The Best Cookbooks for Hosting Large Gatherings

(Inspired by Reddit’s thread on favorite cookbooks for hosting large dinner parties)

Planning a large dinner party can feel overwhelming—coordinating a menu, timing dishes, and making sure there’s enough food (but not too much food) requires a little extra thought. That’s why having a great cookbook designed for entertaining can be a game-changer.

The Cookbook Lovers community on Reddit recently shared their favorite cookbooks for hosting stress-free, crowd-pleasing gatherings, and we couldn’t agree more with their picks! At Terrapina Tablescapes, we believe that a well-set table is just as important as a well-planned menu, and the right cookbook can help you entertain with ease.

If you’re looking for recipes that scale well, impress guests, and allow you to actually enjoy your own dinner party, here are some top cookbook recommendations—plus, tips for pairing them with a beautifully styled tablescape!

1. “Big Night: Dinners, Parties & Dinner Parties” – Katherine Lewin 🍷

We own this book and love, love, love it! It’s a brilliantly curated, modern guide to hosting—packed with beautifully simple, high-impact dishes designed to bring people together. Whether you’re planning a casual dinner party or a more elaborate feast, Big Night helps you create meals that feel impressive but are totally doable.

💡 Best for: Hosts who want a chic, contemporary guide to stress-free entertaining.

🌿 Tablescape Tip: Keep things elevated yet relaxed—think candlelight, warm textures, and simple-but-striking floral arrangements.

📖 Get your copy here: Big Night: Dinners, Parties & Dinner Parties

2. “Perfect Party Food” – Diane Phillips 🍽️

If you’re cooking for a large group, the biggest challenges are often logistical: What can be made ahead? What freezes well? What absolutely needs to be cooked last-minute? This James Beard Award-winning book helps answer all of these questions with clear, deconstructed instructions that allow you to scale and adapt recipes with confidence.

💡 Best for: Hosts who want practical, stress-free recipes that can be prepped ahead for seamless execution.

🌿 Tablescape Tip: Since this book makes serving a crowd easy, consider a family-style setup with long runners, warm candlelight, and shared serving platters.

3. “The Art of Simple Food” – Alice Waters 🌿

Alice Waters is all about quality ingredients and seasonal simplicity. This book is perfect for hosts who value farm-to-table dining and want to let fresh ingredients shine.

💡 Best for: Hosts who love family-style dinners with fresh, elegant simplicity.

🌿 Tablescape Tip: Go for a minimalist, organic feel—wooden chargers, soft linen runners, and natural greenery for a warm, welcoming table.

4. “Family Meal” – Ferran Adrià 🍷

Written by the team behind the legendary Michelin-starred restaurant El Bulli, this book is surprisingly approachable and perfect for large gatherings. The meals featured were served to the restaurant staff before service and include scalings for 2, 6, 20, and even 75 people.

💡 Best for: Hosts who need flexible meal-planning guidance with straightforward, chef-approved recipes.

🌿 Tablescape Tip: Go for elevated simplicity—clean, neutral tones, modern glassware, and elegant table settings that feel refined but unfussy.

5. “How to Feed Your Friends with Relish” – Joanna Weinberg 🍽️

This underrated gem is packed with practical, fun, and flexible meal ideas for feeding a crowd. It’s perfect for hosts who enjoy relaxed, convivial dinner parties where the focus is on delicious food and great conversation.

💡 Best for: Casual, no-stress hosts who love big flavors and big laughs.

🌿 Tablescape Tip: Keep the setting effortlessly chic—mismatched vintage plates, bold napkins, and flickering candlelight.

6. “Nigella Feast” – Nigella Lawson 🍰

Nigella’s celebratory, indulgent approach to food makes this book a must-have for party hosts. Whether you’re hosting a holiday gathering, a birthday feast, or just a dinner for the joy of it, her recipes are foolproof, festive, and easy to scale.

💡 Best for: Hosts who love decadence, rich flavors, and throwing a party that feels truly special.

🌿 Tablescape Tip: Channel classic elegance—deep jewel tones, gold accents, and luxurious tableware.

7. “Six Seasons: A New Way with Vegetables” – Joshua McFadden 🥕

Vegetable-forward doesn’t mean boring—this book helps turn seasonal produce into stunning dishes that can easily be scaled up for a vibrant, colorful feast.

💡 Best for: Hosts looking to create a vegetable-centric dinner that feels decadent and fresh.

🌿 Tablescape Tip: Embrace bold colors and textures—bright napkins, woven placemats, and fresh-cut flowers for a lively, farmers’ market-inspired setting.

8. Bonus Tips for Cooking for a Large Group

Sometimes, it’s less about the perfect recipe and more about the right strategy. Here are some Reddit-approved hosting hacks for making your large dinner party a success:

✅ Stick to forgiving dishes. Large-scale risottos? Nightmare. Instead, opt for dishes that hold well and reheat beautifully, like braised meats, casseroles, and roasted vegetables.

✅ Plan ahead. Know what can be prepped early, frozen, or done last-minute to avoid a chaotic kitchen.

✅ Buffets are your friend. Allow guests to serve themselves so everyone gets exactly what they want (and you don’t have to plate everything).

✅ Mix it up. Instead of just one starch, offer potatoes and rice pilaf so guests have options.

✅ If money is tight, go for a Mexican buffet. It’s delicious, affordable, and scalable—taco bars, rice bowls, or enchilada trays can feed a crowd on a budget.

✅ Use online scaling tools. Websites like RecipeTin Eats allow you to adjust serving sizes instantly, doing the math for you.

Host Effortlessly with a Great Cookbook & a Beautiful Table

Choosing the right cookbook can help make your dinner party feel effortless, but don’t forget that a beautifully set table completes the experience.

At Terrapina Tablescapes, we make hosting easier by offering rentable, pre-styled tablescapes that fit any gathering—whether you’re planning a cozy Sunday supper, a garden party, or a bold, modern feast.

✨ Set the table effortlessly—browse our Lookbook & start planning your next gathering!