Family Reunion Recipes
Food To Bring and Share With
People You Love

These family reunion recipes are very easy to put together.  Throughout these years of experience, I realized that it is always hectic on the day of the event.  I always ended up preparing the food at the last minute. 

Believe me...even you have very good plan in place, like I always do, preparing food is always somehow falling under the crack.


Family Reunion Recipes


We had about 4-5 family reunions since 2002.  The scale ranged from 30 to over 100 people.  It was taken place at different locations every time.  But there was one common thing is that it happened in summer.

With that being said, the food you bring to the family reunion must be sustainable from the heat.  So, the rule of thumb is to have food that can serve in room temperature.

Here is my recommendation of food for family reunions:

Pastry

Coconut Croissant

People always love to have some sweet pastries.  Those on diet always like to hold back.  With a little bit of powder sugar, this coconut croissant is lightly sweet.  They will appreciate that you have them in your mind.  (Get recipe)
Coconut Croissant

Pumpkin Spice Bread

Who said that pumpkin bread is only good for Thanksgiving or fall?  It is good for any time.  (Get recipe)
Pumpkin Spice Bread

No-Fry Breakfast Snack Taquitos

You will be amazed how much tortillas can be sustained.  They do not go soggy on you.  Great finger food for occasion like family unions. (Get Recipe)
No-Fry Breakfast Snack Taquitos


Skewer Appetizers

Kielbasa Fruity Kebab

This dish is colorful and, of course, gorgeous.  There may not be a lot of dishes with fruit and vegetables in a family reunion.  But this one is loaded with both.  Your families and friends will appreciate it.  (Get recipe)
Fruity Kielbasa Kebab

Pineapple Kielbasa

Saltiness from the Kielbasa, the sweet and tangy pineapple, this dish is always a crowd feeder.  Wait till you see how quick everybody mop the plate clean.  You will make this over and over again.  (Get recipe)
Pineapple Kielbasa


Drinks

Simply Healthier Lemonade Concentrate

Everybody has different taste buds.  This one wants it more sour.  That one wants it sweeter.  How to please everyone?  This lemonade is the answer for you.
(Get Recipe)
Simply Healthier Lemonade Concentrate


Pasta Salad

Pepper Pepperoni Pasta Salad

This colorful and tasty pasta salad was inspired by one served in a bridal show.  The longer it stays, the tastier it is which is perfect for family reunion.  (Get Recipe)
Pepper Pepperoni Pasta Salad

Lettuce Chicken Pasta Salad

This pasta salad is very versatile.  Assemble it when you are ready and use any kind of dressing per your preference. (Get Recipe)
Lettuce Chicken Pasta Salad


Fruit And Vegetable Salad

There is no mayo, cream cheese or anything alike in these salad recipes.  With a lot of fruit and vegetables, people will welcome them, especially after a whole day of eating and visiting.

Cucumber Nectarine Salad with Strawberry Rhubarb Dressing

Just by looking at the name of this salad, are you drooling already? (Get Recipe)
Cucumber Nectarine Salad with Strawberry Rhubarb Dressing

Seedless Cucumber Strawberry Salad with Pepper Jelly Dressing

A little bit of heat from the pepper jelly dressing and ingredients in the season, this salad is surely a winner.  (Get Recipe)
Seedless Cucumber Strawberry Salad with Pepper Jelly Dressing

Lazy Bum Fruit Salad

If you are one of the hosts or committee members for putting this event together, you will be hands full.  This recipe will help you to save a lot of time. (Get Recipe)
Lazy Bum Fruit Salad

Grape Tomatoes Mozzarella Cheese Wild Rice Salad

This is a great alternative salad.  Very filling and colorful.  (Get Recipe)
Grape Tomatoes Mozzarella Cheese Wild Rice Salad

Southwestern Style Corn Black Bean Lettuce Salad

A super affordable salad.  You can even let the guests to assemble it on their own.  Serve dressing on the side will keep the salad nice and crisp for a long time. (Get Recipe)
Southwestern Style Corn Black Bean Lettuce Salad


Bring Something From Different Cultures

Due to the size and the combination of the crowd in the family reunion, we always enjoy food from different cultures.  Believe me...every time when my sister-in-law from Thailand or I brought some Asian or Chinese fusion food to the gathering, people go crazy and the plates are mopped within minutes.  So, don't be afraid to bring something different into the family union.

Chinese Pickles

Pickles are always one of the musts in family reunions, picnic, cookout and dinner parties.  It can stay in room temperature for a long time.  You can even prepare them a few days before the event.  It is always nice to get something done and out of the way, right?
(Get Recipe)
Chinese Pickles, Zucchini and Radishes

Savoy Cabbage Salad Ginger Vinaigrette

You always find ginger and dates in many Chinese recipes.  Combining these 2 ingredients in the dressing, it makes wonder on this salad.  Plus, savoy cabbage is more tender than regular cabbage.  It only takes 10 minutes to put this salad together and ready to go.  (Get Recipe)
Savoy Cabbage Salad Ginger Vinaigrette

Sriracha Chicken Lettuce Wrap

You may think that the chicken will go bad in no time.  However, we did it once in a family reunion.  It worked out fine.  Mainly because as soon as this dish hit the table, people went crazy about it.  Some even went for second serving.  The food was gone in less than 30 minutes.

Refer to the section below for keeping the food with mayo more sustainable just in case you need it for this lettuce wrap recipe.  (Get Recipe)
Sriracha Chicken Lettuce Wrap with Wild Rice


What To Do With The Mayo?

Bags of ice almost have unstoppable demand and supply in big gathering like family reunions.  So, here is a tip for you if you bring along a salad with mayo, cream cheese or something alike. 

1) Bring one more container which should be the same size as the one you use for the family reunion food that you bring along.  Just to make sure that you can stack them up.

2) Put a single layer of ice cubes in the empty container and stack the container of salad on top.  This will keep the salad nice and cool.

Now you know the trick.  Here are the recipes with mayo and sour cream:

Cucumber Ham Salad

All you need to do is to chop them up and mix.  Yep, you even get the store-bought help for the dressing, veggie dip. (Get Recipe)
Cucumber Ham Salad

Fruit Cocktail Shrimp Salad

If there is seafood in the family reunion, this salad will be perfect.  My father-in-law used to have clam bake during summer gathering.  One of the family reunions hosted by my sister-in-law served lobsters.  No matter what, seafood lovers will love to have this shrimp salad.  (Get Recipe)

Fruit Cocktail Shrimp Salad

Tasty Cucumber Corn Salad

The salad dressing is made of mayo, sour cream, applesauce and ground cinnamon.  It makes this salad so tasty.  I can't remember how many times people ask me for the recipe.  I think I am going to print out some next time so that I can hand them out.  (Get Recipe)
Tasty Cucumber Corn Salad

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