Need catering for your event? How to Cater for a Crowd Without Stress
Need catering for your event?
Planning and hosting can be exciting, but when it comes to feeding a crowd, it can quickly feel overwhelming. From working out quantities to prepping food and managing timing, it’s easy to end up stuck in the kitchen instead of enjoying your own event.
The good news? You don’t need a traditional caterer to pull off an incredible spread.
With the right approach and the help of fresh, ready-made salads you can cater for a crowd easily, affordably, and without the stress.
The Secret to Stress-Free Catering
At Salad Servers, we make entertaining simple.
With over 60 fresh, flavour-packed salads, all pre-prepared and ready to serve, you can skip the chopping, cooking, and cleanup.
- No prep
- No mess
- No stress
While we whip up the deliciousness, you can focus on hosting, planning, and actually enjoying the moment.
How Much Food Do You Need for a Crowd?
One of the biggest challenges when catering for a party is knowing how much food to order.
Here’s a simple guide:
- Allow 200–300g of salad per person
- A 2.5kg salad feeds around 10 people
- A 600g salad feeds 2–3 people
This makes it easy to scale your order, whether you’re hosting a small gathering or a large event.
Real Event Catering Ideas (From 10 to 100 Guests)
10 People — Easy Family Lunch
Hosting a Sunday lunch? Keep it simple with a couple of fresh salads paired with a BBQ or hot meal. You’ll create a full, generous spread without spending your weekend prepping.
Suggestions for 10 People:
2.5kg Pesto Pasta
2 x 600g Lentil Salad
Beef Lasagna
Pumpkin Soup
25 People — Backyard BBQ Catering
For casual BBQs, salads are essential.
Pair grilled meats, burgers, and veggie skewers with:
It’s a classic Aussie setup — made effortless.
Suggestions for 25 people
2.5kg Classic Caesar Salad
2.5kg Turmeric Couscous
2 x 600g Potato, Egg & bacon
500g Baby Spinach
40 People — Special Celebrations
Planning a milestone event or anniversary?
Combine slow-cooked meats or seafood with vibrant salads like:
You’ll get a table that looks elevated, abundant, and completely stress-free.
Suggestions for 40 people
2.5kg Corn and Coriander Slaw
2.5kg Creamy German Potato
2.5kg Lentil Salad
2.5kg Glass Noodles with Asian Beg
250g Roast Potato
100 People — Large Event Catering
For big events, variety is key.
A mix of salads like:
Suggestions for 100 people
2 x 2.5kg Potato Egg & Bacon
1 x 2.5kg Tabbouleg
1 x 2.5kg Lentil Salad
1 x 2.5kg Black Rice Beetroot Walnut & Feta
2 x 2.5kg Creamy Coleslaw
1 x 2.5kg Japanese Slaw
2 x 2.5kg Roast Vegetable Couscous with Kale
2 x 2.25kg Chicken Basil Penne
Ensures there’s something for everyone - without the complexity of traditional catering.
Build a Crowd-Pleasing Spread (The Easy Way)
The simplest way to cater for a crowd:
Choose a main (BBQ, roast, or seafood). In our blog Build Your Summer Spread: Easy Protein Pairings for Stress-Free Hosting, we share our go-to protein add-ons that turn your favourite Salad Servers bowls into a full, crowd-ready feast.
Add a mix of fresh, flavour-packed salads to bring colour, variety, and balance to your table. Our bundles take the guesswork out of catering — perfectly curated to feed a crowd without overthinking quantities or combinations. Our Long Table Bundle is perfect for big family gatherings, milestone celebrations, and generous long-table lunches. This elevated, crowd-friendly spread serves 50–60 with ease. Explore our full range of bundles here.
Serve everything share-style using large platters, serving bowls, or grazing-style setups. This creates a relaxed, generous feel and makes it easy for guests to help themselves — exactly how effortless entertaining should be.
Salads do the heavy lifting, adding colour, texture, and variety while catering to different dietary needs.
Don’t Forget the Details
When planning your party, don’t forget the little details that make a big difference.
Make sure you have enough salad servers, tongs, or serving spoons for each platter, so guests can easily help themselves without needing to ask. It keeps the flow of your event smooth, avoids bottlenecks around the table, and helps everything feel relaxed and effortless.
It also keeps your spread looking its best... neat, tidy, and easy to serve from start to finish.
A good rule of thumb? One set of salad servers per platter or bowl.
Simple, but it makes all the difference.
The Shortcut Smart Hosts Use
Catering for a crowd doesn’t have to be complicated.
With a little planning — and the right ready-made options — you can create a spread that looks incredible, tastes amazing, and feels easy.
Because great hosting isn’t about doing everything yourself.
It’s about creating a moment people enjoy.
Want more easy hosting ideas? Check out our The Lazy Host’s Guide to Effortless Entertaining Blog.
We’ll do the salads. You host the party.
Shop our full range of ready-made salads at direct.saladservers.com.au