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70 Big-Batch Dishes & Recipes to Feed a Crowd

For holidays and casual dinners alike

big batch recipes: au gratin potatoes
Foodie Crush

You have eight family members coming over for dinner, so a large pizza isn’t going to cut it. But don’t stress: You can feed the whole crew with 70 deliciously attainable big-batch recipes for a crowd, including dreamy dinners, like pomegranate-sumac chicken with roasted carrots and mini skillet pizzas, and make-ahead recipes for large groups, like quiche with gluten-free sweet potato crust.

Throw these crowd-pleasing dishes together in no time with minimal fuss, whether you're hosting a birthday celebration, a large family gathering, a casual lunch or a fancy dinner party. Each one was chosen for its beginner-friendly simplicity and wide-ranging appeal (from picky eaters to special diets), plus many meals can be prepared in advance to freeze for future busy evenings.

68 Easy Finger Food Recipes Everyone Will Love


Appetizers and Snacks

1. BLT Galette

  • Time Commitment: 3 hours and 30 minutes
  • Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients
  • Serves: 8

The humble BLT just got a drool-worthy makeover, courtesy of pie crust, heirloom tomatoes and arugula. "I highly recommend going the extra mile and making the homemade dough, but I also understand you’d rather be lounging," explains PureWow senior food editor Katherine Gillen. "So, feel free to shortcut with store-bought or swap in a frozen puff pastry to save time."

2. Classic Macaroni Salad

  • Time Commitment: 25 minutes (plus chilling time)
  • Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, make ahead, beginner-friendly
  • Serves: 8 to 10

Not only can you prepare this picnic essential ahead, but you should. "It actually tastes better the longer it sits in the fridge, so I highly recommend making it a day ahead," says Gillen. The longer the pasta and veggies sit in the vinegary mayo dressing, the more zingy flavor they'll soak up.

3. Baked Mac and Cheese Bites

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour
  • Why I Love It: kid-friendly, <500 calories, special occasion-worthy
  • Serves: 10

In less than an hour, you can have 48 of these delightful little macaroni bites on the table, baked with two kinds of gooey cheddar cheese. "They're crispy on top yet nice and chewy on the inside," recipe developer Erin McDowell writes. "Your kids are going to love them, whether for lunch or as an after-school snack." Serve them with hot sauce for the grown-ups and ketchup for the picky eaters.

4. Baked Brie with Figs, Pistachios and Orange

  • Time Commitment: 30 minutes
  • Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy, vegetarian, beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients
  • Serves: 10

Let me fill you in on a little secret: This sweet-and-savory baked cheese looks fancy, but it couldn’t be easier to make. And with all those fancy toppings, it's prime for your Christmas table. Serve with crackers and your favorite crispy bread.

5. Pull-Apart Bread with Caramelized Onions and Goat Cheese

  • Time Commitment: 3 hours and 10 minutes
  • Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy, <500 calories, vegetarian
  • Serves: 10 to 12

Monkey bread is tasty, but you’ve made it 2 billion times. Enter this savory remix that boasts all the fun of the O.G. and twice the class. Make it for weekends, game days or dinner parties, but always serve it warm.

6. Spanish Tapas Board

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour and 30 minutes
  • Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy, high protein, make ahead
  • Serves: 10 to 12

When in doubt, a massive charcuterie spread of meat and cheese always satisfies. And this one has a few bonus appetizers, like heirloom pan con tomate and patatas bravas with saffron aioli. (They can both be made ahead, so the finally assembly will be a snap.)

7. Spinach Artichoke Squares

  • Time Commitment: 35 minutes
  • Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, special occasion-worthy, <500 calories
  • Serves: 12

I'm an artichoke dip fan through and through. Add puff pastry, and I'm positively swooning. They’ve got the same cheesy goodness as the party dip, without the need for crackers or chips.

8. Cranberry, Brussels Sprouts and Brie Skillet Nachos

  • Time Commitment: 40 minutes
  • Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, <10 ingredients, kid-friendly
  • Serves: 6

No offense to your dad's nachos, but these beat them out by a mile. The seasonal twist makes the app ideal for using up Thanksgiving leftovers. Make it a complete meal by adding shredded chicken or turkey to the mix.

