6 Delectable Large Dinner Party Ideas To Feed a Crowd

Collaborate and design the perfect menu with your Chef.

Hosting a dinner party is a major undertaking, but the payoff is terrific. Nothing beats getting together with close friends to break bread and socialize. 

Of course, the planning and preparation for the party will take a lot of work. Large dinner party ideas focusing on easy meals for sharing can help alleviate your time and work investment. Choosing options that allow you to create one family-style dish to share among everyone also makes your job easier because it streamlines the whole process. Read on to learn more tips about hosting a large dinner party.

Tips and Tricks for Hosting a Large Group

Regardless of your plans for what to serve, there are a few things to remember that will help you when working with large dinner party ideas to choose what works best for your guest list. A successful party doesn't have to be extremely stressful as long as you consider a few important details before you jump into planning. 

Choose The Right Location

Location is key to a good party. You need to make sure you choose a space that is not only warm and welcoming but also big enough for all your guests. 

You want the right atmosphere, but it can make the event less enjoyable for everyone if it is too crowded. One tip to remember is that you usually need more room than you think. Do not settle for just enough space. Try to go slightly more spacious than you think you need. 

Provide Consistent Instructions

Make the event easier on everyone and erase any awkwardness by providing detailed instructions upfront. Give everyone the same information about what to wear, when to show up, where the event will be, and any other pertinent instructions. Also, include a contact number so they can quickly call you if they have questions. 

Prep, Prep, Prep

Pulling off a successful party means a lot of preparation. This is more than just a pizza party or a store bought lasagna event. You cannot leave things to the last minute with group cooking. From the moment you decide to throw the bash, you should be preparing and planning out every detail. 

Copious amounts of prep is essential for the food. It would be best if you never started food prep on the day of the event. You need to plan and prepare whatever you can ahead of the big day. You will find this greatly reduces stress and eliminates surprises on the day of the party. 

Select the Menu of Least Resistance 

Your menu choice will set the stage for how smoothly everything else goes. While it can be tempting to design a gourmet feast, your best bet is to stick with a menu of food you know how to make and can make without much effort. 

It is also essential to find out about guests' dietary restrictions and allergies right from the start. Plan around those when possible, but do not let them derail your plans. Ensure you have something for everyone, but don't worry about trying to create individual meals. That is too much stress, and your guests should understand that they might be unable to eat everything you provide. 

If you have a guest that requires gluten free dishes or another dangerous allergy, consider speaking with them separately on possible solutions for the evening. Crowd pleasing dishes are versatile, work for everyone, and perfect for the whole family.

6 Best Large Dinner Party Ideas to Feed Everyone 

Regarding menu options, family-style meals are the delicious dinner party recipes that fit no matter the crowd. From ground beef to olive oil to golden brown roast - get ingredients asap and plan ahead for optimal results. You can whip up a large batch of the main course and easily adjust to specific dietary needs. 

Chicken Tikka Masala 

Chicken tikka masala is an Indian dish featuring a creamy and spicy sauce. Tender chicken bites round out the meal. You can serve this with naan or over rice for a complete dish. 

The sauce has a range of spices, including garam masala, in a base of tomato and cream. You can easily adjust the spice for your own recipe to your guests' tastes. 

Chicken tikka masala is a traditional family-style meal. Increasing the recipe if you need to for the dinner party is easy. The flavor is mild enough that it is generally appealing, and serving it gives you options that work well for a shared meal. 

Rigatoni With Brussels Sprouts

Rigatoni with brussels sprouts is a vegetable-packed dish. It also has leeks, garlic, lemon, and parmesan cheese. The flavor isn't overpowering, which makes it an excellent party dish. 

You can adjust and change it depending on your guests' preferences, and service is super simple as you need to dish up each portion. It is ideal if you want to go a bit healthier with your menu. Plus, it is a very affordable choice. 

Pita and Kebab Spread

A pita and kebab spread allows you to provide guests with choices. You can cook the meat pieces, which could be anything from pork chops to roast chicken to tender beef, and then set out bowls of accompanying items for guests to decide how to put together their plates. The dinner can thereby become more interactive.

This meal is nice for groups with a range of dietary restrictions since everyone has options for what they can eat. You can serve a range of choices in hummus, tzatziki, olives, roasted garlic, cheese, onion, tomatoes, and cucumbers alongside the pita and kebabs. It's another great healthy option for your special occasion.

Injera and Key Wat

Key wat is an Ethiopian beef stew. This may be the right pick if you desire to serve guests something unique and outside their standard weeknight dinner. It is hearty and spicy. You serve it over injera, which is a flatbread, and rice. You can prep it well ahead of time and cook it in a slow cooker. It couldn't get easier. 

Nobody will walk away from the table hungry with this meal. It is also flavorful and budget-friendly. 

Elevated Fried Chicken 

Elevated fried chicken means it isn't your typical recipe. Usually, "elevated" means there is some type of flavor boost. It is also multi-dimensional, providing flavor in the marinade, dip, and breading. Consider adding healthier sides like a sweet potato dish or butternut squash.

It works well for large dinner party ideas because you can prep the chicken and fry it before serving. Most elevated dishes do not use bone-in chicken pieces, making it even easier to eat. Use juicy thighs or breast tenders for more bite-size options. 

Cajun Pasta-laya

If you want something spicy to serve, consider cajun pasta-laya. It is a pasta dish featuring shrimp, chicken, and Andouille sausage. It is reminiscent of jambalaya but much easier to make.

Your guests will love it because it is filling and versatile. You can adjust the ingredients as needed to suit dietary restrictions. 

Feed a Large Crowd With INTUEAT

Planning out large dinner party ideas is not always easy. If you are struggling with the process, consider us at INTUEAT. 

We provide experiences that feature personal chefs near you who will handle everything for you, from preparation and planning to clean up after the party. Check out our services to see how we can assist you with throwing a memorable dinner party and taking the stress out of planning and preparation so you can focus on connecting with guests. 

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Feeling inspired to start planning your own event? Find your INTUEAT personal chef in Sarasota, Denver, Colorado Springs, Miami, and Fort Lauderdale!

Jennifer Rives

This article is about my personal profile as a writer. It includes the genres I write in, the style I write in, and advice I have for new writers.

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