The only thing better than going on a summer vacation is joining up with family and friends along the way. Whether it’s splashing in the water, hiking the trails, hitting an amusement park, or just hanging out, more is always merrier when it comes to a warm-weather getaway. That is, until mealtime rolls around. Cooking for a crowd can be a daunting task, especially when there are kids in the mix, and nobody wants to spend their time off working overtime in the kitchen. That’s when these recipes for a crowd come in to keep bellies full and the vacation vibes high.
These dishes are designed to satisfy a pack of hungry travelers with minimal prep and zero stress. A short list of ingredients, easy-to-follow instructions, and generous portions—eight servings or more per recipe—make them optimal for DIY group dining. Impress the gang by whipping up a complete spread, or let everyone choose a course to divide and conquer in the kitchen. Either way, these simple summer recipes cut down on time spent making meals so you can get back to making sunny vacation memories.
Main Recipes for a Crowd
Grilled BBQ Chicken Thighs with Sweet Potatoes
A value pack of chicken thighs makes it easy to stretch a buck while satisfying a hungry crew with this family-friendly meal straight from the grill. Budget-friendly sweet potatoes dusted with smoky-sweet seasoning are a spotlight-stealing side that cooks alongside chicken thighs marinated in your favorite barbecue sauce. Pro tip: chop up leftovers and serve them inside cheesy quesadillas for a no-fuss lunch the next day.
Get the recipe: Grilled BBQ Chicken Thighs with Sweet Potatoes
Grilled Cheese Hot Dogs
Sure, you can always do classic dogs, but everyone will have that kid on a summer vacation feeling when they tuck into this all-star mashup recipe. Seared hot dogs go next-level served in cheese-stuffed buns griddled in butter to toasty perfection. The best part? It’s totally family-friendly, you only need five ingredients, and it takes just 15 minutes to get everyone fed and happy.
Get the recipe: Grilled Cheese Hot Dogs
Sandwich Grazing Board
This endlessly customizable grazing board is a fun main course when it’s too hot to cook, and you’re feeding a crowd. A mix-and-match spread of your favorite deli meats, cheeses, veggies, and sauces makes it easy for everyone to assemble and devour their perfect bite. Plus, it’s a great option to set out in the kitchen for lunch and let people come as they’re hungry.
Get the recipe: Sandwich Grazing Board
Five-Ingredient Meatloaf
Comfort food at the end of an action-packed day tastes even better when there’s just one bowl to clean afterward. Five ingredients and ten minutes of prep are all you need for a delicious stick-to-your-ribs meatloaf. Bonus: turn any leftovers into sandwiches for the next day’s lunch.
Get the recipe: Five-Ingredient Meatloaf
Coffee Rubbed Baby Back Ribs
If you think cooking baby back ribs for a crowd is intimidating, you must try this foolproof recipe that takes just 10 minutes to prep. Coffee and spice-rubbed pork ribs become fall-apart tender in the oven before a quick, smoky finish on the grill. You can even roast the ribs up to two days in advance and grill them just before serving for easier meal prep.
Get the recipe: Coffee Rubbed Baby Back Ribs
BBQ Chicken Tostadas
If barbecue chicken and baked beans seem too predictable for your vacation cookout, try this recipe that’s served with a Tex-Mex twist. This family-friendly meal is ready in under 30 minutes and needs just five simple ingredients. Crunchy tostadas are the base and are layered with mashed “refried” beans, saucy shredded chicken, and crunchy coleslaw.
Get the recipe: BBQ Chicken Tostadas
Pull-Apart BBQ Chicken Sliders
These vacay-ready sliders serve 12 and are made for tearing and sharing. Rotisserie chicken and bottled barbecue sauce speed up prep for mini sandwiches served warm from the oven. Stack them with pickles and the mild kick of pepper jack cheese for the perfect bite.
Get the recipe: Pull-Apart BBQ Chicken Sliders
BBQ Glazed Chicken Wings
We ditched the deep fryer and cranked up the flavor for this lighter take on wings that cooks on the grill. Molasses and spicy brown mustard enhance store-bought barbecue sauce slathered over grilled wings that hit the table in 30 minutes.
Get the recipe: BBQ Glazed Chicken Wings
Grilled Chicken Tacos
Put a summery twist on taco night with this simple riff that cooks on the backyard barbecue. A rich blend of spices adds south-of-the-border-inspired flavor to grilled chicken breasts served with gently charred flour tortillas and all of your favorite fixings. Plus, it gets everyone in on the fun to DIY their own perfect bite.
Get the recipe: Grilled Chicken Tacos
Ultimate Italian Subs
This super-sized sub that feeds a dozen people is perfect after an activity-packed day when nobody feels like cooking. Piled high with five kinds of deli meat, cheese, and crunchy veggies, it’s ready to satisfy serious appetites in just 10 minutes.
Get the recipe: Ultimate Italian Subs
Caesar Salad Hot Dogs
Hot dogs and Caesar salad are always safe bets when feeding a crowd, and this is the mashup no one saw coming, but everyone will love. Shredded lettuce tossed with homemade Caesar dressing is the unexpected topping for these grilled beef franks finished with crunchy Parmesan crisps.
