Meal ideas to feed up to 14 people?

[MarmiteCoriander]

Distant family are visiting soon for 2-3 days. I don't know if they will be out each day or spending it with us and expecting 3 meals a day! I'm a competent cook, but also work full time and don't want to be stuck in the kitchen all day. What meals would you make or anything I can pre ahead of time?

I would make a casserole or lasagne for the night they arrive - could make a few days in advance and reheat in the oven.

I would check dietary requirements and get stuff in for them to sort themselves for breakfast and sandwich stuff for lunchtime.

I would also make clear which meals you will be preparing and when to help themselves.

Make sure they know where to get top-up milk/bread etc.

It would be nice (and quite usual) for them to treat you all to a takeaway or meal out as a thank you for your hospitality.

Pasta with stir in sauce and lots of garlic bread!

Ps Do you have a slow cooker?

Meals you could prep in advance and reheat from chilled/frozen:
Chilli con carne (veggie or meat)
Bolognese
Chickpea and spinach curry (any curry)
Coq au vin/ beef bourguignon /chicken in tarragon sauce

• prepare rice/pasta while reheating. Green side salad or steamed green beans on side.

Also easy to prep would be a traybake - quick to throw together then 45 mins in oven. there's a hairy bikers spanish chicken one which always gets rave reviews on here.

Also, jacket potatos - easy to do for lots of people.

Not quite lasagne - make up ragu and macaroni cheese in advance then bake in a lasagne dish when ready. Just layer the pasta on top of the meat and grate over extra cheese before you cook it.

Slow cooker curry - www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/slow-cooker-chicken-tikka-masala
Just don't overcook it!

A roast is usually a good bet too - roast the veg at the same time if you can to reduce the effort involved.

Mexican - fajitas or tacos that people assemble themselves at the table are a good bet.

Buy plenty of bread, sandwich fillings, fruit & biscuits and some shop bought puddings.

1. Check dietary requirements.
2. Ask the question, what days and when do you expect to be fed?

Do they know you will be working full-time whilst they're there?

Start managing expectations early.

Slow cooker chilli or curry

Baked potatoes

Slow cooker pulled pork (but only do that if you can plug it in the shed because it’s really smelly) - burritos

All of those dinners have fillings or bits that the person puts in themselves so they can customise what they do/don’t like

Breakfast/lunch definitely show them the toaster and leave them to it.

Slow cooker is your friend, big spag bol, casserole, lasange

I'd make a massive lasagne and serve it with garlic bread and salad
a chicken or veg curry with rice and naan bread.
shephards pie with a side of veg
all these things can be made before hand and frozen. Then all you have to make on the day is rice / bread / salad.

14 all at once?? I'd go with anything I can knock up in my soup pan / casserole dish or double drawer air fryer

Bolognaise
Curry

Cook a chicken in each drawer of the airfryer and have them with with jacket potatoes and salad

I'd not be making breakfast or lunch! People can do themselves toast

Chilli and rice.
Pizzas.

Thanks for the ideas.

It DH relatives and of course when he spoke to them- asked none of the questions I want to know! Exact plans, dietary needs, allergies etc! It would only be 14 for possibly 1 meal- which I'm considering just buying in a take-away for. The rest of the time will range from 4 adults and 2 children to 8 adults and 3 children.

Jacket potatoes with various fillings
Slow cooker chilli
Bolognaise or pasta with a sauce
A big soup and lots of crusty bread.
A couple of roast chickens with salad, bread, roasted potatoes or wedges.
If there are dishes you prepare in advance, freeze them in the right portion sizes for your family in case they don't get eaten.