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Company’s Coming! No Fuss Hospitality Meals

So…you’ve taken the plunge and invited the recently widowed next-door-neighbor to join your family for dinner. Or your Pastor’s entire family of eight. Maybe you jumped into the deep end and invited over your entire Sunday school class! Yay!

Then it dawns on you: I don’t know what to feed all these extra people!!

I’m here to help with suggestions for No Fuss Hospitality Meals!

Here’s a funny thing. I googled “company meals” and “simple hospitality meals”. The results I received had titles such as: “Simple Meals That Look Fancy”, or “Meals to Impress”, or “Easy Recipes to Impress Your Guests”.

As previously discussed in Cultivate Hospitality | How to Love Your Neighbor, I have no ambition to impress anyone. I’m not the least  bit interested in putting on a show or pretending I’m something other than what I am. Instead, let’s set out to be comfortable, homey, welcoming, and genuine. How about simple meals that free us up to enjoy our guests and build relationships and community?

The meals I have in mind are generally well-liked by a wide variety of ages. Most are not costly; all can be easily produced by even inexperienced cooks. Are you ready? Here goes!

10 Super Simple No Fuss Hospitality Meals

1. Potluck Dinner

It doesn’t get simpler or more inexpensive than the old-fashioned potluck dinner. Assign categories or not…if you end up with six desserts, well…laugh and dig in. Potlucks immediately make everyone feel part of the group. There is the added benefit that each person is sure to find at least one dish they like (since they brought it). This is also a great option as an icebreaker: you may learn something new about one another’s heritage and you’re sure to end with a few new recipes. I think an acquaintance would feel more at ease being invited if he was contributing in some way.

2. Chili

Inexpensive and simple, chili is usually a crowd-pleaser. We are in the “chili-with-beans” camp, so it stretches easily to feed more with a few extra cans of beans. Since we have vegetarians in our family, I like to add a Quinoa chili option. Throw some toppings in bowls (shredded cheese, olives, avocado, sour cream, tortilla chips), add in corn bread and saltines on the side, and you have a simple tasty meal. Leftovers freeze great! (Click here for the recipe for Quinoa Chili.)

3. Soup

Make a ginormous pot of your favorite soup, add in a loaf of crusty bread, and you’re set! This is also a super theme for a potluck; we recently did this in our family. If you’d like to try your hand at making thrifty French bread, here’s a link to the Prudent Homemaker’s delicious recipe for Rosemary Olive Oil Bread. Oh my!

4. Spaghetti

It seems hard to go wrong with spaghetti, or really any pasta dish. Even extremely picky children usually at least like “naked noodles”, as my kids used to call them. (Although they were not picky eaters by any stretch of the imagination, several of them had a strange liking for un-sauced pasta.)

5. Subs

I love the ease of a make-your-own meal for entertaining, and subs are a big hit at our house. This one can become surprisingly costly, so watch for deli meat sales. A fun variation on this would be make-your-own panini. I don’t have a panini press, but our George Foreman Grill makes an outstanding panini. Add some chips and a veggie plate, and you’re done prepping.

6. Taco Bar

Continuing with the “help yourself” theme, almost everyone likes a taco. Brown up some hamburger or chicken strips, warm some black or kidney beans, and set all the toppings within easy reach. Health food lovers can concoct a salad, vegetarians can fix up a bean and cheese taco; everyone can find something to eat. Here again, ask guests to contribute to the topping bar options.

7. Cookout

Or as my husband says, “Let’s burn some burgers!” See what’s on sale: hamburger, hot dogs, chicken…Grill some potatoes, corn on the cob, or other veggies. Add a green salad. Done!

8. Pulled Pork

I use Pioneer Woman’s Spicy Dr. Pepper Pulled Pork recipe (click link). However, I only use half the can of Chipotle Peppers in Adobe Sauce, because some of us aren’t into spicy. Pork butt is a relatively inexpensive cut of meat, and I can attest to the fact that this pulled pork goes a long way. I’ve always had leftovers, which freeze beautifully and make lovely pulled pork burritos. Sometimes I whip out the tortillas and make up a bunch, wrap, and put in a freezer bag. Viola! Meal in the freezer. My favorite.

9. Appetizer Spread

Or, Snacky Dinner. My family loves this! Once again, another theme that lends itself to Potluck. Ask everyone to bring one or two of their favorite appetizers, and enjoy snacking the evening away. This is especially great for game night or sports watching. Don’t feel guilty for making a Sam’s or Trader Joe’s run and purchasing pre-made appetizers. Why not?

10. Bring in some Take-Out!

Again, y’all…why not? No one ever said you must serve your guests home-cooked food. Or if someone did say that, you don’t have to accept it. If it’s all about building relationships, doing life together, and cultivating community instead of Impressing The Guests, then you can serve whatever you want, guilt-free. Permission granted.

I love Chinese Take Out, but don’t get it often. My husband got some to serve for my last birthday party, and I’m requesting it again this year. Bring in whatever strikes your fancy! Pizza? Even cheap Little Caesar’s Pizza? You bet! Rotisserie chicken from the supermarket? Bring it on!

Granted, this is not the least expensive option, but if time and effort are a bigger concern than the budget, this is the perfect solution. Enjoy!

Now it’s your turn to share! What is your go-to meal to serve guests? Have you thrown a particularly successful potluck? We want to hear all about it! Please comment. Then go…invite someone over to share a simple meal!

Resources

 You’ll love this book by Shauna Niequist. I love how infectiously she shares her love for community. It’s full of tips and great recipes! Click on image for affiliate link.

 This fun and inspiring book is full of the most beautiful photographs! It’s also bursting with ideas for themed gatherings, along with simple crafts and recipes.

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Cultivate Hospitality | How to Love Your Neighbor

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