Hosting a big family gathering just got a whole lot easier with these easy make-ahead dishes that are perfect for feeding a crowd. From cheesy Mexican casserole with ground beef to tender pot roast with savory gravy, these comforting, crowd-pleasing recipes are packed with flavor and simple to prep in advance. You’ll find hearty slow cooker favorites, cozy casseroles, and flavorful one-pot meals that let you skip the last-minute stress and spend more time enjoying the moment. These dishes aren’t just convenient—they’re the kind of soul-satisfying meals your guests will remember and request again and again.

Mexican Casserole Recipe with Ground Beef

nacho casserole on a plate
Mexican Casserole Recipe with Ground Beef. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality

Mexican Casserole Recipe is a cheesy, comforting dish that’s quick to make and crowd-pleasing. Made with seasoned ground beef, creamy enchilada sauce, corn, beans, and tortilla chips, it’s perfect for weeknight dinners or group gatherings.
Get the Recipe: Mexican Casserole Recipe with Ground Beef

Hearty Tender Pot Roast and Gravy

Sirloin tip roast and vegetables
Hearty Tender Pot Roast and Gravy. Photo Credit: Intentional Hospitality

Your family will say thank you when you make this delicious slow cooker recipe for tender, juicy sirloin tip roast with a mix of delicious vegetables and savory gravy. This make-ahead recipe is an easy-to-prep sirloin tip roast in a slow cooker that is perfect for a hassle-free, mouthwatering dinner.
Get The Recipe: Hearty Tender Pot Roast and Gravy

Easy Spaghetti Sauce Crock Pot Recipe

A fork lifts spaghetti with meat sauce from a green plate. The pasta is topped with a rich, chunky tomato meat sauce, suggesting a hearty meal. A red and white striped cloth is partially visible in the background.
Easy Spaghetti Sauce Crock Pot Recipe. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality

You need to try this spaghetti sauce creamy crock pot recipe! It’s a rich, protein-packed, and comforting blend of ground beef, velvety cottage cheese, and tangy tomato sauce. Slow-cooked to perfection, it creates deep, hearty flavors in every bite, perfect for an easy, make-ahead meal.
Get the Recipe: Easy Spaghetti Sauce Crock Pot Recipe

Tex-Mex Chicken Taco Soup

tex mex soup crokpot recipe
Tex-Mex Chicken Taco Soup. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

Hearty Tex-Mex Chicken Taco Soup Recipe is an easy make-ahead soup recipe that is full of traditional Mexican seasonings and veggies.
Get the Recipe: Tex-Mex Chicken Taco Soup

Old Fashioned Slow Cooker Goulash

German goulash
Old Fashioned Slow Cooker Goulash. Photo Credit: Intentional Hospitality

This hearty Slow Cooker German Goulash recipe makes it easy to serve a delicious, authentic goulash soup. This German Goulash is chock full of tender beef and vegetables cooked to perfection in a richly seasoned red wine and sweet paprika broth.
Get The Recipe: Old Fashioned Slow Cooker Goulash

Turkey Breast Recipe And Stuffing

A plate of sliced turkey breast covered with creamy gravy, garnished with fresh rosemary and sage. The dish is served on a white rectangular platter placed on a white cloth.
Turkey Breast Recipe And Stuffing. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

Juicy and tender turkey breast with this simple crockpot recipe. Perfect for weeknights or as an easy holiday option with stuffing!
Get the Recipe: Turkey Breast Recipe And Stuffing

Yankee Pot Roast Recipe

Yankee pot roast
Old Fashioned Yankee Pot Roast Recipe. Photo Credit: Intentional Hospitality

You can make this Crock Pot Yankee Pot Roast that’s fork-tender and juicy with just 10 minutes of prep time. It’s easy, just fill your slow cooker and let it do all the work.
Get The Recipe: Yankee Pot Roast Recipe

Creamy Chicken and Tortellini Soup

A bowl of creamy chicken tortellini soup with shredded chicken, cheese tortellini, diced carrots, and herbs, topped with grated cheese. Served in a white bowl with a red rim, accompanied by a silver spoon and a striped napkin on the side.
Creamy Chicken and Tortellini Soup. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

This creamy soup pairs cheese tortellini, tender chicken, and Italian herbs for an easy and satisfying meal that feels festive.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Chicken and Tortellini Soup

Delicious Oven-Baked Pork and Sauerkraut

New year's eve pork and sauerkraut on black plate
Delicious Oven-Baked Pork and Sauerkraut. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality

Pork and sauerkraut is a savory, dish that’s easy to prepare and perfect for hosting. Made with tender pork roast, fresh sauerkraut, sweet apple, and brown sugar, this one-pot recipe delivers bold flavor and comforting aroma. Make it a day in advance and reheat on low with a splash of apple juice for easy entertaining.
Get the Recipe: Delicious Oven-Baked Pork and Sauerkraut

Creamy Lemon Garlic Chicken With Pasta

A white scalloped plate with creamy pasta topped with a seasoned chicken breast, garnished with lemon slices and parsley. The dish is placed on a light background with a yellow and white checkered cloth beside it.
Creamy Lemon Garlic Chicken With Pasta. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

Indulge in this Crock Pot Lemon Garlic Chicken smothered in a rich and creamy sauce that pairs perfectly with pasta. Only 15 minutes of prep.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Lemon Garlic Chicken With Pasta

Smothered Beef Skirt Steak Crock Pot Recipe

A plate of shredded pot roast covered in brown gravy with mushrooms, served over a bed of rice. A black fork is lifting a portion of the tender meat. Fresh parsley is sprinkled on top as a garnish.

Beef skirt steak crock pot is a savory, tender dish that’s incredibly easy to make. Made with skirt steak, mushrooms, and a creamy onion gravy, it’s perfect for weeknight dinners or a hearty meal for guests. Serve it over mashed potatoes, rice, or noodles.
Get the Recipe: Smothered Beef Skirt Steak Crock Pot Recipe

Classic Mexican Steak Picado Recipe

Mexican steak piccata
Classic Mexican Steak Picado Recipe. Photo Credit: Intentional Hospitality

This classic Mexican Steak Picado Recipe smothers seared beef strips in a smoky tomato sauce with plabanos, jalapenos, green peppers, and onions. Here is the best part: this Crock Pot recipe takes less than 20 minutes to prepare. Perfect for an easy weeknight dinner or festive dinner party with friends.
Get The Recipe: Classic Mexican Steak Picado Recipe

Crock Pot 16 Bean Soup

A bowl of hearty bean stew with chunks of meat, diced carrots, and a wooden spoon. The dish is topped with shredded cheese and garnished with herbs. Crackers are placed beside the bowl on a wooden surface.
Crock Pot 16 Bean Soup. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

This simple step-by-step recipe will teach you how to cook hearty 16-bean soup with a ham bone in your crock pot. It’s great for easy make-ahead meals.
Get the Recipe: Crock Pot 16 Bean Soup

Cheesy French Onion Soup Chicken Casserole

A rectangular white baking dish filled with a baked dish featuring caramelized onions, melted cheese, and herbs in a rich brown sauce. The dish is set on a wooden board with a yellow cloth beside it.
Cheesy French Onion Soup Chicken Casserole. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality

This French Onion Chicken Casserole is packed with savory flavor, featuring juicy boneless, skinless chicken thighs smothered in caramelized onions and topped with melty provolone cheese. To get ahead, you can assemble the casserole up to the point of baking, then cover it tightly and store it in the fridge for up to a day.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy French Onion Soup Chicken Casserole

Easy Crockpot Copycat Skyline Chili

A plate of spaghetti topped with chili, kidney beans, chopped onions, and shredded cheese. A fork is lifting some noodles. In the background, bowls of shredded cheese, chopped onions, and beans are visible.
Easy Crockpot Copycat Skyline Chili. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

Crock pot copycat Skyline Chili recipe brings authentic flavor with a sweet, savory sauce spiced with cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg.
Get the Recipe: Easy Crockpot Copycat Skyline Chili

Italian Chicken Parmesan

A plate of spaghetti topped with homemade chicken parmesan, marinara sauce, and melted cheese, garnished with fresh basil leaves. The dish is served on a red and white plate, with a grater and a striped cloth napkin in the background.
Italian Chicken Parmesan. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

This Italian Chicken Parmesan Recipe takes tender chicken breasts, coats them in Panko bread crumbs, and cooks them with marinara in a slow cooker.
Get the Recipe: Italian Chicken Parmesan

Old Fashioned Creamy Chicken And Dumplings

Homemade chicken and dumplings
Old Fashioned Creamy Chicken And Dumplings. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

Old Fashioned Creamy Chicken And Dumplings recipe creates soft chewy dumplings, tender chicken and veggies smothered in a creamy sauce.
Get the Recipe: Old Fashioned Creamy Chicken And Dumplings

