People come to events for two main reasons: the company and the food—food being the number one reason. Planning a catering menu for any event can be daunting. You want to ensure guests are satisfied while accommodating dietary restrictions and staying within budget. 

But don’t worry, all is not lost. Today, we’re wowing you with seven easy but crowd-pleasing catering ideas that will surely be a hit at your upcoming event. Who said feeding a crowd has to be a hassle? Not us, that’s for sure! 

1. Accommodate Every Guest With Customizable Options

Catering to a large group of people means catering to various dietary restrictions and preferences. One way to make this easier is by allowing guests to customize their meals themselves. For easy catering ideas that meet this demand, you can’t go wrong with nachos and tacos. 

Different proteins, dips, sauces, and ingredients work well in these dishes, so you can easily accommodate vegan, gluten-free, vegetarian, and other dietary restrictions. You can even let them create their own plate!

You can serve nachos and tacos in different ways too. Hire a food truck or set up a buffet-style station with all the fixings. Either way, your guests can make their own combinations based on what they want to eat.

2. Sharing Is Caring—Get Food Where Everyone Gets a Piece 

Whether you’re hosting a personal or business private event, you want to bring guests together and socialize. And that means food included. Nothing brings people together like sharing food! When it comes to planning shareable food, pizza takes the top spot. Event attendees take pieces from a whole pie and conversations flow naturally around the food. 

Plus, this simple catered meal can accommodate various dietary needs. Gluten-free crusts or dairy-free cheese alternatives are right there for the picking. We recommend partnering with local restaurants serving pizzas so you can get as many delicious options as possible.

3. Satisfy Guests With Small but Heavy Hitters 

Burgers and sandwiches are a fun way to serve a delicious catered meal without the fuss. This easy catering idea calls for either food trucks or take-out/delivery that can be ordered ahead of time. Save money by asking your catering company to serve them pre-portioned to avoid overspending and food waste. For casual events, there’s no better catering food idea.

💡Bonus Tip: Offer a side salad or fresh fruit to complement your burgers and sandwiches and add a touch of freshness to the meal.

4. Choose Finger Foods for Easy Munching 

When hosting an event, you also want to avoid food waste. While it might make more sense to prepare a humungous amount of food, it’s often smarter to offer many options without overwhelming your guests’ plates.

This catering idea lets you serve different dishes without leaving leftovers. Bite-sized snacks also allow guests to try a little bit of everything. (Plus, the mini food usually looks great in pictures!)

So, if you’re planning an outdoor event or a party where people will mostly be mingling and walking around, go for catering menu ideas like french fries, mini quiches, vegetable skewers, meatballs, chicken satay, buffalo wings, spring rolls or cupcakes.

5. Freshen up With Healthy Options 

Salads can also be a great catering food idea. A salad bar with various greens, fresh vegetables, proteins (such as grilled chicken or tofu), nuts, seeds, grain bowls, and dressings will be a hit no matter the occasion. 

Add a touch of pre-made classic pasta salad or potato salad for people who can’t be bothered mixing their plates and just want to vibe. Buffet-style catering with these options offers a healthy and fun way to feed a crowd while cutting catering costs.

If you’re entertaining a smaller guest list, family-style serving lets guests pass salad platters and vegetarian options around—a great way to get people talking.

6. Always Have Fun Drinks at the Ready 

No catering event is complete without a tempting array of beverages to complement the delectable food offerings. That’s why our final catering idea is about quenching that thirst—and what better way than cocktails?

A well-curated drink menu is a gift that keeps on giving, and it’s going to offer you and your guests an enjoyable and memorable time.

🍸Bonus Tip: Don’t forget to provide non-alcoholic mocktail options for those preferring alcohol-free beverages.

Create the Perfect Catering Menu for Your Event 

Some catering food ideas are more fun than others. But what’s even more fun is creating a custom catering menu specifically for your upcoming event, and we’re here to make that happen.

Petty Cash Social Club makes food how we party: fun, casual, and satisfying. Our menu offerings accommodate several dietary restrictions and preferences, so everyone is catered to. We also have a unique and chill event space that can accommodate up to 300 people for events of all sizes. 

Host your legendary event with us! Check out our food menu or contact our events team to learn how we can help you make your catering menu ideas come true.