Need to feed 22 people in air bnb for 12 meals

[bessaas]

Need to feed 22 people including 2 kids for summer.

We're having family stay in the UK for 4 days this summer. Everyone is coming in from abroad from really expensive places- Australia, USA, China, except my partner and I- for us its 2 hour drive.

I have rented an Airbnb which we are all splitting the cost of. Everyone is paying for their own flights.

We are however paying for all food as our contribution. Everyone is paying at least a grand for their flights.

We completely underestimated the cost of food. Professional caterers for four meals for four days have quoted £8k. We were originally thinking £1500 as a budget and feel we may have messed up.

The air bnb is 5 self catering cottages all grouped with separate kitchens.

Were thinking one professional meal catered. Three course. For that it will be £900. It was £850 for buffet so we thought may as well go sit down three course.

We are needing 4 breakfasts, 4 lunches, and 4 dinners total. Others can help cook but we are footing the bill. We invited everyone so it makes sense.

without giving away what were doing we will be onsite the whole time but not have a load of time to cook. So we can't have a plan that will take more than 45m from start to food on the table.

We have thought : continental breakfast all four days, sandwich platters for lunch. one lunch be sandwich platters and scones so 'afternoon tea' and bbq for dinner.

Are there any other quick and inexpensive meal options we can do?

We also looked at hiring a food truck but for so few people it was £25 a pizza.

Others can help cook but we are footing the bill. We invited everyone so it makes sense.

Am I the only one who thinks that doesn’t make sense at all? When I was invited to a friend’s wedding in the Caribbean, I paid for my food and drink there (apart from the buffet at the wedding celebration).

Just seen about veggies - black bean fajitas as an alternative to chicken fajitas.

Garlic, cumin, one tin of tomatoes, two tins of black beans and a small jar of chipotle paste.
Fry garlic, then shove in the rest. Leave to simmer for 20mins.
Serves 4-6.

This goes nice as a topping for normal chicken fajitas or hotdogs as well as simply served on its own with salad in a wrap.

Or Spicy Portobello Mushrooms (can be subbed for other mushrooms)

100ml olive or rape seed oil (olive is better)
1 tsp mild chili powder
2 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp lime juice
1 tsp salt
4 large portobello mushrooms, cleaned, stemmed, gills removed, sliced
Serves 4.

Mix everything together. Preferably leave for half an hour at least before frying, but you can just cook straight off.
Serve with guacamole and shredded cabbage in a wrap.

Really really easy. Quantities easy to increase.

To answer some questions- the meals are the only time we will all be together to chat so everyone wants to spend them together. There is a big table outside and people I expect will naturally congregate there.

If we go offsite we risk the bill coming to more than the catering. These people aren't rich but never hold back eating out and get starters, mains, desserts, drinks, sides etc. It would be too awkward to set budgets or tell people just a main, it's just not the style. We also have no transport and no car seats.

We could order in, but I don't think many places deliver that remote. If we did it would have to be sharing pizzas , get a load of pizzas and everyone pick. If you pass around an uber eats and ask everyone to add stuff, the bill will be huge.

The flights will be £1k or less per person so you spending over this on food is a bit silly. Even worse is offering to cook several meals every day you’re supposed to be on holiday.

If they're rich enough to order a lot of food when they eat out, then how come they manage it?

I know you don’t want to give away what you’re all doing, but I am nosey and curious!

Exactly this. Prep everything in advance. Also, get everyone chipping in to help. You're not a hired chef, you're on holiday too.

I agree with the DIY breakfast/ lunches on most of the days. Maybe breakfast buttys one morning, cook bacon, sausages and eggs and have a pile of bread rolls for people to help themselves. Subway or similar sandwich platter and multipacks of crisps another day.

Can you arrange a deal with a local takeaway for a big order of fish &chips, pizza or curry for one night?

One local pub or restaurant, ask if they do a set menu deal and people buy their own drinks.

Buy some Hello Fresh or Gusto boxes so each cottage has a meal box to cook dinner themselves one night (either a peaceful night to themselves or a social Masterchef style family cooking competition!?)

I used AI -Do me a meal plan and shopping list for 22 people meat eaters and vegetarian need breakfast lunch and dinner. Night 1 lasagna night 2 curry night 3 bbq night 4 Greek night with whole chickens
That’s a fun (and ambitious) brief—feeding 22 people over 4 days needs structure more than anything. I’ll keep this practical: clear menus per meal, then a consolidated shopping list you can actually use.

