Clueless about a buffet menu

[sunshine244]

I'm doing a buffet lunch for about 15-18 people, including some young children. It's a family gathering between Christmas and New Year. After doing lots of cooking for Christmas itself I don't want anything too hard, so probably mainly cold items with a few snacky type things that can be thrown in the oven.

But... I'm lost for inspiration on what will be interesting but won't break the bank. What are your 'must have' items for a buffet? What do you hate?

I find cooking lots of different types of party food more hassle then making a bulk meal tbh

if you go down the buffet route
lots of partbaked bread rolls & meats/ fillings are quick and easy to prepare, not to much effort apart from cooking the bread and not to expensive

I would get some meat (a ham, or some sliced meats), some quiches (probably vegetarian ones if you have non meat eaters in your party) and do a couple of pasta/rice salads. Then a green salad and maybe a coleslaw? Then you can add bread, cheese etc. Agree with the previous poster that party food can be more of a pain than a timesaver.

Large chicken, large gammon, cheese, pate with breads and wraps. Salads, dips crisps and a couple of puddings. Always my go to.

I do the warm bread rolls with different meats. A good cheese board. Sausage rolls, pork pie, cheese and onion rolls.

Then add a few different coleslaw and pasta salad type options, with salad bits.

Lastly potato things.

Cold meats and cheeses with bread and crackers. Do some quiches and pizza for the kids. Salad bits in separate bowls works well. Then have your standard breadsticks and dips, crisps. Next time as it’s a buffet get each family to bring something.

I’d do a big pot of chilli , big pot of rice, bowl of (ready grated) cheese, , empty a pot of soured cream into a bowl, blitz 5 avocados with lime juice , salt, and put some sliced baguette on the table.

I find buffet meals sound easy but are really labour intensive. Unless you literally put out cheeses, sliced meat and pate, and a quiche for the veggies.

Hit the party food aisle in Iceland or similar

We are doing similar for Xmas eve... I suggest;

Sausage rolls
Part Bakesd rolls
Cold meats/spreads
Quiche
Crisps I.e. tortilla chips
For kids. Chicken nuggets, bowl of French fries style chips
Pizzas

I havebalso bought frozen battered prawns, mozzarella balls to chuck in the air fryer

Oh and quiches. I forgot those.

I’d go with fewer items in generous portions-

pile of homemade sausage rolls
a few big cheeses
lots of bread and crackers
cold meats if people eat them
chutneys and pickles
green salad
coleslaw
I’d probably do a big pan of little roasted garlic potatoes too

A cheese board, some charcuterie, chicken drumsticks, cocktail sausages, sausage rolls, squares of pizza for the children, devilled eggs, coleslaw, pasta pesto salad.

Agree that this is often easier and cheaper than a buffet.

Buffets are always disappointing IME. Lots of bits of cold stuff that doesn't really ever feel like a meal. Speaking as a vegetarian, cold , claggy supermarket quiche with wet pastry base is not attractive.

The chilli is a good call. I used to have bowls of chopped red onion, tomato etc to add as well as the stuff upthread.

Another possibility is a pile of jacket potatoes with a selection of toppings. Cheese, beans, humous, chilli, guacamole all combine well then some separate salad stuff.

Agree buffet is big faff. We went to a neighbour's house party (with families with young kids) - they did lots of jacket potatoes and nice sausages, then some extras like beans, cheese, green salad, coleslaw, baguette. Filling, delicious, easy.

Yes I’d do either chilli, bolognese or a curry both a meat and a veg option with sides. Breads, salad etc etc.

Do you have the table space for people to sit and eat if you did a meal rather than a buffet? This time of year, I like something warm. I can't stand freezing cold sausage rolls and quiche, but if you could have things at least warm, they are much more pleasant. If you have the freezer space, I'd do a mix of store bought beige things and home made- OR, could you ask guests to each bring plate?

-Chicken drumsticks cooked in a sticky sauce, coating, peri peri or crumbed. Oven baked and wrap foil or kitchen paper around the 'handles'. Wings are cheaper, but messier.
-https://www.amummytoo.co.uk/filo-pastry-mini-quiches-great-for-kids-to-make-and-eat/ You can mix/match any filling. Semi dried tomatoes, asparagus, different cheeses, olives/basil/pesto, brie and cranberry sauce
-https://thegreatbritishbakeoff.co.uk/recipes/all/prue-leith-mini-yorkshire-puddings/
-Stuffed eggs either deviled with mustard or curried. Eggs can be boiled the day before. https://www.nigella.com/recipes/devilled-eggs
-https://www.recipetineats.com/special-pork-fennel-sausage-rolls/ I sprinkle nigella seeds or black sesame seeds on top and these are delicious. They can be made ahead and frozen too. Sainsburys have sausage meat at the moment which I pimp up with the cooked onion/celery/fennel from this recipe.
-Charcuterie board with meats/cheese/chutney/grapes
-Humous/dips with carrot, celery, pepper batons