What is your best ever, crowd pleasing recipe?

[Bing4859]

Just that really. The one you can put on the table and everyone would like, can serve when friends come round or to feed the family.

Pasta and tomato and garlic sauce.

Fry onions and as much garlic as you dare.
Add tins of tomatoes/passata.
Sugar to cut through acidic taste.
Add Stock cube, water and simmer for as long as possible.
Season to taste.

Cook pasta of choice. Stir. Eat.

Cheap, easy, freezes well, vegan, dairy free, gluten free (if correct pasta), kid friendly, adult friendly, can add whatever you want to it to zhush it up (bacon, sausage, chilietc), goes with salad/garlic bread/chips/veggies, people can put as much or as little cheese as they like, can be blended to be smooth or leave "chunky".

Or a roast.

Easy to make enough that even fussy people can eat some of it. Just use 'basic' veggies.

So, chicken, peas, carrots, broccoli, roast potatoes, yorkies and gravy. All served separately. Take what you want!

Macaroni cheese!

Simple roux, crushed garlic, some mustard, full fat milk, shit load of extra mature cheddar and mozzarella.

I then use spiral pasta over actual macaroni, mix together top with dried breadcrumbs (although I don’t always bother with this) and bake for 10-15 mins until crispy

served with loads of garlic bread

because you can’t have too many carbs imo

I always fall back to a chilli with all of the sides so it will be interesting to see what others come up with.

Another one I suggested to someone else was jacket potatoes with lots of toppings to choose from.

I'd usually do a veggie chilli and the trimmings, or a veggie lasagne with olives, bread, salad in those circumstances.

Or maybe a couple of quiches with a big pan of garlic roast potatoes and salad.

Or veggie fajitas.

If we are having people over to eat we normally go for one of the following:

Chicken tikka masala with rice and naans

Chillis with rice and nachos

Jambalaya (hairy bikers)

This one https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/chickenbraiseddinciderr22812

All of these are making me hungry, even though I just ate!

Mine is Delia’s Chicken Basque recipe - it’s absolutely divine every time

Nigella's chicken and chorizo tray bake, impresses every time for very little effort.

Gordon Ramsay's lasagne (with added crumbled black pudding in the meat sauce) is also a winner.

Full rib roast of beef, roast potatoes, crusty bread.

Tartiflette, it is something people don't tend to eat too often but cheese bacon garlic potatoes and cream. What is not to like.

I’ve never made this, only had it made for me, but Ottolenghi’s curried cauliflower cheese filo pie for Shelf Love was one of the biggest hits I’ve seen at a dinner party recently. My mum has made it for two groups of guests now and it has been the star of the show for all of them.

For main: boeuf bourguignon

for pudding this recipe is a total winner each time - the cream alone is to die for. amp.theguardian.com/food/2020/aug/15/liam-charles-recipe-honey-cinnamon-baked-peaches-thyme-mascarpone

Delia's rillettes of duck. Mega hit!

Delias chicken and orzo

www.olivemagazine.com/recipes/meat-and-poultry/slow-roast-pork-belly-with-black-pudding-mash-and-grain-mustard-sauce/

Failing that I find Mexican food makes a great dinner party. I am particularly keen on birria made with lamb or beef. Served with salsas, tortillas and guacamole /pickles.

www.nigella.com/recipes/tagliatelle-with-chicken-from-the-venetian-ghetto

I must have been making this for 20 years and it never fails. 😋

Cod and chorizo on a bed of spinach, oven baked. So easy!

Roast chicken with all the trimmings - I do it well, get all the sides right, and it's always a hit even though I think of it as quite a simple meal.

Baked chicken pieces - it's practically my go-to because I can cook it for 20 people or 2 and it goes with any variety of sides I feel like according to guests, time of year, time for preperation etc The chicken is baked quite slowly so comes out incredibly soft.

Lamb rogan - I use a spice jar mix thing and jazz it up and it's always hugely popular.

Something like a chilli or curry with lots of side dishes so there is something for everyone.

venetian ghetto

😂

For low effort quiches (one veggie one quiche Lorraine usually) with salad
Or lasagne with garlic bread and salad

A very simple thing but everyone loves it and asks for the recipe - leek and bacon tart.

Spread a tub of soft cheese with garlic and herbs onto a sheet of puff pastry, cover with fried leeks and bacon lardons, add plenty of black pepper and paprika, top with grated cheese and bake for 20 mins or so. Tastes amazing yet so simple to make.

Chicken thigh curry
Beef stew
Lasagne

Chilli is always good or a roast gammon with different sides.

I've got a go-to recipe that always steals the show: creamy spinach and artichoke dip. It's a crowd-pleaser that's perfect for gatherings. The combination of rich creaminess, tender spinach, and tangy artichokes is simply irresistible. Serve it with crispy tortilla chips or toasted baguette slices for a delightful appetizer. And to add an extra layer of flavor to your spread, you might want to consider whipping up a batch of Homemade Yum Yum Sauce. This versatile sauce can elevate your dip and other dishes, giving your guests a memorable and delicious experience.