22 Easy Summer Recipes That Can Feed a Crowd

Grilled Marinated Chicken Thighs

Double this recipe and watch it go fast (you can also triple it!). We love this dish for parties because it’s easy to scale up and can be prepped beforehand. Make it up to a day ahead, marinating the chicken in the refrigerator—or grill the chicken and serve straight away.

Fudgy Ice Cream Cake

Layered with crunchy graham crackers, rich chocolate, and ice cream, this is a crowd-pleasing dessert that serves 12. And like all ice cream cakes, it needs to be made ahead; you can stash it in the freezer, knowing dessert is taken care of.

Cauliflower Faux-tato Salad

This clever salad has wide appeal. It's like potato salad, but it's vegan and low-carb, and because it doesn't have mayo, it can sit out on the buffet table for longer. Steamed cauliflower is tossed with celery and onion in a mustard vinaigrette. It's easy to double or triple this recipe, and it tastes even better when it's made ahead, and the flavors have time to meld.

Kale and Farro Salad With Feta

Here's another dish that’s easy to double or triple and needs to be made ahead to allow the flavors to mingle. This hearty grain salad improves with time, so while you can make it just 30 minutes before serving, do yourself a favor and make it up to two days ahead.

No-Bake Summer Lasagna

Too hot to turn on the oven? Making this vegetable-packed dish for dinner means you don't have to. When prepping this meal for a larger group, use a trick from catering pros: Double the recipe and layer lasagna stacks on sheet pans. Then simply cut and serve.

Boozy Melon Three Ways

Here's a colorful crowd pleaser (for grown-ups): Pair cantaloupe with vodka, honeydew with gin, and watermelon with tequila—or just make plenty of one version. This summer refresher is quick to put together and can be made ahead.

Classic North Carolina Pulled Pork

This pulled pork shoulder takes seven to eight hours on the grill but doesn’t need much tending. The recipe feeds 12, and it’s the kind of dish that everyone will remember fondly after the party—and hope you make it next time!

Ratatouille

This classic French vegetable stew is a great make-ahead recipe and can be prepared up to three days in advance—simply store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Plus, it can be served hot or at room temp. We double the recipe and serve it straight from the Dutch oven. It feeds at least 12.

Rosé Sangria With Nectarines and Strawberries

This elegant pitcher drink serves 10 to 12, but it’s so delicious and quaffable that you might need to have a second batch on hand, just in case. Rosé meets vodka, nectarines, and strawberries, and this delightful creation can be made and refrigerated two days in advance.

Chicken, Tomato, and Bread Cube Kebabs With Lemon-Oregano Marinade

Go big with a colorful and easy-to-make main like these chicken kebabs. You can prep a big batch ahead, then leave them to marinate in the refrigerator until the party starts and the grill is hot.

German Potato Salad

How do you take a classic crowd-pleaser from good to great? Simple: Add bacon, sweet onions, and a sprinkle of fresh parsley. Our recipe serves eight to 10 and is easy to double.

Pasta Salad With Tomatoes, Mozzarella, and Chickpeas

Pasta salad is a standby at summer parties, and for good reason. This recipe is our summer go-to. It's vegetarian and mayo-free—a lemony-garlic-oregano dressing brings plenty of punchy flavor. Double the recipe and watch how fast it disappears.

Coconut-Lime Bars

These sweet and tangy bars are reminiscent of both key lime pie and a piña colada. The perfect make-ahead treat, this recipe yields two dozen bars. For a larger crowd, cut them into smaller portions—or make a double batch of this winning bar cookie recipe

Spicy-Sweet Glazed Shrimp

These fiery shrimp are impossible to pass up. Our recipe feeds six; double the marinade and shrimp to feed a larger group.

Pro tip: Make this recipe before your guests arrive by using the broiler. Arrange shrimp on a baking sheet and cook for two to three minutes per side.

Creamy Deviled Eggs

Perfect for parties, whether a sophisticated affair with cocktails or a full cookout by the grill, these classic appetizers are simple to prepare and loved by everyone. Expect each guest to enjoy a whole egg (two halves), so double the recipe if needed.

Grilled Ratatouille Muffaletta

Hearty enough to fool meat-lovers, this scooped-out sandwich will satisfy everyone at the table and ensure that vegetarians aren't an afterthought. It's easy to double, just use two loaves and twice the filling to serve at least 12.

Big-Batch Triple-Chocolate Brownie Bars

Sweet, salty, and so delicious, these triple-chocolate bars feature milk, dark, and white chocolate, dried fruit, and nuts. Best of all, this crowd pleasing dessert makes 54 bars.

Smoky Black-Bean Salsa

Quick, filling, and delicious, this vegan salsa is a favorite. The mouthwatering recipe only takes 15 minutes to make, and it's easy to double or triple.

Sriracha-Glazed Chicken

Spicy, sticky, and ever-so-slightly sweet, these outrageously flavorful wings are made in just two steps. Make two pans, not one, if your group is hungry or large.

Shredded-Carrot-and-Cabbage Coleslaw

The most colorful side on the buffet table is this crunchy slaw made with red cabbage and carrots. It's an economical dish to feed a crowd. Our recipe serves eight and is easy to double.

No-Bake Blueberry Cheesecake for a Crowd

There's nothing like a cool, airy, and lemony blueberry cheesecake to serve a crowd on a hot day. This gorgeous extra-large cheesecake is chilled, not cooked, before serving. The cheesecake serves up to 16 people, but two pans satisfy double the crowd.

Corn-and-Avocado Salad With Goddess Dressing

This salad is more than refreshing for a crowd on a summer day. You can't go wrong serving crunchy corn and lettuce with savory bacon, creamy avocado, and dreamy green goddess dressing. The flavors blend to create a simply irresistible summer dinner dish. This recipe serves eight to 10 hungry guests.