Recipe Ideas for a LARGE group?

[ButterSticks]

Anyone know of any good tried and true recipes for like a party of 100? I want something rather simple as the last thing I really want to do is spend the weekend cooking for this shindig. But I also don't want to appear to have put NO effort into it at all.

I was thinking maybe some wings, or sausage and peppers... but I kinda wanted to make something... different.

Anyone???

[Mama Mangia]

You can make aluminum foil trays of lasagna or veggie lasagna and freeze them a week ahead; thaw the day before in the fridge; heat 350* F. for 45 minutes or until heated through. Or try making stuffed shells and freezing.

You can also make jars of sauce and freeze if you wanted to make pasta.

Make meatballs ahead of time; freeze; warm in crockpot or electric roaster with sauce or gravy.

Cook several turkeys ahead of time; slice meat and place in foil pans with gravy. Or do a couple roast beefs the same way. The day of the party get dozens of rolls and different breads and you're all set there.

But institutional cans of baked beans to warm up; use institutional cans of green beans for salad - mix with red kidney beans and wax beans and toss with zesty Italian dressing - fast and easy.

Plenty of cheese trays (cheese can be cut a day or two ahead) with sliced pepperoni, cubed ham, etc.

Deli trays can be made with sliced deli meats and cheeses - plenty of rolls/bread.

Various dips and dippers - can be made a day ahead also.

You can cheat with deli turkey or beef and canned gravy - the deli already sliced it and you just heat.

Sausage and peppers can be easily done in the oven.

If wings are too messy -buy the breaded chicken nuggets and set out ranch dressing, honey mustard sauce, sweet and sour sauce, BBQ sauce and bleu cheese dressing.

Macaroni and potatoes salads - made with mayo/salad dressing or oil & vinegar can be made a day ahead as well.

Make sloppy joe mix ahead of time and freeze; warm in the oven.

[expatgirl]

Wow, Mama Mangia,

You're awesome!!! Thanks for all the great ideas as I do have to entertain myself sometimes. I'd also suggest to ButterSticks chicken and sausage gumbo served with tossed salad, french bread, and rice (which can be made ahead of time and placed in ziploc bags and then heated in microwave in the bags-----heats the rice beautiful and keeps it steamy.

[TexasRose]

Red beans and rice?

Make your own tacos? (just put out seasoned meat with the fixings and hard/soft taco shells).

[Mama Mangia]

Enjoy - I think you've now got your thinking cap on and I bet you make a wonderful spread for your guests!!! Of course - if you need recipes - just give a holler!

[rt49andellis]

How about roasting a hog in the ground?? Guests would proabably get a big kick out of that.