Bubbling underneath the excitement of hosting holiday get-togethers are the fears that haunt every host—from running out of food and being stuck in the kitchen to not having dishes for vegetarians, vegans, or guests following a gluten-free diet. This holiday season, avoid party nightmares with easy meals for large family gatherings that are delicious, can be prepped or cooked ahead of time, and include every diner!
Unless you’re a pro, it can be hard to plan the perfect party. From the music to the guest list, there are a million details that demand attention! No matter what type of party you’re planning, food is key to a memorable event. You may be skilled at cooking weeknight dinners, but feeding a hungry mob of your nearest and dearest is another thing entirely! Instead of leaving things to chance, follow a simple formula for feeding large groups, with recipes that can be scaled up or down for crowds of 10-100! Armed with our day-of plan, you’ll be ready to party!
Want to actually look forward to hosting this year? Approach it with a foolproof plan, and you’ll feel in control, excited, and ready for a guest list that just keeps on growing!
The easy formula for feeding a large family gathering
Regardless of how many guests you’re expecting, the best meals for large groups include one delicious yet simple main, one base, and a few sides. With Success® Rice to anchor the feast, you can stretch ingredients further and stay on budget. To keep your cool, choose dishes that can be made ahead and that hold well.
How much food to make per person
Dinnertime math can be complicated! Refer to this handy chart and know exactly how many servings of grains, protein, and vegetables you need for your number of guests.
| Ingredient | Amount | Yield/Servings |
| Protein (beef, chicken, tofu, etc.) | 1 lb | 2-4 servings |
| Success® boil-in-bag white rice | 1 (14 oz) bag | 2 cups of rice, or 4 adult servings |
| Success® boil-in-bag brown rice | 1 (14 oz) bag | 2 cups of rice, or 4 adult servings. |
| Success® boil-in-bag jasmine rice | 1 (14 oz) bag | 1 1/2 cups of rice, or 6 adult servings |
| Success® boil-in-bag basmati rice | 1 (14 oz) bag | 2 cups of rice, or 8 adult servings |
| Success® boil-in-bag tri-color quinoa | 1 (14 oz) bag | 2 cups of quinoa, or 8 adult servings |
| Raw leafy greens | 2 cups | 1 adult serving |
| Cooked vegetables | 1 cup | 1 adult serving |
Make-ahead casseroles and bakes
Recipes that serve 4–6 people; these casseroles can all be made ahead of time. These easy meals for a crowd can also be doubled for larger groups. Simply make twice the amount, then bake the mixture in a 9×13 casserole dish or divide it between two smaller pans.
Easy Chicken and Rice Casserole Bake
A complete meal in one dish, this creamy, savory Success® boil-in-bag white rice bake is crowd-pleasing comfort food. Assemble this the morning of your event, or even the day before, and store it in the fridge. Before guests arrive, bake it until the chicken is cooked, the rice is tender, and every ingredient is piping hot (165°F [74°C].
Cheesy Chicken and Rice Casserole
Assembling this kid-friendly dish only takes about 15 minutes. The rest of the time is hands-off, as the casserole bakes to ooey, gooey perfection. Make two batches—one with chicken, the other without—and you’ll have a dish that suits meat-eaters and one for vegetarians, without an ounce of extra effort.
Baked Pearl Couscous with Chicken Sausage, Kale and Gruyère
One of our most popular easy meals for large groups, this hearty Success® boil-in-bag pearl couscous bake features a savory blend of sausage, kale, and nutty Gruyère cheese. A recipe that only takes 35 minutes, from start to finish, this can be made ahead or assembled as you chat with guests.
Chicken Tzatziki Rice Casserole
For this Greek-inspired make-ahead bake, we combine Success® boil-in-bag white rice and rotisserie chicken with homemade tzatziki, tomatoes, onions, and nippy feta cheese. When this fragrant dish emerges from the oven, don’t be surprised if everyone in the room yells, “Opa!”
One-pot and stovetop mains that scale
When the oven is full, these stovetop dishes make light work of feeding a flock. Best of all? These main dishes are ready in just 20-25 minutes.
Bayou Chicken and Sausage Jambalaya
Rich with aromatics, sausage, and heaps of seasoning, this stovetop dinner tastes incredibly complex. The truth? One of our go-to easy meals to feed a crowd, this flavorful, comforting dish takes just 4 simple steps to make and is ready to serve in a mere 25 minutes!
Creamy Pesto Chicken and Rice
Creamy and fragrant, this elegant dish is one of our favorite inexpensive meals for large groups. A simple combination of Success® boil-in-bag white rice, cooked chicken, pesto, peas, cream cheese, and herbs, it has a risotto-like texture that comes together without a fuss.
