My Table Always Has Room for One More
When you need to feed a crowd, the last thing you want is a recipe that falls apart under pressure. These easy recipes to feed a crowd are the ones I come back to every time — for potlucks, family reunions, church suppers, graduation parties, and every backyard cookout in between.
Every dish in this collection is tested, make-ahead friendly, and built to serve a hungry group without stress. Whether you are cooking dinner for a large group of 8 or feeding 30, I have you covered from appetizers straight through dessert.
Not sure where to start? Use the tables below to find exactly what you need.
Find Exactly What You Need to Feed a Crowd? Start Here
| If You Need… | Best Pick From This Collection |
| A crowd-pleasing main dish | Best Low Country Boil, Crock Pot Country Style Pork Ribs, Easy Baked Spaghetti, Creamy Chicken Casserole |
| A make-ahead side | Caprese Pasta Salad, Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad, Macaroni Salad for a Crowd, Creamy Coleslaw |
| A slow cooker option | Crock Pot Bourbon Meatballs, Slow Cooker Mexican Shredded Beef, Crock Pot Creamed Corn, Crock Pot Maple Bacon Green Beans |
| A no-fuss appetizer | Antipasto Skewers, Cream Cheese Sausage Balls, Creamy Southern Deviled Eggs, Sweet Heat Pickles |
| Something cheap and filling | Easy Baked Spaghetti, Home Run Hot Dog Chili, Easy Homemade Meatballs, Easy Broccoli Casserole |
| A crowd dessert | Banana Pudding Trifle, Fruit Salad for a Crowd, Vanilla Sheet Cake with Chocolate Fudge Icing |
| Something that travels well | Caprese Pasta Salad, Deviled Eggs, No-Bake Butterscotch Cookies, Antipasto Skewers |
How Much Food Do You Need? Planning Guide by Group Size
The question I get asked most: how much do I make? Here is my simple planning guide so you never run out — or overcook.
| Course | For 6 to 8 | For 10 to 12 | For 15 to 20 | For 25+ |
| Appetizers | 1 recipe (doubles as starter) | 1 to 2 recipes | 2 recipes | 3 to 4 recipes |
| Main Dish | 1 standard recipe | 1.5x or 2 recipes | 2x recipe | 3x or bulk slow cooker |
| Cold Sides | 1 large bowl | 2 large bowls | 2 to 3 recipes | 3 to 4 recipes |
| Hot Sides | 1 recipe | 1 to 2 recipes | 2 recipes | 3 recipes |
| Dessert | 1 standard recipe | 1.5x recipe | 2x recipe or 2 options | 3x or 2 to 3 options |
Start the Party with These Easy Crowd-Pleasing Appetizers
Cold Sides That Travel Well (And Get Better as They Sit)
These are my go-to cold sides for any gathering. Make them the day before,pack them in a cooler, and set them out when you arrive. No reheating. No stress. Just good food ready to go.
| Recipe | Make Ahead? | Travels Well? | Why It Works |
| Caprese Pasta Salad | Yes — day before | Yes | Holds its texture and gets better as it sits. Easy to transport in a sealed bowl. |
| Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad | Yes — day before | Yes | Hearty enough to feed a crowd and stays creamy for hours in a cooler. |
| Macaroni Salad for a Crowd | Yes — day before | Yes | Scales easily and is always the first cold side to disappear. |
| Creamy Coleslaw | Yes — morning of | Yes | Keep dressing separate until serving to stay crisp. Perfect alongside any grilled main. |
| Tomato Cucumber Salad | Yes — 2 to 3 hours ahead | Yes | Light and bright. The marinade does the work. Great alongside heavy mains. |
| Fruit Salad for a Crowd | Partially — cut fruit day before | Yes | Assemble day of. Travels in any covered bowl. No reheating needed. |
Simple Side Dishes That Go with Everything
Hearty Mains and Casseroles to Feed a Hungry Crowd
Sweet Finishes Everyone Will Ask for Again
My New eBook!
Top 25 Viral Recipes
Whether you’re cooking for two, feeding a busy family, or filling your home with friends, I’m cheering you on from my kitchen. I hope this eBook brings you comfort, creativity, and plenty of delicious moments around your table.
The Best of the Best: Easy Southern Recipes!
GET THIS FREE GUIDE: Easy Southern favorites for nights when you want the flavor, not the chore.
This e-mail looks like it was a lot of work. The recipes look awesome. I will for sure be trying them. Thanks for all of your wonderful recipes they are very helpful when planning meals.
Thank you so much! I really appreciate that — it’s always a labor of love putting those emails together. I’m so glad you’re enjoying the recipes and finding them helpful for meal planning. Hope you find some new favorites to make soon.
~Donya