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How to Cook for a Crowd

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Stick with what you know
A dinner party is not the occasion to experiment with stuffed Cornish hens if you've never cooked them before; instead, come up with a fun way to dress up your famous roast chicken.

Include just one "star" dish
Devote your time and energy to one spectacular recipe; keep the other dishes on the menu simple and straightforward.

Plan Ahead
Focus on recipes that can be prepared in advance rather than selecting dishes that require lots of last-minute work.

Minimize the number of ingredients
Save on shopping and preparation time (and free up counter space, which is always at a premium when you're entertaining) by using recipes with short ingredient lists.

Keep your cool
Trying to serve piping-hot food to 30 people is likely to be stressful; opt for recipes that offer leeway on serving temperature.

--Laura Naughton