Get the recipe: Caesar Salad Hot Dogs
Pork and Gnocchi Kabobs
Vacation is an ideal time to break out of the same old grilling routine, like these colorful skewers that star an unexpected ingredient. Pillows of store-bought gnocchi become golden and crisp on the grill, stacked up with chunks of pork tenderloin, four kinds of veggies, and pesto for dunking.
Get the recipe: Pork and Gnocchi Kabobs
Grilled Skirt Steak with Peppers
Nothing says “special occasion” like a steak dinner, but you don’t need to spend tons of money or time prepping in the kitchen. This duo of grilled skirt steak and colorful sweet peppers is ready to serve eight in 30 minutes. Got leftovers? Transform them into fajitas, quesadillas, or hearty steak tacos the next day.
Get the recipe: Grilled Skirt Steak with Peppers
Side Dish Recipes for a Crowd
Baked Beans on the Grill
Baked beans are an easy summer staple, but you’ve never had them like this before. Homemade sauce and indirect heat from the grill turn ordinary canned white beans into a smoky, savory, go-with-everything cookout side.
Get the recipe: Baked Beans on the Grill
Creamy Coleslaw
Once you try this fresh and crunchy, craveably creamy coleslaw recipe, you may never go back to store-bought again. A rainbow of budget-friendly red and green cabbage, carrots, and scallions in a simple mayo-based dressing spiked with celery seeds makes a tasty side for barbecue, sandwiches, or any grilled main.
Get the recipe: Creamy Coleslaw
Classic Potato Salad
Keep this versatile recipe up your sleeve for vacation cookouts and bring it back home for picnics, potlucks, and anytime you need a reliable crowd-pleaser. Dill pickles with the brine, shallot, and fresh parsley add a bright pop of flavor to a traditional combo of russet potatoes, crunchy celery, and hard-cooked eggs. Pro tip: Buy the eggs pre-cooked to get a jump on prep.
Get the recipe: Classic Potato Salad
Grilled and Marinated Vegetables
Vibrant colors and a flavorful marinade make this nutritious side an easy sell, even for reluctant vegetable eaters. A simple garlic vinaigrette and two kinds of fresh herbs dial up the flavor of six different peak-season veggies cooked right on the grill. Leftovers are delicious upcycled into omelets and frittatas, pasta and grain salads, sandwiches, and beyond.
Get the recipe: Grilled and Marinated Vegetables
Ranch Macaroni Salad
Two not-so-secret ingredients turn this macaroni salad into not your average side dish. A packet of ranch seasoning and a splash of dill pickle brine bring the zing to elbow noodles, fresh carrots, and chives tossed in a creamy dressing made lighter with Greek yogurt.
Get the recipe: Ranch Macaroni Salad
Herb Biscuits with Corn Butter
Turn to your breakfast staple—boxed pancake mix—for this easy side. These easy biscuits are studded with three kinds of fresh herbs, which are the tasty shortcut for this never-fail recipe. A simple compound butter made with peak summer corn adds a touch of earthy sweetness that takes this side over the top.
Get the recipe: Herb Biscuits with Corn Butter
Green Salad with Sweet Mustard Vinaigrette
The star of this side salad is an easy shallot vinaigrette that works with any of your favorite fresh veggies. Bell peppers and cucumbers bump up the crunch factor of bagged salad greens in this recipe that serves 10.
Get the recipe: Green Salad with Sweet Mustard Vinaigrette
Grilled Corn on the Cob with Flavored Butters
Peak season corn hot off the grill is always a treat, and this recipe lets everyone “choose their own adventure” when it comes to slathering on extra flavor. A trio of homemade compound butters—maple-soy, elote-inspired chili-lime, and smoky paprika—makes the summer staple extraordinary.
Get the recipe: Grilled Corn on the Cob with Flavored Butters
Dessert Recipes for a Crowd
Blueberry Pie with Berry Whipped Cream
Make the most of blueberry season with a dazzling homemade dessert that comes together easily, thanks to a little store-bought help. Refrigerated pie dough speeds up prep for this lattice-topped pie with jammy fruit filling served with a dollop of pink whipped cream that’s flavored with raspberry preserves.
Get the recipe: Blueberry Pie with Berry Whipped Cream
Strawberry-Rhubarb Crisp
This summery crisp delivers all the sweet satisfaction of a baked fruit dessert without any rolling or cutting. A crumbly pecan-oat topping adds hearty crunch atop a not-too-sweet filling made with fresh rhubarb and strawberries. Don’t forget the vanilla ice cream for serving while it’s still warm from the oven.
Get the recipe: Strawberry-Rhubarb Crisp
Berry Poke Cake
Go retro for dessert with this kid-friendly make-ahead dessert. Vanilla pudding mix whipped into heavy cream is the secret to stabilized and fluffy whipped cream. And you’ll get that gorgeous cake from boxed strawberry gelatin poured right into the batter.
Get the recipe: Berry Poke Cake
Banana Pudding Icebox Cake
Nothing says feeding a summer crowd quite like a banana pudding cake. All of the classics—pudding, banana, vanilla wafers, and whipped cream—are layered and chilled for the ultimate old school dessert.
Get the recipe: Banana Pudding Icebox Cake
