52 Bulk Dinner Ideas to Feed a Crowd

• Time Commitment: 6 hours, 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: slow cooker recipe, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
• Servings: 6 to 8

In my humble opinion, there are few better ways to feed a crowd than with a big batch of chili. This version switches it up from the usual with tender shredded chicken, creamy white beans and spicy green peppers. (I like to use Hatch chiles, if you can find them.)

• Time Commitment: 3 hours, 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: special occasion–worthy, crowd-pleaser
• Servings: 8

If you want to impress while also making dinner in bulk, I’d suggest this gorgeous, sandwich-inspired galette. Sure, you could use store-bought crust, but in my experience, the homemade kind is the best part. (Psst: I’ve also filled it with winter squash to great success.)

• Time Commitment: 5 hours, 45 minutes
• Why I Love It: special occasion–worthy, one pan, crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients
• Servings: 4 to 6

Roasting a whole chicken sounds fancy and finicky, but I promise it’s secretly easy to pull off. There are two key tricks: One, brine your bird in buttermilk for a golden brown exterior; and two, use the method I learned from Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat author Samin Nosrat, where you place the chicken in the hottest part of the oven, then rotate it as it cooks. Perfection every time, I swear it.

4. Skillet Gnocchi with Sausage and Broccoli Rabe

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: one pan, <30 minutes
• Servings: 6

If you haven’t tried cooking store-bought gnocchi in a skillet, I can’t recommend it enough. You don’t have to boil the pasta, and it gets crispy on the outside as it becomes soft and fluffy on the inside. (Lucky for you, this bulk dinner idea only takes 30 minutes, too.)

5. Ravioli Lasagna Casserole

• Time Commitment: 1 hour, 25 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly
• Servings: 8

Skipping the traditional noodles is an ingenious shortcut that adds cheesy flavor without so much of the effort that a classic lasagna requires. You’ll still have to layer the fillings, but only a few times.

6. Roasted Cauliflower Macaroni and Cheese

• Time Commitment: 1 hour, 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: kid-friendly, vegetarian
• Servings: 6

Pair it with a simple salad and rotisserie chicken for a complete feast. If you’re like me and don’t enjoy cauliflower, roasted broccoli would be equally delicious, or you could even experiment with squash, sweet potatoes or Brussels sprouts if you’re adventurous. Cheesy pasta is forgiving like that.

7. Polenta Ragu Casserole

• Time Commitment: 1 hour, 50 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser
• Servings: 6

I get it, sometimes you’re sick of pasta. This casserole swaps in creamy polenta, which tastes fantastic and eliminates the need to fuss with fragile sheets of noodles. Add mushrooms to the ragu for a twist.

8. Eggplant Parm Casserole

• Time Commitment: 55 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, vegetarian
• Servings: 6

Italian cheesy goodness, coming right up. Want my advice? Serve it with a side of toasty garlic bread for the full effect.

9. Italian Sausage Tortellini Soup

• Time Commitment: 1 hour, 10 minutes
• Why I Love It: kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
• Servings: 8

Everyone’s three favorites (you know, sausage, pasta and cheese), together at last. This bulk dinner idea is as easy as simmering everything together until the flavors meld, then adding the cooked pasta before you serve it.

10. Rotisserie Chicken Ramen

• Time Commitment: 35 minutes
• Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser
• Servings: 6

It’s waaaay better than the stuff you ate in college, but just as simple to prepare. The secret? Rotisserie chicken, naturally. A spoonful of chile-garlic sauce adds tons of flavor too, but you can skip it if you don’t like spice.

11. Slow Cooker Stuffed Shells

• Time Commitment: 6 hours, 25 minutes
• Why I Love It: slow cooker recipe, kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser, vegetarian
• Servings: 6

“Stuffed shells” doesn’t exactly inspire visions of minimal effort meals, but since this bulk dinner idea is made in your slow cooker, it’s surprisingly hands-off.

12. Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup Casserole

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why I Love It: vegetarian, kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser
• Servings: 8

Few things are more satisfying than pairing gooey grilled cheese with tangy tomato soup, amiright? This casserole feeds eight and is sure to become a dinnertime favorite.

