Crowd-scaled meals & make-aheads
Party recipes (8+)
Cooking for a crowd is its own discipline — pan size, oven space, timing windows all change. These recipes are built for 8 or more people without sacrificing texture or flavor. Most can be prepped a day ahead.
23 recipes match this serving size. Need a different count? Scale any recipe in real time.
dairy freeSlow-Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork
Smoky, sweet, fork-tender pulled pork from a humble pork shoulder. 8 hours in the slow cooker, zero attention required, infinite sandwich potential.
- Time
- 8 hr 10 min
- Servings
- 8 servings
- Calories
- 480 kcal
- Cost per serving
- $2.80/serving
vegetarianChewy Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
Crisp edges, gooey centers, deep nutty flavor from browned butter. the cookie that ruins all other cookies.
- Time
- 27 min
- Servings
- 18 servings
- Calories
- 240 kcal
- Cost per serving
- $0.40/serving
vegetarianSweet Southern Cornbread
Golden, tender, slightly sweet cornbread baked in a screaming-hot cast-iron skillet for the crackly crust that defines it.
- Time
- 32 min
- Servings
- 8 servings
- Calories
- 270 kcal
- Cost per serving
- $0.55/serving
veganZobo (Nigerian Hibiscus Drink)
Tart, ruby-red drink steeped from dried hibiscus petals with ginger, pineapple, and clove. vitamin C–rich, vegan, refreshing, and uniquely West African.
- Time
- 35 min
- Servings
- 8 servings
- Calories
- 80 kcal
- Cost per serving
- $0.40/serving
vegetarianOvernight Cinnamon Rolls
Soft, gooey, frosted brown-sugar cinnamon rolls. most of the work happens overnight in the fridge while you sleep. Wake up, bake, eat.
- Time
- 9 hr
- Servings
- 12 servings
- Calories
- 480 kcal
- Cost per serving
- $0.75/serving
vegetarianFlaky Buttermilk Biscuits
Towering, layered, buttery biscuits with a crisp golden top and pillow-soft middle. Southern Sunday breakfast in twenty-five minutes.
- Time
- 25 min
- Servings
- 8 servings
- Calories
- 280 kcal
- Cost per serving
- $0.45/serving
vegetarianLemon Blueberry Scones
Bright, tender scones with bursting blueberries and a sweet-tart lemon glaze. the bakery treat you stop pretending you can't make.
- Time
- 35 min
- Servings
- 8 servings
- Calories
- 360 kcal
- Cost per serving
- $0.75/serving
vegetarianClassic Red Velvet Layer Cake
Bright crimson, lightly cocoa-flavored, perfectly tender layers with old-fashioned cream cheese frosting. the celebration cake that never goes out of style.
- Time
- 1 hr 30 min
- Servings
- 12 servings
- Calories
- 580 kcal
- Cost per serving
- $1.30/serving
vegetarianMoist Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
Tender, spiced, ridiculously moist carrot cake studded with pecans and raisins, crowned with thick cream cheese frosting. Everyone's favorite spring dessert.
- Time
- 1 hr 30 min
- Servings
- 12 servings
- Calories
- 620 kcal
- Cost per serving
- $1.40/serving
vegetarianGlazed Lemon Pound Cake
Buttery, dense, lemon-scented loaf cake soaked in lemon syrup and glazed. the cake that tastes like a vacation in three bites.
- Time
- 1 hr 20 min
- Servings
- 10 servings
- Calories
- 420 kcal
- Cost per serving
- $0.95/serving
Nigerian Meat Pie
Flaky golden pastry stuffed with peppery seasoned beef, potato, and carrot. the street-side hand pie that defines Nigerian small chops.
- Time
- 1 hr
- Servings
- 10 servings
- Calories
- 320 kcal
- Cost per serving
- $1.05/serving
Spiced Beef Samosas
Golden triangles of crisp pastry hiding a peppery beef-and-pea filling. Indian street food made approachable.
