Surroundings Market Blog

Whether you’re hosting an extra family or having a full blown fall gathering, we’ve got some great ideas for the best foods that feed a large crowd. These food ideas are meant to handle big serving sizes, be easy to make, and go easy on the pocket. They will help make hosting people in your home fun and stress free! Tips for Feeding a Large Crowd Before diving into the crowd-pleasing meal ideas, let’s have a quick chat about a few things that go into feeding a large group of people. First and foremost, there’s always a level of preparation necessary to pull off meals of group-size. Part of this prep involves choosing meals that accommodate the number of people that will be in attendance. You’ll also want to clarify if there are any food allergies so you can stay away from no-no ingredients (or make appropriate substitutions). Another aspect of crowd-hosting to consider is the hospitality. Having the proper amount of seating, cutlery, and tableware is a must. You don’t want to run out of the essentials and be left scrounging up additional stuff from your own cabinets. You can also go the extra mile and dress up your paper or plastic cups with a classy cup and marker holder. And if you’re into matching, complete the look with a classy plate holder! Last but not least, having an itinerary of plans may help as well. If you’re simply having dinner, that’s all you would need to account for. However, if a meal is only a portion of what will be taking place, be sure to have those ducks in a row.  RELATED: How to Plan the Best Get-Together Ever 5 Best Foods That Feed a Large Crowd Pulled BBQ Sandwiches  Chicken breasts are one of the cheaper types of meat to use for making this yummy meal. Just a couple family-size packs of chicken breasts can yield a lot of sandwiches to go around. Go with the classic bake, shred, and add bbq sauce recipe to make it easy or go with a homemade sauce. To make sure you create a well-rounded meal, don’t forget to add sides. Classic bbq sandwich sides are cole slaw and chips - two things that keep this meal option inexpensive. Pasta From baked penne pasta to traditional spaghetti, pasta meals always go a long way. Not to mention, this tends to be a classic meal for most families (especially if there are kids in tow). Whip up a huge batch and keep it warm in the crockpot. Make some homemade garlic bread or pick up a few boxes of frozen bread sticks to pair with this simple crowd-pleaser. Taco Bar Even if it’s not Taco Tuesday, you can’t go wrong with having a taco bar. This is one of the best meals that feed a large crowd. If you’re hosting a gathering with well-known friends and family, you could even ask them to pitch in and bring a side or topping. Cook up several pounds of meat in the Instant Pot, add a tableside of toppings, and you’re all set! One trick to make the meat stretch even further is to add cooked rice or beans to the mix. A few topping suggestions are: chopped lettuce, diced tomatoes, diced onion, green onion, shredded cheese, and sour cream. Refried beans, tortillas, chips, and taco shells are the perfect sides and additions for one awesome taco bar. Sandwich Bar Similar to a taco bar, a sandwich bar can be stocked with bread slices and choice cheeses and sandwich meats. Condiments are just as easy because all you’ll need are mayo, mustard, and pickles. Pair the sandwiches with a variety of chip options to keep it simple or give your guests the choice of a side salad. Don’t just stop at the classic side salad with lettuce, tomato and cucumber. Consider potato or macaroni salads, too! Soups Soups are always a good option when you have to feed a large crowd. They can be made well ahead of time and feed an abundance of people. You can also choose to make a few different soups to offer your guests choices. When it comes to soup, they are best served with breads such as Italian, rye, and/or rolls. Complete the meal by having soup and salad. Final Thoughts When it comes to foods that feed a large crowd, these are sure to be a big hit with your crowd. Remember to plan your meal ahead of time, stock up on the ingredients you need, and have a blast cooking!

