Cooking for a large family can be a challenge. Finding the right sizes of cookware and storing the food are difficult tasks when cooking for more than about six people. Finding recipes that don't require a lot of ingredients or preparation can help make cooking for a crowd easier.
Breakfast for a Large Family
Breakfast can be one of the easiest meals to prepare for a large family. According to the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition," fortified breakfast cereals provide essential nutrients to start the day with little preparation.
If you want a heartier breakfast, pancakes can be made in batches and kept warm in the oven until the whole family is ready to eat. Pairing pancakes with a high-quality protein such as scrambled eggs makes a filling and nutritious morning meal.
A breakfast casserole can be made the night before and served warm the next morning. For an easy breakfast casserole that serves 10, line a greased 9-inch by 13-inch baking pan with torn pieces of whole-wheat bread. Beat 12 eggs with 1/2 cup of milk and 1/4 tsp. each salt and pepper and pour the mixture over the bread. Crumble cooked sausage and shredded cheddar cheese over the eggs and refrigerate until needed. Bake for 30 minutes at 350 degree Fahrenheit.
Lunch for a Large Family
The easiest lunch to serve a large family may very well be soup. The sheer variety of soups helps prevent boredom, and soup can easily supply much-needed vegetables and other nutritious ingredients.
A quick and easy soup can be made with ground beef, onion and canned vegetables, eliminating the need for time-consuming chopping. For a recipe serving 8 to 12 people, brown 2 lbs. of ground beef with half an onion, chopped. Add two 15-oz. cans each of sweet peas, green beans, corn, stewed tomatoes and sliced carrots, including the liquid. Add an additional 4 to 6 cups of water, 1 tsp. salt and 1/2 tsp. pepper. If more protein is desired, add 1 or 2 cans of kidney or pinto beans.
Dinner for a Large Family
Dinner may be the most difficult meal to prepare for a large family. Trying to include enough of all the food groups at dinner time can mean too little oven space and too much prep time.
Spaghetti with meat sauce is a favorite meal for many large families. Pasta and canned sauce are easy to store and simple to prepare. Start by browning 2 lbs. ground beef with 1 chopped onion. Add 2 large jars of prepared pasta sauce and simmer. In the meantime, cook pasta in boiling water for 5 to 7 minutes. Drain. Pour the sauce over the pasta and serve with a salad for a quick, easy meal for 8 to 10 people.
Another family favorite is chili. Beans and canned sauce are easy to store and quick to prepare. For 10 to 12 servings, start by browning 2 lbs. ground beef with 1 chopped onion. Add eight 15-oz. cans of kidney or pinto beans and four 15-oz. cans of tomato sauce. Add 2 tbsp. chili powder, 1 tbsp. cumin, 1 tsp. salt and 1/2 tsp. pepper. Serve warm.
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