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Meals for large family staying over Christmas

82 replies

Westofeasttoday · 03/11/2024 17:05

Hello everyone! We are having my parents stay for three weeks and my sisters family for 10 days over Christmas. At our peak we will be 10 people with four kids (two of which are over 6 foot boys who eat for country!) over ten days.

We are lucky as there aren’t any allergies or food issues.

Can people please suggest some ideas for ten people that won’t break the bank and aren’t just doubling recipes (if that makes sense). Thank you!!!!

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Forgottenmyphone · 03/11/2024 17:15

This pulled pork serves 12. https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/pulled-pork The serving suggestion in the recipe is with soft white rolls and coleslaw, but I’ve also done it with jacket potatoes https://www.lovepork.co.uk/recipes/pulled-pork-loaded-jacket-potatoes/#:~:text=Method&text=Cook%20the%20potatoes%20according%20to,grated%20cheese%20and%20spring%20onions.

MiddleAgedDread · 03/11/2024 17:21

have you got a slow cooker? I’d make big one pot meals of things like chilli, curry, spag Bol, sausage casserole type stuff then you just need potatoes / rice / pasta and any sides. also easy to freeze any leftovers or serve in more than one sitting if people are out n about doing their own thing.

maybeinanotherlifetime · 03/11/2024 17:24

I would make a curry (Indian, Chinese whatever type you like) - in the past I have made a massive pot of chickpea curry (you can add in diced potatoes or mushrooms if you wish). This could be served with rice (plain rice or with some vegetables in) to keep cost low or you could buy some naan breads.
as a starter to that you could maybe just get some poppadoms or mini samosas in and make the yoghurt/mint sauce at home to accompany those.

Forgottenmyphone · 03/11/2024 17:25

This beef ragu recipes serves 10 and is so easy because it’s all done in the oven. It also freezes well. It seems popular with all ages, and I normally serve with garlic bread as well as pasta, but also works with jacket potatoes and a green salad. www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/ragu_49191

AnnaDelvorkina · 03/11/2024 17:27

Buy fish fillets to bung in the freezer and serve with mash and frozen peas for one meal and rice with tomato-based sauce and Frozen green beans and for another

AnnaDelvorkina · 03/11/2024 17:29

Have a scrambled egg lunch with toast (or bagels, muffins) plus any leftover ham, bacon or sausage.

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 03/11/2024 17:32

Let's be realistic, nobody (even hungry teenagers) wants a big elaborate meal every single night, and surely nobody would expect you to go to that much effort.

So I'd say one night put some big baking potatoes in the oven and serve them with a range of easy and not too expensive fillings/accompaniments - grated cheese, butter, chopped spring onion or ordinary onion, sweetcorn tuna, baked beans, mayonnaise, coleslaw, sausages maybe - you get the idea.

Another night, pasta with pesto and peas, salad on the side, garlic bread if you can be bothered.

Third super easy option - egg and chips. Or omelettes.

Fourth option - soup (buy it if you prefer), bread, cheese (or toasted sandwiches).

Fifth option - hummus, falafels, nice Greek/Mediterranean salads/dips/things in jars like olives, pickles, baby peppers and artichokes, decent bread/flatbreads/pittas.

I hope your guests are going to pay for a takeaway or take you out for a meal at least once? Three weeks is a long stay!

Other easyish options that you can prepare all or in part ahead of time or buy ready-made (which will often work out cheaper, tbh):
Lasagne
Shepherd's/cottage pie
Fish pie
Fishcakes

Good luck!

Cravey · 03/11/2024 17:33

We have between 12 and 18 every Christmas. I tend to do a chilli, casserole of some description, vege lasagna, pizza night, and a couple of buffet evenings. I also try to batch cook for the freezer from now as I think I would struggle. Huge fun but tiring. Make sure you delegate too.

Mindymomo · 03/11/2024 17:33

I would prepare as much as possible beforehand. Steak pie, spaghetti bolognaise without the spaghetti, chicken curry, chilli, lasagne, beef or chicken stew, cottage pie. All frozen in 4 portion size just to make it simple.

Harp1977 · 03/11/2024 17:36

I would do Cereal or egg and toast for breakfast in a help yourself way.
Soup or sandwich, quiche ,pizza, or leftovers for lunch.
Dinner in disposable tray and premade and frozen if possible, shepards pie, lasagne, Hunters chicken, fish pie, Kiev with twice baked potato. Along with the PP ideas that look good, and I might use myself

Westofeasttoday · 03/11/2024 21:40

MiddleAgedDread · 03/11/2024 17:21

have you got a slow cooker? I’d make big one pot meals of things like chilli, curry, spag Bol, sausage casserole type stuff then you just need potatoes / rice / pasta and any sides. also easy to freeze any leftovers or serve in more than one sitting if people are out n about doing their own thing.

Yes and a big one thank you!

OP posts:
Westofeasttoday · 03/11/2024 21:41

Mindymomo · 03/11/2024 17:33

I would prepare as much as possible beforehand. Steak pie, spaghetti bolognaise without the spaghetti, chicken curry, chilli, lasagne, beef or chicken stew, cottage pie. All frozen in 4 portion size just to make it simple.

Good shout. The chaos may do me in so good to start now where I can make two batches for example. Thank you!

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Westofeasttoday · 03/11/2024 21:43

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 03/11/2024 17:32

Let's be realistic, nobody (even hungry teenagers) wants a big elaborate meal every single night, and surely nobody would expect you to go to that much effort.

So I'd say one night put some big baking potatoes in the oven and serve them with a range of easy and not too expensive fillings/accompaniments - grated cheese, butter, chopped spring onion or ordinary onion, sweetcorn tuna, baked beans, mayonnaise, coleslaw, sausages maybe - you get the idea.