Whether you’re the host or attending as a guest, we have put together a roundup of the best dip recipes for your next potluck. If you will be the host, having a dip recipe food theme can make things a lot easier and interesting at the same time. Bookmark this page, save the pin, and grab your favorite recipe journal because these are a must-try! What is a potluck and why have one? You’re probably already familiar with what a potluck is, but for good measure, let’s revisit its original meaning. Potlucks are communal gatherings where each guest contributes a homemade dish to share with others. These types of parties are perfect ways to add uniqueness and make catering much easier.  While there are many things to bring to (or prive at) a potluck, in this post we’re going to tackle some of the best dips that are easy to make and yummy to the belly. 10 Best Dip Recipes for Your Next Potluck Each of these recipes take few ingredients, can easily be increased to accommodate a big crowd, and are substitute-friendly in the event there are any food allergies. If you know you’ll be making dips often, it’s a good idea to keep some of these ingredient essentials on hand: Sour cream Cream cheese Mayonnaise Block (or Shredded) Cheese And don’t forget to pair your dip with the best crackers, pretzels, chips, or breads. We’ll give you a heads up on which is the best option with each dip recipe mentioned below. Dips with Meat Buffalo Chicken Dip From game day to a family reunion, this dip is ready in just thirty minutes. Easy peasy, right? All you need are just a few ingredients to whip this dip up and become the talk of the next potluck. Chicken, hot sauce, cream cheese, sour cream, and shredded cheese come together and are combined with a few other kitchen staples for an amazing dish. Pairs well with: skillet bread, toasted baguette slices, and/or tortilla chips. Shrimp Dip Headed to or hosting a potluck with a nautical theme? This shrimp dip is a must-bring. It doesn’t require a lot of ingredients and can easily be doubled or tripled to make a big batch. Even if there isn’t a theme, shrimp dip is a good dish to add a little twist to the potluck lineup. Pairs well with: toasted bread slices (or pieces) and round crackers. Reuben Dip If you’re a big fan of the reuben sandwich, then you’ll love it in party-size dip form. The best part is you’re not making anything from scratch. Instead, it’s simply combining ingredients that can all be conveniently found at the grocery store. Things like corned beef, cream cheese, sauerkraut, and Thousand Island dressing. You’ll have an amazing dip in less than an hour from start to finish. Pairs well with: toasted rye bread pieces and/or tortillas. Beef Queso Dip Skip the store bought and go for making your own beef queso dip from scratch. Not to mention, it only takes 15 minutes! Grab a few packs of hamburger meat, your favorite seasonings, cubed cheeses, and salsa ingredients to make this super easy dip. Get the full recipe here.  Pairs well with: tortilla chips. Vegetable-Based Dips The next three recipe suggestions are all cooked the same way. Start by roasting the vegetables until soft and fragrant. This will vary depending on your oven type. Once your veggies have reached the appropriate consistency, let them cool completely before turning them into a dip. Using a blender or food processor, start with about 2 cups of veggies at a time and 1 cup of full-fat plain Greek-style yogurt, ¼ cup of lemon juice, and 2 tablespoons of tahini, blending it all together. To get a dippable consistency, begin adding about 2 tablespoons of water at a time until you reach your desired feel.  Once it’s all blended together, add 1 tablespoon of olive oil and a dash of salt and pepper. Give it a taste and adjust the flavor as you see fit. The following veggie combinations we recommend are: Cauliflower and onion Roasted beet and garlic Butternut squash and leeks Pairs well with: baguette bread, torn pieces of Italian bread, toasted bread. Easy Artichoke Dip Another 20-minute dip and potluck favorite coming up! To make the easiest artichoke dip ever, all you need are 2 cans of water-packed artichokes, 2 cups of parmesan cheese, 1 cup of mayonnaise, and salt and pepper to taste. Drain and chop the artichokes, mix all the ingredients together, and bake for 20 minutes. That’s it! Pairs well with: crackers, endive leaves, toasted slices of baguette. Cheesey Dips Pimento Cheese Dip This is another time when you’ll want to skip the store bought pimento cheese and have a go at making this 15-minute dip. You’ll most likely have all the ingredients in your refrigerator or pantry. Learn how to make this yummy dip here. Pairs well with: Ritz crackers. Chunky Blue Cheese Dip Six ingredients is all you need to make this dip and it’s a pure cheese delight. The base ingredients are cream cheese and sour cream mixed with a few seasonings. Then, you’ll lightly fold in the blue cheese so it keeps a “chunked” look and consistency. You can add pecans as a garnish for an extra touch. Pairs well with: apple and pear slices, crackers, French bread pieces. Final Thoughts As you get ready for your next potluck, keep these yummy dip recipes in mind. They are perfect for any season and can easily accommodate a group of any number! Share your favorite dip recipes in the comments below! Psst... don't forget to grab our disposable pan holder and plate holder for your next potluck!