10 Ways to Ease Holiday Entertaining

Even thinking about feeding a big crowd of people over the holidays is exhausting. This year, avoid a Clark Griswold-style breakdown with one (or all) of these stress-free ways to feed your guests. From stocking your freezer with ready-to-go dinners to preparing a grilled cheese sandwich for 10, these genius ideas are designed to make your holiday hosting a little easier.

1. Rethink pasta

It's easy to turn to pasta when it comes to making dinner for a big group, but pasta suffers when you make it ahead. Instead of hovering over a pot of boiling water while your hungry guests start crowding the kitchen, make a cacio e pepe or wild mushroom spaghetti pie that can be refrigerated for hours before you’re ready to bake. Make ahead lasagna is a great option for groups, too.

2. Set up a hand roll station

Set up a nori snack bar. Lay out toasted squares of nori sheets, steamed rice, julienned vegetables, and one or two prepared toppings like cubed raw salmon tossed with sesame oil, tamari, and scallions, or pulled crab meat mixed with kewpie mayonnaise and furikake. Let guests fill their nori squares with a bit of rice and whatever toppings they want to fold up and eat.

3. Simmer a big batch of soup with all the fixings

Select one simple, versatile soup to serve with an impressive spread of toppings for people to customize their bowls. Have a few vegetarians in the group? Make the soup veg-friendly and lay out chopped crispy bacon for the meat eaters to sprinkle on top. Offer a mix of garnishes like salted peanuts, cilantro, chile oil, pickled red onions, or a flavored crema.

4. Prep casserole in advance

From a lasagna to a breakfast bake that can be refrigerated overnight, a 9- x 13-inch baking dish can do it all and is essential when cooking for a crowd. Choose recipes that can be assembled early and then popped in the oven when it's time to eat. We’ll be making these ultra-cheesy Green Chile-Chicken Enchiladas that are even easier with a shredded store-bought rotisserie chicken.

5. Have a holiday ham

Order a smoked ham and make it feel homemade by rubbing it with a mixture of whole grain mustard and brown sugar. Wrap it tightly in foil and bake at 350°F for two to three hours, depending on the size of your ham. Let it cool for at least an hour in the foil so the ham reabsorbs all of its flavorful juices. Serve the sliced ham with small rolls from your favorite bakery, sliced pickles, and a spread of different mustards and chutneys. Bonus: All those extra bits of ham can be turned into the next morning’s breakfast strata.

6. Assemble a giant grilled cheese sandwich (kinda of)

Knock out lunch for 8 to 10 people with a super-cheesy slab pie that you can assemble in advance and bake right before you eat. Here’s how: Preheat the oven to 400°F and line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. On a lightly floured surface, roll out two sheets of thawed puff pastry dough to 10- x 13-inch rectangles. Transfer one piece of pastry to the baking sheet. Smear a thin layer of Dijon mustard all over the pastry, leaving a one-inch border, then sprinkle with one cup or so of shredded sharp cheddar or Gruyère. You can add a few slices of ham or mortadella. Then lightly beat an egg and brush the edges of the dough. Set the second sheet of puff pastry on top and crimp the edges together. Brush the remaining egg all over the top of the pastry and cut a few slits with a sharp paring knife. Bake until golden brown and puffed, 20 to 30 minutes. Cut into squares and then serve with more mustard (or a big batch of tomato soup).

7. Slow cook customizable congee

Congee is an East Asian rice porridge that is simmered until it's thick and creamy. It’s inexpensive to make and super customizable. Simmer up a big batch of this hearty dish and then lay out pulled chicken, sliced scallions, soft-boiled eggs, and garlic fizzled in oil. It is truly the perfect canvas for whatever you’re craving. Also, it gets even simpler when you make it in a slow-cooker!

8. Toss a salad worthy of its own meal

A robust salad loaded with veggies and protein is a pretty genius way to feed a crew. This modern Cobb salad features a stellar roasted sweet onion vinaigrette and would make a great lunch for four to six people or a casual dinner side for eight. It’s also convenient because you can make the dressing and chop everything in advance, then toss it when you want to eat.

9. Depend on sheet pan desserts

While cute, this is not the time to stamp out and frost personalized Christmas cookies for every person. Put those rimmed baking sheets to use making irresistible bars instead.

10. When in doubt, go with granola

Running out of breakfast ideas or fridge space for your holiday house guests? Homemade granola is always a win. It’s simple enough to lay out with bowls, spoons, yogurt, milk, and fresh fruit so people can help themselves, but by making it yourself, breakfast still feels special. This loaded granola is packed with nuts and seeds and leans a bit more savory than sweet, so it's easy for guests to customize with additional sweetener and fruit to their liking.