Looking for some ideas for large batches of food that are ideal for parties

[sunshinelemons]

I'm planning on having 20+ people over for a birthday party in a few weeks. What's a good dish I could make a large batch of that people can help themselves to and it won't dry up. Lasagne is one of my choices. Thanks :-)

A massive pile of roast potatoes always gets eaten when we have a do!

I'd do two or three curries with some rice

• a hot curry
• a mild curry
• a veggie curry

Pile of poppadoms and some mango chutney/lime pickle/yoghurt & mint to go with it

Jacket potatoes and chilli (veg & meat versions)
Jacket potato’s and lots of salad, cheese, dips, ham etc
Lebanese stew with cous cous, salad and lots of dips etc
Whole salmon side either hot or cold with new potatoes, French stick and salad
Indian curry’s and rice, naan etc

Do you have enough chairs and tables for people to eat at? Or do you need stuff people can eat from their laps/while standing?

I would do fajitas. With a 3 bean stew for the vegans. Maybe some ceviche. Chips and dips. Easy, assemble yourself food.

I’m Scottish so I’d probably do Stovies.

Other things I’ve done for a large group are baked potatoes with various fillings, pot of chilli (veggie too if needed), lamb or chicken curry, big pot of soup with hunks of bread, stew and dumplings, fajitas, sausages or hotdogs with rolls and toppings.

Macaroni cheese with garlic bread and green salad
Pulled pork, warm bread rolls and coleslaw
Fish pie with peas

Nigellas lentil veggie chilli with cornbread. Even the meat eaters will be happy. But you could do a meat version if you had to!

Is it a sit-down meal? If not, everything must be "forkable", which would rule out a lot of things.
Have you thought about how you are going to keep things hot?

Nigella’s loaded potato skins. Bake a load of potatoes. Cut in half, scoop out, mix with sour cream, cheese, bacon, chives, seasoning then stuff back into the skins, more cheese and bake again. Biggest hit ever at parties.

Id do chilli, rice, nachos , sour cream and grated cheese. If you have a rice cooker even simpler, baked potato's work with the above if it's cooler weather

Thank you for all the ideas so far some great choices. I'm going to get a food warmer to keep the food warm and I'm hoping to source some tables and chairs from a rental company.

Chilli con carne. One beef. One quorn for any veggies. Rice. Sides of salad, tortillas, tacos, guacamole, cheese, salsa, jalapeños, sour cream! Delicious!

I wouldnt rent chairs.
Ask people to "bring a chair" instead of Bring a bottle

Pulled pork with wraps and salad/slaw goes down well.

Jamie Oliver's slow roast pork shoulder with stuffing & apple sauce in baps.
Meera Sodhas Chicken & veggie curries.
Olive magazine huge Macaroni Cheese plus pimped up additions like basil oil n croutons in side bowls.
Turkey & ham pie made with cream, onions & tarragon and ready rolled pastry is popular here ( admittedly in Winter).
Self serve crispy tacos plus extra bowls of cheese/tomatoes/shredded lettuce/ homemade salsa & guacamole. You could do a veggie & a meat chilli mixture.

Some great suggestions

Chilli but go for soya mince rather than quorn for the veggie option quorn really doesn’t agree with some people.

I find Delia's macaroni pie more practical than lasagne for these occasions. Essentially the same ingredients but the macaroni (or penne) make it easier to serve than lasagne, goes further, and easier to eat if not every one sat at the table. (The all in one white sauce recipe included is a game changer!