9. Eight-Layer Hummus Dip

  • Time Commitment: 10 minutes
  • Why I Love It: <30 minutes, no cook, <10 ingredients
  • Serves: 8

This nutritious, protein-rich app is loaded with pine nuts, pesto, sweet peppers, cucumbers, tomatoes, cilantro and feta cheese. (Yum.) Serve it with plenty of dippers, like pita chips and crudités for the gluten-free folks at the table.

Breakfast

10. Slow Cooker Mediterranean Frittata

  • Time Commitment: 3 hours and 30 minutes
  • Why I Love It: Mediterranean diet-friendly, slow cooker recipe, <500 calories
  • Serves: 6

Brunch should always be this easy. You basically drop all the ingredients in the Crock-Pot and go about your business until it's ready. Feel free to throw in other kinds of veggies outside of what's listed in the recipe; frittatas are famously riffable.

11. Sheet-Pan Eggs with Smoked Salmon and Cream Cheese

  • Time Commitment: 30 minutes
  • Why I Love It: sheet pan recipe, <500 calories, special occasion-worthy
  • Serves: 12

Eggs are a breeze to cook for one, but they’re tough to make for a crowd. Consider this recipe your secret weapon. It’s tasty with toast and a mimosa—and even more so on a breakfast sandwich.

12. Sunday Morning French Toast

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour and 15 minutes
  • Why I Love It: vegetarian, one pan, kid-friendly
  • Serves: 6

An entire batch of French toast made in a single dish? Yeah, I'm definitely baking this gem on Christmas morning. Make sure you have extra butter and plenty of maple syrup on hand for serving (or fresh fruit, if you're feeling wholesome).

13. Quiche with Gluten-Free Sweet Potato Crust

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour and 20 minutes
  • Why I Love It: <500 calories, low carb, gluten free
  • Serves: 6 to 8

Quiche is a breakfast classic. But quiche with a sweet potato crust? Wait for the crowd to go wild. "Now it's your chic, tasty and good-for-you go-to for breakfast, lunch or dinner," McDowell assures. Serve it with crusty bread and fruit salad or dressed greens.

14. Pumpkin Pie French Toast

  • Time Commitment: 50 minutes
  • Why I Love It: kid-friendly, <10 ingredients, special occasion-worthy
  • Serves: 8

Name a better way to use up leftover pumpkin pie—I'll wait. It tastes just as festive on Halloween morning as it does on Black Friday (or any random weekday). I'll bring the syrup and whipped cream.

15. Potato and Spring Pea Frittata

  • Time Commitment: 50 minutes
  • Why I Love It: vegetarian, beginner-friendly, special occasion-worthy
  • Serves: 8

Frittatas are endlessly flexible. They can be served at any temperature and accommodate just about any cheese, produce or protein that's lurking in the back of your fridge. Buy your fresh peas already shelled to save yourself some prep time.

16. Spinach and Cheese Strata

  • Time Commitment: 9 hours and 20 minutes
  • Why I Love It: make ahead, beginner-friendly, vegetarian
  • Serves: 6

Stratas are the fancy casseroles of the brunch world. This one features plenty of gooey cheese, and it happens to be a great way to use up any leftover greens you have in your crisper drawer. Serve with lots of smoky bacon or browned breakfast sausage.

17. Mexican-Inspired Breakfast Casserole

  • Time Commitment: 55 minutes
  • Why I Love It: kid-friendly, make ahead, crowd-pleaser
  • Serves: 12

What makes this dish so amazing, you ask? It could be the fact that it’s a breeze to prepare ahead…or it could be the copious amounts of avocado on top. I can’t decide. "It's loaded up with the most flavorful ingredients, naturally gluten-free and can also be made vegetarian," recipe creator Ali Martin writes.

Lunch

18. BLT Pasta Salad

  • Time Commitment: 40 minutes
  • Why I Love It: kid-friendly, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly
  • Serves: 8

The secret to this picnic favorite (besides a pound of bacon, of course)? Dijon mustard and apple cider vinegar to make it tangy and a little bit sweet. You can also leave it undressed and store it in the fridge for up to two days, if you're making it ahead of time.

19. Mini Skillet Pizzas with Mushrooms and Roasted Tomatoes

  • Time Commitment: 50 minutes
  • Why I Love It: one pan, vegetarian, <10 ingredients
  • Serves: 10

Two things everyone loves: pizza and mini foods. In other words, this recipe is bound to be a hit. Use store-bought pizza dough and your guests will be none the wiser. Serve them with crushed red pepper flakes and all the fixings, obviously.