Flavorful Herb Crusted Beef Sirloin Tip Roast Recipe

A plate of sliced, medium-rare roast beef is garnished with Rosemary sprigs. A sharp knife with a wooden handle and an intricate pattern on its blade rests on the plate, indicating the beef is freshly carved. A cloth napkin is visible to the right.
Flavorful Herb Crusted Beef Sirloin Tip Roast Recipe. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality

This Flavorful Herb Crusted Beef Sirloin Tip Roast Recipe is coated with a homemade spice rub, then seared and roasted for a melt-in-your-mouth tender dish. Pair it with your favorite side dish recipes for a comforting, low-effort, upscale meal everyone will love!
Get the Recipe: Flavorful Herb Crusted Beef Sirloin Tip Roast Recipe

Quick-Prep Slow Cooker Taco Soup

A bowl of chili topped with shredded cheese and chopped green onions. The chili contains beans, ground meat, corn, and diced red peppers, with a rich, thick tomato-based sauce. Tortilla chips are placed beside the bowl on a colorful blue plate.
Quick-Prep Slow Cooker Taco Soup. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

Quick to prep, slow cooker taco soup recipe is my Pinterest follower’s top favorite. Made with Mexican spices, beef, beans, and veggies.
Get the Recipe: Quick-Prep Slow Cooker Taco Soup

Easy Crockpot Chicken With Ranch

A plate of creamy chicken alfredo pasta garnished with shredded cheese and green onions. A fork is lifting a portion of the dish. The plate rests on a blue and white striped cloth.
Easy Crockpot Chicken With Ranch. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

Crockpot chicken with ranch is a simple, yummy recipe that combines cream cheese ranch dressing mix with tender, juicy chicken and pasta.
Get the Recipe: Easy Crockpot Chicken With Ranch

Bold & Spicy Thai Chicken

thai chicken with coconut on it.
Bold & Spicy Thai Chicken. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality

This Thai BBQ Chicken is juicy chicken breasts that are rubbed with a special seasoning mix, cooked on the grill, and served up with a quick and easy spicy sauce. It’s easy to prep ahead so all you have to do at dinner is grill the meat and eat, which means it’s perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or an easy bbq meal on the patio in the summer months.
Get the Recipe: Bold & Spicy Thai Chicken

Slow Cooker Italian Mississippi Chicken

Mississippi chicken
Slow Cooker Italian Mississippi Chicken. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

Deliciously creamy Italian Mississippi Chicken with tender chicken breasts, spicy Italian banana peppers, & heavy cream. Quick 10-minute prep!
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Italian Mississippi Chicken

Juicy Ham With Delicious Glaze

A sliced ham in a slow cooker, topped with pineapple chunks and maraschino cherries. The ham is glazed, giving it a shiny appearance. The white slow cooker contrasts with the vibrant colors of the fruit and glaze.
Juicy Ham With Delicious Glaze. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality

This ham in the crock pot recipe is a tender, juicy main dish that’s foolproof and crowd-pleasing. Prep the glaze the night before and refrigerate. Warm slightly before using. You can also cook the ham a day ahead, store it with juices, and reheat with glaze on the stovetop just before serving.
Get the Recipe: Juicy Ham With Delicious Glaze

Crock Pot Whole Chicken

Whole roasted chicken in the crock pot
Crock Pot Whole Chicken. Photo Credit: Intentional Hospitality

This juicy, tender, crock pot whole chicken recipe is sure to become a favorite go-to recipe. Not only is it delicious, but the cost savings of making it at home compared to store-bought options is a great bonus. Your homemade crock pot whole chicken will also help you create multiple meals using the leftovers.
Get The Recipe: Crock Pot Whole Chicken

Crock Pot Chicken Corn Soup Recipe

Chicken corn chowder in a bowl with bacon and sprinkled on top
Crock Pot Chicken Corn Soup Recipe. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

Crock pot chicken corn soup makes an easy meal for weeknights! It cooks up mostly unattended until you’re ready to serve it up for dinner. It is simple dump and go one pot meal that requires minimal effort for easy dinners.
Get the Recipe: Crock Pot Chicken Corn Soup Recipe

Savory & Meaty No-Bean Chili

A bowl of chili topped with shredded cheese, sour cream, sliced green onions, and jalapeño slices. The dish is served in a white bowl on a green plate, with a green cloth nearby.
Savory & Meaty No-Bean Chili. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

