14 for casual lunch - meal ideas?

[PhoebeMcPeePee]

I'm hosting a family lunch & struggling to know what to cook. It doesn't need to be too fancy & some sort of prepare in advance, oven to table dish would be great. Can't be bothered with the washing up faff of a roast dinner & preferably not chicken (otherwise I'd do a big chicken casserole)

lasagne & curry both been rejected by various fussy eaters. Any suggestions?

Stew? Chili con carne?

Soup and crusty bread?

Chilli, cottage pie or lasagne always go down well here. Easy to prepare in advance, can be bulked out with sides (salad, mixed veg, garlic bread, nachos, depending on which you go for).

A gammon joint with something like cauliflower cheese, pots, green veg?

A big casserole is usually a good idea - if not chicken then lamb or beef? Casserole can be done in advance and is quite forgiving of when you serve it so easy for timings. You could do a really nice lamb, sweet potato and aubergine one with rice or a beef one with new potatoes, then just do a big green salad, maybe some garlic bread for kids, maybe a tomato salad as well?

A lamb casserole sounds good but Ds & DH dont like sweet potato so will have to find another recipe. Thanks all

A lamb casserole sounds good but Ds & DH dont like sweet potato so will have to find another recipe. Thanks all

I've just catered a light lunch for 25 at my church on Saturday. I did jacket potatoes and then used my slow cookers to cook a shepherds pie mince mix and a veggie mix. I also had baked beans, cheese and coleslaw. For pudding we had yoghurts and fresh fruit. Everybody said how much they enjoyed it.

I second jacket potatoes. You can prepare different fillings and salads in advance, so that fussy eaters can find something they like. Then all you have to do is bung 14 potatoes in your oven.

I've just recommended this on another thread (!) but how about Beef and Ale Casserole and Leek Mash? Can be made ahead.

Maybe a crumble for pudding? Or get others to bring something?

www.waitrose.com/home/recipes/recipe_directory/b/beef_and_ale_casserole.html

Ok so I'm going for a lamb & sausage casserole + a chicken casserole (can freeze whatever's left so don't mind doing too much) with leek mash or jacket potatoes plus green beans & peas

Puddings thinking a big fruit pavlova & something chocolatey

Sounds delicious!