21 Dinner for a Crowd Recipes That Make Feeding Many Easy
Feeding a hungry crowd doesn’t have to mean hours of stress in the kitchen or a massive cleanup afterwards. The secret is choosing recipes that scale up easily, can be prepped ahead, and don’t require constant attention while cooking.
These crowd-pleasers are designed to feed anywhere from 10 to 20 people without driving you crazy in the process.
From hearty casseroles to interactive food bars, each dish delivers big flavors with minimal fuss, leaving you free to actually enjoy time with your guests instead of being stuck behind the stove.
Baked Ziti for a Crowd
This Italian-American classic is the ultimate make-ahead crowd-pleaser that practically cooks itself. Tubes of pasta mingle with rich marinara, creamy ricotta, and melted mozzarella in every cheesy, saucy bite. You can assemble everything the day before, refrigerate it, and just pop it in the oven when guests arrive.
It feeds a ton of people without breaking the bank, and leftovers reheat beautifully. Even picky eaters and kids devour this comforting dish, making it perfect for mixed-age gatherings.
Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
Set it and forget it—this tender, flavorful pork practically falls apart after hours in the slow cooker. The meat soaks up smoky, tangy flavors and stays incredibly moist, perfect for piling onto soft buns. You can start it in the morning and have dinner ready by evening with almost no hands-on work.
It’s budget-friendly since pork shoulder is inexpensive, and one large roast feeds a surprising number of people. Set out various toppings and let everyone customize their sandwiches.
Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas
Everything cooks together on one pan—seasoned chicken, colorful peppers, and onions all get perfectly charred and flavorful. The oven does the work while you set out tortillas, sour cream, guacamole, and other toppings. Clean-up is a breeze since you’re only dealing with one or two sheet pans.
The sizzling, colorful presentation looks impressive but requires minimal skill or effort. This interactive meal lets guests build their own fajitas exactly how they like them.
Beef Taco Bar
A taco bar takes the pressure off by letting guests assemble their own perfect tacos. Season ground beef (or use a slow cooker for shredded beef), then set out shells, toppings, and watch everyone dig in. Prep work is simple—mostly chopping vegetables and opening cans—and everything can be prepped hours ahead.
It’s incredibly flexible for dietary restrictions since everyone controls what goes in their tacos. Kids love the DIY aspect, and adults appreciate the variety of flavors and textures.
Lasagna for a Crowd
Layers of pasta, meat sauce, and three types of cheese create the ultimate comfort food that feeds an army. While assembly takes some time, you can make it entirely ahead and freeze it until needed. The flavors actually improve after sitting, making it perfect for stress-free entertaining.
One deep pan serves 12-15 people easily, and you can make multiple pans without much extra effort. Serve with garlic bread and a simple salad for a complete, satisfying meal.
BBQ Ribs
Fall-off-the-bone tender ribs coated in sticky, sweet barbecue sauce are always a hit at gatherings. You can partially cook them ahead and just finish them on the grill or under the broiler before serving. While they take time to cook, they’re mostly hands-off, and racks of ribs feed more people than you’d think.
The finger-licking goodness creates a casual, fun atmosphere perfect for relaxed gatherings. Just have plenty of napkins on hand!
Baked Chicken Parmesan
Crispy breaded chicken topped with marinara and melted cheese delivers restaurant quality without the restaurant price tag. Baking instead of frying makes it easier to cook large quantities at once and keeps things lighter. You can bread the chicken ahead of time and refrigerate until you’re ready to bake.
It pairs perfectly with pasta or garlic bread to stretch the meal even further. Everyone recognizes and loves this classic Italian-American favorite.
Chili Con Carne
This hearty, warming bowl of goodness actually tastes better when made a day ahead. Ground beef, beans, tomatoes, and spices simmer together into a thick, flavorful stew that’s endlessly satisfying. It’s incredibly budget-friendly and easily doubles or triples without any extra difficulty.
Serve it with cornbread, shredded cheese, and sour cream for a complete meal. Chili keeps well and reheats perfectly, so you can make extra without worry.
Jambalaya
This one-pot Louisiana classic combines rice, meat, seafood, and bold Creole spices into something magical. Everything cooks together, which means minimal cleanup and maximum flavor as the rice absorbs all that deliciousness. While it has several ingredients, the process is straightforward—just layer flavors and let it simmer.
One big pot feeds a crowd generously, and the festive appearance makes it feel special. It’s a complete meal in itself, needing nothing more than some crusty bread.
Shepherd’s Pie
Savory ground meat and vegetables hide beneath a blanket of creamy mashed potatoes in this British comfort classic. The dish is incredibly forgiving and can be assembled hours ahead, then baked when needed. It’s budget-friendly, filling, and appeals to almost everyone, especially on cold days.
