If having to cook for a crowd feels like being sentenced to infinite kitchen duty, we’ve got great news: cooking for a group can be just as simple as making dinner for the family, if you know how to properly approach the task! Easy meals for a crowd take the guesswork out of planning, while also easing your load in the kitchen.
September is a perfect time to gather family and friends. Even if there’s no specific occasion to celebrate, you’ll want to invite people to your home to hear all about their summertime adventures. Reluctant to make plans because of the work involved? Stop putting off quality time with your favorite people, knowing that there’s a way to satisfy many mouths without toiling away for days. But what meals are great for a crowd without causing undue stress for the host? For game day, casual dinners, neighborhood cookouts, and more, you want recipes that can be prepped ahead of time. Choose recipes that can easily be doubled, tripled, or even quadrupled so that you can make as much as you need for your specific number of guests. Opt for recipes without excessive or complicated steps, leaning instead on simple dishes that pack a bold punch of flavor. You also want dishes that guests can serve themselves, so that you don’t end up jumping between the roles of cook, host, and server for the duration of the party! Buffet-style dishes that fit nicely into your budget will help ease the stress of hosting and make sure that everyone has a great time.
This September, make party dishes that wow, without overwhelming. Turn to delicious, quick-cooking pantry staples, like RiceSelect® grains, plus plenty of seasonal ingredients, and host a get-together that feels flawless—from the planning stages until the last guests say goodbye.
Easy Skillet Taco Rice
A dish that satisfies guests’ taco cravings—while keeping life easy for the host—this skillet supper combines a range of favorite flavors into a simple, one-pan recipe. A zesty blend of sautéed ground beef, RiceSelect® Texmati Rice, black beans, tomatoes, corn, and seasonings, this dish can be on the table in just 35 minutes. It’s also incredibly easy to scale up for larger groups. Set this out with a whack of taco toppings—like guacamole, salsa, jalapeños, and lime—and let everyone customize their plate.
Greek Orzo Salad
One of our top recipes for a crowd, this RiceSelect® Tri-Color Orzo salad lets you bring irresistible Greek flavors to the table in just 20 minutes. Ideal for buffet spreads, cookouts, barbecues, and more, this dish is bright, light, and can sit for hours without wilting. To ensure that every morsel sings with flavor, toss the orzo and vegetables with half of the dressing right away. Then, stir in the remainder of the dressing just before serving.
Taco Rice Casserole
Pop this effortless casserole into the oven before guests arrive and avoid missing out on the party! With a base of seasoned beef, RiceSelect® Texmati Rice and pinto beans, this hearty dish can satisfy a crowd. Its flurry of spicy, creamy, zingy Tex-Mex toppings, meanwhile, makes it essential party food.
Grilled Veggie Burgers with Crowd-Friendly Sides
Burgers and crowds are a match made in heaven! A dish you can prep ahead of your get-together, burgers are also a breeze to cook up (either on the grill or in a hot oven), as you chat with your guests. This September, offer up an alternative to traditional beef, with bold, spice-packed veggie burgers loaded with black beans and nutty RiceSelect® Royal Blend Rice.
Lemon Butter Pearl Couscous Salad
Chewy nubs of RiceSelect® Tri-Color Pearl Couscous join juicy tomatoes, crisp nuggets of cucumber, fresh herbs, raisins and walnuts in this shoulder-season specialty. Summery and fresh, this salad is also rich and comforting, thanks to a garlicky lemon butter sauce that coats every crumb. Serve this alongside a casserole or barbecued meat, or add it to a buffet of options, and delight a roomful of hungry party guests.
Crispy Rice Spicy Salmon
Sticky and aromatic, RiceSelect® Sushi Rice is a must-have for classic rolls, temaki, onigiri, and crispy rice cakes, as in this crowd-pleasing recipe. Elegant yet simple to prepare, these seasoned cakes can be prepped long before guests arrive. Topped with fresh, fiery salmon and jalapeño, they’re a party snack that will surprise and delight!
Grilled Peach Tri-Color Quinoa Salad
In this stunner of a salad, late summer peaches are cooked on a hot grill until they become soft, juicy, and gloriously caramelized. Tossed with spicy arugula and sharp pecorino cheese, they’re then stirred into nutty RiceSelect® Tri-Color Quinoa for a dish that feels right at home on any buffet table.
Autumn Sweet Potato Orzo Salad
If you believe that every gathering needs a salad, you’ll want to make this showstopper the next time you’re hosting. Loaded with roasted, spiced sweet potatoes, delicious RiceSelect® Orzo, crunchy apples, cheese, and more, it’s sophisticated, loaded with flavor, and goes well with almost anything. Hearty and satisfying, it also makes a great main dish for vegetarians.
Cheese & Jalapeño Quinoa Cakes
The best meals to feed a crowd are simple to make, require accessible ingredients, and—best of all—are wildly delicious! Crisp and cheesy, with a subtle lick of heat, these golden RiceSelect® White Quinoa cakes definitely fit the bill. Though these protein-packed pucks are delicious as a vegetarian main dish, you can also size them down if you want to serve them as appetizers. If you are expecting picky eaters, make these less spicy by omitting the jalapeño.
Pumpkin Arancini Balls
Savory and seasonal, these crispy, golden arancini are an elegant appetizer for any event. Cook the RiceSelect® Arborio Rice risotto ahead of time, then all you’ll have to do is roll the arancini and stuff them with mozzarella cheese before popping them into a blisteringly hot oven. Gooey, buttery, and rich, they’re the type of crowd-pleaser few can resist.
Italian Sushi Rolls
East meets West in these unique party bites! Made with RiceSelect® Sushi Rice, these tasty tidbits are creamy, savory, and easy to assemble before company arrives. Switch up the type of meat—try coppa, bresaola, and mortadella—and offer friends and family an assortment of flavor combinations to sample.
Cinnamon Crunch Cookies
Aromatic RiceSelect® Texmati® White Rice adds fragrance, flavor, and texture to these crunchy, subtly spiced little sweets. Prep a batch for your party, and another for the family—everyone will want seconds of these scrumptiously tasty treats!