- Time
- 50 min
- Servings
- 8 servings
- Calories
- 280 kcal
- Cost per serving
- $1.40/serving
dairy freeFeijoada (Brazilian Black Bean Stew)
Brazil's national dish. black beans slow-cooked with smoky pork, sausage, and bay. Served over rice with garlicky greens and orange.
- Time
- 2 hr 20 min
- Servings
- 8 servings
- Calories
- 620 kcal
- Cost per serving
- $5.40/serving
vegetarianAustralian Pavlova
Crisp-shelled, marshmallow-centered meringue piled with whipped cream and fresh fruit. Australia and New Zealand still argue over who invented it. We say enjoy it.
- Time
- 3 hr 20 min
- Servings
- 8 servings
- Calories
- 320 kcal
- Cost per serving
- $1.80/serving
vegetarianClassic Italian Tiramisu
Espresso-soaked ladyfingers layered with airy mascarpone cream and dusted with cocoa. the Italian dessert that requires zero baking.
- Time
- 4 hr 25 min
- Servings
- 8 servings
- Calories
- 460 kcal
- Cost per serving
- $2.80/serving
veganIced Hibiscus Tea (Agua de Jamaica)
Mexican agua fresca made from dried hibiscus petals, lightly sweetened, served ice-cold. Tart, ruby-red, and packed with vitamin C.
- Time
- 3 hr 15 min
- Servings
- 8 servings
- Calories
- 50 kcal
- Cost per serving
- $0.30/serving
Charcuterie Board
A meticulously arranged spread of cured meats, soft and hard cheeses, fruit, nuts, jams, and crusty bread — the French art of charcuterie translated to a party platter. Build it on a wood or slate board; mix textures and colors; let guests graze.
- Time
- 55 min
- Servings
- 8 servings
- Cost per serving
- $2.20/serving
Parfait
Layered yogurt-or-cream parfait built in a tall glass with fresh fruit and granola or crumble between each tier. Cool, creamy, and assembles in under five minutes — pretty enough for brunch, simple enough for a weekday breakfast.
- Time
- 55 min
- Servings
- 8 servings
- Cost per serving
- $2.20/serving
Oreo Crumble
A no-bake dessert of crushed Oreo cookies layered with sweetened cream cheese and whipped cream. Served chilled, it has the texture of cheesecake with the flavour of everyone's favourite cookie — fast to assemble, impossible to resist.
- Time
- 55 min
- Servings
- 8 servings
- Cost per serving
- $2.20/serving
Single Skillet Chocolate Chips Cookies
An entire batch of chocolate chip cookie dough baked as one giant skillet cookie — crispy at the edges, gooey and molten in the centre. Serve straight from the pan with a spoon and a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
- Time
- 55 min
- Servings
- 8 servings
- Cost per serving
- $2.20/serving
Red Velvet Cake
Red velvet cake is a classic American layer cake with a striking crimson crumb, mild cocoa flavour, and a generous cream cheese frosting. The vibrant colour comes from the reaction between natural cocoa, buttermilk, and a touch of food colouring. Moist, tender, and crowd-pleasing.
- Time
- 55 min
- Servings
- 8 servings
- Cost per serving
- $2.20/serving
Chocolate Muffin
Deeply chocolatey muffins with a domed top, moist crumb, and melted chocolate chips in every bite. Made with Dutch-process cocoa and brewed coffee to amplify the chocolate depth. A bakery-style treat at home.
- Time
- 55 min
- Servings
- 8 servings
- Cost per serving
- $2.20/serving
Chilean Empanadas de Pino
Hand-folded baked turnovers stuffed with seasoned beef (pino), onion, hard-boiled egg, a black olive, and a single raisin. Chile's national snack — served at every Fiestas Patrias.
- Time
- 1 hr 25 min
- Servings
- 8 servings
- Cost per serving
- $3.60/serving