Economical Dishes to Serve Large Parties

What are your "go to" dishes to make for a large crowd? Figure 35 adults, 25 children.
I was thinking two trays of baked ziti and 2 of broccoli/pasta.
Hoping you could help with other suggestions.
Preferably easy and cost-effective.
TIA

Re: Economical Dishes to Serve Large Parties

Tri colored pasta with grilled chicken breast and sundries tomatoes and drizzle Italian salad dressing. Can be served cold or warm. Can feed a lot of people for practically nothing. 2-3 boxes of pasta and 3 llbs of chicken cut into lil cubes. It looks great, tastes great and it's cheap n simple

Re: Economical Dishes to Serve Large Parties

Economical Dishes to Serve Large Parties

I always like the pulled pork, mac and cheese, coleslaw type menu which is really easy and inexpensive. You could add some chicken nuggets for the kids.

With baked ziti and pasta with broccoli maybe sausage and peppers and eggplant parm or rollatini.

Economical Dishes to Serve Large Parties

Sausage & peppers are super easy. I'll do a big tray of pierogies at our family things, and that's always a hit.

Economical Dishes to Serve Large Parties

Baked ziti, arroz with gandules (yellow rice with pidgeon peas?), baked chicken drumsticks, Mac & cheese. Empanadas -Spanish style beef patties, Pernil (pork shoulder). Sub sandwiches, pizza and hot dogs for kids.

Pasta and rice will feed a lot of people.

Economical Dishes to Serve Large Parties

Thanks everyone. I think my mother-in-law will do a tray of sausage and peppers.
I love everyone's ideas.

Re: Economical Dishes to Serve Large Parties

If you wanna BBQ, hot dogs and hamburgers are not that expensive this time of year. They're not the best but you can pick up store brand frozen burgers.

Just season them up a little when you throw them on the grill.

Re: Economical Dishes to Serve Large Parties

Cold tortellini salad is easy and cheap to make. I use cheese tortellini, fresh mozzarella balls, sundries tomatoes and fresh basil. I mix it all together with some olive oil, salt and pepper.

Pigs in a blanket & chicken fingers are quick and inexpensive, and totally crowd pleasers! You could do chicken cutlets if you don't want to do chicken fingers.

Economical Dishes to Serve Large Parties

I should probably mention we are renting a banquet room in a hotel and won't have access to a kitchen. So we have to bring sternos...

Economical Dishes to Serve Large Parties

I would do a cold tortellini salad - I posted my recipe on another thread in here but if you want it, let me know. It's always a crowd pleaser and easy because it doesn't have to be reheated.

I definitely agree with the baked ziti and sausage and peppers - they can be made ahead of time and just reheated from the sternos.

What about meatballs of some sort - they can also be made ahead of time and reheated. I would serve them with a side of pasta with olive oil, salt and pepper so it's nothing with conflicting flavor.

Good luck!

Economical Dishes to Serve Large Parties

Ham is great, too. It's great hot or cold, and you can serve it with hot sides like mashed potatoes or cold sides like Potato and mac salad.
Sausage and peppers is always a huge hit, and so are chicken cutlets!

Re: Economical Dishes to Serve Large Parties