A big pot / plate of....

[Scienceteacher1986]

I'm about to head to the shops, we've in laws coming later today for a little birthday party, 7 adults and 5 kids. Tbh I'm on my period and not in the mood to host. Anyway I wanted to make a bog pot/plate of something to go along side some finger foods and other bits but what?

I don't want to do chilli or spag bol or curry

Pasta bake?
Always a winner with kids if we have a big family do. Also garlic bread on the side.

Casserole?

Ham in coke? With crusty bread and butter plus salad? Or new potatoes instead of the bread.

swedish meatballs in tomato sauce, sub rolls, cheese and salad (subway fake).

hot dogs? Hot pork pies and mushy peas.

What you’ve ruled out are the usual suspects tbh.

This is good - double the amount for your party
www.easypeasyfoodie.com/aubergine-and-mozzarella-pasta/

Pulled pork - cooked in the slow cooker so less hassle - put out a load of rolls and people can help themselves
or
one Pot Cajun chicken - it’s a packet mix (my easy midweek cheat) chicken rice and peppers - easy peasy!!
or
cook up a load of jacket potatoes and put out a variety of fillings people can help themselves to.

www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/sweet-chilli-bangers

what about a recipe like that ^
cocktail sausages in bbq sauce instead?

Gammon
Pulled pork

Both can be slow cooked

I agree with the pasta bake idea, served with a big salad, garlic bread & maybe some potato wedges

or how about a roast veg cous cous salad with sides of falafels, lamb koftas, pitta bread, maybe a Greek salad, hummus, olives etc…

Chicken thigh/wings/drumsticks traybake. Slices or chunks of onion (red preferably), peppers (various colours), mushrooms and chorizo in with them. Sprinkle over some chopped garlic. You could add other veg if you can be bothered and have a big enough roasting tin/baking dish. Maybe some pitted olives if you like them. Drizzle with a little oil, season well with salt and pepper, maybe something like jerk seasoning, dried oregano, smoked paprika, a little cumin? Put in a medium hot oven (180), not too high a shelf ideally, for at least 40 minutes so the vegetables get nice and soft and toasty and the chicken skin gets crisp.

Brisket
Pulled pork

Lasagne made with red wine venison sausage. Tastes special without being any extra work.

Delia's chicken in BBQ sauce with rice (also did with pork s shoulder steaks)

Tajine with cous cous

Pulled lamb shoulder (cooked in slow cooker then finished in oven/grill to crisp) with tzatziki, hummous + Greek salad

Pulled pork fajitas (pork shoulder, onion, pepper in fajita mix cooked in slow cooker)

River Cottage chicken thighs with lentils, just need bread/salad

Gnocchi bake

Hairy bikers Spanish chicken and chorizo bake

Sausages in hot dog buns
Pre-made potato salad
Corn on the cobs

👌🏻

I'd do a massive chilli, rice, tortilla chips, refried beans and dips and everyone just help themselves.
You can do a bean version for veggies.

I've just read, no chilli. 😄 Sorry that'll teach me to read to the end. 😄

Jambalaya
Chicken casserole
Chicken tagine
Sausage and Mediterranean veg traybake

Cornedbeeef hash in a pan served with beetroot/cabbage

Slow roasted lamb and potatoes with salads from the deli?

Wow thank you all for the speedy replies! Some great ideas there

A mild chilli with things like garlic bread, rice, chips and tortillas as finger foods

Lovely big fat oozy sausages or a tray of meatballs with fluffy mashed potatoes and onion gravy.

Or a risotto.

www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/chicken-chorizo-rice-pot this is good, you’d need two pots for 12 people though

Tagine & cous cous is a good shout

Lamb casserole (I like lamb shoulder) with mash or dauphinois if you can be bothered

Sausage & lentil casserole

A big simple pasta salad, no cooking required

Chicken drumsticks covered in sauce or seasoning rub that you like or with a load of chopped up veg like red onion, peppers, mushrooms. Roast till the skin is crispy.

My mum used to get 2 or 3 of the big packs of drumsticks and roast the lot up with just olive oil and salt on, then pile them high on a plate in the middle of the table. Everyone would grab a couple, and then help themselves from the cold stuff some sliced baguette, coleslaw, pickled onions......... this would all go on the kitchen table at 1pm Saturday and family and friends knew it was open house so Saturday afternoons were always busy in our kitchen

If you fancy it you can put a load of jacket potatoes in the bottom of the oven to cook alongside.