Does anyone have any ideas for cheap/easy group dinners for 11 people?

Question

I don't usually cook for that large a crowd. Any ideas?

Answer 1

green beans and potatoes and neck bones

Answer 2

Couple pans of enchiladas beef & chicken, taco station(make there own), black or brown beans, Spanish rice Mexican corn. Pan of Mexican jalapeno cornbread, cheese dips salsa n tortilla chips. Ice cream bar with toppings. Make pans ahead n bake.

Or a BBQ ribs or chicken or pork butt(put it on early in the morning and check it occasionally) will cut way down on your busy cooking time. Some smoked rice potato salad, corn on the cobb, baked beans, chocolate cake(make all this ahead)

Or Baked potato bar with all the fixins(cheese sauce, broccoli, bacon bits, sour cream, etc),  pan of Hamburger steaks n gravy, green beans, rolls, cobbler(peach, apple, etc)

Answer 3

Mozzarella Stuffed Loaf

3 pounds ground beef

1/2 cup minced onion-browned

3 cup seasoned bread crumbs

1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley

1 teaspoon dried oregano

6 eggs

salt and ground black pepper, to taste

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (I omit when using beef)

12 ounces fresh mozzarella, cubed

6 tablespoons ketchup

2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

Preheat oven to 375.

In a large bowl, combine beef, , onion, bread crumbs, parsley, oregano, eggs, salt and peppers. Mix until combined and divide in half.

Press 1/2 of the meat into a  loaf pan covered in foil. Top bottom half with cubed mozzarella cheese. Press the rest of the turkey mixture over top and press down to flatten the top.

In a small bowl, combine the ketchup and mustard and with a pastry brush, brush the top of the meatloaf. Bake about 1 hour, until top is golden and the loaf begins to pull away from sides of pan. Let stand 10 minutes before slicing

and get some appetizers

Italian Appetizer Bites

2 packages (8 oz each) refrigerated crescent rolls

½ pound sliced deli salami

½ pound sliced deli ham

½ pound slide deli provolone cheese

7 eggs

1 cup parmesan cheese

2 jars (12 ounces each) roasted red peppers, drained

MAKES: 32 pieces. PREP: 15 minutes.

BAKE: at 350° for 60 minutes.

Heat oven to 350°. Coat 13x9x2” glass pan with nonstick cooking spray. Unroll 1 package of the crescent rolls and line the bottom of the pan. Pinch seams together.

Cover rolls with half of the salami, provolone and ham. Lightly beat together 6 eggs and the parmesan cheese; pour half evenly over top. Top with half of the roasted red peppers. Repeat layering with remaining salami, cheese, ham, egg mixture & peppers. Top with remaining package of crescent rolls.

Lightly beat remaining egg and brush over top. Cover dish with foil; bake at 350° for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake 30 more minutes. Cool for 1 hour; cut into 32 squares & serve.

And, this is always a big hit:

Bread Dip

1/2 cup mayo

2 cups sour cream

1 lbs corned beef, chopped fine

2 tsp beau monde spice

2 tsp dill weed

2 tbls chopped onion

2 tbls dried parsley

Mix all together and refrigerate at least 2 hours.

I loaf of round, pumpernickel bread. Hollow out the bread into a bowl, cutting the pieces into dipping size. Put the dip into the hollowed out bowl.

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*Crostini di fegatini = Canapés with chicken liver pathé

Toasted slices of bread

Chicken liver (6/8)

Capers in salt (one full spoon)

One anchovy in salt or a tea spoon of anchovies paste (optional)

Olive oil (2/3) spoons

Half glass of red wine

Place in a little pot the oil, the onion cut in cubes, when they are frying add the chicken livers and the cappers you had washed before, the wine simmer till the livers are cooked. Add the anchovies. Mince all with a mixer. Cover the bread with the pathé.

*Microwave Peanut Brittle

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup corn syrup

1 cup raw peanuts

1/8 teaspoon salt

Cook 8 minutes on full power.

Stir good after 4 minutes, and then cook four more minutes.

Add 1 tsp. vanilla and 1 tsp. butter.

Cook 1 1/2 minutes on high.Add 1 tsp. baking soda.

Stir and spread on buttered cookie sheet.Watch at end so doesn't brown too fast.

*Grilled Camembert Cheese with Peach hors devours

2 lbs. fresh diced peaches

1/2 cup diced onion

1/2 cup Red Bell Pepper

1/4 cup raisins

1 jalapeno pepper (diced and seeded)

2 slices fresh or candied ginger

2 Tbsp. seeded, diced lemon including the rind

3 Tbsp. cider vinegar (to taste)

3 Tbsp. Brown sugar (or more to taste)

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/8 tsp allspice

1/8 tsp cloves

Simmer until peaches are soft 10-15 minutes. Refrigerate.