Garlic Butter Shrimp Scampi
Success® boil-in-bag basmati rice is a fragrant base for buttery, sweet shrimp in this 20-minute supper. For best results, sauté the shrimp just before you plan to serve them.
Big batches of grains without the guesswork
A fresh pot of fluffy grains is one of the easiest and most delicious ways to feed large groups, without blowing your budget. Premium ingredients in a range of global varieties (from sticky rice to jasmine and basmati), no measuring, no mess Success® Rice allows cooks to make dishes that feel high-end, without the stress of scorched pots or underdone grains. For additional servings in just 10 minutes, cook several BPA-free bags in one large pot of boiling water.
Vegetarian and lighter options for mixed crowds
Catering to specialized diets is easy when you start with the right recipes and ingredients. From appetizers to satisfying mains, we have plenty of ideas for vegan and vegetarian diners. Popular family gathering food ideas for vegetarians and non-vegetarians, our Cheesy Squash & Rice Casserole, Roasted holiday Vegetables and Rice Medley, and convenient, buffet-ready cold rice salads are perennial standouts.
Certified gluten-free, Success® Rice and quinoa are ideal starting points for a variety of delectable gluten-free dishes. When cooking for guests with celiac disease or gluten sensitivities, read all ingredient labels carefully (on sauce bottles, cans of broth, herb mixes, etc.) to ensure there are no hidden sources of gluten. Success® boil-in-bag pearl couscous is made from semolina wheat and contains gluten.
Set up a build-your-own rice bowl bar
Instead of working all night, invite guests to serve themselves! Concepts that make life easy on hosts and give guests the chance to customize their meal, build-your-own bars are endlessly popular meals to feed a crowd. For a rice bowl bar, include two grain bases, one meat and one plant protein, plus a variety of zippy, crunchy, fresh toppings and sauces.
Your make-ahead timeline
Follow this sample timeline, and you’ll be the most unflappable host in town:
3 days before the event – Make a list of the dishes you’ll be making, the ingredients you have, and what you need to buy.
- Clear out the fridge! Do a deep dive, getting rid of things that have passed their best-before dates.
- Make sure you have enough casserole dishes, plates, bowls, and serving utensils.
- Plan the seating arrangement. If you need to borrow extra chairs, now is the time to ask!
2 days before the event – Make dressings, sauces, and other garnishes that can be stored.
- Shop for the ingredients you need for your menu.
- Tidy and clean up.
1 day before the event – Prep casseroles, grain salads, and make-ahead desserts. Store them in the fridge overnight.
- Set the table and decide on the music and lighting.
- Pick up flowers.
- Plan which dishes will go in the oven first, at what temperature, and for how long. Work from appetizers through to mains.
The day of the party – In the morning, chill drinks and prep any last-minute ingredients.
- 1 hour before guests arrive, preheat the oven and get dressed.
- Pop appetizers into the oven 30 minutes before guests arrive. Remove casseroles from the refrigerator and set on the counter to warm up.
- 1 hour before dinner, set out dishes that will be eaten at room temp, such as salads. Transfer casseroles to the oven to bake.
- As casseroles bake, make stovetop dishes. If needed, reheat gently just before serving.
Turn gathering leftovers into weeknight meals
After the big day, pat yourself on the back for an amazing event—then enjoy the leftovers all week long! Delicious the first time, leftover rice and proteins also make for tempting weeknight dinners. Learn how to give leftovers new life, and eat well without extra work.
FAQs
Can you freeze a rice casserole?
Most rice casseroles freeze well for up to 3 months, as long as they are stored in freezer-safe containers that are covered and airtight. To thaw, place in the fridge overnight. Then reheat to 165°F (74°C). When freezing casseroles, avoid those with watery ingredients (like cucumber or fresh tomatoes), crisp toppings, and soft cheeses, as these can break down when frozen and reheated.
What are cheap meals for a large family gathering?
To stay on budget when hosting large gatherings, use rice and grains to stretch smaller amounts of protein and tasty add-ins into more servings. Try grain-based dishes like jambalaya, rice casseroles, and bowl bars.
What food travels well to a family gathering?
For easy large family meals that travel, opt for casseroles that can be reheated on-site, grain salads, and slow-cooker mains that hold their heat.
Which rice is best for feeding a crowd?
The short answer? They all are! White or brown are great for casseroles, while jasmine and basmati are ideal for stovetop mains and grain bowls.