Crowd Feeders: Easy Recipes to Serve the Summer Hordes
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More really is merrier when it comes to summertime parties. These group-friendly recipes can easily be doubled (or tripled!) to make sure there's enough food to go around.
This classic garden-to-table stew recipe is courtesy of accessories designer Clare Vivier's French mother-in-law. A great make-ahead recipe, it can be prepared up to three days in advance, is delicious hot or at room temp, and serves 12. It's just one of the showstopping entrees on Clare's French rustic dinner party menu.
Too hot to turn on the oven? This vegetable-packed dish ensures you don't have to. When making this meal for a larger group, try using a trick from catering pros: Double the recipe and layer lasagna stacks along sheet pans. Then simply cut and serve!
Bring out your blender! This better-than-guacamole spread needs just six ingredients -- no chopping required. Serve with chips, toasted pita triangles, or a mountain of chopped vegetables.
How do you take a classic crowd-pleaser from good to great? Simple: Add bacon and a sprinkle of fresh dill. Double this recipe and serve on small plates for a smoky starter that will disappear fast!
Guests will be app-happy with these crunchy and fragrant hors d'oeuvres that look elegant but are surprisingly simple to roll out. Larger than they look, one to two pinwheels should be enough to stave off hunger until dinnertime.
These fiery shrimp are impossible to pass up! Double the marinade and shrimp to feed a larger group. (Test-kitchen tip: Make this recipe before your guests arrive by using the broiler. Arrange shrimp on a baking sheet and cook for 2 to 3 minutes per side.)
Hearty enough for meat-lovers, this scooped-out sandwich will satisfy everyone at the table and ensure that vegetarians aren't an afterthought! Use a square boule loaf to serve more people (they're easier to evenly portion than round loaves).
Forget about flipping individual omelets for all your guests at a brunch party. These baked eggs can be prepared in advance and then served warm or at room temperature -- use a pizza cutter to create small, even slices. The ricotta adds a tangy finishing touch to this light meal.
Perfect for a picnic or afternoon tea, these small bites are simple to prepare and loved by everyone. Expect that each guest will enjoy a whole egg, so double the recipe if needed.
No ice-cream maker? No problem! This vanilla recipe is even simpler to create than traditional homemade versions and requires only an electric mixer (and a little bit of patience).
Chill out with this cool soup and sandwich combo. Prep the soup in advance and set up a sandwich-making station so guests can control their cheese-to-meat ratio.
Filled with cheesy, smoky flavors, these pork quesadillas allow you to eat with one hand and hold a cool drink in another. Lay out salsa, sour cream, and guacamole for a DIY Mexican feast.
These sweet and tangy bars are reminiscent of both key lime pie and a pina colada. The perfect make-ahead treat, this recipe yields two dozen bars but can easily be cut smaller to serve larger parties.
