Whether it is for the holidays or just a long weekend, there will be a time when you have a house full of guests. A big part of preparing for those guests is meal planning.
What am I going to feed all those people!?
Well, let me help you know what to feed your house guests with a few practical tips, menus and recipes.
Let’s Get Started!
Tips for Feeding House Guest
Do not get overwhelmed, taking it step by step and making a plan will make this so much easier. Here are a few tips when planning meals for your guests:
- Plan ahead for each meal- this way you will not wake up in the morning and realize that you only planned for dinners and you have nothing but Cheerios without milk, and coffee for breakfast.
- Make a detailed grocery list for each meal and snacks… nobody wants to make last minute trips to the grocery store!
- Plan for 50/50, at least for some of the meals, 50% store bought items and 50% homemade (hopefully some can be made ahead).
- Plan at least one meal out, especially if your guests are staying for a long time.
- Make what you can ahead of time.
- When your guests ask what they can bring, don’t say “nothing!”. Even if it is a snack, dessert, wine, or a specialty cocktail, accept the help.
How to Start Planning for House Guests
First, plan for how many meals your guests will be staying with you. Then, if there are any special events when you will be eating out, remove those from your list.
Next, go thru and plan what you will have for each meal. Try to plan a few easy things that can be made ahead, some things that can be store-bought that do not require any prep, and the rest homemade. Make sure to include any snacks that you will want to have in the house during their stay. Also, if this is an adult occasion, think about drinks too.
Then, make grocery lists that are extremely detailed. Go thru each recipe and write down all the items you need to purchase that you do not already have. Make sure to add those snacks and drinks!
Now, head to the grocery store completely prepared and armed with your list!
Meal Ideas for House Guests, with Recipes
Here are a few recipes and meal ideas to make planning for and having house guests a breeze!
SAVE THIS LIST FOR LATER, PIN IT HERE
Breakfast
Breakfast starts the day. Please do not forget that your guests will be hungry in the morning! And that they will want coffee…always coffee.
Breakfast #1 Make Ahead
- Sausage Egg Cups or Overnight Breakfast Casserole (make ahead)
- Vanilla Yogurt with Granola
- Morning Glory Muffins or Cranberry Orange Muffins (make ahead)
- Fresh Fruit
- Coffee (with half and half and sugar available)
Breakfast #2 Fast
- Company Oatmeal (15 minutes)
- Bacon
- Banana Bread Muffins OR Morning Glory Muffins (make ahead)
- Store Bought Pastries
- Coffee (with half and half and sugar available)
Breakfast #3 Big Breakfast
- Scrambled Eggs
- Overnight Caramel French Toast Casserole (make ahead)
- Sausage Links
- Fresh Fruit
- Coffee (with half and half and sugar available)
Breakfast #4 In the Kitchen
- Homemade Fluffy Pancakes
- Sausage Patties
- Fresh Fruit
- Coffee (with half and half and sugar available)
Lunch
Lunch is a tough one, I usually don’t recommend planning for lunches unless it is the main event. A lot of times I find that lunch gets lost in the scramble of the day OR everyone sleeps in and has a late breakfast. Lunch is usually best planned out.
However, if you feel like you should have lunch for your guests, here are some really easy options:
Lunch #1 Sandwiches
- Hot Artichoke Chicken Salad Sandwiches (just use rotisserie chicken for ease)
- OR Chicken Salad with Grapes
- Sweet Potato Chips
- Grapes or any in-season fruit
Lunch #2 Instant Pot
- Instant Pot Beef & Barley Soup OR Creamy Red Potato Soup OR find one of the many soup recipes on Mom’s Dinner! (make ahead or quick lunch)
- Warm Baguette
- Kale Salad (store bought)
Lunch #3 Healthy
- Grilled Buttermilk Chicken (grill chicken a couple days ahead) OR Egg Salad
- Kettle Chips or Terra Vegetable Chips
- Green Salad (store bought)
Lunch #4 Skillet
- Mediterranean Shrimp Skillet
- Warm Crusty Bread (store bought)
Lunch #5 Make Ahead
- Chili, Turkey Chili OR Instant Pot Chili (make ahead)
- Indulgent Cinnamon Buns OR Sweet Corn Muffins (both make ahead)
- Veggie Tray with Ranch or Blue Cheese Dip (make ahead)
Dinner
Dinner tends to be the main event, where you will spend the most time, energy, and money. I definitely like to have a homemade dinner, however if you are entertaining guests for a long time do not be afraid to bring in take-out, suggest one dinner out, or do a 50% take out/50% homemade dinner.
