Cooking for a Crowd
When feeding a large group on a budget, the key is choosing dishes that scale easily, cost little per serving, and can be prepared largely in advance.
Key points
- One-pot and one-tray meals are the most practical choice for large groups
- The best meals are built around inexpensive ingredients
- Stretching a small amount of protein across a large pot keeps costs low
- Choosing dishes that can be made mostly in advance keeps things simple
Cooking for a crowd does not have to be expensive. The dishes that feed the most people for the least money are the simple ones. They are built from cheap bulk ingredients and cooked in large vessels. A big pot of chili, a tray of roasted vegetables and chickpeas, a vat of pasta with a slow-cooked tomato sauce, all scale easily and taste good!
Stretching protein is one of the most effective techniques for keeping the cost per serving low. A small amount of ground or diced meat and sausage can flavour the entire pot. Legumes and grains can do the heavy lifting.
Curries, stews, soups, or chilis taste better if they are served the day after they are made. This means cooking can be spread out over one or more days before an event.
Dishes that are particularly well suited to feeding a crowd on a budget:
- A big pot of chili: One of the most budget-friendly meals, built around canned beans and tomatoes
- Pasta with slow-cooked tomato sauce: A large pot of pasta with a sauce of canned tomatoes, onions, garlic, and herbs feeds a crowd for almost nothing and can be scaled to any number of people
- Chickpea and vegetable curry: A large pot of curry built around canned chickpeas and whatever vegetables are cheapest
- Roasted vegetable trays: Large trays of root vegetables roasted in the oven with oil and herbs require almost no preparation, scale to any quantity, and can be served warm or at room temperature
- Rice and lentil pilaf: A large pot of rice cooked with lentils, onions, and spices is one of the most budget-friendly and nutritious dishes to feed a crowd
- Soup with bread: A large pot of thick vegetable or lentil soup served with a few loaves of bread is another economical way to feed a crowd comfort food
Sources for inspiration:
- Inexpensive, Easy Meals for Large Groups by Thriving Home
- 10 Crowd-Pleasing Soups by the Kitchn
- Simple Meals for Homeless Shelters and The Hungry by Platter Talk