🍽️ 4-Day Meal Plan (22 People)
Day 1 – Lasagna Night
Breakfast

• Scrambled eggs, bacon, veggie sausages
• Toast, butter, jam
• Yogurt + granola + fruit

Lunch

• Sandwich buffet (ham, cheese, hummus, salad)
• Crisps + fruit

Dinner (Lasagna Night)

• Meat lasagna
• Vegetarian lasagna (roasted veg/spinach & ricotta)
• Garlic bread
• Mixed salad

Day 2 – Curry Night
Breakfast

• Croissants & pastries
• Fruit
• Yogurt

Lunch

• Leftover lasagna + fresh salad
• Wraps (chicken + veggie falafel option)

Dinner (Curry Night)

• Chicken curry
• Chickpea & vegetable curry
• Basmati rice
• Naan bread
• Popadoms + chutneys

Day 3 – BBQ Night
Breakfast

• Full English (sausages, bacon, eggs, beans, mushrooms, tomatoes)
• Veggie sausages option

Lunch

• Pasta salad
• Leftover curry
• Bread rolls

Dinner (BBQ Night)

• Burgers (beef + veggie)
• Sausages (meat + veggie)
• Chicken pieces
• BBQ veg skewers (peppers, courgette, halloumi)
• Coleslaw, potato salad
• Corn on the cob

Day 4 – Greek Night (Whole Chickens)
Breakfast

• Pancakes with syrup & fruit
• Yogurt

Lunch

• BBQ leftovers buffet
• Simple salads

Dinner (Greek Night)

• Whole roasted chickens (lemon, garlic, oregano)
• Vegetarian stuffed peppers or moussaka
• Greek salad (feta, olives, tomato, cucumber)
• Flatbreads & tzatziki
• Lemon potatoes

🛒 Shopping List (for 22 people, 4 days)
🥩 Meat & Protein

• 6–7 whole chickens
• 5 kg minced beef (lasagna + burgers)
• 3 kg chicken (curry + BBQ pieces)
• 3 kg sausages
• 2 kg bacon
• 3 dozen eggs
• Veggie sausages (2–3 packs)
• Veggie burgers (20+)
• Halloumi (6–8 blocks)

🧀 Dairy

• 3 kg cheese (cheddar + mozzarella)
• 1 kg parmesan
• 2 kg yogurt
• 1 kg butter
• Milk (15–20 litres)
• Feta (1.5 kg)

Bakery

• 6 loaves bread
• 2 packs wraps
• 40 burger buns
• 40 hot dog buns
• Garlic bread (6–8 baguettes)
• Naan bread (20+)
• Flatbreads/pitas (20+)
• Croissants/pastries (30+)

🥕 Fruit & Veg

• 5 kg potatoes
• 3 kg tomatoes
• 3 cucumbers
• 2 kg onions
• 1 kg carrots
• 6 peppers
• 4 courgettes
• Mushrooms (1 kg)
• Spinach (500g–1kg)
• Salad leaves (large bags x4)
• Corn on the cob (20+)
• Lemons (10+)
• Garlic (10 bulbs)
• Fresh herbs (parsley, coriander, oregano)
• Fruit (bananas, apples, berries ~8–10 kg total)

🥫 Pantry

• Lasagna sheets (4–5 boxes)
• Tinned tomatoes (10–12 cans)
• Chickpeas (6–8 cans)
• Curry paste/sauce (enough for 22 servings x2 curries)
• Rice (5 kg)
• Pasta (3 kg)
• Granola (2 large bags)
• Flour (for pancakes)
• Sugar, syrup
• Olive oil
• Vinegar
• BBQ sauce, ketchup, mayo
• Chutneys

🥗 Sides & Extras

• Crisps (multi-packs)
• Coleslaw (large tubs or ingredients)
• Potato salad (or ingredients)
• Popadoms
• Tzatziki (or yogurt + cucumber + garlic)

☕ Drinks

• Tea, coffee
• Juice (10–15 litres)
• Soft drinks
• Water

Make lasagna and curry’s ( freeze the curry’s) before you leave. Use foil trays, disposables

Buy ready made desserts, etc. Plenty of cheese, crackers and chutneys

I’ve just discovered this Indian curry delivery company and on my 2nd order- they do party packs to feed 10 (so 2 plus some sides), lots of vege options: Dahl is immense- best I’ve tasted. Bung some naan (the clay oven one from Tesco is the best I have found) and rice on 15 min and you’re good to go. Maybe Some geetas chutneys (love the lime and chilli).

