Dinner for a Large Group?

[TahoeAndStitch]

I am looking for suggestions for a dinner for about 150 people. I have no experience with this, so all suggestions for what to cook and how to heat it are appreciated. I am thinking a baked pasta dish, but am open to other ideas.

 

[kymom99]

SAMs has frozen BBQ that is really good, and a decent price. The brand is Byron's. I use an electric roasting pan to heat it up and keep it warm.

 

[sheetz]

What kind of kitchen equipment do you have access to? Baked pasta for 150 is going to take up a lot of oven space.

Maybe you could set up a pasta bar? Offer your guests a choice of plain pastas along with with a variety of sauces (marinara, alfredo, pesto, etc.) and fixings (meatballs, grilled chicken, vegetables, cheese, etc.) to go on top. The pastas can be cooked ahead of time and reheated in chafing dishes or plunged into boiling water for 30 sec. The sauces and meats can be kept warm in crock pots.

Here's a old discussion with some tips:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2740555

 

[disneymagicgirl]

Mexican bar or pasta bar.

Mexican can be build your own tacos, nachos, etc. Yum!

 

[wishesuponastar]

I was also going to suggest Mexican food such as quesadillas, taco meat and all the fixings for that, sour cream, shredded cheese, lettuce, black beans. We just went to a Sweet 16 and they had this food there and it was my first time being served Mexican food. It really was a nice change from pasta.

 

[OrangeBirdGirl]

Wow that is a lot of people to cook for!!!! I'm with the others, go for a Mexican buffet style. You could always do 2 type of meat, one regular taco meat then another that's not seasoned (yuck I know) but that way if people don't like spicy foods they have something to eat. If you have vegetarians they are covered as well as they could make a salad.

 

[wishesuponastar]

I forgot to say the Sweet 16 Mexican Buffet also had chicken with rice.

 

[disykat]

I can fit two of the large cooking trays in my oven, piled high enough to feed 50 each. For 150 a regular oven wouldn't have enough space. I second a "burrito bar" type meal where you'd only have to use the oven as a warmer.

If you have use of a commercial kitchen with more oven space, a ziti type casserole with a green salad, a fruit salad and rolls would work.

 

[stsomewhere]

What type of event? Are youcooking the entire thing yourself or asking people to bring a dish to pass.

I would look at maybe getting part of it catered. Order fried chicken from a local grocery store.

We have had 150 people for a Boy scout dinner. One family made a few whole pork loins and sliced them.

Mostacolli, pizza, veggies

salads
desserts

 

[ericstac]

Hire a food truck.. cooking for 150 people is no joke..

 

[runsandjumps]

I would probably pay a small catering business just to avoid the stress.

 

[scrapshappen]

I've never fed 150, but when I have to feed a crowd my go to dish is pulled pork. Buy several pork roasts, season with onion, garlic and chili powders, salt and pepper and pour root beer or cola over it and slow cook all day in a crock pot. I've fed 50 this way from two larger crockpots so you'll need to round up a few extras. When the meat is done, remove excess juices and shred with forks. Pour BBQ sauce over the top and serve on rolls or buns.

The other way I've done it is a Mexican taco bar as mentioned above. Two kinds if meat (ground beef taco meat and salsa chicken) and then all the fixings so everyone could do their own tacos, taco salad, nachos, or burrito.

 

[TahoeAndStitch]

Thank you for all of the suggestions. It is a low key dinner that takes place before a weekly meeting. I would have access to a school cafeteria to reheat food. We have not been members for long and we signed up to host in a few months. So, I will have time to figure out what kinds of meals are typical there. I have seen tacos, soups, French toast, burgers, sandwiches and spaghetti with sauce. I am going to assist at a dinner this month, so I will see all of the kitchen equipment then.

 

[Paradise18]

For that many people I, personally, would make soup and sandwiches. You could roast a couple of turkeys and use the meat for sandwiches and then use the carcasses for turkey soup. Some deli meat (ham, pastrami, etc) for a couple of different sandwiches as well. Maybe a couple of different types of bread for variety.

 

[ldo]

a girl scout fundraiser did spaghetti and meatballs, salad, sheet cake--pretty easy with a big kitchen. Big pots to boil noodles, big pot to cook frozen meatballs with sauce, Bag salad, sheet cakes, french bread. You could make it easier by having fettuccine with Alfredo and precooked chicken. If you have the oven space, any heat/serve premade in tin pans will work.

 

[sheetz]

If you have access to the school cafeteria kitchen then the sky's the limit! You probably want to narrow things down a bit, though. What's your budget? Do you want to have a vegetarian option? How many people do you have to help you with prep?

 

[SplashMo]

Pasta Bar or Mexican (both reasonably priced). However Mexican covers a wider range of dietary needs. Have a buffet and allow for salads or burritos. that way vegetarians can eat. People who do not want bread can eat. Everyone is happy. Have some non spicy meat. And for sure have more than one meat. Beef and chicken or beef chicken and pork.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

For that many people you really need a catering company. I work as a event coordinator and for an event that big we suggest to our clients to have it catered. Or to get the 6ft Subway subs.

 

[rnorwo1]

I fed about 50 with a fajita bar... It was delicious and looked great, but it was expensive and a pain! I know if you stuck with ground meat for burritos it would be cheaper, but I bet you'll still end up spending a good bit with all of the extras. I've done pulled pork and cole slaw (Emeril's delta cole sale is always a huge hit).
Personally, I would do chilli... One pot and corn bread and/or corn chips and shredded cheese on the side and you're done. Spaghetti would be easy, too. Good luck!

 

[Katy Belle]

I would do pulled pork sandwiches, or sloppy joes. You could prepare all of the meat ahead, and use crock pots or electric roasters to reheat.

Serve with macaroni salad, chips, baked beans, veggie tray and cookies or brownies.