Food & Cooking Recipes Seasonal Recipes Summer Recipes 20 Easy Summer Recipes That Can Feed a Crowd Our easy meals for large groups are just what you need for your next summer gathering. By Victoria Spencer Victoria Spencer Victoria Spencer is an experienced food editor, writer, and recipe developer. She manages the Martha Stewart recipe archive and is always curious about new ingredients and the best techniques. She has been working in food media for over 20 years. Editorial Guidelines Updated on May 31, 2024 Close Photo: Ren Fuller From beach parties to backyard cookouts, when it comes to summer parties, more really is merrier. When you're serving a crowd, turn to our collection of easy summer meals for large groups. Whether you're looking for appetizers and drinks, entrées and sides, or desserts, you'll find big-batch recipes here. We've included recipes that can be doubled (or even tripled) easily, so you can focus on the fun of cooking and hosting instead of the math. The Best Way to Build a Charcuterie Board That Feels Like Summer 01 of 20 Grilled Marinated Chicken Thighs Marcus Nilsson 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. View Recipe 02 of 20 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. View Recipe 03 of 20 Cauliflower Faux-tato Salad Linda Xiao 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. View Recipe 04 of 20 Kale and Farro Salad With Feta Ryan Liebe 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. View Recipe 05 of 20 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. View Recipe 06 of 20 Boozy Melon Three Ways Bryan Gardner 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. View Recipe 07 of 20 Classic North Carolina Pulled Pork Jason Varney 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! View Recipe 08 of 20 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. View Recipe 09 of 20 Rosé Sangria With Nectarines and Strawberries Noe Dewitt 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. View Recipe 10 of 20 Chicken, Tomato, and Bread Cube Kebabs With Lemon-Oregano Marinade Andrew Purcell 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. View Recipe 11 of 20 German Potato Salad Kelsey Hansen 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 8 to 10 and is easy to double. View Recipe 12 of 20 Pasta Salad With Tomatoes, Mozzarella, and Chickpeas Ren Fuller 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. View Recipe 13 of 20 Coconut-Lime Bars Romulo Yanes 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 you can cut them into smaller portions—or make a double batch of this winning bar cookie recipe View Recipe 14 of 20 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. View Recipe 15 of 20 Creamy Deviled Eggs Victoria Pearson 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. View Recipe 16 of 20 Grilled Ratatouille Muffaletta Andrew Purcell 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. View Recipe 17 of 20 Big-Batch Triple-Chocolate Brownie Bars Marcus Nilsson 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. View Recipe 18 of 20 Smoky Black-Bean Salsa Chelsea Cavanaugh 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. View Recipe 19 of 20 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. View Recipe 20 of 20 Shredded-Carrot-and-Cabbage Coleslaw Ren Fuller 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. View Recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit