What would you feed 30 people (Main course)?

We get invited to a cottage once a year where we split into groups and cook for the others.  Grilling is the primary source of cooking.  Last year we did flank steak but the host pre-sliced the meat and it was very fiddly cooking this way.  It took forever and was a bit dry.  No matter, we ate and had fun anyway.
 
I thought salmon might be good becaue it's tasty, cooks quickly and isn't too expensive.  Not everyone likes fish though so we would either need to add a complimentary entree or scrap the fish entirely.
 
What would you do for a big group?  (For some reason ribs were a no go because of the bones in a rural area.)

Paella.

If you have never made it get someone like this to help you out:
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http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20090624/LIFE01/906240333

Grilling is the primary source for 30 people?.  Hamburgers and Hot dogs. 

Does it have to be an entree or is an appetizer acceptable?  If no one's ever cooked them before, chiles stuffed with cream cheese, sausage, etc. and wrapped with bacon, prosciutto, etc. might be fun.  If you go here and use the search function to find "ABT" you should get lots of info.

Brad

i'd cook pork shoulder for pulled pork ahead of time elsewhere, and heat it up in the grill.  

Teriyaki boneless chicken thighs. Fairly cheap to make and have great flavor.

Shish-kebab.  You can have chicken kebabs and lamb or beef kebabs for the meat-eaters, and have an all-veggie option for non meat-eaters.  Add rice, salad, bread, and you're good to go!

Never, ever, ever, serve for a crowd anything that has a small window between the time it is ready and the time it is ruined. In particular, roast beef and steaks are probably a "bad idea" unless you have enough grilling space to cook for everybody at once.

If you want to use the grill, then anything that can be cooked in advance and then quickly heated on the grill is fine; sausages of various sorts (including hot dogs) are a good idea. Chicken should be pieces and pre-cooked. If you have scads of money, lobster tails work nicely.

http://www.bbq.co.uk/bbq-recipes/poultry/beer-marinated-chicken-tacos.htm

Paper thin grilled chicken breasts....Take each chicken breast and butterfly it and then put it between wax paper and pound it paper thin.  Salt, pepper, fresh herbs, fresh garlic and lots of olive oil and a little fresh lemon juice.  It can marinate 3-4 hours. 

If you've pounded out the breasts properly, they will cook on both sides of the grill in a total of less than 5 minutes...Serve on nice hamburger rolls with your favorite condiment or BBQ sauce.  Have the group help themselves..Put the chicken on a platter..Rolls, chicken, condiments, salad bowl, dessert (cake, etc) and you're done.

Hey, lobster?  When is the party!!!

When I used to visit at my friends cottage, I would marinate( over night) a couple of chuck steaks,They turn out really tender and are easy to grill..

Well on Aircraft Carriers (well in excess of 30 people) Dinty Moore seemed to work well. :)

I think chicken and beef fajitas would be good for a crowd. Marinate boneless, skinless chicken thighs and also marinate skirt or flank steak or chuck roast, one person grills while a second person slices the meat as it is done. Ahead of time, saute colorful peppers and onions, keep warm in a crock pot. Also have ready sour cream, salsa and sliced avocado to top the meat and vegetables. Wrap fajita size tortillas in foil and warm in the oven or on the back of the grill. Lay out in this order: tortillas, sliced meats, veggies, salsa, sour cream, avocado. Fix a big salad or marinated veggie salad to serve with and don't forget the margaritas!

Sorry I can't copy and paste my recipe for Pollo Fajitas a AllRecipes.com. This site won't let me. It is the one under my name.

Various skewers.

Yakitori (chicken)
beef
ginger pork
Sweet chili shrimp

A bunch of  pre-made pasta reheated in pot with some meat balls mixed in.  Or, large cans of pork and beans in a pot with cut up hot dogs.  The pots can be reheated on the grill...stir often to prevent bottom burning.

Abou Baah Ben Adhem led all the rest---------I love the chicken breast idea-----but can I use it for less than 30---how about 10 ???
Maybe 12 ????

Peeple who need Peeples --- are the luckiest Peeple---but Ann Mon Cher you is a breakfast guru for 30 peeple --- or should that be "am" not "is" ------  

War Toad ----- I have been skewered-----I think Kaboobs are a great idea-------have a whole bunch of marinated stuff laid out---everyone then is handed a skewer and make their own--hand it to the chef and keep an eye on it-----2nds and 3rds are often the norm.   HI NORM !!!!!

That paella sounds and looks good------I make chippino for a big bunch but that is a lot of fish and some peeples don't or can't eat fish.  Poor folks are missing some darn good eating !!!!!! 

This is a good post --- so many options.  So man decisions.   

2 pork loins, bbq'd to an internal of 135-140, cole slaw, large pan of mac and cheese

I love the kabob or fajita idea - you can mix meats/seafood options with grilled or sauteed veggies, and everyone can do their own thing.

Taco party!  Get a griddle for the tortillas and then do whatever meat you feel like.

Have bowls for the sides like lettuce, cheese, tomatoes, etc.

It's a do it yourselfer!

Get those preseasoned pork loins.  Various flavors.  They cook in about 30 minutes.  And stand well prior to slicing in rounds.

Ancient - Why not?  10 - 15- 30 - 50

Thanks for all of the great ideas.  I am even thinking boneless ribs, although  half the goodness is nibbling on the bones!

By Democratic choice it will be chicken and beef fajitas with all the extras.  Might try an avocado/tomatillo salsa and a Mexican shrimp cocktail too.  Some fruit on the side.  Thanks all.

Sounds good-enjoy!!!

For large groups my go-to meals:

1. BBQ Country Pork Ribs (Dinosaur BBQ rub, Dinosaur BBQ slathering sauce) BBQ beans, salad, corn bread, cole slaw.

2. Tacos (ground beef, chicken, pork, lettuce, tomato, cheese, sour cream, guacamole, mild-medium-hot salsa, corn salsa, taco sauce, flour and corn soft tacos) I put each item (except the corn and flour tacos) in bowl on a buffet table, and everyone makes their own. figure on only 1/3lb meat per person - and with all the other ingredients, you'll have left overs.

3. Bean and Cheese Enchiladas. (could add beef - also, top with black olives when putting in the oven, top with sour cream after cooking) Easy peasy meal. Sides: Salad. could do rice, too.

4. Cold spaghetti salad. Easy recipe. Sides: tomato and basil salad, regular salad, and crusty bread.  (excellent summer meal)

of these: only #1 requires the use of a grill. so, not sure how helpful I am with #2, #3 and #4.
 

soylent green

White Castle Hamburgers - Buy'em by the sack !

I often go with Jambalaya for a crowd-
holds well, rice makes it stretch,
has chicken, sausage, and shrimp, so folks can pick out whatever they like.
Serve it with a salad and crusty bread- YUM
 
(I would make it milder than usual and serve several hot sauces on the side, so folks could spice it to taste...)

Barbeque Chicken and
Corn on the Cob
(you can use a turkey deep fryer and boil a lot of corn at once just by filling it with water instead of oil)

ZekeTheCat


White Castle Hamburgers - Buy'em by the sack !

Buy them by the CRAVE CASE
This was at 9 in the morning.

This was 2 cases later, at about 9 at night.