Menu Ideas to Get Started
Food Items and Menu Ideas for Feeding a Crowd
Creating a menu for a large crowd is a fantastic opportunity to please everyone's taste buds! Make sure to include a variety of options that cater to all of your guests and your budget. That way, everyone will eat up and have a crazy good time!
Feeding a Crowd: Menu Planning Tips
Variety is Key: Choose a wide range of crowd pleasing, familiar dishes which cater to different tastes and dietary needs. Your guests will appreciate your thoughtful consideration.
Flavor Harmony: Opt for dishes that blend sweet, savory, spicy, and tangy flavors which creates an enticing and delicious dining experience.
Fresh and Seasonal: Choose dishes prepared with the highest quality ingredients you can afford, including fresh seasonal fruits and vegetables. Guests will enjoy a nourishing dining experience.
Comfort Foods: Include warm, inviting dishes that remind your guests from all walks of life of home.
Signature Dishes: Offer a few unique (but not too unique) dishes that will make your menu standout and add an element of surprise and delight for your guests.
Dietary Preferences: Consider options for dietary restrictions such as vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, etc. Guest will recognize the host(s) as caring and respectful.
Portion Sizes: Ensure there is enough food to satisfy everyone without overeating or having too many leftovers.
Local Favorites: Add regional or hometown favorites to connect your guests to the culture, promoting a sense of unity, togetherness and fun.
We Eat with Our Eyes: Enhance the dining experience of your guests by serving dishes that not only tantalize the taste buds but delight the eyes.
Indulgent Treats: Include rich, luxurious dishes or treats, like desserts. Guests will love the feeling of celebration and indulgence.
Refreshing Elements: You'll also want to serve light and refreshing fare to balance out rich or hearty foods and provides a palate cleansing experience.
Courses Rule
Most menus consist of courses that interact and blend harmoniously with the next one. The courses in order of service can include drinks or aperitifs, appetizers, soup and/or salad, main entrée, starch, vegetable, bread, dessert, coffee or tea and after dinner drinks.
You can also serve fruits, sorbets and cheeses as courses. If you use the courses as a guide you can design a menu for any style of service.
Here are some easy menu ideas to feed a crowd:
Breakfast - Brunch
Beverages
Coffee
Herbal teas
Hot or cold ciders
Punch with oranges and lime
Mimosas
Appetizers, Starters
Assorted yogurts
Sour cream based dips
Flavored cream cheeses
Hummus
Olives, gherkins, pickled onions
Raw vegetables, fruits
Sesame crackers, mini toasts, pretzels, pita chips
Breads and Spreads
Croissants
Bagels
English muffins
Yeast rolls
Biscuits
Brioche rolls/bread
Danishes
Cinnamon rolls
Cranberry pecan minimuffins
Cinnamon raisin bagels/bread
Cornbread (sweet potato, jalapeño, cheese)
Compound butters (orange, strawberry)
Hot fruit compote (apple, mixed berry)
Apricot, blackberry jams
Honey, agave nectar
Main Dishes and Sides
Variety instant oatmeal
Buttery Grits
Scrambled eggs with shredded cheese
Canadian bacon, sausages, hot ham slices
Omelet Station - for smaller events
Breakfast sandwiches/burritos
Pancakes: Chocolate chip, banana pecan,
Pasta , Egg, Chicken Salads
Marinated vegetable salad with croutons
Sautéed herbed chicken breasts or thighs
Angel hair pasta with olive oil and garlic
Penne pasta with tomato sauce and cheese
Ravioli, marinara sauce and Italian sausages
Yellow or white rice pilaf
Steamed or sautéed carrots, green beans, yellow/green squash, onions
Luncheon Buffet
Beverages
Iced coffee
Hot and cold teas
Cranberry, apple, orange juice
Fruit and yogurt smoothies
Mimosas
Bottled water
Appetizers, Starters
Sour cream or mayonnaise based dips
Flavored cream cheeses and crackers or breads
Hummus and toasted pita chips
Antipasti platter (deli meats, cheeses, marinated veggies, cubed cheeses)
Olives, gherkins, pickled onions
Raw vegetable, fruit platters with dipping sauce
Sesame crackers, chips, mini toasts, pretzels
Fruits and Salads
Pineapple chunks
Melon wedges
Fresh strawberries, cherries
Cheese platter
Orange and almond salad
Spinach salad with red onion
Antipasti salad
Broccoli slaw
Chicken or shrimp pasta salad
Spring greens with tomatoes and radishes
Rice or orzo with oranges, green olives and almonds
Main Dishes and Sides
Chicken jambalaya
Arroz con Pollo
Seafood Quesadillas
Meatballs in chunky tomato sauce with pasta
Pork balls with red chili sauce
Chicken, ham, turkey salad (serve with salad greens or as sandwiches)
Select breads with meats, cheeses and assorted condiments for sandwiches
Barbecue beef or chicken wraps
Sloppy Joes
Chili dogs and fixins’
White rice with chopped tomatoes
Barbecued baked beans
Green beans with caramelized onions
Diced carrots with ginger
Breads and Spreads
Dinner Rolls
Flat bread for sandwiches
Compound butters (herbed, garlic) Corn muffins
Desserts
Cupcakes
Cookies
Tea cakes
Sherbet
Dinner Buffet
Beverages
Hot coffee, flavored teas, punch, wine
Appetizers, Starters
Sour cream or mayonnaise based dips
Artichoke dip
Bruschetta with tomatoes and black olives
Tapenade
Classic Italian antipasto
Cheese sticks wrapped with thinly sliced ham and salami
Breads
Classic dinner rolls
Breadsticks
Cornbread
Biscuits
Salads
Mixed greens with raspberry vinaigrette
Iceberg lettuce wedges with tomatoes and blue cheese dressing
Fruit and cheese with honey-pecan dressing
Main Dishes and Sides
Roasted whole turkey carving station
Classic beef stew
Chicken Chili – with accompaniments of cheese, scallions, black olives, salsa, cilantro
Meatballs with pasta and cheese
Cheesy baked manicotti with sausage
Grilled shish kebabs – beef and chicken
Butternut squash ravioli with olive oil and sage
Baked potato bar – serve with accompaniments such as cheese, chives, chopped vegetables
Mexicali flavored ground beef/turkey, chopped bacon, salsa, sour cream
Broiled fish fillets in butter and white wine sauce
Mashed potatoes
Herb roasted red potatoes
Yellow rice with green peas
Cheese rice with lemon
Macaroni and cheese with crunchy bread topping
Couscous or orzo with currants and pine nuts
Cornbread stuffing with sausage and cumin
Desserts
Chocolate bread pudding
Large oatmeal cookies
Hot fudge sundae bar
Simple yellow cake with whipped cream and berries
Cheesecake
Cupcakes
Strawberries with whipped cream and cookie crumbles