Master Big Batch Cooking
The warm weather in May beckons us to enjoy meals outdoors, and that’s when big batch cooking shines, making it easy to feed a crowd. Cooking big-batch recipes becomes not only a practical approach but also an expression of the seasons’ abundant spirit. Large-scale dishes allow hosts to efficiently manage their time in the kitchen while ensuring there’s plenty of food, whether a backyard barbecue, a family reunion, or a casual get-together with friends.
One of the key advantages of big-batch cooking is the ability to accommodate a variety of dietary preferences and restrictions. Salads, such as potato salad, can be made in large quantities with the foundational ingredients and then divided into separate serving dishes. You can slightly adjust each dish to suit different tastes (like for picky and adventurous eaters) or health requirements. This approach simplifies the preparation process and ensures that everyone at the gathering can enjoy the meal. In this Mom’s Best Potato Salad Recipe from Favorite Family Recipes, you can change the ingredient measurements to serve 10, 20, or 30 with just a click of your mouse. You’ll also find some ideas for ingredient additions and substitutions. The Modern Proper’s Slow Cooker Crispy Carnitas is an excellent recipe for crowd-pleasing tacos. Place a variety of taco toppings into separate bowls so every person can choose the garnishes. Make sure to include flour tortillas and corn tortillas (for people who follow a gluten-free diet). Crispy carnitas are also great to serve over Cilantro Lime Rice for carnitas bowls.
Make this Seafood Paella recipe from What’s Gaby Cooking for a showstopping big-batch dish to wow your crowd. You can adjust the measurement ingredients to serve 12, 24, or 36. This gorgeous seafood paella will stop everyone in their tracks, and the best part is it’s incredibly easy to make. If you can’t find prawns, you can use shrimp. Paella is a perfect meal for enjoying outdoors. Just add wine, music, and great friends! Taste of Home’s Honey Chipotle Ribs are the perfect crowd-pleaser, with this recipe serving up to 12 people. Made with baby back ribs that are wrapped in foil and grilled to succulent perfection, they’re then basted with a homemade barbecue sauce that includes Guinness beer, honey, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, chipotle peppers, and more for a rich, smoky flavor. Before preparing the ribs, pull out the slow cooker for calico Smoky Baked Beans, a surefire hit for feeding a crowd, with this hearty recipe serving 16. This dish features a flavorful mix of spicy pork sausage, multiple types of canned beans—including pork and beans, kidney, butter, navy, and black beans—along with canned tomatoes, barbecue sauce, and brown sugar, creating a rich, satisfying side that everyone will love. Another eye-catching food to feed a crowd is this Giant Party Sub from Delish, where refrigerated French dough is baked in a Bundt pan to create a unique, giant loaf of bread that’s as visually appealing as it is delicious. Slice the Bundt loaf in half and layer it with provolone, salami, ham, pepperoni, lettuce, and tomatoes.
Another appeal of big-batch dishes is that many can be made ahead. This frees up cooking time for the “chef” on the day of the gathering so they can spend more time enjoying their company. Pulled pork (for Pulled Pork Sandwiches) can be prepared the day before the event and then easily reheated. Vegan Hors D’oeuvres from Luci’s Morsels is a great make-ahead recipe for grilled veggies. The photo showcases grilled eggplant, shishito peppers, bell peppers, carrots, russet potatoes, and parsnips, but you can grill whatever veggies you prefer. Grilled vegetables can be enjoyed hot, at room temp, or cold. These dishes provide a generous and welcoming spread that invites guests to dive in and enjoy the season’s bounty.
Beverages such as Party Lemonade or pitcher cocktails can be made a day in advance, enhancing their flavors and easing the last-minute rush. Try some of these 21 Make-Ahead Pitcher Cocktail Recipes for Memorial Day from Serious Eats.
By embracing the practice of cooking in large quantities, hosts can enjoy their events with less stress and more time spent creating memories with loved ones under the sun.
