• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Dinner Party Diaries
  • Dinner Parties
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Side Dishes
    • Main Courses
    • Desserts
    • Breakfast
    • Drinks
  • Dinner Party 101
  • Inspiration
  • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • YouTube
Home » Dinner Party Tips and Tricks » Main Dish Recipes for a Crowd

Main Dish Recipes for a Crowd

December 3, 2024 by Lori V Leave a Comment
Disclosure: This post may contain Amazon or other affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I may earn a commission from qualifying purchases. This does not change your price should you buy something.

Figuring out a main dish that can feed a party full of people can be a challenge.  Once you add in the fun of a few dietary restrictions, it can turn daunting quickly.  Fear not.  There are definitely Main Dish options that can accommodate a variety of special diets.  In the list of Main Dish Recipes for a Crowd below, you’ll find a variety.  These are recipes that can scale up or down to suit your needs and are good candidates for advanced preparation.  That means having more control over and less worry about your timing leading up to a party.  

Main Dishes for a Crowd Roundup List feature image

When I’m planning a menu for a larger party rather than my usual dinner party, I like to offer main dish options from a few different categories.  For a party of twenty-five or more, I’ll usually pick a pork dish, a poultry dish, something vegetarian, and likely a beef dish or maybe a seafood option.  I don’t try to stick to a theme of any kind in these situations.  After picking my mains, I fill in my sides with those that can complement two or more of them.  

Main Dish Recipes

Here are a variety of ideas for you!

Braised Beef in Wine Reduction Sauce
Cooked to perfection, low and slow, this tender beef paired with a savory sauce made with red wine, herbs, and spices. It’s comfort food at its finest! Great to make ahead for a dinner party or as part of your weekly meal plan, this Braised Beef in Wine Reduction Sauce is a must try!
View Recipe
Braised Beef in Wine Reduction - plated feature image
Pumpkin Sage Low Carb Lasagna
Made with creamy pumpkin purée, rich ricotta cheese, and savory chorizo or fresh spinach (for the vegetarian version), this Pumpkin Sage Low Carb Lasagna is comfort food with a twist. It’ll make a perfect addition to your next party or weekly meal prep!
View Recipe
A slice of Pumpkin Sage Low Carb Lasagna on a plate from above
Chicken Parmesan Casserole
Bathed in a zippy sauce, this versatile Chicken Parmesan Casserole is great for a dinner party, weekly meal prep, or your normal family dinner. Flavor infused at every step of the process, you’ll have everyone going back for seconds.
View Recipe
Chicken Parmesan Casserole plated
Easy Low Carb Pot Roast
Comfort food at its best, this Easy Low Carb Pot Roast is simple to toss together and then just let cook low and slow. This dish is perfect for a dinner party or a weekend dinner.
View Recipe
Easy Keto Pot Roast with Creamy Cauliflower Rice Risotto on a plate
Easy Low Carb Lasagna
Great to make ahead for a party or as part of your weekly meal prep, this Easy Low Carb Lasagna is comfort in a (casserole) dish. Your guests or your family are sure to love it!
View Recipe
Easy Low Carb Lasagna Finished and Plated
Keto BBQ Rubbed Chicken Thighs
Simple to assemble but fantastic on flavor, these Keto BBQ Rubbed Chicken Thighs are great on their own or as an ingredient for salads, sandwiches, or wraps. Try them for your next dinner party spread or weeknight meal prep!
View Recipe
Keto BBQ Dry Rub Chicken Thighs on Serving Platter
Savory Spiced Beef Roast
Seared for a beautiful, tasty exterior and then cooked low and slow to lock in all of the juices, this Savory Spiced Beef Roast is incredibly tender and full of flavor and incredibly tender. It’s the perfect star of your next dinner party menu!
View Recipe
Savory Spiced Beef Roast plated
Easy Herb-Rubbed Pork Tenderloin
Simple but tastefully elegant, this Easy Herb-Rubbed Pork Tenderloin recipe is one of our favorites for a super low maintenance main dish. Put it on the menu for your next dinner party (or weeknight dinner) and your guests will thank you!
View Recipe
Herb-Rubbed Pork Tenderloin - sliced on serving plate
Lamb Lollipops
Lamb Lollipops (a.k.a. Lamb chops) are a delicious dish that can look fancy (if you want to use a nice plating) but is super simple to prepare. Perfectly seasoned, seared, and done. You can dress them up or serve them casually. Either way, you’re sure to have a crowd favorite.
View Recipe
Lamb Lollipops Plated with Cauliflower Rice Risotto
Beef Roast with Tomato, Cumin, and Feta
A bit of a twist on braised beef, the flavor-packed tomato sauce is the star of this show. I like to make extra to have as a dip later in the week. Once you try this, it is sure to be an addition to your main course rotation!
View Recipe
Mediterranean Beef Roast and Mediterranean Cauliflower Rice on plate with Feta
Chicken and Cauliflower Rice Fajita Casserole
Full of flavor and slightly creamy this Chicken Fajita Casserole is sure to be a crowd pleaser. It also has the added benefit of keto friendly, gluten free, and safe for a number of other dietary restrictions. Try it for your next dinner party or weekly meal prep and you’ll be adding it to your regular rotation!
View Recipe
Finished and Plated Chicken and Cauliflower Rice Fajita Casserole
Creamy Garlic, Broccoli, and Mushroom Spaghetti Squash
A creamy garlic sauce coating a blend of broccoli, mushrooms, and spaghetti squash makes this Creamy Garlic, Broccoli, and Mushroom Spaghetti Squash a versatile side dish or a terrific vegetarian main course.
View Recipe
Creamy Garlic, Broccoli, and Mushroom Spaghetti Squash - finished and close-up
Keto Pizza Casserole
This Keto Pizza Casserole is a delicious and flexible low-carb recipe that works great for a crowd or for weekly meal prep. Check out these 3 variations to please even your picky eaters.
View Recipe
Keto Pizza Casserole - finished and plated