Cut off top rind of the cheese.

Spread the cheese with 1/4 cup chopped nuts.

Grill the cheese over a cedar plank 12 -20 minutes.

Top with the peach chutney.Serve with your favorite crackers or bread chunks.

Answer 4

Cheap and easy means firing up the barbecue for bacon cheese burgers and hot dogs.

Put out the chips and condiments, and everybody can pick what they want the way they want it.

Cheap and easy.

Answer 5

Lasagna, Salad, Garlic Bread - for dessert you could set up a brownie ice cream bar



BBQ - hamburgers and all the fixins'

I love the Baked Potato Bar that the previous person suggested. You could also do a Make-Your-Own-Pizza Night. It really gets the convos going.

Answer 6

spagetti and meatballs with a salad is pretty inexpensive. Or you could make a taco buffet with ground beef or chicken, soft and hard taco shells, and all the toppings like salsa, cheese, tomato, lettuce, sour cream, etc... Another thing we do is make a big pot of homemade chicken soup and then get ham and turkey from the deli, a plate of cheese,lettuce, pickles,etc.. and some nice rolls to make sandwiches.

Answer 7

take out pizza...  haha  just kidding

I have a bbq joint and I feed hundreds of people every weekend.

A 10 pound brisket will feed at least that many people. Potato salad, baked beans, deviled eggs and a green salad with rolls and sweet tea.

If you want something more formal...go with a large casserole instead of the bbq. I smoke my meat the old fashioned way...but a decent/pretty good brisket can be cooked in the oven if you know how. I wouldn't really call it bbq but it can be very good. Bake a couple of chickens if you prefer. Especially if you have a rotissire. mm..I'm gettin hungry now. rotissiree chicken with garlic salt and lemon pepper now that's good eatin' ...two whole birds is about 16 pieces. should be enough. I know I mighta threw a lot at ya but maybe it'll help.

My coonassed family would just throw a bunch of shrimp, or crawfish and taters, onions , corn etc in a big pot and have a boil. Dump it all out on newspaper and have at it. Some sweet tea and cold beer...dats da way dey do it on de bayou

Answer 8

make a salad - cheap if you grow your own lettuce like I do..

and make this

http://www.notecook.com/Main-Course/Meat...

Answer 9

One of my favorite easy dinners to make is stir fry. It's quick to make and easy to adjust portions. If you don't have a Wok, you can use a frying pan.

You need enough instant rice for the group

Veggies of your choice (Carrots, zucchini, squash and broccoli are what I usually use)

Meat of your choice (I use chicken, but you could use beef, pork or shrimp. Chicken takes less time though).

Optional: Soy or teriyaki sauce.

Put oil or butter on the bottom of the Wok/frying pan and set it on the burner to melt.

Chop the meat and put it in the pan to cook.

Chop the vegetables, keeping an eye on the meat.

Take the meat off the stove and steam the veggies.

Follow the directions on the rice box to prepare the rice.

Put the meat and veggies on the burner and stir together, adding salt to taste.

If you're using sauce, drizzle it on and mix; repeat.

You'll be able to smell when it's done.

Serve the stir fry on top of the rice.

It takes about 30-45 mins. Less time if you chop the vegetables and prepare the rice ahead of time. You could even cook the meat ahead.

Answer 10

We are having a get-together for 12 this comming week,and I am making potato salad and a ham and cheese pasta salad,then we are setting up a sub sandwich station with all the fixings to go with turkey and ham,for dessert we are having Rhubarb custard cake with whipped cream,and lemonade

Answer 11

You could make a lasagna and that easily makes 11 servings.  Then put together a nice tossed salad plus garlic bread and you should be good to go!

Or a nice pork roast with sauerkraut and carrots in with it.  Then add mashed potatoes and applesauce.

Or a nice beef stew with dumplings.

I don't know what types of people you're serving, but a lot of times they just want some good homecooking and conversation.

An easy dessert for 12 is a sheet cake...from scratch or box.  And have some ice cream to offer with it!

Answer 12

Lasagna...the best part being is that it can be made ahead of time...and is better if let to set a bit before cooking.

If your really wanting to go for cheap and easy...use a canned sauce..Classico is a bit more costly .but very worth it.

mix

2 cups ricotta

1/2 cup Motz

1/2 cup parm

2 eggs

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

coat bottom of baking dish with sauce...lay pasta...then cheese...then a layer of pasta then sauce....repeat...ending with sauce...sprinkle with motz and parm...bake for 1 hour at 350.

serve with a big green salad with a selection of dressings and garlic bread.