Panic stations - urgent ideas please

[AliasGrape]

TLDR version - now have 4 additional guests arriving at 3 and the food I’ve made/ planned isn’t going to stretch. I can cobble together more sides but need a quick, easy ‘main’ that I can get ready and on the table for 3pm ish today, baring in mind I’ve got other stuff to get done before people arrive too. Can do a quick dash to the shop now.

What would you do? We all eat everything so no additional dietary considerations.

Longer version/ details below if anyone is interested -

I have family coming today for food. Originally there were going to be 6 adults total, 2 children.

Now found out that other guests who weren’t coming are now able to. I’ve no problem with this we’re an informal lot and I’m delighted they can come after all. However I don’t have enough food! 3 extra adults and 1 teenager.

I’ve got a slow booked beef stew already on the go which I put in this morning, crusty bread, I’m doing a braised red cabbage and a rocket and some dressed green beans. The guests were bringing a tray of dauphonoise potatoes. I’d already had a slight panic that there wasn’t going to be enough beef but DH assures me there is - it definitely won’t stretch to the extra though!

The guests who are now coming last minute have offered to bring crisps, dips, olives etc they pick up on the way - they’ve got quite a way to travel so won’t be able to cook anything to bring. But we could make it more buffet style if I had another main type dish and I can cobble together some more sides - I’ve got the makings of a decent rocket and Parmesan salad here at least.

Sonething like this Creamy Spinach Gnocchi (20-Minute, One-Pan Meal) - Julia's Album https://share.google/p6pQwBlFk6EvATiTQ

Or Harissa butter beans | Jamie Oliver recipes https://share.google/dp2a5cJbUew3L9qdR

Good ideas thank you!

Could you turn the stew into a pie with some puff pastry? It always seems to go further that way?

If you’re still worried buy a ready roasted chicken and make a quick chicken and leek filling and serve two pies.

Chicken legs?

This is a genius idea

The quickest thing I can think of is to roast some chicken breasts or thighs? Coat with herbs or garlic butter or olive oil. Could halve breasts to go further and people might have a bit of beef and a piece of chicken.

Have you got a Cook near you? They have plenty of eg chicken casserole options or a lamb hot pot you could get and bung in the oven?

Mini potatoes (skin on) roasting in the oven with some oil & salt.
Serve with the pie and then make sure you have plenty of dessert!

Actually I’d just bung a whole chicken in the oven. Very simple, will only take about and hour and a half and goes nicely with your sides. Maybe some more potatoes to pad things out, even a jacket potato each would help.

Dumplings on the stew, roasting tin full of vegetables, if you need more meat put chicken breasts in with the roasting vegetables.

I made this and it was really easy. Roast Chicken with leeks, orzo and white beans. It is quick and would go fine alongside your other dishes. You could replace orzo with rice if you need to.

Sorry, here's the link https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQOeS4rDfAe/?igsh=MTkwdm9jdWk5eTJuZw==

Thank you all, I did some chicken thighs, glazed sausages (remembered I’d been planning to do the nigella ones with cranberry and soy anyway so had those bits in just needed to buy the sausages) and also some version of the gnocchi that was posted using what I had in! Oh and used up a pile of green beans did them oven baked with garlic and Parmesan.

Of course in the end we had too much food but plenty of leftovers for in the week, and some great recipes/ ideas for next time.

I did love the pie idea only pastry doesn’t agree with me these days and know one of the guests was the same, but for the record that got my husband’s vote!