as much as you like with nachos, including adding meat or various vegetables.

Serve with lots of salsa, sour cream, and guacamole.

15. Slow Cooker Pot Roast

If you’ve got enough time the day before your gathering, you should try a slow cooker pot roast. This recipe makes deliciously tender beef chunks, along with sumptuous roasted vegetables and rich gravy.

It’s hearty and nutritious, and certain to make your guests very happy.

16. Cheeseburger Pie

Making dozens of cheeseburgers can be a chore, and often means people don’t get to eat at the same time. Instead, why not try a cheeseburger pie? It’s kind of like a massive cheeseburger, just without the burger buns.

17. Chicken Noodle Soup

Nothing is as comforting as a huge batch of chicken noodle soup. It’s the perfect meal to make for a large group in fall or winter, especially if you’re hosting a movie night. It’s filling, packed with nutrition, and very tasty.

Plus, chicken noodle soup is really inexpensive to make!