Cooking ideas for 20 people

[Triumph]

Day after thanksgiving, I have to host my extended family of about 20 people in my small townhouse. I hate cooking. Looking for suggestions for food that is easy. What would you serve?

 

[UglyCasanova]

Big pot of jambalaya

 

[KeithTalent]

Taco bar. You can buy pretty much everything pre-done, only cooking would maybe be some beef with taco seasoning. Then put everything in separate containers on a giant table so people can make their own.

KT

 

[Berliner]

Chili, curry, risotto.

 

[Howard]

Rice and mayo

 

[lxskllr]

Rice and mayo

That's thinking ahead. He won't have to do it again next year. Perfect! :^D

 

[Triumph]

Taco bar. You can buy pretty much everything pre-done, only cooking would maybe be some beef with taco seasoning. Then put everything in separate containers on a giant table so people can make their own.

KT

Thats what a friend suggested, so maybe I'll do that, with some shrimp and steak fajitas cooked on the grill to fancy it up.

I do love Jambalaya as Uglycassanova suggested, but almost nobody in my family likes spicey food.

Appetizers that go with taco bar?

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

This is family. You're not a hotel. Your food is not being rated on Yelp. Serve leftovers.

 

[KeithP]

Is this for a sit down meal, appetizers/finger food for a party or both?

A taco bar has some problems. Think about how it will work. Each person will have to construct what I would imagine would be multiple tacos. Unless you set it up so that multiple people can do that at the same time (and even then) it will be a slow process.

Not to mention the mess created as people are lifting things from containers to their plate to build their tacos.

I would look to local restaurants that offer catering, find one you like, and get it all from them. Maybe even something like a fast food place such as El Pollo Loco or a good local pizza joint.

-KeithP

 

[manimal]

I cook for 20 people all the time and occasionally work a homeless food kitchen and a big vat of bolognese sauce is super easy and is filling and if done right makes everyone happy. You can also have some jarred alfredo for folks who want meatless. six bags of salad or a seven pack of Romaine lettuce from costco with a large container of cherry tomatos and some dressing and croutons and you have a meal.

Costco has Chicken Piccata packages 2 for about 10 bucks that feeds my family of five and that can be served in addition to the meat sauce or in liue. I serve it as a secondo with roasted or steamed veggies on side and some mashed for the kids.

Do a primo piatto with pasta with meat sauce
Secondo would be the Piccata.
Finish with Romain salad.

 

[tortoise]

food that is easy

Turkey franks with buns, or sectioned for mac & cheese. Dachshund shaped hot dog cutter is around $3.00 at Walmart.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

You eat Thanksgiving dinner once a year and think serving leftovers the next day is somehow wrong?

 

[skyking]

we host my wife's cousins every year for Christmas breakfast. It is about 18 or so, similar in number to your dinner.
Things we do:
Pre-make whatever dishes we can the night before.
Use the gas grill to keep things warm. It is very handy when the oven is being used to cook another item.
Clean up and bring in the patio furniture for additional seating.

 

[zerocool84]

Six Foot Sub from Subway

BOOM Done

 

[GagHalfrunt]

Taco bar. You can buy pretty much everything pre-done, only cooking would maybe be some beef with taco seasoning. Then put everything in separate containers on a giant table so people can make their own.

KT

X2. Not at all difficult and will please a lot of people. Cook some ground beef, some boneless chicken and maybe shrimp/fish for a nice selection and that's all you need to do on the stove. The rest is just chopping veggies.

 

[DigDog]

barbecue. +salad +ricesalad +fruitsalad

you do not have the tools and/or skills to cook for 20 people, trust me. (i have 6 years of experience in restaurants and i would have a hard time cooking for 20 people, and i got every tool and stockpot and monster sized casserole you can think of in my kitchen)

if you dont have a bbq / grill then just get some takeout. i doubt your stove/hotplate/firething can keep 20 portions of food hot at the same time. we're talking 3 whole pot roasts.

 

[waffleironhead]

This is family. You're not a hotel. Your food is not being rated on Yelp. Serve leftovers.

What sort of leftovers do you have that will feed 20 people?

 

[pete6032]

Cooking ideas for 20 people

Potluck. :hmm:

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

What sort of leftovers do you have that will feed 20 people?

The sort that you have cooking for 20 people in the first place. If they're not eating with the OP for Thanksgiving, wth is going on?
In any case, if you know you're feeding 20 people ahead of time, cook enough for Thanksgiving dinner to get the job done. If the OP is one of those folks who depend on others to cook for them, nothing has changed. There is no "easy" button in the kitchen.

 

[waffleironhead]

The sort that you have cooking for 20 people in the first place. If they're not eating with the OP for Thanksgiving, wth is going on?

I'm going to go out on a limb here and guess the op isn't hosting a thanksgiving party, then hosting another party the next day.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

I'm going to go out on a limb here and guess the op isn't hosting a thanksgiving party, then hosting another party the next day.

And he didn't give this any thought before agreeing to host them? I'm sorry but, people who don't know how to cook and agree to these things deserve what they're about to receive. Being labeled the 'black sheep' of the family isn't fun. Especially, when all they had to do was a little planning.

 

[Triumph]

And he didn't give this any thought before agreeing to host them? I'm sorry but, people who don't know how to cook and agree to these things deserve what they're about to receive. Being labeled the 'black sheep' of the family isn't fun. Especially, when all they had to do was a little planning.

shut yer pie hole. this is how things are done in my family!

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

shut yer pie hole. this is how things are done in my family!

Sucks to be you. Either do the work or shell out the big bucks for someone else to do it. Thems yer choices. I could solve all your problems. Maybe you'll appreciate folks who work in food service more.

 

[HeXen]

And he didn't give this any thought before agreeing to host them? I'm sorry but, people who don't know how to cook and agree to these things deserve what they're about to receive. Being labeled the 'black sheep' of the family isn't fun. Especially, when all they had to do was a little planning.

Easy there Sgt. Slaughter, you're talking about family and a free meal..as I'm sure he's not charging by the head here. Maybe his family isn't full of picky pricks that expect him to be a master chef either. Usually such gathering's is more about being with your family than it is your culinary skills.

If anyone in my family had a problem with me serving a large vat of something I made from box then I'd gladly show them the direction of McD's as I kick their spoiled asses out the door.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Easy there Sgt. Slaughter, you're talking about family and a free meal..as I'm sure he's not charging by the head here. Maybe his family isn't full of picky pricks that expect him to be a master chef either. Usually such gathering's is more about being with your family than it is your culinary skills.

If anyone in my family had a problem with me serving a large vat of something I made from box then I'd gladly show them the direction of McD's as I kick their spoiled asses out the door.

We're talking about Thanksgiving here. Few lasting traditions revolve around crappy food. I have no problems with leftovers myself but, too many people think food is magic and folks who do it for a living are not as bright as those who work with computers. I agree it's about being with your family and, good food makes it more enjoyable. I don't expect the OP to learn how to cook overnight, I do expect him to put some effort in.