Meals for large family

[Neednewfloor]

14 of us in 1 house for 1 week 8 adults 6 kids, I need meal ideas that are quick and easy please.

I am not a cook, but sometimes have your sorts of numbers.
I always have plenty of salad in the fridge.

Rice dishes. Pasta dishes. Noodles. Mince.

Partly depends on how much money you want to spend.

It was a special occasion a few months ago and spent £100 on fish and chips. But that was the only time I have done that.

Anything “tray baked” is your friend.

As @5zeds said, traybakes are great. Also, sausage & bean casserole with crusty bread, lasagne & salad, fajitas/enchiladas are good for large groups.

Assuming your are staying in a s/c house and not a family home? If the former get an inventory of what they have in terms of cookware so you can bring anything else needed. Are the fridges / freezers big enough or are you going to have to go out shopping while there?

I'd make something and freeze in advance for the first night eg curry. Boil in the bag rice for an easy life, popadoms, naan, chutney etc

Can you bring some slow cookers?
Chilli and jacket potatoes or nachos with all the bits, something like a stroganoff / stew, Mexican chicken for fajitas.

fancy hot dogs - bung a load of decent sausages in the oven to bake, baguettes or hot dog rolls, sauces and any other toppings, could serve with wedges

Is there a bbq? Butterfly leg of lamb, Greek style with pitta and salad, or burgers and salads

Go to Waitrose or m and s and get a couple of their entertaining dishes eg lasagne

What about a slow cooker or maybe 2 with that number of people. Can put something on it the morning so it splits the workload.

Can do a large joint of meant like a gammon, then do salads and breads to go with

Beef stroganoff, with rice and garlic bread

A curry in the slow cooker?

Otherwise pasta with breads and salads. Could have a couple of different sauces to go with like a pesto and a tomato based.

I hope all the adults are sharing the cooking as it would be a huge work load for just one person. We had a similar holiday last year and all adults took a turn a night.

I'd also look at doing a big pie or lasagne before you go away to bring with you.

Use disposable dishes if you can.

Good luck!

Pasta, chilli, tray of marinated chicken with salads, bbq

Rice and pasta dishes only work if you have a big enough saucepan. 14 people need a lot of pasta!
Jacket potatoes with chilli. Buy packets of grated cheese and squirty bottles of sour green and guacamole.
Chicken fajitas (or shawarmas which are the same principle but not Mexican if you think you’d be over-doing the Mexican food)
Fish finger tacos realfood.tesco.com/recipes/fish-finger-tacos.html - the only cooking involved is shoving a load of fish fingers in the oven. Make it a bit fancier for the adults by using fish goujons.

Rice and pasta dishes only work if you have a big enough saucepan. 14 people need a lot of pasta!

I am now doing the large numbers often enough, that I have had to buy larger pots and pans. And pyrex etc.
Also a catering serving/keeping things warm thing[cannot remember what it is called.
Even larger water jugs. And more "best" crockery. And cutlery!

Fajitas
Chicken pilaf
Macaroni cheese
Baked risotto
Chicken thighs, salad, tzatziki & pitta bread
Stovies

If anybody has a rice cooker, ask them to bring it. Good way of cooking rice for lots of people and zero hassle

1. A massive cottage pie or two:

Use mince or quorn. Pad out with lots of veg (onions, garlic, carrots, mushrooms), few dried herbs, good slug of red wine. Then a nice potato/sweet potato mash and grated cheese on top. Serve with peas. If you've got fussy children to cater for you could make a simpler base with plain mash for them.

1. A massive pasta bake or two:

Mix masses of cooked pasta with dolmio sauce/passata etc and tinned tuna, peas, sweetcorn plus some cooked veg like courgettes/onions/peppers. Top with sliced tomatoes, tinned anchovies, olives and loads of grated cheese. Again, make a separate simpler version for any fussy children.

1. Sausages (quorn for any veggies) and mash, plus loads of fried onions and a green veg.

1. Cook 2 or 3 chickens (stuff with loads of garlic, herbs and lemon halves) and make a pile of roast potatoes and a veg.

I hope you are sharing the cooking