20. Cuban Sliders for a Crowd

  • Time Commitment: 30 minutes
  • Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, one pan, <10 ingredients
  • Serves: 15

It sure beats frying a million chicken wings on game day. Nix the roast pork to make the sandwiches low-lift, but feel free to add store-bought pernil to make them more authentic and filling.

21. Roasted Tomato Soup

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour and 45 minutes
  • Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, vegetarian, gluten free
  • Serves: 10

You're only a handful of ingredients away from ditching canned soup forever—it's *that* good. If you have a legendary grilled cheese recipe, now is the optimal time to put it to work.

22. Roasted Salmon Tacos

  • Time Commitment: 55 minutes
  • Why I Love It: high protein, gluten free, dairy free
  • Serves: 8

Not only is the flaked salmon bursting with smoky chipotle and cumin, but it's also topped with grilled pineapple salsa and cashew lime crema for a balance of flavors and textures. (Might I also suggest a mound of pickled red onions for each taco?)

23. Roasted Squash Salad with Crispy Shallot & Balsamic Reduction

  • Time Commitment: 30 minutes
  • Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, vegan, dairy free, gluten free
  • Serves: 8

With winter squash, pumpkin seeds, currants and macadamia nut cheese, it’s a salad that even the veggie averse can get on board with. Make it a main by crisping up some potatoes and adding them in.

24. Slow Cooker Chipotle BBQ Meatballs with Garlic Toast

  • Time Commitment: 8 hours
  • Why I Love It: slow cooker recipe, special occasion-worthy, beginner-friendly
  • Serves: 8

These little bites can be prepped in advance and frozen until you need them. The recipe calls for making your own barbecue sauce, but you'll quickly realize it's easy as pie...er, meatballs.

25. Ham and Cheese Sliders

  • Time Commitment: 30 minutes
  • Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser
  • Serves: 12

Whether you're hosting a Super Bowl viewing party or a kids' sleepover, these simple sammies will surely satisfy the masses. The buns are brushed with mustard-spiked butter, poppy seeds and dried minced onion.

Dinner

26. Sheet-Pan Buttermilk Chicken Thighs with Plums, Shallots and Honey

  • Time Commitment: 8 hours and 30 minutes
  • Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy, sheet pan recipe, high protein, <10 ingredients
  • Serves: 8

The beauty of stone fruit season. Be patient while the chicken marinates—the buttermilk is the key to tenderizing the meat and getting supremely crispy skin and savory flavor. "The plums and shallots are interchangeable with other fruits and alliums," Gillen says, "and I think apples, grapes, leeks and thinly sliced red onion would all be lovely."

27. Split Pea Soup with Bacon and Beer

  • Time Commitment: 2 hours and 15 minutes
  • Why I Love It: <500 calories, dairy free, beginner-friendly
  • Serves: 8

This cozy recipe is a far cry from your grandma's split pea soup. Chalk it up to the homemade croutons, sherry vinegar, smoky bacon and a whole can of pale lager. "The beer is what gives this soup a well-rounded flavor without a ton of effort on your part, but if you want to skip it, you can use an equal amount of water or chicken stock instead," Gillen suggests.

28. Skillet Roast Chicken with Shmaltzy Potatoes

  • Time Commitment: 5 hours and 45 minutes
  • Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy, high protein, one pan
  • Serves: 6

Nothing wows a crowd like a golden-brown roast chicken. "The best tip I learned from Samin Nosrat’s recipe, aside from the buttermilk, is to take advantage of your oven’s hot spots," Gillen writes. Pro tip: Position the bird so its legs point toward one of the back corners of the oven, where it runs hotter than the center of the oven. This will keep the breast meat from drying out.

29. Spicy Slow Cooker Green Chicken Chili

  • Time Commitment: 6 hours and 15 minutes
  • Why I Love It: slow cooker recipe, crowd-pleaser, high protein
  • Serves: 8

Behold: the definition of cozy. "It requires just 15 minutes of active prep (thank you, canned green chiles) and can be frozen for up to three months, if make-ahead dinners are your thing," Gillen explains.

