47 Big-Batch Dishes to Feed a Crowd
Quick: You have eight family members coming over this weekend, and pizza isn’t going to cut it. Not to worry, friend. You can feed Uncle Bob, Aunt Suzy, Cousin Tyler and the whole crew with these delicious recipes for a crowd, from one-pan chicken dinners to big-batch breakfast dishes. Trust us: You can throw them together in no time, whether the occasion is Sunday dinner, a birthday celebration or a holiday gathering.
2. Slow Cooker Crispy Carnitas (10 servings)
In this big-batch gem, 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.
3. Baked Sausage and Cheese Rigatoni (8 servings)
This family favorite packs in a pound of ground sweet Italian sausage, plus lots of ricotta, Parm and provolone. (Thanks, Coterie member, Heidi Larsen.)
4. Caramelized Shiitake Mushroom Risotto (8 servings)
A ten-ingredient, 30-minute recipe that stores for up to a month in the freezer. (So basically, it’s fabulous in every way.)
5. Korean Beef Tacos (12 servings)
These mind-blowing tacos come together in 35 minutes and are piled high with sriracha mayo and caramelized kimchi to boot.
6. Healthy Instant Pot Turkey Chili (8 servings)
The easiest way to cook for a crowd: Dump all the ingredients into your pressure cooker, then go live your life. In six hours, you’ve got a soul-warming dinner that's ready to serve.
7. Chicken and Dumplings (6 servings)
This classic takes a little bit of patience to make (hey, homemade biscuits take time), but Coterie member Maria Lichty promises it’s worth it.
8. Baked Mac and Cheese Bites (10 servings)
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.
9. Holy Mole Enchiladas (8 servings)
Tweak this easy 40-minute recipe how you see fit to make it spicy, gluten-free or vegan.
10. Easy Creamy Au Gratin Potatoes (10 servings)
A decadent side dish that pairs fabulously with roast chicken and a green salad. (Or a Thanksgiving turkey.)
11. Roasted Squash Salad with Crispy Shallot & Balsamic Reduction (8 servings)
With winter squash, pepitas, currants and macadamia nut cheese, it’s a salad even salad-haters can get on board with.
12. Slow-Cooker Tater Tot Casserole (8 servings)
Layered with ground beef, sharp cheddar, black beans and tons of tots, this crowd-pleaser is guaranteed to disappear in ten minutes or less.
13. Eight-Layer Hummus Dip (8 servings)
This nutritious, protein-rich app is loaded up with pine nuts, pesto, sweet peppers, cucumbers, tomatoes, cilantro and feta cheese. (Yum.)
14. Slow Cooker Chipotle BBQ Meatballs with Garlic Toast (8 servings)
These little bites can be prepped in advance and frozen until you need them.
15. BLT Pasta Salad (8 servings)
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.
16. Zucchini Ricotta Galette (8 servings)
If you’re in a dinner rut, listen up: This savory summer pie will elevate any meal, from a picnic lunch in the park with a bottle of wine to Sunday supper with the whole fam on the back patio.
17. Baked Brie with Figs, Pistachios and Orange (10 servings)
Let us 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 holiday table.
18. Korean Grilled Steak with Toasted Sesame Chimichurri (8 servings)
Chef Tieghan Gerard tells us the key to a great flank steak is marinating it in something delicious for at least a few hours. Done and done.
19. Ravioli Lasagna Casserole (8 servings)
Forget lasagna noodles. In this dish, we layer ravioli (meat, cheese, mushroom—whatever kind you're feeling) for the most epic baked pasta dish ever. This recipe will be your new favorite big-batch dinner, trust.
20. Creamy Chicken and Broccoli Casserole (6 servings)
The whole family will approve of this decadent dinner. Even your kids won't mind the veggies, thanks to all that crumbled bacon and melted Gruyère.
21. Spinach Artichoke Squares (12 servings)
We’re artichoke dip fans through and through. Add puff pastry, and we’re positively swooning. They’ve got the same cheesy goodness as the retro dip, without the need for crackers or chips.
