You've got guests coming and some eat dairy-free. Others need to eat gluten-free. Another person may be vegan or vegetarian. Plus their kids may be picky. What in the world do you do? How can you find foods to serve that everyone will eat and enjoy?
By the way, you might like this funny video:
We had some friends over not long ago hoping to raise money for this ministry and since my friend Lyn can't eat dairy or grains, and of course I wanted ALL our guests to enjoy the meal, here's what I pulled together…
I've got a bunch of easy ideas for you today for allergy-friendly meal ideas for a crowd:
- A baked potato bar is great as a side, because everyone can pick just what they want on top. I usually have it with both regular and sweet potatoes: (Don't forget this: the BEST part of a tasty baked potato bar: garlic aioli!)
- A make-your-own salad bar is always popular, especially when you have just the right goodies for everyone to choose from for toppings (click here for more details about healthy salad bar toppings and simple real food salad dressing ideas):
- Pulled pork sandwiches are another great option that you can just offer sides with something for everyone, those not eating bread can eat the pork by itself. (If you don't have a good local source for safe, pastured meats, click here for where to buy it online.) You could make this in your crock pot or in your pressure cooker the way I explain in this post: 10 best ways to use your pressure cooker. (Another good idea to offer that I forgot: cheese slices.)
More ideas:
- Check out my new post for how to pull off an ice cream sundae bar!
- I also use my pressure cooker to make big batches of cooked chicken like I showed in this post and just pull it apart, this is great for a crowd because you can do so many things with it. You can make the chicken salad recipe listed below, or season it with cumin and garlic powder, then offer all the sides for a taco bar. Some will want traditional tortillas or corn shells, but those with allergies can make a taco bowl or something like this: Chipotle Burrito Bowl Copycat Recipe — Gluten-free and Full of Flavor.
- Most everyone loves chicken salad, you could serve it with and without bread.
- A lot of these soup recipes are grain- and dairy-free, like this Delicious Farmers Market Soup — Loaded with Nutrients!
- You could serve this Gluten-Free Alfredo Sauce Recipe with rice – yum!
- If you want to serve burgers, guests could have this if they can't eat the buns: Bunless Burger Bonanza… with a Secret Ingredient (+ add-on ideas)
- This dessert is a hit whether you are on a special diet or not! Paleo Blonde Brownies — I Had No Idea Paleo Could Taste THIS Good
- Or this, the BEST Flourless Chocolate Cake Recipe, is always a hit!
- Find more gluten-free recipes here
- Here's a more detailed post about how I get everything done when feeding a big crowd.
Did I forget any allergy-friendly meal ideas for a crowd?!
- If you're sick of dealing with food allergies in your family, it might be at least worth a shot to try and heal with the GAPS diet or some other healing diet? Read more here: GAPS Diet for Rookies.
- This video is hilarious: Special diets screwing up dinner parties everywhere!
- My results after the Whole30 Diet and what I ate
Sarah says
New recipes, something for everyone, great idea Kelly! Holidays come with stress in general and then you throw picky eaters and allergies into the mix and it can feel overwhelming. Keep our eyes and thoughts above, take a deep sigh we are almost done with the cultural expectation portion of the holiday. Thankfully, we are never done with celebrating the reason for the season, Our Saviour!!
KitchenKop says
Amen to that Sarah, great seeing you yesterday!
Kel
homeactivist says
These are great ideas, Kelly. I am the pickiest person in the world when it comes to what my child and I eat. (My husband doesn’t really care). First, my son has a long list of food allergies. Even being in the same room with peanuts or tree nuts is dangerous, because if just a trace amount touches him or becomes airborne, he can have a severe reaction. He can’t have peanuts, tree nuts, soy, wheat, dairy, or eggs. Then, to further complicate things, we keep kosher. And I have a long list of things I can eat due to allergies and autoimmune disease. Then, I like to eat organic as much as possible, and to avoid anything from near Japan due to ongoing contamination from Fukushima…. I don’t make a very good dinner guest.
KitchenKop says
@HomeActivist (sorry I couldn’t find your real name!), have you thought of looking into the GAPS diet or some other similar healing diet? Because all of that seems like a lot to navigate for the rest of your life, it might be worth a shot at least to try and heal? Here’s more about that: https://kellythekitchenkop.com/what-is-the-gaps-diet/
Kelly
Lorraine Rudd says
Thank you! Just in time for the holidays!
Heather Lu says
I still see a lot of dairy in these recipes. Gluten-Free Alfredo Sauce Recipe 🙁 I love RAW dairy – it just doesn’t love me back the same way. But good ideas for crowd pleasing.
Kelly the Kitchen Kop says
Hi Heather!
Yeah, that one is only GF, I just wanted to share a bunch of ideas & show some meals that could please a range of food preferences. 🙂
Kelly