Thick and meaty chili without beans recipe is made with savory chili seasonings, tomatoes, and chiles all slow simmered in your crockpot.
Get the Recipe: Savory & Meaty No-Bean Chili

Tasty Corned Beef Crock Pot Recipe

A plate of sliced corned beef surrounded by potatoes, carrots, and cabbage wedges. The dish is on a wooden board with a green checkered cloth partially visible underneath.
Tasty Corned Beef Crock Pot Recipe. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality

Toss corned beef and veggies into a slow cooker with some broth and spices, and you’ve got an effortless meal. If you’re making it a day in advance, cook it as usual, then store the beef and veggies in an airtight container with some of the broth to keep them from drying out. When you’re ready to serve, just reheat everything gently on the stove or in the slow cooker on low.
Get the Recipe: Tasty Corned Beef Crock Pot Recipe

4-Ingredient Crockpot Chicken And Dressing

Four ingredient baked chicken with stuffing
4-Ingredient Crockpot Chicken And Dressing. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

This simple chicken and stuffing crockpot with 4 ingredients is the perfect easy dinner that only takes 5 minutes to prep.
Get the Recipe: 4-Ingredient Crockpot Chicken And Dressing

Rich & Creamy Cajun-Smothered Chicken

cajun chicken and gravy
Rich & Creamy Cajun-Smothered Chicken. Image Credit: Intentional Hospitality

This rich, Smothered Cajun Chicken Recipe is loaded with flavorful gravy and tender chicken breasts. Creole cuisine has never been so easy. Just pan-sear your chicken and finish this dish in a Crock Pot for a meal that needs 15 minutes of prep time and almost no effort at all. Great for a dinner party or a family night.
Get The Recipe: Rich & Creamy Cajun-Smothered Chicken

Hearty Sloppy Joe Casserole With Cheesy Cornbread Topping

A skillet with a cornbread-topped pie, one slice missing. The slice is on a white plate, garnished with jalapeño slices and cheese. Nearby are small bowls of shredded cheese and jalapeños, all on a checkered cloth over a round wooden board.
Hearty Sloppy Joe Casserole With Cheesy Cornbread Topping. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality

Sloppy Joe Casserole is a warm, comforting meal, bringing together the bold, tangy flavors of a classic sloppy joe with a golden, cheesy cornbread topping. This dish is simple to prepare, making it ideal for feeding a hungry family or welcoming friends to your table with warmth and ease.
Get the Recipe: Hearty Sloppy Joe Casserole With Cheesy Cornbread Topping

Bone-in Oven Roasted Pork Chops with Peaches

Grilled pork chops on a tray surrounded by roasted peaches and red onions. The dish is seasoned with pepper and appears well-cooked, with a golden-brown finish.
Bone-in Oven Roasted Pork Chops with Peaches. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage

Pork chops with peaches are so EASY you’ll be making them every night. Sweetened with roasted peaches for a fabulous flavor, you can throw this sheet pan meal together in less than 10 minutes and have the perfect summer dinner ready in 30 minutes.
Get the Recipe: Bone-in Oven Roasted Pork Chops with Peaches

Crispy Sesame Beef Recipe

A plate of white rice topped with pieces of sticky glazed beef. The beef is garnished with chopped green onions and sesame seeds. The dish is presented on a white, textured plate.
Crispy Sesame Beef Recipe. Photo credit: Lauren’s Latest

This Crispy Sesame Beef Recipe will have you ditching delivery in no time. Tender beef strips are fried to perfection and coated in a sticky, savory sesame sauce that hits all the right notes.
Get the Recipe: Crispy Sesame Beef Recipe

29 Easy Spring Dessert Recipes That Taste Like Pure Joy

A close-up of a cheesecake topped with fresh strawberries and strawberry sauce, with the sauce dripping down the side, displayed on a white cake stand.
29 Easy Spring Dessert Recipes That Taste Like Pure Joy. Image credit: Lauren’s Latest

Ready to taste pure joy? These easy spring desserts are bursting with fruity flavor, creamy layers, and no-fuss recipes that’ll make your sweet tooth sing. From nostalgic strawberry shortcake to zesty lemon poke cake and no-bake pies that practically make themselves, every treat is a little bite of happiness. These desserts are perfect for Easter, picnics, or just treating yourself to something light and fun. They’re quick to whip up, big on flavor, and guaranteed to brighten your table—so don’t miss a single crave-worthy recipe! Get All The Recipes: 29 Easy Spring Dessert Recipes That Taste Like Pure Joy