They come frozen so you would need space- but they are packaged in a container that keeps them frozen for something like 48hours (apparently). Can cook in oven or microwave.

www.chefakila.com/collections/party-packs

That’s very helpful, but I don’t envy the OP with that massive chore!

Costed to Aldi

💷 Estimated Cost for 22 People (4 Days)
🥩 Meat & Protein

• Whole chickens (7 × ~£5.50) → £38
• Minced beef (5 kg @ £7/kg) → £35
• Chicken (extra pieces 3 kg @ £6/kg) → £18
• Sausages (3 kg @ £5/kg) → £15
• Bacon (2 kg @ £6/kg) → £12
• Eggs (36 pack) → £9
• Veggie sausages & burgers → £25
• Halloumi (7 blocks @ £2.50) → £17

Subtotal: ~£169

🧀 Dairy

• Cheese (3 kg mixed @ £6/kg avg) → £18
• Parmesan → £8
• Yogurt (2 kg) → £5
• Butter → £6
• Milk (20L @ £1.20) → £24
• Feta → £10

Subtotal: ~£71

🥖 Bakery

• Bread (6 loaves) → £9
• Wraps → £6
• Burger buns (40) → £12
• Hot dog buns → £10
• Garlic bread → £10
• Naan (20+) → £10
• Flatbreads/pitas → £8
• Croissants/pastries → £15

Subtotal: ~£80

🥕 Fruit & Veg
(Prices fluctuate a lot, but bulk basics are still reasonable)

• Potatoes (5 kg) → £6
• Tomatoes → £8
• Cucumbers → £3
• Onions (2 kg) → £3
• Carrots → £2
• Peppers → £6
• Courgettes → £4
• Mushrooms → £4
• Spinach → £3
• Salad bags → £8
• Corn on cob → £8
• Lemons → £4
• Garlic → £3
• Herbs → £5
• Fruit (bulk) → £25

Subtotal: ~£102

🥫 Pantry

• Lasagna sheets → £8
• Tinned tomatoes → £10
• Chickpeas → £6
• Curry sauces/paste → £12
• Rice (5 kg) → £10
• Pasta → £6
• Granola → £6
• Flour/sugar/syrup → £8
• Oils/condiments → £15
• BBQ sauces, chutneys → £10

Subtotal: ~£111

🥗 Sides & Extras

• Crisps → £10
• Coleslaw → £8
• Potato salad → £8
• Popadoms → £6
• Tzatziki (or ingredients) → £5

Subtotal: ~£37

☕ Drinks

• Tea/coffee → £10
• Juice → £15
• Soft drinks → £20
• Water → £5

Subtotal: ~£50

✅
TOTAL ESTIMATE: ~£620

TROLLEY 1 – Fresh Meat & Fridge (do this first, keep it together)
🥩 Meat

• Whole chickens × 7
• Minced beef × 5 kg
• Chicken pieces (thighs/drumsticks) × 3 kg
• Sausages × 3 kg
• Bacon × 2 kg

🧀 Dairy

• Milk × 20 litres
• Cheese blocks (cheddar/mozzarella mix ~3 kg)
• Feta × 2–3 packs
• Halloumi × 6–8 blocks
• Butter × 3–4 packs
• Yogurt (big tubs) × 4

🥚 Eggs

• 3 × 12 packs

👉 Tip: Keep this trolley cold-focused and get it packed last at checkout.

🛒
TROLLEY 2 – Fruit & Veg (bulk + sturdy first)
🥔 Bulk veg

• Potatoes (5 kg bag)
• Onions (2 kg)
• Carrots

🥗 Salad & fresh

• Tomatoes (large packs)
• Cucumbers × 3
• Salad bags × 4
• Spinach bags

🌽 BBQ / dinners

• Peppers × 6+
• Courgettes × 4
• Mushrooms (1 kg)
• Corn on the cob × 20+

🍋 Flavour

• Lemons × 10
• Garlic bulbs × 10
• Fresh herbs (parsley, coriander, oregano)

🍎 Fruit

• Bananas (2–3 big bunches)
• Apples (2 large bags)
• Mixed fruit (berries/grapes)

👉 Tip: Put heavy stuff (potatoes/onions) at bottom, soft fruit last.

