Premade meals are THE way to feed a group. But what recipes should you choose? 

Planning a large gathering for the holidays can be tough. You have to make a guest list, pick a suave venue, decorate, and oversee everything day-of. Arguably, the toughest part of hosting a large gathering is food. What are you going to feed everyone? Do you expect them to pitch-in, potluck style? What is your overall food budget? 

If you are looking to feed a crowd, consider pre-making most of your dishes beforehand and freezing them. This will save you so much hassle on the day of the party and prevent any cooking mishaps from spoiling the night. Here are a few premade meals you might consider: 

1. Chicken Pot Pie  

Try it at Taste of Home. 

One chicken pot pie recipe can easily make 2 pies or up to 8 servings. It takes about an hour to prepare and bake. The recipe is super easy to double, too, if you require more. You can easily freeze a pot pie in order to keep it fresh for later. Just let it cool fully before storing it in the freezer. On the day you need the meal, just microwave it on high for 3-4 minutes and then place in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for 8-10 minutes or until the center is warm.  

2. Spaghetti with Meat Marinara 

Try it at AllRecipes. 

With this recipe, you only have to make and store the sauce early. Pasta can be boiled easily at the time of the event. Tomato- and meat-based sauce is so easy to make it’s silly. Plus, doubling, tripling, or even quadrupling the recipe is hard to mess up. That means you will be able to feed plenty. Let the spaghetti sauce cool completely before freezing. When you’re packaging it, make sure there is enough room in the freezer-proof container to let the sauce expand. On the day of the event, take the sauce out of the freezer and leave it in the fridge to start to thaw. Then, heat it in a pot an hour before you are ready to serve.  

3. Spinach-Artichoke Dip 

Try it at Country Living. 

Chips and dip are a great appetizer for any party that is better suited to grazing. Think: corporate events, anniversary bashes, or New Year’s parties. Spinach-artichoke dip can last for up to 4 days in the fridge. You can make it ahead of time and pack it when you’re getting ready for the set-up. It’s also a super easy recipe to duplicate without messing up the flavor. Throw it in the oven for a few minutes to warm it up before putting it out for guests.  

Planning a large group get-together in the Kelowna area?  

La Casa Mirador Guest House is available for private bookings year-round! La Casa Mirador has spectacular views of Lake Okanagan and can accommodate events of varying sizes. The venue comes with banquet tables and chairs, standard white linens, a portable dance floor, stemware, and place settings for up to 120 guests.  Premade meals welcomed…but you can also take advantage of our fully stocked kitchen to cook on-the-go!

This house comes with plenty of parking and accommodates up to 26 overnight guests. While staying in La Casa Mirador, you and your guests also have access to the many amenities La Casa Resort has to offer, including 2 pools, 3 hot tubs, 12 poolside communal barbecues, tennis courts, water trampolines, 2 lakeside fire pits, a mini-golf course, beach volleyball, and trails. There are also numerous wineries and golf courses in the nearby vicinity. 

Ready to plan your party or event with La Casa Mirador? Give us a call at 1-888-226-5566 or email us at rentals (at) lacasacottageresort (dot) com.