What’s the first thing you do when planning a gathering at your house?
The first big question out of my mouth is usually, “What are we going to eat?” It’s important for me to have something yummy to feed my friends and family. But I am also always looking for some easy meal ideas.
So I thought it would be helpful to have a go-to list of great crowd pleaser meals. I am not a fancy person to say the least, so these meals may not fit your occasion. But you can make adjustments to make it just right for your dinner guests.
French Dips and Potato Soup
Want a warm, delicious meal that is easy to double so you can feed a crowd? The beef cooks all day in the crockpot and the soup takes only a few minutes to put together and cook. This one is super easy to pull off!
Taco Stack Up
This meal looks more like a taco bar of sorts. Each person builds his plate to his liking. Some choose more of a taco salad, while others will pile on the meat, chips, and cheese. You can change this one up as much as you want, so have fun with the variety! Here’s what I put out: Fritos, white rice, pinto beans, shredded lettuce, tomatoes, onion, guacamole, sour cream, and salsa.
Ham and Baked Potatoes
If your crowd is more of the meat-and-potatoes type, try buying a precooked ham (here is my favorite). It can warm up in the oven slowly while you are baking the potatoes. Throw in some corn and green beans and some delicious Sister Schubert rolls. There you have it. A meal just like Grandma used to make!
Burgers and Brats on the Grill
There’s nothing better than a burger or a brat straight off the grill! This crowd-pleaser will fill your guests’ bellies. The best beef is home-grown, but you can use any quality ground beef for your burgers. We love to season our beef with Saltgrass Seven. Mmm-Mmm good!
Spaghetti and All the Fixins
Our house specialty is homemade spaghetti with meat sauce. The grown kids request it when they come home. I wish I could give you the recipe, but there really isn’t one. As my husband likes to say, “I just put a little bit of everything in it.” There are a couple of secret ingredients, but we’ll just keep that to ourselves. Don’t forget to have plenty of garlic bread on the side!
Tortellini Soup
This recipe was just recently shared with me. I love it because it feeds a crowd without having to double or triple it. Add some crusty bread and you are good to go!
Pancake Feed
We’ve been known to feed lots of people big stacks of pancakes. This one is a bit time consuming, but if you are having a casual gathering, people can join you in the kitchen as you whip out the fresh pancakes. I cook my sausage ahead of time and just have it heating in the oven. This cuts down on the greasy mess while my guests are in the kitchen. Every time I serve pancakes, my guests love it.
The hardest part of having a gathering is coming up with the meal ideas. This list should serve you well for at least the next seven times you host a group in your home. Don’t forget to enjoy your guests more than you worry about the food. I guarantee they will remember your conversation more than the meal you provide.
Happy hosting!
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, remembering that as members of the same body you are called to live in harmony, and never forget to be thankful for what God has done for you.
Colossians 3:15
We have used what we have always called “KM Soup” (the recipe came from my friend Karla’s Mom — hence the name to us). Simple. Easy. Feeds a crowd. Brown a pound of ground beef, drain, and add a can of Ranch Style Beans and a can of Rotel tomatoes. Add cans of whatever vegetables you would like — green beans, corn, sliced potatoes, mixed veggies, Etc. Heat and serve with crusty bread.
I love it! It’s the perfect quick and easy gathering meal! Thanks for sharing, Deborah!