Cooking for a Crowd Menu Ideas

Whether you are cooking for 10 or 100 people, when you are cooking for a crowd, menu ideas should have variety and flavor.

Think Big, Think Ahead

When cooking for a crowd, it helps if you plan ahead. Although it may seem daunting cooking for a large number of people, in many ways it's just the same as cooking for a small dinner party. Sure the amount of food is going to be considerably larger, but the same principles of planning and cooking ahead still apply. As with any dinner party, the first thing you have to do is write down your cooking for a crowd menu ideas and then plan your cooking accordingly. When we do this in a professional environment, it is called a production sheet or sometimes called a Banquet Event Order or a B.E.O. But whether you are doing this in a professional situation or at home, the menu should reflect a theme of ingredients or food styles and should address the dining situation. Once you determine if the party will be a sit down dinner or a munch and mingle affair, you can better work out the menu.

An Appetizing Idea

Appetizers set the stage for the rest of your culinary event. They let your guest know the mood of the party whether it is simple and elegant, fine dining, or light and fun. Tasty home made dolmas are great for the munch and mingle crowd. For a seated dinner party, it would signal that you are going for a light Mediterranean fare. The best part of dolmas is that they are easily made in a large number.

Cooking for a crowd menu ideas should always include food that can be made in large amounts easily. This could be something as simple as bread sticks or stuffed eggs, as long as you can make enough of them for your guests in a timely manner. The major point behind these appetizers is that they can be made well ahead of time. Dolmas and stuffed eggs can be prepared days beforehand and are served cold, so they can go straight from the refrigerator to the table saving you time on the day of the party.

Of Course a Main Course

When cooking for a crowd, you can keep it simple and offer one entrée or you can offer two or three options that would cover different food preferences. I always like to offer something that can be easily eaten by hand like small burgers, lamb chops, or kabobs. Other finger foods that are always a crowd pleaser include fried chicken or barbecue ribs.

Drinks Get the Party Going

Some drinks are easily made in large amounts. Classic and lemon drop martinis are very popular drinks as are mojitos and margaritas. All of these drinks can be made well ahead of time and kept cold until your guests arrive.

Desserts Finish Off the Night Perfectly

Dessert is always a good way to tell your guests that the party is coming to a close. Small pastries are a great idea because not only can they be made in a large number with ease, your guests can eat a few of them while feeling both decadent and happy that they are just small bites of dessert. If you have the time and tools, you can make small personal cheesecakes or offer a selection of cookies. Cupcakes are also a trendy and tasty treat that your guests can indulge in.

Cooking for a Crowd Menu Ideas: Conclusion

Pulling a menu together for a large number of friends takes a little forethought but, with some planning and some great recipes, your party can be a success. Take your menu one step at a time. Double check your ingredients before you start cooking and whenever possible, cook or prepare your food ahead of time. The more you can get done before the day of the party the more time you can spend with your friends.