What to make for a Game Night?

littlemushroom · January 2015

My friends and I have a game night once or twice a month, and we take turns who provides dinner for everyone. I am trying to come up with some ideas of things to make given the following:

1) I am feeding 9 (nine!) people, but don't want to spend a small fortune to do so. Several people in the group eat a LOT, so it needs to be more hearty.

2) I am cooking at my house , but then have to pack everything up to take to my friend's house across town. (They have a baby, and it is easier if we do it at their house)

3) I won't be home until mid afternoon because I have to take my car an hour and a half away that day so my FIL can fix my car. We will have lunch with the in laws that day as well. So I need something that doesn't take a long time to cook or prep. I figure I will have about 2 and a half hours from the time I get home until we need to be at my friend's house.

4) I already made pulled BBQ and tacos at home the last couple days, so the 3 of us don't really want those again on Saturday, especially since we will be having left overs this week. Those tend to be my go-to meals for a lot of people.

5) It is winter and cold here, so something warm would be best.

I have a 6 quart crock pot (and could borrow another one) and a new Oster roaster that I haven't used yet (I think it holds up to an 18 pound turkey to give an idea of size).

Here's the ideas I have so far... salad and build your own pizza (we would prep and bring all the toppings and baking sheets, and would use cook them at friends house), Korean chicken with white rice and either fried rice or lo mein on the side, or spaghetti/lasagna/baked ziti/some kind of pasta (I already know 1 person of the 9 would not eat this) and salad. I also thought of doing like 3 roasted chickens (I can get whole chickens for 88 cents/lb) and some veggies, but I am not sure what I can fit in that roaster or how long it would take to make 3 chickens.

Any other ideas for quick or set and forget meals that feed a lot of people on the cheap?

climbingsingle · January 2015

Can you assemble and then pop it in the oven when you get there? Lasagna or baked ziti would be super simple to do.

sarawifenow · January 2015

We do game nights, too! We also have about 10 people that go to them. I have found that a big dish of chicken parmesan goes a long way. You can make it ahead, put it in the fridge and then just heat it up at whoever's house you are at.

theartistformerlyknownas · January 2015

I'm doing chicken and dumplings for our next game night... at the specific request of a few friends who asked "can you have a game night so you can make those dumplings again?!" It's pretty easy to make the stew part ahead of time and then bring it back up to a boil once you get there to cook the dumplings.

ETA this is the recipe from my grandma's Polish cookbook. I use boneless skinless chicken thighs instead of broiler fryers, and simmer the whole thing on the stovetop.

sarawifenow · January 2015

@lolo883--Share you secret! Every time I try to make dumplings they turn out gummy. H loves chicken and dumplings, so I need to know this recipe!!!!

/endstalkerstatus/

JennyColada · January 2015

What about chili and cornbread? Or you could just do chicken legs (quicker and easier than whole chickens imo). I try to avoid things like pasta or things that are very handsy, because I don't want people's greasy hands all over my game stuff. So anything that you eat with a fork or spoon that doesn't drip all over is good for me.

Maybe enchiladas? You could do chicken enchiladas and pre-cook the chicken.

cupcait927 · January 2015

JennyColada said:

What about chili and cornbread? Or you could just do chicken legs (quicker and easier than whole chickens imo). I try to avoid things like pasta or things that are very handsy, because I don't want people's greasy hands all over my game stuff. So anything that you eat with a fork or spoon that doesn't drip all over is good for me. Maybe enchiladas? You could do chicken enchiladas and pee-cook the chicken.

I know it's a typo (or I'm hoping anyway) but I just laughed so hard at this.

JennyColada · January 2015

cupcait927 said:

JennyColada said:

What about chili and cornbread? Or you could just do chicken legs (quicker and easier than whole chickens imo). I try to avoid things like pasta or things that are very handsy, because I don't want people's greasy hands all over my game stuff. So anything that you eat with a fork or spoon that doesn't drip all over is good for me.

Maybe enchiladas? You could do chicken enchiladas and pee-cook the chicken.

I know it's a typo (or I'm hoping anyway) but I just laughed so hard at this.
---
Eek! Ew!

theartistformerlyknownas · January 2015

sarawifenow said:

@lolo883--Share you secret! Every time I try to make dumplings they turn out gummy. H loves chicken and dumplings, so I need to know this recipe!!!!