30. 3-Cheese Pumpkin Pasta Casserole with Spinach

  • Time Commitment: 50 minutes
  • Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, vegetarian
  • Serves: 6

If you don't serve this creamy, soul-warming dish for Halloween or Thanksgiving dinner, you're doing it wrong. (And since it's made with canned pumpkin, you can whip it up whenever.) "It’s creamy, comforting and big enough to feed a crowd, but still feels modern, thanks to dollops of ricotta and plenty of spinach," Gillen asserts. "Even better, it freezes like a dream for the nights you don’t feel like cooking."

31. White Bean Stew with Marinated Radicchio

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour and 10 minutes
  • Why I Love It: vegetarian, one pot, low sugar
  • Serves: 6

Help your crew beat the winter blues with this soul-soothing mix of alliums, fresh herbs, citrus juice and white beans. The stew will last for three days in an airtight container; just store the radicchio separately so it doesn’t get soggy. Add a few meatballs at the end of cooking for a protein boost.

32. Ravioli Lasagna

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour and 25 minutes
  • Why I Love It: vegetarian, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly
  • Serves: 8

Forget lasagna noodles. For this dish, you'll layer ravioli (meat, cheese, mushroom—whatever kind you're feeling) to make the most epic baked pasta dish ever. This recipe will be your kids' new favorite big-batch dish, trust.

33. Pomegranate-Sumac Chicken with Roasted Carrots

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour and 20 minutes (plus marinating time)
  • Why I Love It: sheet pan recipe, special occasion-worthy, high protein
  • Serves: 8

Once it’s cool enough to turn on your oven, it’s time to embrace the sheet pan meal. This one’s packed with warm Middle Eastern spices that will have your guests begging for the recipe (and a second plate). The key to its gorgeous appearance is carrot greens on top.

34. Skillet Gnocchi with Sausage and Broccoli Rabe

  • Time Commitment: 30 minutes
  • Why I Love It: one pan, high protein, beginner-friendly
  • Serves: 6

You had me at gnocchi and again at one-skillet meal. Thanks to a few smart shortcuts (store-bought pasta, for starters), this big-batch dinner takes a mere 30 minutes to make. In the words of Ina Garten, how easy is that?

35. Weeknight Skillet Paella

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour
  • Why I Love It: one pan, high protein, special occasion-worthy
  • Serves: 6

How can you pull off this iconic Spanish staple in one hour, you ask? By reducing the seafood to shrimp and littleneck clams for speedy cooking. "The Valencian specialty gets its name from the wide, shallow pan it’s cooked in...but you can make this version in any large, oven-safe skillet or Dutch oven, ideally, one with low, sloping sides to encourage the rice to cook evenly," McDowell suggests. I'll bring the sangria.

36. Eggplant Parm Casserole

  • Time Commitment: 55 minutes
  • Why I Love It: vegetarian, special occasion-worthy, kid-friendly
  • Serves: 6

Tell chicken to sit this one out. Crispy slabs of breadcrumb-coated eggplant will be just as delicious as poultry, and any meat eaters on your guest list won't think twice about it. Pass the garlic bread.

37. Baked Caprese Chicken Skillet

  • Time Commitment: 30 minutes
  • Why I Love It: one pan, <30 minutes, kid-friendly
  • Serves: 6

Store-bought basil pesto does most of the heavy lifting in the flavor department. It'll pair wonderfully with additional summer vegetables too, like zucchini or corn.

38. Sausage and Fennel Pasta

  • Time Commitment: 25 minutes
  • Why I Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly
  • Serves: 6

Italian sausage has a ton of built-in flavor, so this pasta barely needs additional zhuzhing—although a sprinkle of grated Parm and a generous amount of black pepper never hurts.

39. Cheater's Italian Wedding Soup

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour
  • Why I Love It: high protein, beginner-friendly, one pot
  • Serves: 8

Parmesan, pasta, beans, kale and juicy meatballs…all in one bite? Say no more: I'm already on my way to your place. "The secret to streamlining this recipe is in those meatballs," McDowell reveals. "Instead of calling for ground meat and a ton of spices, we swapped in spicy Italian sausage. It brings all the flavor without as much effort, and the addition of breadcrumbs keeps the meatballs light and tender."

40. Slow Cooker Pulled Chicken

  • Time Commitment: 7 hours and 10 minutes
  • Why I Love It: slow cooker recipe, high protein, special occasion-worthy
  • Serves: 6

Pile it onto rolls, add it to salads, use it to fill burritos or stuff it in a quesadilla. Spice it up with extra chili powder or make it mild to your liking; the customization options are practically endless.

41. Polenta Ragu Casserole

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour and 50 minutes
  • Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, high protein
  • Serves: 6

Go ahead, make a guest list: You're having a dinner party. This fun twist on lasagna is just as easy to pull off as the O.G., but feels way fancier. Make it plant-based with meatless ground "beef" and vegan cheese, too.

42. Cheater’s Spicy Sausage Pizza With Burrata

  • Time Commitment: 35 minutes
  • Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, special occasion-worthy, crowd-pleaser
  • Serves: 6

Normally making homemade pizza is an hours-long affair, but this pie only takes a little longer than half an hour, thanks to store-bought flatbread. Adjust the spice level by forgoing or adding red pepper flakes.

43. Slow Cooker Pulled Pork

  • Time Commitment: 7 hours and 10 minutes
  • Why I Love It: slow cooker recipe, high protein, make ahead, crowd-pleaser
  • Serves: 6

You can use this sweet-and-tangy main in salads, burritos, quesadillas, grilled cheeses and all sorts of sandwiches, piled high with vinegary coleslaw. Whip up some potato salad for a side dish and you're in business.

44. White Pesto Spinach Lasagna

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour and 15 minutes
  • Why I Love It: <500 calories, vegetarian, make ahead
  • Serves: 10

Cheesy? Check. Bubbly? Check. Loaded with gorgeous, good-for-you veggies like spinach and wild mushrooms? Triple check. Broil the casserole at the end for a crispy, golden-brown finish.

45. Slow Cooker Crispy Carnitas

  • Time Commitment: 8 hours
  • Why I Love It: slow cooker recipe, one pot, <500 calories, dairy free, kid-friendly
  • Serves: 10

In this big-batch recipe, pork shoulder is simmered in the slow cooker for eight hours, yielding tender, fall-off-the-bone meat that’s fabulous in tacos, sandwiches and even with fried eggs. You can also make it the savory crown atop a massive batch of nachos.

46. Baked Sausage and Cheese Rigatoni

  • Time Commitment: 40 minutes
  • Why I Love It: kid-friendly, make ahead, beginner-friendly
  • Serves: 8

This family favorite packs in a pound of sweet Italian sausage, plus lots of ricotta, Parm and provolone. (Thanks, recipe creator Heidi Larsen.) Feel free to sub the sausage for something lower in fat, like turkey, if that's your preference.

47. Caramelized Shiitake Mushroom Risotto

  • Time Commitment: 30 minutes
  • Why I Love It: vegan, gluten free, make ahead
  • Serves: 8

A ten-ingredient, 30-minute recipe that stores for up to a month in the freezer. (So basically, it’s fabulous in every way.) Make sure you use a big pan, so the mushrooms have ample space to properly caramelize.

48. Korean Beef Tacos

  • Time Commitment: 35 minutes
  • Why I Love It: dairy free, kid-friendly, high protein
  • Serves: 12

These mind-blowing handhelds come together in 35 minutes and are piled high with sriracha mayo and caramelized kimchi for good measure. Use gluten-free soy sauce and corn tortillas over flour in case anyone in your crew has a wheat allergy.

49. Chicken and Dumplings

  • Time Commitment: 2 hours and 30 minutes
  • Why I Love It: kid-friendly, high protein, make ahead
  • Serves: 6

This classic takes a bit of patience to prepare (hey, homemade biscuits take time), but recipe creator Maria Lichty promises it’s worth the wait. You can serve roast veggies or salad on the side for good measure, but it can also be the main event.

50. Holy Mole Enchiladas

  • Time Commitment: 40 minutes
  • Why I Love It: make ahead, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly
  • Serves: 8

Tweak this easy 40-minute recipe how you see fit to make the enchiladas spicy, gluten free or vegan. The mole sauce can be prepared a few days in advance to boot. Warning: You'll want it with every meal.

51. Chicken Tetrazzini

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour and 15 minutes
  • Why I Love It: kid-friendly, make ahead, <500 calories
  • Serves: 8

In case you've never had chicken tetrazzini, it's a delicious combo of egg noodles, sautéed mushrooms, roast chicken and béchamel. If you're preparing it ahead, make sure to undercook the noodles a bit before assembling so they don't turn out mushy.