Dinner #1 Take-Out BBQ
- Pulled Pork from your favorite BBQ Restaurant (or you could make Instant Pot BBQ Pork or BBQ Chicken ahead)
- Buns, Pickles, BBQ Sauce
- Corn Casserole or Homemade Creamed Corn (both make ahead)
- Raspberry Jello Fluff (make ahead)
- Cheesy Potato Casserole
Dinner #2 Instant Pot
- Italian Meatballs (or Instant Pot Version) OR Instant Pot Turkey Meatballs (all make ahead)
- Spaghetti
- Garlic Green Beans
- Caesar Salad (store bought)
- Garlic Bread (store bought)
Dinner #3 Simple Dutch Oven Dinner
- Dutch Oven Chicken Pot Roast
- Cranberry Kale Salad (store bought)
- Warm Ciabatta Bread & Butter
Dinner #4 Holiday
- Ham with Glaze
- Savory Mashed Sweet Potatoes OR Cheesy Potato Casserole
- Oven Roasted Asparagus
- Raspberry Jello Salad (make ahead)
- Broccoli Bacon Salad (make ahead)
- Rolls & Butter
Dinner #5 Holiday Part 2
- Oven Roasted Turkey Breast
- Yukon Gold Mashed Potatoes (or the Instant Pot version)
- Gravy (make ahead)
- Sausage Stuffing or Traditional Stuffing (make ahead)
- Brussels Sprouts with Bacon
- Cranberries (make ahead)
- Rolls & Butter (store bought)
Dinner #6 Healthy BBQ Grill
- Grilled Buttermilk Chicken OR Mango BBQ chicken kabobs
- Oven Roasted Asparagus or Oven Roasted Broccoli
- Garlic Couscous (store bought)
Dinner #7 Casual Soup & Sandwich
- 5 Minute Tomato Basil Soup with Garlic Croutons
- Grilled Cheese Sandwiches or Chicken Salad Sandwiches
Dinner #8 Grilled Burgers & Fries
- Bacon Jam & Blue Cheese Burgers (make bacon jam ahead) OR Grilled Pork Burgers with Garlic Cream Sauce (make sauce ahead) OR Perfect Grilled Burgers
- Sweet Potato Fries
- Grilled Vegetable Skewers (peppers, onion, zucchini, mushrooms)
Dinner #9 Simple Soup for a Crowd
- Chicken Noodle Soup & Creamy Red Potato Soup (make both ahead)
- Crackers & Cheese Slices
- Tea Buns with Ham & Turkey, Mustard, and Mayonnaise
Dinner #10 Italian
- Traditional Lasagna OR Veggie Lasagna OR Italian Meatloaf
- Caesar Salad (store bought)
- Garlic Green Beans
- Garlic Bread (store bought)
Dinner #11 Mexican
- My Favorite Chicken Enchiladas OR Chicken Enchilada Suiza
- Chips & Restaurant Style Salsa (make ahead)
- 15 Minute Refried Beans
- Mexican Rice
- Optional – Fresh Pineapple with Citrus Herb Glaze (make ahead)
- Pineapple Margaritas
Dinner #12 Mexican Part 2
- Shredded Barbacoa Beef (make ahead) OR Carnitas OR Grilled Steak Tacos
- small flour tortillas (store bought)
- taco toppings you love (store bought)
- Guacamole, Pico De Gallo and Tomatillo Salsa (all make ahead)
- Refried Beans
- Mexican Rice
- Margaritas
Dinner #13 Cajun Instant Pot
- Instant Pot Cajun Rice with Chicken & Sausage
- Green Lettuce Salad with Vinaigrette
- Best Ever Cornbread Or Sweet Cornbread Muffins OR Buttermilk Cornbread(make ahead)
Dinner #14 Dinner Party
- Crispy Chicken with Goat Cheese
- Oven Roasted Asparagus
- Rice Pilaf (store bought)
- Warm Ciabatta Bread with a dish of extra virgin olive oil seasoned with basil, garlic, oregano, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes
Dinner #15 Winner Winner Chicken Dinner
- Fried Chicken from a restaurant or local grocery store
- 2-Minute Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce (make ahead)
- Cole Slaw (store bought)
- Cheesy Potato Casserole
- Jiffy Corn Casserole (make ahead)
- Best Ever Corn Bread and honey (make ahead, and make extra to serve for breakfast with maple syrup)
Baked Potato Bar
Happy Hour Drinks!