/endstalkerstatus/

Ummm... IDK. How do you make yours? Mine is more like a biscuit dough that I drop on top of the stew (at a low boil) with a big soup spoon - they're probably about 3" across. Cook uncovered for 10 minutes and then cover and simmer for 10 minutes. They're big enough that the insides are still soft biscuit-y and will soak up the gravy if you cut them open, but the outside would probably qualify as a little gummy since they're steamed.

Inkdancer · January 2015

Taco Salad! Make a big batch of beef and bean chili, and keep it warm in the crock pot. Then bring lettuce, tomato, Doritos, cheese, and sour cream. Everyone makes their own delicious salad, and you have minimal work to do.

wandajune6 · January 2015

I like all of the other ideas. A few more:

-Chicken pot pies, either individual or as a casserole. Cheap, easy, and easy finished at your friend's house. Serve with a salad.

-Taco or burrito bar. Serve with rice and beans. You could even use some of your leftover pulled pork as well as shredded chicken, etc.

-Kabobs. Make them veggie-heavy to keep the cost down, serve with rice pilaf or roasted potatoes.

-Beef stew. Even with a bunch of red wine (like mine!), it's inexpensive for a big group. I like making it the night before so I can de-fat it.

penguin44 · January 2015

I was going to say Taco Salad or Nacho bar. Easy to make the chili or taco meat in the crockpot and bring chips, lettuce, cheese, etc with you.

jenna8984 · January 2015

I'm all about snacking instead of actual meals at events like that so I'm just gunna throw out there this dip that my friend just made for game night last weekend.

Pizza dip- average size square casserole/ baking dish. Bottom layer spread one 8 oz block of cream cheese. Next layer- package of pepperoni cut into quarters and sprinkled out evenly. Third layer- 1 jar pizza sauce. Top Layer- 2 cups mozzarella cheese. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes. Dip with either tostitos scoops or fritos since they are a little less prone to breaking.

Inkdancer · January 2015

jenna8984 said:

I'm all about snacking instead of actual meals at events like that so I'm just gunna throw out there this dip that my friend just made for game night last weekend.
Pizza dip- average size square casserole/ baking dish. Bottom layer spread one 8 oz block of cream cheese. Next layer- package of pepperoni cut into quarters and sprinkled out evenly. Third layer- 1 jar pizza sauce. Top Layer- 2 cups mozzarella cheese. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes. Dip with either tostitos scoops or fritos since they are a little less prone to breaking.

Or pita chips!

emmaaa · January 2015

I was going to suggest pulled pork but it sounds like you don't want that again!

I think a good pot of chili beans with rice on the side and all of the toppings (cheese, onions, peppers, sour cream) would be great!

littlemushroom · January 2015

Thanks for all the ideas! We have dinner and then play games at game night so as to protect all of our board games from greasy, drippy damage. You all are right about prepping things early. If everything is prepped the night before I could just pop things in the oven when I get home and then warm up at my friend's house. That opens up some more options. Now to make room in the fridge...

Love the ideas about chicken enchiladas and chili! I hadn't thought of those. The pasta ideas or chicken parm are other big contenders. There are going to be some picky eaters there so I will need to ask around to make sure what I choose is a crowd pleaser. Lots of good options to choose from depending on what time everything else is happening.

anjemon · January 2015

Hoagie type sandwiches are usually a pretty big vote at our game nights. It's nice because people can make how they like.

Otherwise I think the taco/nacho bar thing sounds amazing.

WinstonsGirl · January 2015

Baked chicken breasts. I made about 20 of them in the oven for my BFF's shower. They have lemon pepper seasoning. Pre-eat oven to 375F, brush chicken with olive oil, sprinkle with lemon pepper, then repeat on the other side. Cook 15 min on each side. Then you just need some sides.

Chipmunk415 · January 2015

Skinny buffalo chicken dip.I can fit a quadruple batch of ingredients into a 6 quart crock pot.

1 batch takes
4 oz reduced fat cream cheese, softened
8oz fat free sour cream
1/2 cup buffalo wing sauce or hot sauce of choice
2 cups cooked and shredded chicken
1tsp white wine vinegar
1/2 cup cheese (I tend to use a low fat mexican blend)

Combine cream cheese sour cream hot sauce and vinegar. Mix thoroughly, no cream cheese lumps. Mix in chicken and cheese, put in crock pot on low for 3-4 hours stirring occasionally.

Serve with multigrain chips, celery, or other raw veggies. My boss's boss likes to eat a plateful with a spoon. I occasionally cheat instead of cooking chicken and buy publix chicken strips. I add extra to account for the space taken up by breading instead of chicken.

What to make for a Game Night?

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