Are you ready to impress a crowd with a hearty meal that brings everyone together? Look no further! Our "Cooking for a Crowd: A Month Long Series" features a delicious recipe that serves 20 hungry guests, perfect for family gatherings, parties, or community events. With layers of savory ground beef, rich tomatoes, and gooey cheese, this dish is not just a meal—it's an experience! Get ready to dive into a culinary adventure that will leave your guests raving and coming back for seconds. Read on to discover how to create this crowd-pleaser in just 90 minutes!
Prep Time: 30 mins
Cook Time: 60 mins
Total Time: 90 mins
Cuisine: Various
Serves: Serves 20
Ingredients
- 5 pounds ground beef
- 3 large onions, chopped
- 10 cans diced tomatoes
- 5 pounds pasta
- 3 pounds cheese
- 2 cups mixed vegetables
- 10 cups chicken broth
Instructions
- Prepare large commercial-sized cooking pots and ensure you have adequate workspace for preparing a meal serving 20 people.
- In a massive stockpot, heat large surface area and add chopped onions, sautéing until translucent and fragrant, approximately 5-7 minutes.
- Add ground beef to the onions, breaking meat into small pieces while browning thoroughly. Cook until no pink remains and meat is fully cooked, about 10-12 minutes.
- Pour in all 10 cans of diced tomatoes, stirring to combine with meat and onions, creating a rich base sauce.
- Add mixed vegetables to the meat sauce, allowing them to integrate and soften slightly.
- Gradually pour in chicken broth, stirring to create a consistent liquid texture and preventing sauce from sticking.
- In a separate large pot, bring salted water to rolling boil and cook pasta until al dente, typically 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent clumping.
- Drain pasta thoroughly and combine with meat sauce, ensuring even distribution of ingredients.
- Sprinkle shredded cheese over the top, allowing residual heat to melt cheese completely.
- Let dish rest for 10 minutes before serving to allow flavors to meld and sauce to thicken.
- Serve hot, ensuring each portion has a balanced mix of pasta, meat, vegetables, and cheese.
Tips
- Prep Ahead: To make your cooking process smoother, chop your onions and prepare your ingredients the day before. This will save you time and help you stay organized when cooking for a large group.
- Large Equipment: Ensure you have large pots and pans to accommodate the volume of food. Commercial-sized cooking pots are ideal for handling big batches without spilling.
- Sautéing Technique: When sautéing the onions, make sure not to rush the process. Allow them to become translucent and fragrant, as this builds a flavorful base for your dish.
- Browning the Meat: Break the ground beef into small pieces while cooking to ensure even browning. This not only enhances the texture but also maximizes flavor absorption from the onions and tomatoes.
- Flavor Building: Don't skip the step of adding mixed vegetables to the meat sauce. They add color, texture, and essential nutrients, making your dish more balanced and appealing.
- Cooking Pasta: Always cook your pasta al dente, as it will continue to cook when mixed with the hot sauce. This helps maintain the perfect texture.
- Cheese Melting: For the best cheese melt, sprinkle it on top of the hot pasta and meat sauce mixture and cover it for a few minutes. This traps heat and allows the cheese to become perfectly gooey.
- Resting Time: Let the dish rest for about 10 minutes before serving. This resting period allows the flavors to meld beautifully and the sauce to thicken, resulting in a more satisfying dish.
- Serving Suggestions: Pair your pasta dish with a fresh salad and garlic bread for a complete meal that your guests will love!
- Leftovers: If you have any leftovers, store them in airtight containers. The flavors will continue to develop, making for delicious meals in the days to come!
Nutrition Facts
Calories: 450kcal
Carbohydrates: 35g
Protein: 30g
Fat: 22g
Saturated Fat: 10g
Cholesterol: 95mg