Drinks can be just as important as food, especially if you are entertaining adults.
Make sure your bar is stocked. Here are some things I have found are the very basic bare essentials: red wine, good silver tequila, vodka, gin and whiskey, club soda, tonic water, soda (ex. Coke), olives, lemons, limes and oranges.
Of course stock your bar with more exciting things if you want to make fun cocktails, like: Cointreau, simple syrup or agave, bitters, brandied cherries, juices, jalapeno slices, liqueurs like amaretto, and vermouth, etc….
- Big Batch Grapefruit Margaritas
- Margarita on the Rocks
- Pineapple Margarita
- Jalapeno Tequila (make ahead)
- Red Wine Winter Sangria (make ahead)
- Jalapeno Tequila Mule – aka Mexican Mule
- Raspberry Vodka Soda
- Rosemary Paloma or Classic Paloma
Something Sweet
Dessert is the only thing they will remember, some say. All of these options can be made ahead:
- Scotcheroos
- Thin Mint Cookies
- Apple Pie Bars
- Cherry Pie Bars
- Peanut Butter Chocolate Star Cookies
- Cookies & Cream Key Lime Ice Cream
- Triple Berry Cobbler
- Homemade Chocolate Sheet Cake with Chocolate Frosting
- Salted Caramel Blondies
- Easy Hot Cocoa Cookies
- Chocolate Cake Mix Cookies
I hope these tips and menus help you host and feed your house guests with ease!
Love- Susie
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Judi
This is priceless! I wish I had come across this years ago! Thank you!
Linda
Great ideas!!! All of my memories are of homemade Holiday meals with the women in the kitchen, the men in the living room, and the children outside playing. Now that I am 75, all of our older family members are gone, our siblings don’t want to share holidays, and our son and his girlfriend come to eat, but help only when asked then disappear to text until another request is made. (The girlfriend takes pictures of the food to send to friends!) I am now purchasing most items for the main meal, simplifying the menus, making a few items ahead, and making specific requests for items they can bring. I like to have time to sit down and enjoy their company, too! One suggestion for your readers — Make sure you have extras of basic items like milk, eggs, juice, sandwich makings, and ingredients for a few simple substitutes (just in case).
Susie Weinrich
I love this Linda! I also remember the days of 100% Homemade Holidays. ALL the women in the kitchen and the men & children in the living room or outside. There was something special about the women bonding in the kitchen for sure. I guess an era that has past.
…and you are right, the bonus of doing things a little different and having a semi-homemade holiday is that you get to spend more time with the ones you love. As one of the primary hosts for Holidays now, I love that part.
Happy Holidays to you and your family!
Arleen
This is SO helpful! I do not love to cook, so having a number of make ahead options will make everything much easier. Planning in advance, who knew?! 😉
Melissa
This list is fantastic! So glad to have recipes that are regular food that most people will like, and a sane plan to feed guests for a week. Thank you!
