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Cheap Graduation Party Food Feeds 50 Easy Crowd-Pleasing Recipes for Guests

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A budget-friendly, easy-to-make pasta bake recipe designed to feed 50 guests, perfect for graduation parties and large celebrations. This crowd-pleasing dish combines pasta, meat, vegetables, and cheese for a flavorful and filling meal.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 5 pounds elbow macaroni or penne pasta
  • 3 quarts marinara sauce (store-bought, enhanced with fresh garlic and herbs)
  • 5 pounds lean ground beef or turkey
  • 3 pounds shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 4 pounds fresh vegetables (bell peppers, onions, zucchini)
  • Salad ingredients: large heads of romaine or iceberg lettuce, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, simple vinaigrette
  • 50 buns or slider rolls
  • Seasonings and oils: garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, olive oil, vinegar

Instructions

  1. Prep your ingredients early by chopping all veggies, measuring pasta, and preparing sauces and seasonings (30 minutes).
  2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add pasta and cook 1-2 minutes less than package instructions to avoid mushy noodles. Drain and toss with a little olive oil to prevent sticking (15 minutes).
  3. In a large skillet, brown ground beef or turkey over medium-high heat until no pink remains. Drain excess fat. Add diced onions, bell peppers, and zucchini; cook until softened and fragrant (20 minutes).
  4. Stir in marinara sauce, garlic, and Italian seasoning with the meat and veggies. Let simmer for 5-10 minutes to blend flavors (10 minutes).
  5. In large roasting pans or baking dishes, combine pasta with meat sauce and half the shredded cheese. Stir gently but thoroughly. Sprinkle remaining cheese on top (10 minutes).
  6. Bake at 375°F (190°C) until cheese is melted, bubbly, and golden on top (30–40 minutes).
  7. While pasta bakes, toss fresh greens, tomatoes, cucumbers, and dressing for a crisp salad (10 minutes).

Notes

[‘Do not overcook pasta; cook just shy of al dente to avoid mushy texture after baking.’, ‘Use fresh garlic and herbs to enhance store-bought marinara sauce.’, ‘Drain excess fat from meat to prevent watery or greasy sauce.’, ‘Make salad last minute to keep greens crisp.’, ‘Prep ahead by browning meat, chopping veggies, and assembling pasta bake the day before; refrigerate covered and bake fresh on the day of.’, ‘This recipe scales well for 20 to 100 guests; adjust equipment and cooking times accordingly.’, ‘For gluten-free, use gluten-free pasta; for dairy-free, omit cheese or use dairy-free alternatives.’, ‘Leftovers store well in the fridge for up to 4 days; reheat on stovetop with a splash of water or broth.’]

Nutrition

Keywords: graduation party food, crowd-pleasing recipes, budget-friendly pasta bake, easy party food, large group meals, pasta bake recipe, affordable party food

Find it online: https://lucastable.com/cheap-graduation-party-food-feeds-50-easy-crowd-pleasing-recipes-for-guests/