Food For A Crowd
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As home cooks with delicious and easy-to-make recipes, we have been asked by friends and family to help prepare food for a crowd for parties, celebrations, and other large gatherings.
We typically make at least a few recipes for the menu in an electric roaster. Here are the tips that we have learned when planning a graduation party buffet, DIY wedding, large funeral meal, family reunion, retirement party, fundraiser dinner, concession stand, big birthday party or holiday meal.
Meal Planning For A Big Crowd
We have noticed the key to planning to feed a crowd whether that’s 30, 50 or more than 100 people is taking the time to plan out the details is important. Planning is the best way to decrease stress and increase success!
Most of us don’t have experience hosting big events, so we need to practice and allow plenty of time to think through and write out a game day plan!
When I recently hosted my dad’s birthday party this is the timeline I used to plan the food:
- 2 – 4 weeks – plan which recipes to make and who is bringing what food
- Cook pulled pork and freeze meat
- 1 week – plan grocery list and shop for non-perishable items
- 5 days – plan to eat existing food in the refrigerator and clean it out to make space
- 3 days – finish grocery shopping and set up food tables in party area
- Plan space for plates, slow cookers, roasters, buns, fruit trays, etc.
- 2 days – chop veggies, brown ground beef, cooked pulled pork, marinate meat, defrost meat.
- 1 day – do any remaining prep work possible.
- Day of Party – last minute cooking.
Time Saving Tips
I like to draw a picture of what food will be set-out in what order. Planning serving utensils and thinking through every detail possible ahead of time is very helpful. I can only do this step when my mind is clear, when I’m in a hurry I’m not as successful at planning.
Do round or rectangle trays fit better on the table along with the warm appliances?
Plan to have enough refrigerator and freezer space for the ingredients, finished food and drinks.
Plan for someone trustworthy and able to full focus on the meal to tend to the food the day of the party. This job includes monitoring the roasters and slow cookers to adjust heat, stirring the food, keeping the serving tables and utensils clean, replenishing food, etc. Especially at graduation parties the parents get busy visiting with guest and need this extra support for a seamless party.
It actually blesses friends to be asked to bring desserts, a side dish, easy salad or no-bake cookies. This will also make your job easier. Don’t hesitate to extend the invitation to help! We like to ask 2 weeks to a month ahead of time.
Most of my recipes in this list were prepared for friends who asked me to help and I’m forever grateful that they reached out and asked me!
Have some self sealing bags or containers under the serving table to give leftover food to guests to take home.
Tips For Using Electric Roasters
Warm side dishes and main dishes are common at most parties. Using a large electric roaster can be a great way prepare and serve warm food.
Plan where you will plug in the appliances ahead of time. Roaster cords are often very short. These roasters were rotated to more easily reach the electric outlet. In other cases I’ve seen extension cords with 3 way plug adapters serve as the solution.
Using roasters with cords does require some extra planning and management. We find roaster ovens are easier than having a burner under raised foil pans (flames easily blow out and height makes them less steady) or lots of slow cookers.
Buy extra cans of non-stick cooking spray and use a thick coat of spray on the roasters OR on the foil liner insert.
Have long handled serving spoons or long handled tongs to set in the roaster or rest on a plate in front of the roaster. A long handle will prevent the spoon from disappearing. This typically happens and that’s another reason having a helper ready with a clean cloth to wipe the handle is super helpful.
Using a foil liner makes clean-up easier. They are not cheap, but will save a lot of scrubbing when the event is over. A sharp spoon or utensil may leave a scratch in the foil, but clean up will still be much easier.
Do NOT use the plastic liners in a roaster. I tried a plastic liner once and it melted to the side of the roaster insert and ruined the entire thing. We find slow cooker liners to be helpful in a crock pot, but do NOT use them in roasters.
Roaster temperature needs to be managed and adjusted while cooking and serving. Stirring often is much more critical to cooking evenly, especially when making the Cheesy Potatoes and Macaroni and Cheese.
Electric roasters come in various sizes and can vary in the heat level. Some cook much hotter and faster than others.
There are typically little metal hooks near the handle that allow the lid to rest in them to sit up like this making serving smooth!
Plan where you would like serving utensils to rest. Will they sit on a plate near or in front of the roaster? Will you have buns and bbq sauce to fit in the line-up? What else will you need to make space for on the table?
The party below did a great job keeping lids on the roasters and making a clear, visible label as to what type of food was inside!
I often see people adding water to roasters underneath the pan. Typically you should not add water to the roaster under the insert unless otherwise directed by the directions or owner. This habit comes from much older roasters and some commercial roasters.
Comparing Common Brands Of Roasters
- Oster – Another widely recognized brand name. Lighter weight. Comes in alloy steel which is weaker than stainless steel.
- Nesco Roasters – are typically white, we have a silver one and it cooks much slower than other common brands.
- Rival – no longer made, but a good, reliable brand.
- Hamilton Beach – widely recognized brand, but made with different materials than the best sellers on Amazon.
- Sunvini – Popular, affordable, brand on Amazon that I purchased and have used without a problem. I have a 20 quart roaster in silver, to match my other roasters.
A List of Easy Recipes For Big Groups Of People
These are catering recipes for the typical home cook to share with family and friends.
A large sheet cake or a variety of cookies are the most common party desserts, but we've got other great options to consider.
