Make-ahead Summer Entertaining - The best meals to keep everyone happy

Mar 01, 2022Rick Pantas

There’s nothing like getting together with friends and family in the summertime. It’s the holidays, the days are long and warm, and the winter blues are well and truly gone. It’s the season devoted to parties, leisure time, and fun! And what better way to have fun than with our nearest and dearest.   

Here, we give you tips and recipes on summer entertaining, with make-ahead meal suggestions that will wow your guests. Best of all, everything you need for an awesome event is available with one easy click from iPantry and delivered straight to your door. So, let’s get the party started!  

Tips and Tricks when cooking for large groups 

Quick, easy, affordable, and tasty are words to live by when whipping up meals for large groups. Ideally, you want something ready-made and easy to prepare that won’t require you to slave away at a hot stove. 

When entertaining a large group, it’s essential to plan ahead. Take into account people’s food preferences, what the weather will be like, if you have a wet weather backup plan, and any food prep you’ll need to do beforehand. 

We have a heap of ready-made platters and boxes you can choose from that cater to different dietary requirements.

Take advantage of the gorgeous summer weather and take your gathering outside. Having so many bodies in a small space will quickly become confining and stuffy. Being out in the fresh air and sunshine puts everyone in a good mood.

Dietary Requirements - Provide a range of options!

Why not try something different at your next gathering by serving vegan options? Summer is the perfect time for light, healthy meals. Take advantage of the variety of produce available and serve in-season fruits and veggies. 

At iPantry, we stock a wide variety of vegan meals so you can cater to your vegan or health-conscious friends. They’re so full of flavour even your meat-eating guests will be impressed. 

We also carry organic and gluten-free, and our range is constantly growing. 

Keep the meals simple!

Opt for meals that are simple to prepare and don’t require too many ingredients. Try to do all the food prepping the day before. If you can, enlist the help of family or delegate specific tasks to friends to assist you. 

Invest in quality kitchen appliances such as a slow cooker (or two) or a large grill. These are great time savers as they require minimum supervision, leaving you free to do other tasks while the food cooks away in the background. 

Or don’t even cook at all! We have delicious meals perfect for big gatherings, such as platters, grazing boxes, and salads. Check out our catering and entertaining range here.

Share Food brings people together!

A shared meal brings people together. It’s how we make friends, connect with loved ones, nurture relationships, celebrate milestones, and mend conflicts. Science even proves that sharing meals can give us a longer lifespan because it strengthens our connection to our community. People have been bonding over food and drink since the dawn of time. It’s no wonder many fond memories we have from childhood are food-related. 

Group get-togethers are best when people mingle with everyone in a relaxed environment. Buffets are great for this reason. Set up a designated table as the centrepiece and allow everyone to serve themselves. 

Also, have some finger food handy. Scatter bowls of nibbles at specific gathering points to keep your guests’ hunger pangs at bay while the main meal is cooking. This keeps the conversation flowing and stops hungry kids bugging you in the kitchen. Go for simple finger foods like chips and dips, nuts, cheese, and crackers. It’s great for adults who might want to nibble while they sip on their ice-cold beer!

Have a look at our grazing platters and salads here for some inspiration

Our favourite recipes to share with your friends and family this summer 

Here are some tasty and easy summer entertaining recipes you can try for your next gathering. They are quick to prepare, use fresh, in-season ingredients, and are great crowd-pleasers. Best of all, you can get all the ingredients from our online store and have them conveniently delivered to you, leaving you with more time to plan a rockin’ party!

Wide Range BBQ!

Cooking outdoors is a wonderful way to bring everyone together, and nothing beats a barbecue when feeding a large group for lunch or dinner. Every summer, it’s the national pastime to munch on succulent steaks, juicy sausages, and sweet, caramelised onions. Who can resist all that smoke and food and a refreshingly ice-cold beer? 

At iPantry, we have high-quality meat, poultry, and seafood to  make it super easy for you at your next outdoor gathering. We deliver straight to your door, so all you need to do is throw it on the barbie, and you’re done. 

Vegan Burritos! 

Catering for your vegan loved ones is super easy with these vegan burritos that are full of flavour and comes together in minutes. They’re great for making ahead of time and are deliciously filling.

At iPantry, we have all the ingredients you need for your vegan burritos, as well as a vast range of vegan products, ready-made meals, and platters for all your party needs.

We also stock gluten-free and organic products.

Slow-Cooked Parmesan Garlic Chicken   

A slow cooker is your best friend and a must-have for entertaining. Everything cooked in the slow cooker is somehow more tender, flavourful, and savoury.

Try this slow-cooked parmesan garlic chicken as a delicious appetiser at your next summer party. It uses simple ingredients, but the results are amazingly delicious to impress your guests. Pop in the oven to crisp up at the end of cooking for that delightful crispy on the outside, tender on the inside effect.

Shop fresh poultry at iPantry and ha
ve them delivered to your door for convenience, and let us take the stress out of your party planning.

Summer Entertainment Essentials 

Besides fresh, healthy, tasty food, there are other must-haves every host and hostess need to nail the perfect summer party.

Include some ice-cold drinks!

Don’t forget to include some refreshing cocktail drinks in your entertainment. Discover our collection of non-alcohol drinks and recreate the non-alcoholic versions of classics or get creative concocting your signature taste. Impress your guests, both young and old, for a memorable summer shindig.

Keep the tunes going!

No party is complete without the tunes to set the mood! Curate a playlist of your favourite summer beats ahead of time, or better yet, ask your guests to bring their favourite playlist. This way, you can cater to everyone’s musical taste, and there’s one less thing for you to do.

Entertain your friends and family the right way!

We have you covered when it comes to fuss-free summer entertaining. Check out our massive range of pantry items, produce, and ready-made meals for your next summer lunch or dinner party, and order from the comfort of your home. And with our next-day delivery and free delivery for orders over $75, you can relax and get on with enjoying the good weather and the great company. 

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