13. Instant Pot Spicy Thai Butternut Squash Soup

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: vegan, gluten free, Instant Pot recipe
• Servings: 4 (easily scaled up)

It’s vegan and gluten-free, plus it comes together in the Instant Pot. To puree the soup, the recipe calls for using an immersion blender, but if you don’t have one, I’d suggest letting it cool slightly before using a standard blender. (Then return it to the pot to rewarm before serving.)

14. Chicken Gnocchi Soup

• Time Commitment: 40 minutes
• Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, kid-friendly
• Servings: 6

A brilliant twist on an old classic, this comforting soup feeds a crowd and requires no special skill to make. Pair it with a crunchy salad to complete the meal.

15. White Turkey Chili with Avocado

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, kid-friendly
• Servings: 8

While this chili is delicious served the day it’s made, I might argue it’s even better when you reheat it. (Just add fresh avocado.)

16. Sheet-Pan Lemon Butter Veggies and Sausage

• Time Commitment: 40 minutes
• Why I Love It: sheet pan recipe, gluten free
• Servings: 6

Two things I love: Hands-off dinners and zero dishes (and I bet you love them too). This easy bulk dinner idea ticks both boxes, and it’s adaptable to whatever vegetables you have hiding in your fridge.

17. 15-Minute Skillet Pepper Steak

• Time Commitment: 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: one pan, <15 minutes
• Servings: 4 (easily scaled up)

Bookmark this one for taco Tuesday or double the recipe and feed it to company. Everyone will be so impressed with how quickly you can get a flavorful dinner on the table.

18. One-Pan Creamy Chicken Fricassee with Sage

• Time Commitment: 1 hour, 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: one pan, gluten free
• Servings: 6

My favorite part of this decadent dish? The sauce is thickened with egg yolks and lemons, not heavy cream, so it’s glossy and rich without being heavy or gloopy. Pair it with rice or quinoa to round out your meal.

19. Creamy Chicken, Corn and Tomato Skillet

• Time Commitment: 35 minutes
• Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients, gluten free
• Servings: 4 (easily scaled up)

Just a handful of ingredients and three simple steps are all it takes to make this crowd-pleasing skillet dish. If you use in-season corn and cherry tomatoes, even better.

20. Zoodle Stir-Fry

• Time Commitment: 22 minutes
• Why I Love It: vegan, dairy free, beginner-friendly
• Servings: 4 (easily scaled up)

Spice up your weeknights with this vegan-friendly offering. If you don’t have a zoodle-maker, don’t free. What I do instead is thinly julienne the zucchini with a standard chef’s knife, but you could also use a vegetable peeler to make wide, flat ribbons.

21. Creamy Vegan Lentil and Roasted Vegetable Bake

• Time Commitment: 1 hour, 25 minutes
• Why I Love It: vegan, crowd-pleaser
• Servings: 8

This comforting, big-batch dish is vegan and can be gluten free, if you top it with pine nuts instead of breadcrumbs. Anyone else want to dig in?

22. Sticky Asian Meatballs with Udon Noodles

• Time Commitment: 40 minutes
• Why I Love It: high protein, special occasion–worthy
• Servings: 4 (easily scaled up)

Long gone are the days of boring spaghetti and meatballs. Pile the sweet-savory meatballs and noodles onto a platter with thinly sliced scallions, sesame seeds and carrot furls and dinner for a crowd is served.

23. Spinach White Bean Soup

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, vegetarian, beginner-friendly
• Servings: 6

I love soups for bulk dinners because you can toss a few ingredients in a pot and end up with something delicious. This one serves six, but I’d suggest making a double batch and freezing the extra for later.

24. Creamy Chicken and Broccoli Casserole

• Time Commitment: 1 hour, 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: kid-friendly, beginner-friendly
• Servings: 6

With plenty of Gruyère cheese, the whole family will approve of this bulk dinner. Try trading the broccoli for cauliflower if you feel like switching it up.

25. Slow Cooker Chicken Pumpkin Curry

• Time Commitment: 4 hours, 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: slow cooker recipe, dairy free, gluten free
• Servings: 6

Pumpkin gets all the love in lattes and baked goods, but did you know it’s also a savory recipe star? Rich with coconut milk, chicken breast and crisp veggies, this curry lets the Crockpot do all the work while you relax.

26. Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken and Veggies

• Time Commitment: 8 hours, 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: slow cooker recipe, beginner-friendly
• Servings: 4 (easily scaled up)

Just ten minutes of prep will reward you with this crowd-pleasing (and healthy) meal. Everything gets combined in the slow cooker, so it really is foolproof.

27. Garlic Butter Shrimp Quinoa

• Time Commitment: 55 minutes
• Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser
• Servings: 8

So easy, so full of flavor, so little effort. Serve it with a green salad or another vegetable side and dinner is done.

28. Creamed Spinach and Wild Rice Casserole

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, gluten free
• Servings: 6

Think green bean casserole meets French onion soup. If you want, you could also use kale in place of the spinach for a nutritious twist. (Don’t worry, there’s plenty of dairy in there to offset the greens.)

29. Cucumber Quinoa Salad

• Time Commitment: 10 minutes
• Why I Love It: <15 minutes, gluten free
• Servings: 4 to 6

On the lighter side is this crunchy and refreshing salad, which takes just ten minutes to assemble. It makes a good potluck addition if you want to make it ahead and bring it to a gathering (just saying).

30. Crockpot Low Carb Lasagna

• Time Commitment: 3 hours, 5 minutes
• Why I Love It: slow cooker recipe, crowd-pleaser, low carb
• Servings: 6

All of the flavor, none of the carbs—what’s the secret? Swapping pasta for eggplant. (You can also use zucchini if you’re not an eggplant fan.)

31. Broccoli Beef Soba Bowls

• Time Commitment: 25 minutes
• Why I Love It: dairy free, kid-friendly, <30 minutes
• Servings: 6

Chopsticks are optional (but highly encouraged) for this bulk dinner idea. It’s as easy to make as a stir fry, but with a little more intrigue thanks to the noodles.

32. Creamy Goat Cheese Asparagus Quinoa Salad

• Time Commitment: 27 minutes
• Why I Love It: gluten free, <10 ingredients, <30 minutes
• Servings: 4 (easily scaled up)

Trust me: You’re gonna want to make a double batch of this healthy-yet-delicious salad, then serve it to a crowd. Want to make it ahead? It’ll keep for up to five days in the fridge.

33. Crockpot Quinoa Chicken Primavera

• Time Commitment: 4 hours, 10 minutes
• Why I Love It: slow cooker recipe, high protein, crowd-pleaser
• Servings: 8

Did you know a cup of quinoa has eight grams of complete protein? It’s true, and it makes this bulk dinner a nutritional powerhouse. Asparagus, peas and pesto add a burst of freshness.

34. Lemon Garlic Shrimp and Asparagus

• Time Commitment: 22 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, sheet pan recipe
• Servings: 4 to 6

Cook everything on one sheet pan, then pile it on top of rice, quinoa or even romaine lettuce. Voilà, dinner is handled.

35. Slow Cooker Sausage, Spinach and White Bean Soup

• Time Commitment: 8 hours, 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: slow cooker recipe, beginner-friendly
• Servings: 8 servings

This hearty soup is the definition of “set it and forget it.” (But with all that sausage and spinach, don’t forget to eat it.)

36. Slow Cooker Beef Ragu with Pappardelle

• Time Commitment: 8 hours, 10 minutes
• Why I Love It: slow cooker recipe, crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly
• Servings: 8

Just like Nonna used to make, but with way less standing by a pot on the stove. You can thank your slow cooker for that.

37. Cheesy Enchilada Rice Skillet

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: kid-friendly, one pan, gluten free
• Servings: 4 (easily scaled up)

This ooey, gooey skillet would be fine on its own, but allow me to introduce you to the best idea ever: put it in a taco shell.

38. Chicken Parmesan Casserole

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser
• Servings: 8

This casserole is hearty, cheesy and makes great lunch leftovers if you don’t happen to be feeding eight people at once.

39. Creamy Farro with White Beans and Kale

• Time Commitment: 55 minutes
• Why I Love It: one pot, vegetarian
• Servings: 4 (easily scaled up)

I like farro because it has enough texture to hold its own against kale, but if you want to substitute something else from your pantry, quinoa or rice would work too.