Main Dish Grocery List

Filed Under: Dinner Party Tips and Tricks

Previous Post: « Fall Fun Dinner Party
Next Post: Appetizer Recipes for a Party »

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Flower arrangement with yellow, white, and orange roses and other yellow, white, and orange flowers

Welcome to the Party!

I'm Lori and this space is my way of sharing my passion for solving the many challenges posed by entertaining for various dietary restrictions.

Join me on my dinner party adventures where I create menus to adapt to special dietary restrictions--my own included. Read more about me and what you can expect to find on The Dinner Party Diaries →

Cat Chaos Corner

Stylized Cat Paw Print

Click on the Paw to see periodic updates on my feline co-workers.

Need Dinner Party Planning Help?

Find Dinner Party Plans, Menus, and Checklists by theme!

Find Recipes that you can scale to handle a dinner party!

Featured Dinner Parties

Feature image for recipe round up of Easter Casseroles and Desserts

Easter Casserole and Dessert Ideas

Feature image for Short On Time Dinner Party Blog Post

Short On Time Dinner Party

Feature image for Laid Back Dinner and Slumber Party

Laid Back Dinner and Slumber Party

More Dinner Parties

Footer

Dinner Parties big or small can be a challenge. Toss in some special dietary needs and your planning needs can grow exponentially.

I'm here to help! Stick with me for some great menus, themes, and pre-done plans!

Join the Party →

Select list(s) to subscribe to


By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: . You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact
  • Home
  • Privacy Policy
  • About
  • Get In Touch
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Cookie Policy
  • Acceptable Use Policy
  • Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information
  • Limit the Use Of My Sensitive Personal Information
  • Personal Culinary Solutions LLC – Corporate Info

Copyright © 2025 Dinner Party Diaries on the Foodie Pro Theme