52. Korean Grilled Steak with Toasted Sesame Chimichurri

  • Time Commitment: 30 minutes
  • Why I Love It: <500 calories, gluten free, special occasion-worthy
  • Serves: 8

Food blogger Tieghan Gerard tells us the key to a great flank steak is marinating it in something delicious for a few hours. Done and done. Gerard recommends serving the steak with melon salad or a side of potatoes.

53. Creamy Chicken and Broccoli Casserole

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour and 15 minutes
  • Why I Love It: make ahead, kid-friendly, <500 calories
  • Serves: 6

The whole family will approve of this decadent dinner. Seriously—even your kids won't mind the veggies, thanks to all that crumbled bacon and melted Gruyère. Any kind of meltable cheese will work, though, so feel free to get creative.

Sides

54. Zucchini Ricotta Galette

  • Time Commitment: 50 minutes
  • Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy, vegetarian, <500 calories
  • Serves: 8

If you’re in a dinner rut, listen up: This savory summer pie can elevate any meal, from a picnic lunch in the park with a bottle of wine to Sunday dinner with the whole fam on the back patio. It's also completely homemade, including the crust—no shortcuts here.

55. Delicata Squash Rings with Garlic-Lemon Sauce

  • Time Commitment: 40 minutes
  • Why I Love It: vegetarian, <500 calories, special occasion-worthy
  • Serves: 8

Onion rings better watch out: These easy, elegant delicata squash bites are certain to steal the show. Set out a plate at your next cocktail party and watch them disappear in five minutes flat (the dip, too).

56. Instant Pot Risotto à la Carbonara

  • Time Commitment: 25 minutes
  • Why I Love It: <30 minutes, Instant Pot recipe, beginner-friendly
  • Serves: 8

BRB, swimming in a sea of pancetta- and wine-kissed cheese sauce. "With an Instant Pot or other multifunction cooker, you can enjoy the creamiest risotto any night of the week," recipe creator Meseidy Rivera asserts. You could serve the risotto as a side, but I think it's decadent enough to stand on its own too, if you'd prefer.

57. Mashed Potato Arancini

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour and 15 minutes
  • Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy, crowd-pleaser, vegetarian
  • Serves: 16

These crispy, molten rice balls are equal parts casual and elegant (chalk it up to the surprise olives inside). They'll be even more delicious washed down with a beer or dirty martini—just sayin'.

58. Charred Sweet Potatoes with Pistachio-Chili Pesto

  • Time Commitment: 55 minutes
  • Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy, gluten free, vegetarian
  • Serves: 8

Vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike will be thrilled to see these spuds at the dinner table. Roasting your taters at 450°F for up to 35 minutes gives them a charred, smoky vibe (and eye-catching appearance) your guests will adore.

59. Easy Creamy au Gratin Potatoes

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour and 40 minutes
  • Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy, <500 calories, vegetarian
  • Serves: 10

A decadent side dish that pairs fabulously with roast chicken and a green salad (or a Thanksgiving turkey). You can also get creative with the types of cheese you use; whatever melting kind you have on hand will likely taste amazing.

60. Perfect Meatballs with Cherry Tomato Sauce

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour and 10 minutes
  • Why I Love It: gluten free, high protein, make ahead, kid-friendly
  • Serves: 8 t0 10

These meatballs are truly next-level hearty. Garnish them with extra mozz, fresh basil and some pesto, and serve them with either spaghetti or polenta, if your guests are gluten-free. (Zoodles work, too.)

61. Slow Cooker Tater Tot Casserole

  • Time Commitment: 4 hours and 20 minutes
  • Why I Love It: slow cooker recipe, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly
  • Serves: 8

Who doesn't love a set-it-and-forget-it slow cooker meal? Layered with ground beef, sharp cheddar, black beans and tons of tots, this crowd-pleaser is guaranteed to disappear in ten minutes or less.

Desserts

62. Key Lime Pie Ice Pops

  • Time Commitment: 4 hours and 5 minutes
  • Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, <10 ingredients, kid-friendly
  • Serves: 9

Sweetened condensed milk gives these ice pops a rich, luxurious texture, while cream cheese and fresh lime juice impart the optimal dose of tang and acidity to balance the flavor. "You don’t need an ice pop mold, although it adds to the effect," Gillen advises. "Disposable cups or even Champagne flutes make excellent substitutes." Might I suggest topping each one with crumbled graham crackers?