Another night, pasta with pesto and peas, salad on the side, garlic bread if you can be bothered.

Third super easy option - egg and chips. Or omelettes.

Fourth option - soup (buy it if you prefer), bread, cheese (or toasted sandwiches).

Fifth option - hummus, falafels, nice Greek/Mediterranean salads/dips/things in jars like olives, pickles, baby peppers and artichokes, decent bread/flatbreads/pittas.

I hope your guests are going to pay for a takeaway or take you out for a meal at least once? Three weeks is a long stay!

Other easyish options that you can prepare all or in part ahead of time or buy ready-made (which will often work out cheaper, tbh):
Lasagne
Shepherd's/cottage pie
Fish pie
Fishcakes

Good luck!

Great suggestions and advise thank you! I think the number of people has got me a bit…..not worried ….but worried? You are totally right about not a gourmet meal every night too.

OP posts:
Westofeasttoday · 03/11/2024 21:44

You ladies all rock! Thank you for your awesome suggestions. Much appreciated!

OP posts:
LochNessy · 03/11/2024 21:53

Alternate fancier meals with something simpler for your own sanity! I think your slow cooker will be such a help.

oven pizzas and salad,
burgers, chips and coleslaw
slow cooker bolognese,
beef stew and dumplings (slow cooker- use frozen casserole veg it’s great!) with part cooked baguettes that you pop in the oven,
chicken curry (slow cooker) with rice and naan bread,
jacket potatoes with salad, cheese, coleslaw etc,
gammon (slow cooker) with egg and chips,
Cottage pie with green veg,
pasta bake/lasagne with salad,
sausage, mash and veg,
slow cooker chilli con carne with rice

RampantIvy · 03/11/2024 21:59

You deserve a medal for entertaining so many people for so long.

I saw Jamie Oliver make this the other day on TV and it looks great. Just double up the quantities. He served it with rice on the TV show.

https://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/beef/sichuan-pepper-beef-brisket

Sichuan pepper beef brisket | Jamie Oliver recipes

Tender, fragrant beef brisket cooked low and slow in one tray, with easy preparation.

https://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/beef/sichuan-pepper-beef-brisket

CoffeeBeansGalore · 03/11/2024 22:01

Pasta bakes -
Cheesy Chicken, tomatoes & veg.
macaroni cheese
Lasagne
Cottage pie
Stew or casserole
Chicken goujons with loaded dirty fries (cheese, onion, garlic, anything you fancy).

Stock up on part baked rolls.
Useful for breakfast to stuff with bacon, egg or sausages.
Lunch with soup.
Do home made garlic bread
Your own version of french bread pizza (anyone remember those?) Slice roll lengthways. Spread on tomato puree & add cheese. Bake for 10 mins.
Use to pad out evening meal.

Chilli one night then next day use as a topping on baked spuds.

Home made pizza. Serve with your own garlic bread made with part baked rolls as above.

stichguru · 03/11/2024 22:02

My favourites for big meals

  • spag bol
  • chilli and rice
  • curry
  • Chicken fajita's
stichguru · 03/11/2024 22:05

Oh and pizzas and Salad are easy if you have a big enough oven to cook enough at once, or fancy take out.

Brananan · 03/11/2024 22:05

I often have 12 to feed. I always make a bolognaise, a chicken casserole, a venison sausage casserole from a Delia book, and Mary Berry's lamb dansak. I make enough to serve 12 of each and then freeze them well in advance, then you've got 4 nights done.

Another really easy one is the simple fish stew from.bbc good food with garlic bread.

Personally I find big casseroles etc so much easier than some of the 'easy meals' here. Jacket potatoes for 12 with all the fillings suggested would be a massive faff, ditto egg and chips for 12! And 12 pizzas would be a pitA

Pinksmyfavoritecolour · 03/11/2024 22:06

Those batch cooking foil dishes with lids will be your friend for batch cooking. I got a pack of 4 for 4 people really cheap this weekend, as I'm planning to start batch cooking for Christmas this week. Otherwise you'll run out of dishes to use.

BrieAndChilli · 03/11/2024 22:07

It’s not any different to cooking for a family just bigger portions. You don't mention any dietary restrictions?

the best thing for bigger groups is to cook things where people can help themselves and make up thier own plate according to personal taste eg build your own fajitas or lasagne and salad etc.

AdaColeman · 03/11/2024 22:09

Cottage pie
Fish pie with hard boiled eggs in the sauce
Sausages and mash with onion gravy
Gammon joint (boiled) with colcannon
Spanish chicken served with rice
Oven baked risotto (you could use turkey leftovers for this)

Frittata for lunch
Large vats of homemade soups for lunch....chicken noodle, minestrone, mixed beans

JC03745 · 03/11/2024 22:10

I too was going to suggest batch cooking some things now to freeze: Lasagna, pasta bake, fish pie etc. Each can then be bulked out with a salad, side veg, garlic bread etc.

-Baked potato and sweet potato one night. Then serve with a range of toppings to help themselves- grated cheese, baked beans, ham or bacon, pineapple, spring onions, chilli (could be cooked and frozen beforehand), tuna/sweetcorn etc

-Having a stew/soup on the go is always handy for teens/family to grab a mug/bowl themselves if they are hungry, rather than waiting till a main meal is being served.

-Smoked ham hock, quick soak peas, onions, carrots, celery and basically any other root veg I have such as some swede, potatoes, celeriac etc

-Ox tail stew with veg and pearly barley

-Veg soup such as lentil/veg, French onion, carrot and coriander

-Fajitas and everyone makes their own wraps. Serve with grated cheese, refried beans, onions, jalapenos

-Paella

itslikecakesbutitsnotcakes · 03/11/2024 22:12

People suggesting omelettes etc. How on earth would the op be able to make 10 omelettes in one go?