🛒
TROLLEY 3 – Bakery, Pantry & Dry Goods
🥖 Bakery

• Bread × 6 loaves
• Wraps × 4 packs
• Burger buns × 40
• Hot dog buns × 20+
• Garlic bread × 6–8
• Naan breads × 20+
• Flatbreads/pitas × 20+
• Croissants/pastries × 30+

🥫 Core Pantry

• Lasagne sheets × 5 boxes
• Pasta × 3 kg
• Rice × 5 kg
• Tinned tomatoes × 10–12
• Chickpeas × 6–8 tins
• Curry sauces/paste × enough for 2 big pots

🧂 Cooking essentials

• Olive oil
• Sugar
• Flour (for pancakes)
• Granola × 2
• Syrup

🍔 BBQ & extras

• Ketchup, mayo, BBQ sauce
• Chutneys
• Popadoms
• Crisps (multi-packs)

🥗 Sides

• Coleslaw (or ingredients)
• Potato salad (or ingredients)
• Tzatziki (or yogurt + cucumber)

☕ Drinks

• Tea & coffee
• Juice (10–15L total)
• Soft drinks
• Bottled water

🧠 How to Actually Execute This Shop

• 👥 Go with 2–3 people minimum
• 🧾 One person scans the list, one loads, one manages space
• 🧊 If hot day: bring cool bags for Trolley 1
• ⏱️ Aldi speed run: ~45–60 mins if organised like this

🔥 Pro Move (Most People Miss This)
Don’t buy everything in one go if storage is tight:

• Do main shop (Days 1–2 + pantry)
• Then a top-up shop before BBQ day

This sounds a bloody nightmare

It really does - especially with all the cooking on one person!
For breakfasts and lunches, I would make it all DIY as in each cottage has its own supply but they can all make their own and bring out their food and drink to the common table.

Also, this big table 'outside'. I take it, its undercover?

I can't see how this is gonna be enjoyable either

Also, I agree that you just provided the breakfast and they do it themselves

Can you not have a rota and take turns?

Bet OP wished she’d never asked!

Possibly repeating what’s already been said here but am just thinking through how I would handle this. I have experience of catering for 12-15 in similar situations but not on your scale!
If you don’t know already, check whether the vegetarians eat all cheeses (not all cheese is fully vegetarian but I don’t have a single vegetarian friend who worries about that, your guests might be different). Also if there are any other things people don’t eat. Stating the obvious I guess!

How far do you have to travel yourself and do you have freezer space at home? I’d make and freeze shepherds/cottage pie in foil trays (lots of vegetarian alternatives on line, eg puy lentils). That way you have main and potatoes covered for one meal, you’d just need to do eg peas and carrots to go with it. Bisto beef gravy granules are vegan so would do for all.

I’d avoid spaghetti, very difficult to make for large numbers without it sticklng. Penne for example works with most thingsI found out way too late that the cheapest cream cheese makes a lovely pasta sauce just cook up whatever you want to serve with it (chopped leeks, peppers, bacon, mushrooms as veggie option), garlic. s&P, dried herbs add cream cheese til it melts, add milk or pasta water to thin. Mix all together, serve with garlic bread and salad

Wraps: oven bake chopped aubergine, onion, courgette, peppers, mushrooms, chicken or tofu/chickpeas. Add a heated chopped tomatoes to loosen.
People can help themselves to make wraps. Sour cream, grated cheese, salads as sides

Buy pizzas and pimp the toppings, serve with potato wedges, coleslaw, salad.

Breakfasts: keep simple - a selection of cereals, toast, jam, tea cakes, croissants varied over the days. Maybe bacon butties one day with portobello mushrooms and optionally cheese for vegetarians. Or sausages/veggie sausages

Lunches: beans on toast; soup; sandwiches etc

You will likely have leftovers, id have a meal to use then up if you store them quickly and safely. Maybe add baked potatoes, salad etc.

Take lots of fruit that people can help themselves to, plus crisps, olives, nuts etc

Depending on the cheese situation, a cheese board is a good lunch meal - possibly with vegetarian pate as an option for non cheese eaters

I am organising and buying but everyone can pitch in to cook and clean.

There are a lot of vegetarians and event a lot of the meat eaters are limited to the types of meat they will eat. So easier to be mainly vegetarian.

I have a tiny freezer at home and all 5 cottages have tiny freezers- how would I make a vegetarian bolognaise for 22 people? Can I do some basic prep and add 10 tins of chopped tomatoes on arrival?

OP please just get ready meals with this latest nugget

Where on earth do you think you're going to store all this stuff even once you get there

Yes!

I've cooked spag bol for 50+ on gas stoves. Its a faff but doable.
If you can buy or pre-chopped onions, it saves you a massive amount of time. You can buy bags of frozen pre-chopped veg. Do this!

Buy frozen Cook meals 100% in this situation

What about a takeaway one night?