11 Easy Recipes for Vacation Cooking and Feeding a Crowd

On my recent summer vacation, I did what felt natural when our group of seven arrived at the house: I made a meal plan and took charge of cooking. My goal for the week was easy, low-effort, family-friendly meals that left us with ample leftovers to nibble in the backyard and cart to the beach for lunch. Here are 11 of my favorite recipes for easy vacation cooking when it’s time to feed a crowd.

Easy Breakfast Options

To start the day for a large group, these simple solutions work best:

• Blueberry Pancake Casserole: This casserole for a crowd is everything you love about fluffy buttermilk pancakes loaded with blueberries the added bonus of a streusel topping.
• Hashbrown Breakfast Casserole: Sour cream makes this hashbrown breakfast casserole better than the rest, adding a richness that prevents the eggs from becoming too dry during baking.

Portable Lunches and Picnic Favorites

If you need meals that can travel to the beach or stay fresh for hours:

• Make-Ahead Sandwich: This make-ahead sandwich serves up to 10 people, which means it's perfect for summer picnics, hikes, and beach trips.
• Potluck Quinoa Salad: Mixed with quinoa, beans, and vibrant fresh veggies, and topped with a zippy chili-lime vinaigrette, this is a potluck salad that everyone can eat.
• Goes-Anywhere Pasta Salad: This goes-anywhere, has-everything pasta salad is one we think you should know by heart.

Low-Effort Crowd-Pleasing Dinners

When it is time to feed everyone in the evening, these recipes offer fresh flavors with minimal cleanup:

• Pickle Juice Brined Chicken: Spicy and tangy pickle juice is the one-ingredient brine that makes the most tender and delicious chicken you will eat all summer.
• Slow Cooker BBQ Shredded Chicken: Slow cooker BBQ shredded chicken is an easy weeknight dinner that can be made with chicken breasts, thighs, or a combo of the two.
• Light Pasta Primavera: This light and butter pasta primavera is the best way to bring the fresh flavors of spring produce to your table.
• Tortellini with Butter-Roasted Cherry Tomato Sauce: Roast halved cherry tomatoes with garlic-infused butter and they're transformed into a light and juicy sauce for cheese tortellini.
• Sausage and Veggie Foil Packets: Combine cooked sausage, chopped potatoes, and green beans; add some butter and a dash of Cajun seasoning; and wrap in foil for a no-mess dinner in minutes.
• Chicken Thigh and Rice Casserole: A recipe for a chicken thigh and tomato basil rice casserole that can feed a crowd this summer.

Summer Vacation Recipe Summary