9 Kitchen Tools That Make It a Breeze to Cook for a Crowd

Whether you’re inviting the whole crew over for a casual Memorial Day hang or planning a multi-course graduation dinner party for extended family, cooking for a crowd can feel daunting. The miles-long grocery list, the recipe logistics, the cleanup — it can quickly turn what should be a fun occasion into a seriously stressful test of wills. “The key difference between cooking for a family and cooking for a crowd is the amount of thought, time, and planning that goes into the whole process,” says private chef Speshyl Smith.

Luckily, there are a few key large-capacity kitchen tools and appliances that will make your party prep duties run much smoother. From air fryers to rice cookers, we’ve rounded up the best prepping, cooking, and serving gear to help you get ready for a crowd.

The 9 Best Large Capacity Cooking Tools

Crock-Pot Programmable Slow Cooker

When it comes to feeding a bunch of hungry guests, there’s no denying that the key to a smooth meal lies in your prep work. That being said, it’s also helpful to come up with a few hands-off dishes you can make the day of to double your output without doubling your effort. Your secret tool for doing so? A great slow cooker. 

The set-it-and-forget-it device can help you churn out tender meats or batches of chili with very little active cooking time on your part. Crock Pot’s hefty 8-quart cooker was named one of our favorite slow cookers, excelling in numerous categories throughout testing. Not only was it large enough to feed a crowd (it can cook up a meal big enough to serve 8-10 people easily), but it heated food evenly and consistently, with no hot spots or burning. The user interface was a cinch, too, with straightforward functions that don’t require a manual to operate.

Instant Pot Vortex Plus 10-Quart Air Fryer

Party food is notoriously indulgent, but no one wants the task (or smell) of standing over a sizzling pot of oil to fry up buffalo chicken wings while the rest of your guests are mixing and mingling. Instead, opt for cooking all of your bar snacks in an air fryer, which won’t just cut down on the smell and chef participation but the calories, too. 

During our hunt for the best large-capacity air fryer, we were immediately impressed with Instant Pot’s 10-quart air fryer, which teams a user-friendly interface with seriously crispy results. The simple machine can tackle seven cooking tasks, including air frying (of course), broiling, baking, roasting, dehydrating, reheating, and rotisserie. Even better, it’s one of the quieter picks on the market, so the flow of party conversation won’t be interrupted by the whirl of an air fryer fan.

Cuisinart Food Processor

If there’s one downside to hosting, it’s feeling like you need to spend all night shackled to your kitchen at the mercy of the next vegetable you need to slice and dice. Because of that (very warranted) feeling, there’s almost no better gadget for a regular host to invest in than a food processor. The best choppers will act like your sous chef in the kitchen, helping you to make quick work of cutting tasks and even blend dips to silky smooth perfection. 

Cuisinart has gained a well-deserved reputation for excellence when it comes to its prep gadgets, and its large-capacity food processor is destined to become an MVP in your kitchen. The device — which holds the number one spot on our list of the best food processors — has an impressive 14-cup capacity, allowing it to tackle everything from homemade hummus to zesty chimichurri with ease. During testing, we gave this model high marks for its powerful motor and user-friendly interface — with only two buttons (on/off and pulse) — it’s a breath of fresh air compared to more complicated cookware devices. Don’t let that simplicity fool you, though; it can still slice, dice, and shred like an absolute boss.

Lodge Dutch Oven

There’s not much a Dutch oven can’t do. From braising short ribs for trivia night to cooking up a cobbler for your next book club meeting, this versatile piece of equipment is a mainstay in any chef’s kitchen — but especially those who entertain often. The best part? They’re often stylish enough to go from oven to tabletop, cutting down on the number of dishes you’ll need to use (and wash) to impress your guests. 

Lodge is known for the quality, durability, and longevity of its cast iron pieces, so it came as no surprise that its 7-quart Dutch oven made it on our list of the best Dutch ovens. During testing, we were impressed by its ability to flex between different cooking categories, browning chicken thighs and steaming rice with the same finesse. While this Dutch oven will require a bit of upkeep (as all cast iron cookware does), it’s a quality piece of cookware that will last you many years to come.