The potato topping gets gorgeously golden and crispy on top while staying fluffy underneath. One large casserole dish feeds a crowd without requiring any sides.
Honey Glazed Ham
A beautifully glazed ham looks impressive but requires surprisingly little effort for the wow factor. The sweet, sticky glaze caramelizes during baking, creating a gorgeous presentation and incredible flavor. Most of the work is done by the oven while you handle other tasks.
One ham feeds tons of people, and leftovers are perfect for sandwiches and soups. This is the go-to for holiday gatherings when you want something special without the stress.
Chicken Enchilada Casserole
All the flavors of enchiladas with a fraction of the work—no rolling required. Layers of tortillas, shredded chicken, cheese, and sauce create a Mexican-inspired casserole everyone devours. You can use rotisserie chicken to save even more time, and everything can be assembled ahead.
The cheese gets perfectly melty and golden on top while the tortillas soak up the flavorful sauce. Top with fresh cilantro, sour cream, and avocado for restaurant-quality results.
Meatball Subs
Tender meatballs in marinara sauce piled onto crusty rolls and topped with melted cheese is pure comfort food. You can use frozen meatballs to make this even easier, or make your own ahead and freeze them. Keep everything warm in a slow cooker and let guests build their own subs.
It’s casual, fun, and incredibly satisfying without being fancy. The combination of textures and flavors makes these sandwiches disappear fast.
Beef Stroganoff
Tender beef in a rich, creamy mushroom sauce over egg noodles feels elegant but comes together easily. The sauce is luscious and comforting, perfect for cooler weather gatherings. You can prep all the ingredients ahead and cook it relatively quickly when it’s time to eat.
It stretches well- a little beef goes a long way when combined with pasta and sauce. This classic never goes out of style and appeals across generations.
Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese
Forget the boxed stuff as this creamy, cheesy version cooks hands-free in your slow cooker. Multiple types of cheese melt together into an ultra-creamy sauce that coats every piece of pasta perfectly. It stays warm and ready to serve without drying out or getting crusty. Kids and adults alike can’t resist this comfort food classic.
It’s rich enough to serve as a main dish or works perfectly as a hearty side.
Baked Salmon with Vegetables
Sheet pan cooking makes this healthy option effortless- salmon fillets and colorful vegetables roast together perfectly. The fish stays moist and flaky while vegetables caramelize and develop deep flavor. This lighter option is perfect for health-conscious crowds without sacrificing taste or satisfaction.
Everything cooks in about 20 minutes, making it surprisingly quick for such an impressive presentation. The beautiful colors and fresh flavors feel restaurant-worthy.
Chicken and Rice Casserole
This one-dish wonder combines protein, starch, and vegetables into a complete, comforting meal. The rice cooks right in the casserole, absorbing chicken flavor and staying perfectly moist. It’s incredibly forgiving and hard to mess up, even for novice cooks. You can customize it with different vegetables, cheeses, or seasonings based on what you have.
The creamy, satisfying result feeds a crowd without requiring multiple pots and pans.
Spaghetti and Meatballs
This classic Italian-American dish is beloved by virtually everyone and scales up effortlessly. The meatballs can be baked instead of fried, making large batches much more manageable. Everything can be made ahead and simply reheated, or kept warm in a slow cooker.
It’s incredibly budget-friendly while still feeling special and homemade. Serve with garlic bread and a simple salad for a complete, crowd-pleasing meal.
Stuffed Bell Peppers
Colorful peppers filled with seasoned ground meat and rice make for a beautiful, complete meal. Each pepper is like an individual serving, making portions easy and presentation impressive. You can prep them entirely ahead and refrigerate or freeze until needed. They’re surprisingly filling, and the pepper adds vegetables without anyone really noticing.
These work well for mixed crowds since you can make some vegetarian versions alongside meat-filled ones.
Pot Roast with Vegetables
A classic Sunday dinner that requires minimal effort for maximum comfort food satisfaction. The meat becomes fork-tender after hours of slow cooking, while vegetables soak up all that rich, beefy flavor. You can use a slow cooker or Dutch oven and basically forget about it until dinner time.
One large roast feeds many people, and the leftovers make amazing sandwiches. This old-fashioned meal never fails to impress and comfort.
Build-Your-Own Pizza Bar
Set out pizza dough, sauce, cheese, and various toppings, then let guests create their own personal pizzas. It’s interactive, fun, and accommodates every dietary preference and picky eater automatically. The hands-on aspect keeps guests entertained while you handle the oven work.
You can prep all ingredients ahead and just focus on baking during the party. Kids especially love this approach, and adults enjoy the creativity and nostalgia.
