Family get together - lunch for 24. Ideas please.

[shoppingbagsundereyes]

Last year my cousin hosted a lovely pre Christmas get together for the extended family. She made lasagne and chilli and did breads etc. we all brought deserts.
This year I've offered to host. I need two hot dishes that can be eaten while standing if necessary ( have enough room for 12 to sit so the rest will either hover or we will end up eating in two sittings). One coeliac so I need one dish to be gluten free.
Oh and I need to be able to prepare ahead, freeze and reheat because I'm working the week before and cook the previous weekend.
Ideas would be much appreciated please.

Should read 'and I want to cook the previous weekend'

Bugger, I was going to suggest lasagne, I did this last month with 20 people and everyone loved it. One was also gluten free, I used free from sheets from sainsburys. What about some deli stuff? Part baked ciabattas, sliced meats, Parma ham, cheeses, olives, dips, quiches?

Fish pie
Cottage pie
Tagine

Could do buffet style bits but we tend to have that on Boxing Day so was hoping to do hot. Was thinking of a pork, anchovy and tomato casserole thing that I've made before for 8 but sizing up. Another thought was pulled pork for everyone with coleslaw, nice rolls and maybe some spicy rice thing.

Chicken casserole
Beef in Guinness/Ale
Lamb hotpot

Pulled pork sounds great.

I did pulled pork with rolls and 2 kinds of coleslaw plus bacon cornbread for something very similar to your thing op. It went down really well apart with a couple of elderly relatives that were a bit bemused by the pulled pork. The pork freezes better with plenty of juice/sauce and still needed a bit more on defrosting. I once froze the meat and sauce separately and it really dried out.

Curry rice and side bits
Big pot of beef casserole plus veg and mash
Some sort of pasta plus sauce/bake with salad and garlic bread
Baked chicken thighs/wings with wedges coleslaw and salad

Trick is to make the main bit of the dish go slightly further by having side stuff to bulk it out, so breads, bhajis, salads, easy veg etc

Am getting more into the pulled pork idea. I wouldn't need to make ahead and freeze as it just does itself all day. Tell me more about the two types of coleslaw please...
Could make the sauce and sides the day before, serve all cold stuff but with the hot pork straight from the oven.

Oldest relative is my mum who is only 65 and likes that kind of thing.

I did a traditional cabage, onion and carrot coleslaw with a lemon/mustard vinegrette mixed with some mayo and then one with celery added in too with a blue cheese and sour cream dressing. This was mostly as I had done some spicy chicken wings and this was supposed to be like the blue cheese dip and celery sticks that often go with wings in the US. I also did Jamie Oliver's baked beans from his America book. The whole lot was cooked/prepared the day before and just reheated or mixed at the last minute.

I did a traditional cabage, onion and carrot coleslaw with a lemon/mustard vinegrette mixed with some mayo and then one with celery added in too with a blue cheese and sour cream dressing. This was mostly as I had done some spicy chicken wings and this was supposed to be like the blue cheese dip and celery sticks that often go with wings in the US. I also did Jamie Oliver's baked beans from his America book. The whole lot was cooked/prepared the day before and just reheated or mixed at the last minute.

Oops - sorry for the double post. Am typing and feeding...

Jacket potatoes. I know they cannot be done in advance but they are no bother to do.
Serve with hot baked beans(for the kids), coleslaw, cheese etc.
You could also do a huge bolognaise and people could either have it with the potatoes or served in a bowl with cheese or garlic bread.