We are hosting 8 people for lunch in a couple of weeks.
I’m thinking a casserole type thing, probably with chicken.
Any tried and true suggestions?
Other fairly simple ideas also appreciated.
TIA
Poor man’s cassoulet is a great winter dish. Basically substitute chicken thighs for duck. I use canned beans.
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Would a Mexican theme work. If so…
These are served with rice, guac, salsa, cheese and sour cream on the side. I also use tortilla chips.
You can make it as a topping for a Mexican salad too. Instead of rice, use salad greens.
The recipe says “frajitta seasoning” which is just taco seasoning.
It’s easy and tasty.
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Some sort of soup, a fabulous salad, and even better bread. Bonus points for choice of 2 soups (perhaps a vegetarian soup such as butternut squash/apple or minestrone, and a non-veg like chicken noodle or chicken tortilla or beef chili or something). Having leftover soups is always a good thing in my book, and they freeze well. Also you can make them in advance (even well in advance and freeze them!), which I always appreciate when hosting. The bread could be a great focaccia or wonderful baguette, or some sort of bread (ciabatta?) toasted with cheese on top. Sounds fun!
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Hot Chicken Salad is the go-to chicken casserole at our house. You could even make it in individual ramekins.
The potato chip topping is a must. I like chopped water chestnuts in it too.
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My first thought was a couple of soups.
Maybe that and a big salad/bread would work.
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Even if I don’t make this for the party, I’m going to make it for us at some point.
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Any allergies? My go-to is to do “components”. Usually grilled chicken and salmon. With a Ceaser Salad and a pasta, pea, pesto salad. People can mix and match what they want and it’s easy to adjust for allergies.
For something a bit heartier, I do lasagna and a salad or pulled pork (rolls for people that want them) with some type of “slaw” and a salad of beans, corn, avocado, peppers, onions and zucchini with a chili/cumin vinegarette.
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What about Coq au vin? My H made it during our Christmas visit with family. He used this Ina Garten recipe. He used chicken thighs rather than cutting up a whole chicken. I liked it, because I prefer the dark meat. Here’s the recipe.
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Do you live near a Trader Joes? This is delicious, ad failsafe!
TJ Just Chicken
Tub mirepoix
sliced mushrooms
parsley
perhaps some chopped butternut squash
handful frozen peas
frozen puff pastry
jar alefredo
saute the mushrooms and mirepois until tender
add butternut and peas (if using)
add jar alfredo
fold in chicken
top with defrosted puff pastry
bake 425 for about 40m
dead easy - almost no prep no cooking required!
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Homemade individual chicken pot pies and salad -
Well that’s what I want anyway on a winters day.
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Here is a chicken casserole that is a hit. Its
my MIL recipe, but I do real shredded chicken 2-3 cups, not canned. It tastes better. I do about almost a large velvetta cheese…cut it in cubes to help melt.
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I’m a big fan of quiche and salad, ate it once a week when my kids were little when friends and I rotated playgroup. Veg/meat/cheese quiche with lettuce/nut/fruit/cheese salad.
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Last month we served a spontaneous dinner of quiche/salad AND pulled pork sandwiches to another couple (good friends, almost family). My husband had asked what we could serve before sending the text message invite, and he misunderstood my OR statement about entree choices. I realized the combo could work for a bigger crowd, to give choices including meat-free and gluten-free (pork without roll).
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I have actually thought of pulled pork as the main entree, with potato salad and coleslaw. People could use buns or not. 2 of our guests are Jewish, and I don’t know if they would eat pork or like it.
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Make pulled chicken. Substitute boneless chicken for the pork. It’s delicious.
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I have not met a Jewish person who would eat pork. I second @thumper1’s suggestion of pulled chicken. A safe bet.
An even safer bet: salmon.
Pulled salmon? With BBQ sauce? Please tell me you don’t mean that!
When I said pulled chicken…same ingredients as pulled pork but substitute the chicken. I make it in my crock pot. Easy peasy.
ETA…I’m a Jewish person who eats pork…but I would never assume that with guests!
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No, I mean planked, poached, baked, etc.
Our extended family members who keep (not very strictly) kosher will not eat chicken at our house but will always eat fish, and salmon is the easiest to prep for a crowd. 
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We normally cook Alaska salmon for this crowd, and it’s our favorite, but I want to do something else this time.