Easy pasta recipe to make for a large group?

I made this SUPER easy Sausage, Peppers & Arugula Ricotta Linguine. It actually made a big batch, for about 6-8 people. If you 3 or 4x the recipe, you'll end up with tons. Good luck!

http://fitflexitarian.com/recipe-sausage-ricotta-linguine/

A recipe from Epicurious, with a slight twist or two. For four servings:

Two jars of really good tuna in olive oil.

Artichoke hearts -- ideally in oil, but water packed is OK

Mixed green and black olives.

Capers

Sun dried tomatoes

1 lemon


Pour the tuna and oil from one of the jars into a large mixing bowl; add the tuna from the other, and reserve the oil.

Artichoke hearts: Slice the artichoke hearts into bite-sized pieces. Amount: I really like artichoke hearts, so for two jars of tuna, I'd use two of the small jars from a grocery store. Big ones from an Italian market -- depends on the size.

Olives: Slice a handful each of green and black olives into halves. Plain ones are fine; olives marinated in garlic and other aromatics are good, too.

Capers -- about a tablespoon, roughly chopped if large.

Sun-dried tomatoes: Four or five, depending on size -- I found it easiest to cut them over the mixing bowl with kitchen shears.

The juice and zest from the lemon.

Lots of freshly ground black pepper.


Mix everything together (hands are easiest). Add a bit more of the reserved oil; add some of it if the mix seems to need it.

Serve over your favorite squiggly pasta with lots of grated Parmesan.

If you dice things up rather small, this also works as a sandwich filling, or at room temperature with crackers.

I would also suggest a lasagna or other baked pasta dish. Then you don't have to worry about making it and keeping it from overcooking for that many people. I would do 2-3 large dishes (you can get those aluminum pans at the supermarket cheaply). You would probably need 3-4 boxes of lasagna noodles, and the great thing about lasagna is you can get the no-cook kind so all you have to do is make the sauce and grate up some cheese. Alternatively, you could just make a really big batch of pasta and toss with your chosen sauce, then spread in the pans and sprinkle with some cheese (and maybe some breadcrumbs for the crunch factor).

So many factors effect quantity of pasta needed: first course or main course; abundance of other dishes served; very rich sauce (cream, etc.) or light one (e.g., simple fresh tomato); whether the eaters include my son and his friends - who are capable of consuming their own weight in pasta - or more modest eaters, or young children...

Depending on these variables, one 16 oz. box can feed anywhere from 4 or 5 to as few as 2.5 people. And I tend to err on the side of leftovers over skimpy - reheated pasta for breakfast/lunch is much more useful than having enough pasta left in the box for .5 people. That's just pesky.

I always reckon on 4oz per personfor a main course pasta... However! Plate size makes a big difference to how much people help themselves to, as does the number if people in the group, how well people know each other ( politeness plays havoc with quantities!) and whether there are other things to go on the plate.

Oh, love it Greenstuff! As I said, "conventionally." And who among of us is conventional when it comes to pastas? I like your ratios much better.

When we ate boulangere's First Night in Florence pasta, people were licking their plates and looking for more. Now, she was thinking 1/4 of a presumably one pound package for 2 people, and that's a little skimpy by American standards, especially if your group includes young people or good-sized men. If pasta is your main event at this event, I'd double that and plan on serving 4 people per pound. Five pounds of pasta for a group of twenty, You can do four pounds if the group is dominated by relatively small women or if you're having a lot of other food.

I agree, wssmom. As I thought about it, your math is spot on.

Boulangere's First night in Florence spaghetti is awesome!!! You might also consider tripling (maybe a little more than triple) this wonderful sauce recipe and serve it atop 4 pounds of spaghetti:
http://www.food52.com/recipes/13722_marcella_hazans_tomato_sauce_with_onion_and_butter

One thing I sometimes do when I have a bunch of people is to make two or three different pastas, instead of one giant dish.

Came across this one recently, though I haven't made it yet. This calls for three pounds of pasta for 16.
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/nigella-lawson/big-pasta-with-mushroom-parsley-garlic-and-thyme-recipe/index.html

I think I'd figure three pounds would serve 16 - 18 depending on appetite. If the pasta is the only main dish, I might go with four pounds to make sure there's plenty.

Sorry, didn't read your question through. The conventional serving size for pasta is 2 oz. (in the dried state), so 8 servings per 1-pound package. Go with three pounds to be safe.

Oh yes boulangere, love that.

Maybe a baked ziti or lasagna. I usually make a quarter pound per person. Figure 4-5 people per box so 4-5 pounds of pasta. I don't use a recipe just wing it usually but you can make an easy marinara with good canned tomatoes, olive oil, garlic, shallot and basil. Add some ricotta and parm or romano some mozzarella to top it bake and serve.
I generally don't cook for a crowd so some that do tell me if my math is off.

It doesn't get much easier than this: http://www.food52.com/recipes/14030_first_night_in_florence_spaghetti