Dinner for 50+, <£2 a head. Any ideas?

[PandaG]

I'm cooking for a bunch of students next week, from my home kitchen. This week we had chilli and wraps - I was going to do chilli so now need another idea. We have a few veggies and a vegan, and people with dairy and gluten intolerances. I'm happy to do a meat and a vegan option. I have a normal home kitchen, access to large pots and a couple of 6 litre slow cookers.
I am also babysitting for a friend most of the day the dinner is on. Any easy ideas for

[RapunzelsRealMom]

Risotto (or savoury rice)
Chicken curry
Daal
Lasagne
Spaghetti bolognese
Pulled pork (Aldi do fab gammon joints for a few pounds that go great in slow cooker and serve loads of portions)

[Katescurios]

Mexican buffet style.

• Nachos you can do a meat and vegan version easily
  
• spicy rice
  
• guacamole
  
• refried beans
  
• tacos/burritos/enchiladas
  

-big salad with plenty of peppers, tomatoes and chili dressing

Use turkey thigh meat as a cheaper alternative to chicken in enchiladas to stretch your budget.

[Katescurios]

And a big 3 bean salad like this belleofthekitchen.com/2014/09/30/mexican-three-bean-salad/

[PandaG]

Thanks for the ideas and recipe all of you.

[AtleastitsnotMonday]

Could you fit 50 jacket potatoes in your oven? Then just do simple toppings, tuna, cheese, beans, coleslaw. And a couple of nice salads.
A big veggie tagine with cous cous

[paranoidpammywhammy2]

American themed - hot dogs, burgers, fries, pizza, boston baked beans,
pecan/pumpkin/apple pie or knickerbocker glories.

[FeedMyFaceWithBattenberg]

On the jacket potato theme... you can do them in slow cooker too!

[Garlicansapphire]

Very simply I'd do pasta and pesto, two pots - one just plain with maybe some rocket or spinach leaves in it and the other with pieces of chicken added to it. Bread and tomatoey salad on the side.

Or I'd do roasted vegetables (aubergine, red peppers, courgettes, red onion, baby tomatoes, with garlic and olive oil), with coucous. You can then make a tomoatoey sauce to run through it - tom puree, olive oil, bit of lemon, paprika, cumin, barbecue sauce - that sort of thing. If you wanted to you could also add cubes of feta cheese.

Alongside it I'd tray roast lots of pieces of chicken (or lamb but chicken probably cheaper) which goes very nicely with the roast veg coucous. On the side you could have salad and french bread - but not essential.
Its very easy to cook.

Or bolognese with pasta - rather than spaghetti. Easier to eat.

[AdaColeman]

Hearty soup such as lentil and vegetable, pasta and bean, followed by flapjacks.

Or paella is another idea, one with chicken and one with vegetables.

[Firefries]

Pumpkin curry - you can add nuts or bread or rice or anything to dip in around it. All you need are onion, garlic, spices with pumpkin and coconut milk. Also add some veges like potato chips, anything you want really.

[kateandme]

pasta bake veggie or non you can make same base then add meat to one.
a pie with bought in pastray sheet for ease.
shepherd pie
veggie shepherd pie.
roasted veg couscous
lasagne
bourito
pastry pizzas.buy some jus roll ready rolled pastry.layer with any topping you fancy.we have done bacon tomato and egg.chicken and pesto.salami tomato peppers.red onion and sweet potatos.cook.yum

[kateandme]

buy in few big pizzas.cut into triangles and place gorgeously on some chopping board esque devises.do a big salad for centre stage.this way you can buy gluten free ones.veggies one.all sorts. to fit all tastes.

[PandaG]

Thanks for all suggestions - I will be cooking several times over the course of the year so will come back to this for further ideas.

[AdaColeman]

Vegetarian cassoulet is another idea, or perhaps offer a meat one and a vegetarian one. As it's a long slow cooking time you can use a cheap cut of meat to help stay within your tight budget.