We need help with meal ideas for a crowd of 200-300

[the5marions]

Have you thought of beef and noodles? We've done a large pot of that....its easy and goes a long way. We use a chuck roast....maybe 4-5 pounds for a big group (it goes a long way). Shred it, add noodles and serve with instant mashed potatoes.

 

[Junebugwv]

I make dinner for 100 once a month and this week we had bbq (shredded) chicken sandwiches, cole slaw, potato salad and chips. Our Sam's sells large trays of boneless, skinless chicken thighs which I like better than breasts for bbq because they are moist. I make homemade sauce.

A great hit for our group is taco chicken salad. I cook chicken, taco seasoning and salsa in a crock pot. Cook it long enough and it shreds when you stir it. We serve with nacho chips, packaged shredded lettuce, shredded cheese, diced tomatoes, sour cream and salsa. The only time-consuming part is dicing the tomatoes.

 

[samefay]

Thank you all again. I've been passing on the ideas to my dad. Looks like we'll be set with ideas for awhile. We've been racking our brains trying to come up with something new. The singings are currently being held about 3 weeks apart. The one in August, I won't be able to help with because I'll be at my favorite place (WDW). Guess I need to save the really easy ideas for then!

 

[sparkyboy]

I just prepared meal for 200+ a week ago and did mini-meatloaves(baked in cupcake holders) and baked on big sheet pans;--tossed salad greens with fresh strawberries and raspberry dressing; green beans w onion and bacon; rolls and cookies for dessert.

I've also made taco bar; scalloped potatoes with ham; shredded pork and chicken sandwiches; spaghetti, lasagna for large group. Another hit with the youth group has been baked potato bar with different toppings.
Again, I always do a green salad, have fruit and cookies.

 

[scbelleatheart]

Spaghetti dinner is really easy. Sauce and noodles are made a few days ahead. Sauce is no problem but cook the noodles ahead, cool and toss them in oil and cool. Then just dip the noodles in boiling water in a roaster to heat and serve. Tossed salad and premade toasted that day garlic bread. We usually do bread pudding from day old bread. We serve about 1000 in 2 hours.
There are some great websites, one is the Navy, for serving 100 then just adjust the amounts.
There are tips. recipes and links. http://www.angelfire.com/bc/incredible/indexhundred.html
Hope this helps.

 

[FayeW]

Am I the only one who doesn't know what a "singing" is?

 

[*Seanaci*]

Dessert: Rice Krispy treats. You could make 3 or 4 pans worth for super cheap!

Dinner: Why not repeat a menu this year? Something you did a few years ago...that way if you have repeat eaters from last year (at least) they don't complain. Then again...you guys are doing this out of the goodness of your heart...so even if you repeated the menu often, people would still come and eat and enjoy themselves.

My mom's school admin has a bbq the beginning of the school year every year, and they always do BBQ from a local place here.

 

[mom3sonstt]

Am I the only one who doesn't know what a "singing" is?

No, you aren't alone! One of our local communities has a Community Band. Former band members of all ages get together for 2 or 3 weeks in May one night a week and practice music, then every Wednesday in June they have free concerts in the park in the bandstand. My son played his trumpet there for a couple years right out of high school. In my mind the "singings" were something like that

 

[Princesca]

I vote chili, you make a basic chili, then provide toppings - cheese, onions, corn chips, whatever

 

[samefay]

Sorry for the confusion. Our "singings" consists of bands/musicians performing for members of our family/community. We hosts "Bluegrass Gospel" and Gospel singings. Also, anyone in the audience may sing if they wish. We've been doing this on a monthly basis since last August. My great uncle has built an amazing facility that accomadates everyone and pays for mostly everything himself. (Dad and I help but come no where close to what he does - drop in the bucket.) He's very generous and wants everyone to feel welcome and not put any money out. These events are for the young and old alike (Lots of those attending are well into their 70s.) As mentioned the events are growing and we are just looking for ideas to feed the crowds. The people enjoy these so much. It seems that once we started feeding everyone there has been no turning back because we've kind of raised the bar so to say. The food is usually served at 4 and the bands start at 5. We usually keep refilling the food so that it stays on the tables until 9. This way we know that the band members and those coming in late still have something to eat.

 

[erincon23]

I have to say this sounds like a blast (as the parent of a musician and as someone who enjoys community performances)! And your family is VERY generous to put this all on. I would say, though, about the food -- if I were an attendee, the TYPE of food every year wouldn't matter that much -- I wouldn't care if it were hot dogs every year, it wouldn't matter to me if you had the same thing every time we went -- I'd just be happy to have it. Gee, I just may have to take a vacation to Virginia!

 

[samefay]

We've actually had people from Florida (they were on vacation) come by who had just heard about the event from an orchard they were visiting for the day. This however is not yearly but monthly. Yearly would be EASY - these events are coming way to fast for us but are very enjoyable - just a little sweat involved!

 

[RachelsMommie]

I'd do a sundae bar or huge pans of fruit cobblers.

 

[SunnieRN]

We have always done spaghetti feeds as fundraisers. It can be super duper easy if you use jarred sauce, and just add italian sausage or ground beef to it. If you have time to cook sauce, that may be cheaper, depending upon how you make it.

One really easy dinner to make ahead is enchilada casserole. You mix enchilada sauce with equal parts of tomato sauce (so children and elderly do not get indigestion, dip the tortillas in the sauce, lay them in a pan in a single layer, much faster than rolling individual enchiladas. Top with beef or chicken, cheese and refried beans. Repeat the layers one more time., top with cheese and bake. They are good with green sauce and chicken also. Serve with salsa and sour cream, if desired. Ok, now I'm hungry!

Just make mexican or white rice, add fruit and viola!!

Another super easy, feeds an army meal, is, for every 6-8 people you want to serve, cook 1 lb of elbow macaroni. Cut up 1 lb of kielbasa sausage, in small bites for every pound to two of noodles. Add desired amount of chopped onion and green pepper, garlic, salt and pepper.

Cook vegies and sausage in a big pot, in olive or corn oil, until sausage is browned and the vegies are tender. Season to taste. Add the noodles, stir and serve. This is surprisingly good and filling! Cheap too, as I made this many a night to fill up groups of teenagers at my house. (The neighborhood hang out).