22. Pull-Apart Bread with Caramelized Onions and Goat Cheese (10 to 12 servings)
Monkey bread is tasty, but we’ve made it 2 billion times. Enter this remix that boasts all the fun of monkey bread and twice the class. Make it for weekends, game days or dinner parties, but always serve warm.
23. Delicata Squash Rings with Garlic-Lemon Sauce (8 servings)
Onion rings better watch out: These easy, elegant 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.
24. Mini Skillet Pizzas with Mushrooms and Roasted Tomatoes (10 servings)
Two things everyone loves: pizza and mini food. In other words, this recipe is bound to be a hit. Use store-bought pizza dough and your guests will be none the wiser.
25. Pomegranate-Sumac Chicken with Roasted Carrots (8 servings)
Now that 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 and will have your guests begging for the recipe.
26. Cheater's Italian Wedding Soup (8 servings)
Parmesan, pasta, beans, kale and juicy meatballs…all in one bite? Say no more: We’re already on our way to your place.
27. Skillet Gnocchi with Sausage and Broccoli Rabe (6 servings)
You had us at gnocchi, and again at one-skillet dinner. Thanks to a few smart shortcuts (store-bought pasta, for one), this big-batch dinner takes a mere 30 minutes to make.
29. Sheet-Pan Eggs with Smoked Salmon and Cream Cheese (12 servings)
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 bagel sandwich.
30. Sunday Morning French Toast (6 servings)
An entire batch of French toast made in a single dish? Yeah, we’re making this gem on Christmas morning, too.
31. Quiche with Gluten-Free Sweet Potato Crust (6 to 8 servings)
Quiche is a breakfast classic. But quiche with a sweet potato crust? Wait for the crowd to go wild. Serve it with crusty bread and fruit salad.
32. Spinach and Cheese Strata (6 servings)
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 in the fridge. Win-win.
33. Amazing Mexican Breakfast Casserole (12 servings)
What makes it 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. We can’t decide.
34. Roasted Salmon Tacos (8 servings)
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. (Might we also suggest a mound of pickled red onions?)
35. Sausage and Fennel Pasta (6 servings)
Italian sausage has a ton of built-in flavor, so this pasta barely needs any additional zhuzhing—though a sprinkle of grated Parm never hurts.
36. Pumpkin Pie French Toast (8 servings)
Name a better way to use up leftover pumpkin pie. We'll wait. It tastes just as festive on Halloween morning as it does on Black Friday.
37. Roasted Tomato Soup (10 servings)
You're only ten ingredients away from ditching canned soup forever. It's *that* good.
39. Sheet-Pan Buttermilk Chicken Thighs with Plums, Shallots and Honey (8 servings)
The beauty of stone fruit season. Be patient while the chicken marinates—the buttermilk is the key to tender meat, crispy skin and extra savory flavor.
41. Split Pea Soup with Bacon and Beer (8 servings)
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.
42. Skillet Roast Chicken with Shmaltzy Potatoes (6 servings)
Nothing wows a crowd like a golden-brown whole chicken. Pro tip: Position the chicken 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.
43. Spanish Tapas Board (10 to 12 servings)
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.
44. Swedish Cinnamon Buns Topped with Salted Caramel (16 to 18 servings)
FYI, most of the cooking time is hands-off…so you can sit back and bask in the glow of that golden-brown caramel sauce.
45. Apricot and Frangipane Cake (8 Servings)
Thanks to five juicy, in-season apricots, you don’t even need to frost this beauty. It's naturally gorgeous as is.
46. Deep-Dish Chocolate Chip Cookie with Caramel and Sea Salt (8 servings)
Remember those incredible cookie cakes your family would order every year on your birthday? Well, now it can be your birthday every damn day of the year.
47. Perfect Instant Pot New York Cheesecake (8 servings)
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 dangerous.
RELATED: 55 Easy Finger Food Recipes Everyone Will Love
For even more great recipes, check out our first cookbook, Only the Good Stuff.