Nordic Ware Naturals Big Sheet Pan

As anyone who has ever found themselves signed up for bake sale duty knows, a reliable baking sheet is good as gold and can mean the difference between impressing the PTA with your pecan clusters and a pre-drop-off mad dash to the grocery store to salvage your batch of burnt butter cookies. Not a baker? The baking sheet sentiment still holds — just try making nachos or even butternut squash soup without one. 

When it comes to top-of-the-line gear without the hefty price tag, no one does it better than Nordic Ware. The brand’s iconic baking sheets are beloved by pro chefs and expert bakers, and they took top honors on our list of best baking sheets. Its aluminum designs performed great in our testing, earning high marks for their tall edges and warp-free durability. While Nordic’s sheets aren’t broiler-safe, you can still crank the heat rather high (up to 475°F to be exact), so everything from nut brittle to baked BBQ chicken wings is within reach.

Luma Comfort Clear Ice Cube Maker

We’ve all been there: The mad dash to the nearest gas station five minutes before the party starts because you suddenly remember there’s no ice in the cooler. Well, you can bid that unpleasant task farewell by investing in a high-capacity ice maker. Instead of just relying on the machine integrated into your freezer, a countertop device will allow you to drastically increase your ice output, ensuring no guest has to suffer through a warm Diet Coke ever again. 

During our testing of the best ice makers, Luma’s Comfort Clear ice maker quickly froze out the competition, thanks to its barely-there motor and impressive output. It was able to quickly freeze 24 cubes (a little over one pound) of ice in just under 24 minutes, meaning even if you forget about ice until the hour before your party, this gadget can make quick work of your mistake in the background. While it does have a larger footprint, it’s a great occasional device to break out when a party rolls around or one to keep running in your basement for icy beverages whenever you want them.

Lodge Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Baking Pan

Nothing pleases a crowd quite like pizza. And while dialing up your favorite joint for delivery certainly is convenient, moonlighting as an at-home pizzaiolo is even more impressive. To churn out the perfect crispy-meets-chewy pie, you need a few things: a great dough recipe, your cheese of choice, and a smoking hot pan. 

While some purists prefer a pizza stone, our tests found that Lodge’s Cast Iron Pizza Pan delivered just as high-quality results with added versatility. Not only does the pre-seasoned cast iron surface cook up pizza dough to crispy perfection, but it can also be used to sear steak or grill vegetables, too. Translation: You’ll reach for it during Friday night pizza parties, Sunday BBQ sessions, and every opportunity in between.

John Boos Reversible Cutting Board

A great cutting board isn’t just a place to slice and dice some food (did we mention prep work is important, party people?). It’s also a great way to add texture and interest to your kitchen and an important means of safeguarding the sharpness and longevity of your favorite kitchen knives. The best wood cutting boards are even stylish enough to serve as a spot to showcase rustic, mouth-watering appetizers and sides. 

And, when it comes to quality cutting boards that double as heirloom accessories, no one does it better than John Boos. Its iconic wood boards can be found in the homes (and professional kitchens) of nearly every chef in the world, and for good reason — they’re solidly made, aesthetically pleasing, and gentle on all your favorite tools. Their cutting board shot to the top of our list during our testing thanks to its thoughtful maple composition (one of the best woods for a balance of softness and durability), massive size, and reversible finish.

Glasslock 18-Piece Assorted Container Set

We said it before, and we’ll say it again: Prep is king for parties. That being said, all your hard work will go to waste if you stash your sliced vegetables or signature guacamole in sub-par storage containers. To ensure your ingredients taste as fresh as the day they were picked, you want an air-tight seal that can easily flex between the refrigerator, freezer, microwave, oven, and even the tabletop. 

Luckily, Glasslock has just the gear. Its assorted container set took top honors in our quest for the best glass storage containers, thanks to its versatility and durability. The impressively airtight (and leakproof!) containers kept food fresh, thanks to the sturdy latched lids, and could easily be popped into the oven for a quick bake before service. Even better, many of the pieces seamlessly nest within one another for easy storage whenever you’re not hosting a crowd.