19 Meals to Feed a House Full of Guests

The holidays are approaching and you’re the host this year. Eek! While you have the holiday menu planned to every last detail, maybe you aren’t quite sure what to feed everyone before and after Christmas.

When it comes to feeding a house full of guests, my motto is Keep It Simple. I’ll pull out all the stops for Christmas Day, but I’m Team Simple Dinner for everything else!

When we think of having meals for guests, our minds typically start thinking of dinner, but when people are staying with you 24/7, you also need to think of breakfast and snacks. I’ve covered all these meals in this round-up—plenty of recipes that your guests will surely love!

Senior Editor Laurel Randolph says, “For my take on the classic 5-ingredient slow cooker dish, I call for mayonnaise instead of butter for an extra dose of savory creaminess.”

Contributor Devan Grimsrud says, “To give it a cheesy twist, top the whole thing with shredded cheese before baking.”

Enchiladas are my go-to for feeding house guests. I can easily double the recipe, make it in advance (either the day of, or a few weeks ahead and freeze for later), and they are filling to the max. We also have several other enchilada recipes for your tasting pleasure!

You’re one pot away from a crowd pleaser. Our version has some carrots and celery in the mixture, making the meat go a little further. Serve it on toasted hamburger buns and add a side salad and dinner is served for all your guests! (P.S. Here’s another version if you have vegetarian guests!)

Recipe Developer Ali Ramee says, “This recipe includes Worcestershire sauce and a splash of pickle juice in the sauce for a bit of acidity to help cut through the richness.”

It’s really tempting to order take-out when guests are around, but ordering that much food for a crowd can get spendy! This budget-friendly, easy version of Chicken Lo Mein is so simple and will fill everyone to the brim.

Recipe Tester Liz Mervosh says, “Kick up the heat by replacing the regular cream cheese with spicy jalapeño cream cheese.”

If your guests are staying after the holidays, this dish is a fantastic way to use up any leftover ham. It’s the best mash-up ever of a ham and cheese casserole and cheesy pasta.

Nothing is as inviting as a warm bowl of soup. Add in some grilled cheese, and your guests are sure to stay an extra few days in hopes of more food like this! This soup is easy to make with canned tomatoes and has a velvety texture that can’t be beat!

There are so many times when you’re busy catching up with loved ones you haven’t seen in a long time, and suddenly it’s time for dinner. BLTs to the rescue! Pull out a loaf of bread, grab the bacon, and start cooking.

Put those leftovers to good use! This is a hearty pasta bake with a creamy cheese sauce that’s seriously the best.

Set up all the toppings and have a tostada bar for your guests! Include refried beans, chicken, shredded lettuce, cheese, sour cream, and so much more. Let your guests pick and choose how they top their tostadas, just make sure to have plenty of napkins on hand because these are meant to be messy.

Contributor Nick Evans says, “One trick I use to thicken my chili is to add some cornmeal to it. You don’t need much (a few tablespoons) and it doesn’t change the flavor. It just gives the whole dish some nice body and thickness.”

This is truly a delightful breakfast! It has the best crunchy topping that’s full of cinnamon and spice and everything nice. You can definitely make this ahead of time and refrigerate it until the morning. (This slow cooker version is also good if you have guests who like to sleep in!)

Everyone loves biscuits and gravy, but making them into a casserole will save you time and a lot of effort. Your guests will love to wake up to the smell of this cooking.

Make this for breakfast or dinner. Your guests won’t care! All they’ll care about is if there’s enough for seconds… or even thirds. It has simple ingredients and is ready in about 30 minutes.

Again, these aren’t a meal, but they do make for a fantastic portable breakfast or snack. You just never know when your guests will need a little pick-me-up, so these are what you need to have on hand.

While these aren’t a meal, it’s pretty much a given that you’re guests are going to need to snack. And when they do, you’ll be prepared with these.

Contributor Lany Phlong says, “If you don’t have any buttermilk, don’t fret. Instead, put 2 tablespoons of white vinegar in a measuring cup and add milk until it reaches the 2 cup mark. Stir and let sit for 5 minutes.”