Type of Sandwihes to Feed a Large Crowd
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I've been feeding groups of people in my home for decades. Here are 20+ of my best easy and inexpensive meal ideas for large groups.
These group dinner ideas have fed many mouths and I hope they can make hosting groups of people in your home as easy as possible.
Meal Ideas for Groups Cheat Sheet
We've handpicked the top 10 meal ideas for groups and put them on one handy cheat sheet for you. Don't leave without it!
Send it My Way!
Tips for Feeding Large Groups
Coming from a gregarious family that frequently hosted and now being a home that is regularly hosting groups, I've learned a few tricks of the trade over the years! Here are a few tips to keep in mind when hosting groups in your home.
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- Create an Inviting Scent – A warm, inviting scent is so important! The smell of a house is something that's easily overlooked but makes a big difference. Light a candle, spray air freshener, bake cookies, or put some apple cider in a pot on the stove before the company arrives.
- Have munchies available – Having some type of easy to grab appetizer available gives people something to do and something to gather around. It tells people where to hang out and gives them something in common.
- Play music – Music eases the atmosphere and makes people feel more comfortable. It provides a topic for conversation as well as fill the silence if needed. You can also personalize this for the people coming to your house.
- Do as many dishes beforehand as you can – Nothing is worse than wrapping up a meal to find the dishwasher full of dirty dishes. By running and emptying a load before people arrive, you can ensure a fast clean up in which others can easily jump in and help with!
- Don't overthink it! – True hospitality leaves your guests feeling welcome, loved, and nourished in your home. It's ok for people see imperfection in your home, food, or family (hello, sibling-squabbles!).
- Pick the right recipes – I prefer recipes that require little cooking at the time of the guests' arrival. That way I can be freed up to chat or do last minute things. All of the meals below were chosen with this in mind.
Grab the Cheat Sheet!
If you find yourself frequently in need of meal ideas for groups of people, we have the perfect resource for you.
We have narrowed down the top 10 meal ideas for groups that we use over and over again and put them in one easy cheat sheet.
Grab the Cheat Sheet!
Top 10 Meal Ideas for Groups
A free, one page resource with our top 10 recipes for groups of people.
20+ Inexpensive, Easy Meals for Large Groups
Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches
The key to this recipe for large groups is in the homemade BBQ sauce. Once it's in the slow cooker, it's pretty much hands off which is something I need when I have people coming over. And guys, this recipe is GOOD. So good that it made it into our newest cookbook. Try our Asian Slaw or our 5 Ingredient Coleslaw on the side.
Hearty Baked Penne Pasta
This recipe feeds an army. Almost everybody loves the hearty, beefy, cheesy pasta. Serve it with some Texas Toast and a salad and you've got a great meal for your next group. When I'm not hosting groups, I assemble this pasta, divide it in two, bake one, and freeze the other. It makes a GREAT freezer meal. Just be sure to undercook the noodles a tad if you're going to freeze it. Here are 70+ other great freezer meals!
Tasty Taco Bar
Everything you need to make your own Taco Bar at home. Delicious ingredients and practical tips on how to serve this easy dinner to a group of people. A great recipe if you need to make it ahead of time!
Crockpot Breakfast Casserole with Bacon and Gruyere
Everyone loves breakfast for dinner! Guests will oooh and ahhhh over this gourmet Crockpot Breakfast Casserole at your next brunch or holiday gathering. Its depth of flavor and beautiful color come from the bacon, onions, garlic, kale, roasted red peppers, and Gruyere and Parmesan cheeses. Bonus: It's naturally gluten-free. Serve along with Blueberry French Toast Casserole.
Killer Carnitas
These slow cooker carnitas are one of my all-time favorite, inexpensive dinners for large groups . They are easy, affordable, delicious, and can be customized for each person's preference. Use these on a Taco Bar like this.
Chicken Spaghetti
When I made this Chicken Spaghetti recipe for the first time, my husband ate it for about 5 meals in a row and proceeded to ask me to make it again the next week. It's creamy, flavorful, and filling. This recipe easily makes TWO 8×8 dishes or one very full 9×13 dish. It's a great dinner idea that will feed a group of people!
Tip: Here is where you can find grass-fed beef and organic chicken you can trust !
Easy Ham and Cheese Sliders
These truly are one of my go-to group recipes. They are cheap and easy to make in mass quantity. AND, adults love them. Kids love them. Everyone loves them. I can't tell you how many times I have been asked for this recipe after making it for people in my home.
Slow Cooker Chicken and Cheese Taquitos
To make this a meal for large groups, simply double the portion in the slow cooker. It'll cook for the same amount of time, and you'll have twice as much to feed people! You can also make them in the Instant Pot using this method. I always always always double this recipe when I make them and freeze one for later.
Tip: Here are the containers we use and recommend when freezing meals.
Baked Italian Meatballs
Meatballs are so easy to make lots and lots of. You can use them to put over spaghetti or stretch them even further by putting them in sub sandwiches. These are pretty cost-efficient, as well.
Shredded Beef Tacos
With basically 4 simple ingredients, you can have a batch of Shredded Beef Tacos slow cooking in your crockpot (or Instant Pot) in minutes. This Mexican shredded beef packs so much flavor and will fall apart after a full day of cooking. Turn the leftovers into Shredded Beef Nachos.
Slow Cooker French Dip Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
This recipe goes a looong way and is sooo good. While you can make the meat ahead of time, the sandwiches will need to be eaten soon after they are assembled. Keep that in mind as you plan! If you want to use it as a lunch for groups, just make the meat the day before and rewarm it before assembling the sandwiches the next day.
Crowd Pleaser Mexican Soup
If I had to guess, this is in the top 5 recipes I have made most frequently for groups of people in my home. My husband wants it ALL. THE. TIME. It also makes a big ol' batch. AND it's really filling. Serve it with some tortilla chips and shredded cheddar cheese and your people will be happy campers. We loved this recipe so much that we even adapted it to be made in the slow cooker.
Slow Cooker Cheddar & Bacon Potato Soup
This decadent, comforting Cheddar and Bacon Potato Soup makes your home smell amazing and so welcoming to guests after it slow cooks all day. It's filling and a total crowd pleaser.
Chicken Parmesan Casserole
Looking for a super easy meal idea to make for a group of people? This recipe has been one of our most popular blog recipes for a long time. Probably because it's so easy to make and everyone likes it. After baking the casserole, serve it over some pasta. For a group, I'd recommend doubling it to make enough for a 9×13 dish.
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Southwest Chicken and Bacon Wraps
Bacon, marinated grilled chicken, two kinds of cheese, lettuce, and tomatoes wrapped in a tortilla with ranch salsa sauce. What's not to love about the Southwest Bacon and Chicken Wrap? I love creating meals that people can customize to their liking. It's easy to double the chicken and other ingredients and just lay out an assembly line.
Beefy Baked Ravioli (Fake Out Lasagna)
This fake-out lasagna is inexpensive, can be made in advance, and feeds an army! It's a dinnertime favorite in my home. It's very easy to make, super filling, and is freezer friendly. Kids love this meal. Who we kidding, all ages love this meal!
Slow Cooker Parmesan Sliders
Here is another SUPER easy meal idea for groups of people: Chicken Parmesan Sliders. Just put a few ingredients into the crockpot and you'll have one of your favorite meals for a busy night. Making them into sandwiches is a great way to stretch the chicken mix and feed more people. If you love these, be sure to try our BBQ Chicken Sliders!
Grilled Chicken Sandwiches
Grilling recipes are great for groups! Especially these Grilled Chicken Sandwiches. Lay out a bunch of toppings and serve it assembly line style. Be sure to check out our other grilling recipes if you're interested.
BBQ Chicken Sliders
With 3 simple steps, you'll have finger-licking goodBBQ Chicken Sliders. The perfectly seasoned, shredded chicken breasts are served on mini buns and topped with BBQ Sauce.
Hash Brown Casserole (Gluten Free)
This is a hearty side dish that is great for groups of people. You can also prep it ahead and store in the refrigerator until you need to make it.
Smash Burgers
These Smash Burgers rival any fast food chain. When grilled correctly, the edges are perfectly crispy and the middle is still juicy and flavorful. The addition of our secret sauce truly takes them to the next level. They grill up fast so you can make lots for your group.
Serve on a potato bun or brioche bun which will soak up the juice. If you really want to go ALL IN on a burger, this is your recipe!
Crock Pot Pumpkin Spice Latte
If you're hosting in the fall or winter, this delicious drink is a total crowd-pleaser. Not to mention it makes the house smell AMAZING.
Bread Machine Cinnamon Rolls
Breakfast for dinner is always fun for a group! This Cinnamon Roll recipe has been a long-time favorite in my home.
10 Minute Vegetarian Tortilla Soup
This one-pot wonder is packed with flavor, but is also vegetarian! This winning combination of ingredients and flavors is sure to impress your family and friends. Just might win the award for the easiest (yet still super tasty) recipe on our blog.
Slow Cooker Shredded Balsamic Beef
Everyone, from ages 4 to 42, devoured this tender, flavorful meat dish. I have served it with mashed potatoes (and of course veggies and fruit), which is perfect for all that extra sauce in the crock. Then, the next night we had this same Slow Cooker Shredded Balsamic Beef on mini wheat rolls as "french dip" sandwiches. A great idea on making this stretch for a large group.
Mini Fruit Pizzas
I had to include one dessert idea. Mini Fruit Pizzas are one of my favorites to serve to a crowd. They are really easy to put together and all ages enjoy them. Each person makes their own so they can pick and choose what goes on their fruit pizza. It's a fun way to wrap up a group gathering! Other cookie ideas for large groups include Raspberry Crumble Cookies, Monster Cookies, Snickerdoodles, and Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Cookies!
Smoked Pork Shoulder
This is one of my husband's favorite recipes to make for a group. The pork shoulder (also known as a pork butt) smokes all day and yields a HUGE amount of delicious pulled pork. We turn them into pulled pork BBQ sandwiches. The leftovers freeze great too!
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Source: https://thrivinghomeblog.com/20-easy-meals-ideas-for-a-group-of-people/
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