40. Slow Cooker Chicken and Mushroom Stroganoff

• Time Commitment: 5 hours, 5 minutes
• Why I Love It: slow cooker recipe, <10 ingredients
• Servings: 4 (easily scaled up)

Double it up for a bulk dinner idea that’s ideal for cozy nights. Bonus: It makes the whole house smell amazing.

41. Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon

• Time Commitment: 9 hours, 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: slow cooker recipe, crowd-pleaser
• Servings: 6

Eat your heart out, Julia Child. This classic French dish has a modern twist: It’s made in the slow cooker for the ultimate convenience.

42. Tuna Green Chile Zucchini Casserole

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes
• Why I Love It: keto-friendly, gluten free, dairy free
• Servings: 6

Not only is this tuna casserole crowd-pleasing, it’s also dietary restriction friendly to boot. (Yep, it’s keto, gluten-free, dairy-free and even paleo.)

43. Skillet Steak with Asparagus and Potatoes

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why I Love It: one pan, gluten free, special occasion–worthy
• Servings: 2 (easily scaled up)

Never be nervous to cook steak at home again. This one looks (and tastes) fancy, but comes together in a single pan. The recipe serves two as is, but if you have a large enough skillet, you can cook multiple steaks for a crowd.

44. Everyday Thai Red Curry

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, <30 minutes
• Servings: 8 to 10

Super quick and easy to make, this Thai-style curry can serve a gaggle of guests in just 30 minutes. Customize it with whatever vegetables you have on hand, like asparagus, bell peppers, broccoli or snap peas.

45. Slow Cooker Lemon Chicken Piccata

• Time Commitment: 4 hours, 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: slow cooker recipe, beginner-friendly
• Servings: 4 (easily scaled up)

A family favorite made simple thanks to that ever-reliable slow cooker. If you’re nervous about the pasta getting overcooked, just make it as you typically would on the stovetop.

46. Buffalo Chicken Quinoa Bake

• Time Commitment: 55 minutes
• Why I Love It: high protein, <10 ingredients
• Servings: 5

Easy enough for Monday, impressive enough for Saturday—that’s kind of my dinner recipe ideal. If you, like me, are not the biggest fan of quinoa, try swapping in rice, farro or another grain.

47. Slow Cooker Crispy Carnitas

• Time Commitment: 8 hours, 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: gluten free, dairy free, kid-friendly, slow cooker recipe
• Servings: 10

This tender, fall-off-the-bone meat is ideal for tacos, sandwiches and even with fried eggs, plus it makes enough to serve ten people, so it’s a bulk dinner no-brainer.

48. Drunken Noodles (Pad Kee Mao) with Chicken

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, special occasion–worthy
• Servings: 4 (easily scaled up)

Who needs takeout? Not you, if you make this homemade version of pad kee mao. The lengthy ingredient list looks intimidating, but it’s as easy to make as stir fry.

49. Risotto-Style Broccoli Cauliflower Casserole

• Time Commitment: 37 minutes
• Why I Love It: gluten free, dairy free, low carb, vegetarian
• Servings: 4 (easily scaled up)

Meatless never looked so good. This bulk dinner idea features “riced” cauliflower and broccoli that are baked with stock and topped with cheese for a risotto-like effect.

50. Chicken Enchilada Casserole

• Time Commitment: 50 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly
• Servings: 8

Want to know my trick for effortless, last-minute dinners? Made a casserole like this one, then slice and wrap each square in tinfoil and store it in the fridge. Pop it in the oven when you’re ready to eat.

51. Vegetarian Gumbo

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why I Love It: vegetarian, crowd-pleaser
• Servings: 8 to 10

Close your eyes and you’re in New Orleans, just minus the usual sausage, chicken and shrimp. I don’t think you’ll miss the meat in this bulk dinner recipe, thanks to cauliflower, mushrooms and (of course) okra.

52. Jade Noodles

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, vegetarian
• Servings: 4 (easily scaled up)

Pile on the veggies and tofu in this lean, green noodle bowl. It can be served warm or chilled, and even made gluten-free if you use rice noodles.