I love hosting friends and family at my home, so being prepared for extra dinner guests is important at all times! I want to share meals to make for unexpected guests that use kitchen staples you probably have and kids will like too!
Take Out is an Option
I am always trying to make as much as I can from home, but unexpected guests are one time when I do consider take out. If I have to focus on cleaning, parenting alone until they arrive, or if I am tired; then take out can be the best option.
The goal is to enjoy time with your guests, not stress yourself out.
When I am feeling up for cooking meals to make for unexpected guests I decide based on how much time I have to prepare.
Cooking for a Crowd Tip #1
Keep everything as separate as possible! Leave the meal as build your own as possible.
I confirm with the guests any allergies that will be present and then I choose to focus on building a dinner bar rather than having a completed main dish.
When you try to keep everything separate, it means that everyone will be able to create something they will enjoy and you can feel confident that your guests have eaten their fill.
Cooking for a Crowd Tip #2
Offer guests the option to add some seasonings to their own bowl. Especially when it comes to any burning spices.
Let me introduce you to the idea of bowl seasonings. Bowl Seasoning is where you set some spices out for guests to add as much or as little as they want to their ‘bowl’ as they like.
This idea that everyone can adjust the spices to their liking helps them create food they will enjoy. It provides the children space to leave it bland and lets “that one guy” add a crazy amount of cayenne seasoning if he wants it.
Build Your Own Pancake Bar
Pancakes are an easy to make low prep meal for guests! I make pancakes when I do not have a lot of warning ahead of time that people are showing up.
I love them because they are versatile enough that everyone will be happy with them, even picky children. Pancakes are great to make in large batches if you need to double or triple the recipe.
If you don’t want to stand over the stove to cook them, then you can bake them in a tray so everyone can add their own toppings and you don’t have to be away from your guests.
Possible Sides: Fruit (Canned or Fresh), Eggs, Sausage, Bacon, Hashbrowns
Possible Toppings: Frozen Fruit, Fresh Fruit, Chocolate Chips, Nuts, Peanut Butter, Jelly/Jam, Whipped Cream, Cinnamon, Nutmeg
My pantry and fridge almost always have some of these toppings and sides options, so pancakes are an easy option to make quickly!
Build Your Own Pasta Bar
I always have a box or two of pasta, some sauce, and some parmesan cheese in my pantry ready to go for meals to make for unexpected guests. Pasta is a great option if I have about 2 hours notice or less.
I cook the pasta according to the package and leave it plain, have a separate bowl of sauce, and toppings, so that guests can add as much or as little sauce as they please.
When you serve everything separately you can accommodate many different types of diet concerns. Every person can build their own pasta as they desire.
My husband is a vegetarian, so I tend to cook the meat separately as well and have it as a side or add it to a sauce I know he will not use.
Possible Sides: Fruit (Canned or Fresh), Garlic Bread, Vegetables (Frozen or Canned)
Possible Toppings: Parmesan Cheese, Sweet Italian Sausage, Bread Crumbs, Alfredo Sauce, Tomato Sauce, Pesto, Canned Mushrooms, Garlic Powder, Red Pepper Flakes, Italian Herb Seasoning
I have started making sure to have sweet Italian sausage, and frozen sliced bread in my freezer
Build Your Own Pizza Bar
Make your own pizza is a wonderful and well known favorite of almost every guest I have.
If I have frozen pizza crust or tortillas, then this is a dinner that takes no preparation time. If I want to make the pizza dough from scratch then I will need most of the day for it to rise.
Set up the pizza crusts or tortillas on trays and have each guest build their toppings. Bake at 350F (175C) for 10-20 minutes and you have delicious pizzas!
When setting up, I tend to leave all the toppings in the cans, or containers they come in. The guests can then read any labels they like as they build their pizza.
A pizza bar is great if you know there will be many kids coming. They like pizza and when they find out they get to make one themselves, they really enjoy the process.
Possible Sides: Fruit (Canned or Fresh), Garlic Bread, Vegetables (Frozen or Canned), Marinara Sauce and/or Ranch for Dipping
Possible Toppings: Parmesan Cheese, Mozzarella Cheese, Cheddar Cheese, Sweet Italian Sausage, Bacon Bits, Bread Crumbs, Alfredo Sauce, Barbeque Sauce, Tomato Sauce, Pesto, Canned Mushrooms, Onion, Green Pepper, Olives, Garlic Powder, Red Pepper Flakes, Italian Herb Seasoning
Build Your Own Ramen Bar
I have just learned how easy it is to make ramen and I think it is a great way to feed guests! Ramen is a meal I will make if I have 30 minutes or less until company is showing up.
Ramen can be as simple as broth and noodles. You can use vegetable broth or chicken broth and buy some ready to boil ramen noodles. I have been using these Ramen Noodles that I can find at Cosco.
Flavor the broth until it tastes delicious and boil the noodles in the broth. You can have the rest of the ingredients heated in separate bowls so that the guests can build their own ramen!
Possible Sides: Fruit (Canned or Fresh), Spring Rolls, Dumplings
Possible Toppings: Parmesan Cheese, Sweet Italian Sausage, Chicken, Frozen Vegetables, Canned Beans, Hard Boiled Eggs or Scrambled Eggs, , Canned Mushrooms, Garlic Powder, Soy Sauce, Pepper, Red Pepper Flakes
A Simple Vegetable Strata
Strata is a go to recipe of mine that I make for guests when I have vegetables that need to be used up. Strata requires at least 2 hours of warning.
Strata is a savory stuffing like dish that my family loves! I love strata because I can throw any vegetable into it and it is filling.
Strata requires a cubed bread loaf, eggs, and milk. When I make bread, I make sure to have a loaf in the freezer that is cubed for future strata.
If you want an easy strata recipe, you can find my recipe here!
Strata isn’t as easy to make into a build your own format, but guests have enjoyed it when I serve it. I hope your guests enjoy it too!
Possible Sides: Fruit (Canned or Fresh), Vegetables (Canned or Fresh)
Possible Toppings: Cheddar Cheese, Sweet Italian Sausage, Garlic Powder, Red Pepper Flakes, Italian Herb Seasoning
What are Your go to Meals to Make for Unexpected Guests?
Let us know in the comments below what you favorite meals to make for unexpected guests are!
Other Articles You May Enjoy
How to Organize Your Freezer for Good
Simple, Safe, and Healthy First Foods for Babies
Delicious Fresh Milled Sourdough Cinnamon Raisin Swirl Bread
Pin for Later
d
Leave a Reply