C. Stanley
Plan to make the breakfast muffins for sure. Great tips. The first thing I do these days is ask guests what they would like as special requests since I will be stocking the house with something anyway and I would prefer to buy things they like and will eat. I always ask if there are things they can not eat. Gluten, Meat, Nuts, etc. They always say no go to any trouble. I have to urge them on a bit by saying I love to cook and it let’s me fulfill a dream of running by own Bed & Breakfast. It never fails they open up. Then I find out they can’t or will not eat nuts, red meat, pork, etc. or caffeine. They are usually touched that I cared enough to ask.
Susie Weinrich
Love this… yes people will usually say don’t go to any trouble (unless there are real allergies present), but saying they will fulfill YOUR dream of owning a bed and breakfast is perfect!
Aly
Awesome ideas! I’ve been stressing about upcoming guests, this will make it so much easier. Thank you!
Lindsay
This is one of the most helpful resources I’ve ever come across! Thank you for putting so much thought into this. Other websites only share the fanciest, most elaborate recipes for guests and it’s so nice to be reminded I could make spaghetti!
Susie Weinrich
Exactly why I made this. I’m glad it helped you. (Thank you so much for taking the time to comment!)
Kathy
This was very helpful! Getting ready to travel and needed a casual meal to plan the night before to include two overnight guests. We’re doing the soup and sandwich meal; simple yet satisfying.
Kathy
Would prefer to use my first name only…unable to edit after posting!
Susie Weinrich
I changed it for you : ) So glad this helped you plan your meals!!
Gaby
Great tips. It seems that planning is critical. When I have guests, it is so difficult for me to focus on what to cook for them. I get so nervous that I have even forgotten to pull out dishes that I prepared ahead of time for them. Thank you for this article. I wish I could try the recipes ahead of time to make sure they are fools proof. I have one question about making ahead dishes! How do you store them to keep them fresh and forgo long? Also, if you freeze, how do you unfreeze it! Thanks!
Susie Weinrich
So glad this helped you!! Do you have a specific dishes that you are wondering about making ahead/freezing etc…? I am happy to help!!! You can also email me for help any time – Susie@momsdinner.net
Diana
You have some great suggestions here! I wish I’d found your article earlier. I would also love some tips on keeping the house and especially kitchen clean while guests are staying over. It seems like all I do during the day is prep for meals, eat, and clean up after meals, and then start all over again. This happens even when I have great guests who help. But I have guests to don’t help, it’s even worse.
Susie
I hear you!! It is definitely not easy breezy having guests. Although I don’t make it a habit of using disposables, if you have a house full of guests make things as easy as you can on yourself… paper plates/bowls when appropriate (lunch and casual breakfast), disposable pans for food prep and easy clean up. The dollar store is an amazing place to get affordable disposable/foil baking dishes. Have everything prepped in those pans so they can just be tossed or recycled after dinner! If people ask to help.. give them a specific task so they can feel helpful (ask them to pour more wine, dry dishes, pack up leftovers), then have great covo while they help.
Silvia
This is amazing. Thank you so much
Carmen Gregory
I wish I would have found you before my guests came last week. I will come back here regularly when I’m anticipating guest. I am looking forward to trying your recipes, they look great. Thank you
Susie
That is wonderful- I hope it helps you feed your house guests in the future. Definitely stick around and check out some other recipes!
Sandea
Thank you! I am panicking over here as I have guests for the week and have drawn a blank on what to cook. They are foodies and these recipes look great!
Susie
So glad this is going to help you!!!
Jina Ezell
Between the two cousin’s families and my six children and families, Thanksgiving week is CRAZY to say the least. Your options here have been a life and time saver!! Thanks so much!
Susie
THAT IS SO NICE!!!!!!! Thank you so much for commenting and letting me know. That is EXACTLY why I created this list. Would you mind if I put your comment on facebook? I can leave your name out.
Supriya Kutty
There always arises a big tension when you come to know that you have guests coming over, this is because you don’t know what to cook for them, but this post makes our work so simple as you have shared the entire recipe with us, I am surely trying maximum recipes as soon as possible and try and taste it.