63. Swedish Cinnamon Buns Topped with Salted Caramel

  • Time Commitment: 2 hours and 50 minutes
  • Why I Love It: kid-friendly, special occasion-worthy, <500 calories
  • Serves: 16 to 18

FYI, most of the cooking time is hands-off, so you can sit back and bask in the glow of that drool-worthy caramel sauce. Sprinkle a little extra sea salt on top for a certain je ne sais quoi.

64. Apricot and Frangipane Cake

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour and 5 minutes
  • Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy, gluten free, <10 ingredients
  • Serves: 8

Thanks to five juicy, in-season apricots, you won’t even need to frost this beauty. It's naturally gorgeous as is. And if apricots aren't in season, canned will do in a pinch. (Plums, peaches or nectarines would work, too.)

65. Malted Sugar Cookies

  • Time Commitment: 30 minutes
  • Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, kid-friendly, make ahead
  • Serves: 20

Malted milk powder elevates these ridiculously simple, one-bowl sugar cookies without requiring any extra work of the baker. Add crushed, freeze-dried berries (blueberries, raspberries and strawberries are all fair game) to the dough for a sweet-tart, photo-worthy twist.

66. Coffee-Glazed Molasses Bars

  • Time Commitment: 45 minutes
  • Why I Love It: make ahead, special occasion-worthy, beginner-friendly
  • Serves: 16

Chewy, comforting and impressive, these simple cookie bars will become your new favorite winter dessert at first bite. (BTW, the four-ingredient espresso glaze would taste divine atop everything from banana bread to vanilla ice cream.)

  • Time Commitment: 40 minutes
  • Why I Love It: kid-friendly, beginner-friendly, one pan
  • Serves: 8

Remember those incredible cookie cakes your family would order every year on your birthday? Well, now it can be your birthday every damn day if you want it to be. Now, grease up that cast iron skillet, will ya?

68. Perfect Instant Pot New York Cheesecake

  • Time Commitment: 8 hours
  • Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy, Instant Pot recipe, crowd-pleaser
  • Serves: 8

A beautiful cheesecake is great for every occasion. And honestly, a group setting is best for this easy-to-make dessert, because the leftovers are dangerously irresistible. Skip the strawberries if you're a cheesecake purist—I won't judge.

Drinks

69. Pomegranate-Demerara Rum Punch

  • Time Commitment: 2 hours and 15 minutes
  • Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, beginner-friendly
  • Serves: 10

The key to this party-starter is using fresh pineapple, orange and lime juices. The homemade pomegranate grenadine (which can easily be prepared ahead to save time before cocktail hour) is just a tasty bonus.

70. Big-Batch Pink Negronis

  • Time Commitment: 10 minutes
  • Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy, crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients
  • Serves: 8

These big-batch cocktails are ready for their Instagram debut. "Thanks to Lillet Blanc, they’re slightly lighter, sweeter and more floral (read: more crowd-pleasing) than the O.G. version," recipe developer Heath Goldman explains. "Plus, you can mix eight servings at the same time...and the result is gorgeous."

Frequently Asked Questions

What Are the Best Types of Meals to Serve a Large Crowd?

My go-tos are slow cooker dishes and casseroles, since they typically yield large quantities. (If I can assemble it ahead to chill or freeze until the day I'm going to serve it, even better.) One-pot pasta dishes and charcuterie boards are solid choices too, as well as high-protein meals that call for minimal hands-on work, like whole roast chicken or Crock-Pot pulled pork. Many sheet pan and skillet dishes can also feed up to six people in one fell swoop.

Which of These Big-Batch Recipes Are Easy to Meal Prep?

Soups, casseroles and desserts are typically the easiest to make ahead. Soups, casseroles and pasta bakes typically freeze like a charm, so they can be reheated whenever you need them. Desserts, like cookies, cakes and blondies, can be baked in advance and served at room temperature. Cheesecake and tiramisu are good options too, and they're served chilled straight from the fridge. I also love to make dishes like pasta salad, stew and chili in advance, since they get tastier after sitting in the fridge for a day or two.


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taryn pire

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