Starting a Catering Business

One of the first steps in starting a catering business is brainstorming ideas for your catering menu. By offering original catering recipes, you can take your company to the next level and leave a lasting impression on your guests. To create a diverse menu that appeals to a variety of clients, consider adhering to our list of catering menu ideas.

Variables to Consider When Choosing Catering Recipes

Before you choose which recipes to feature on your menu, you must consider the many variables that can influence your decision. Everything from your budget to the time it takes to prepare your staff can change depending on which recipes you choose. Below, we've provided a list of common variables that influence your catering menu:

·        Ingredient Availability: Some recipes and exotic dishes, and ingredient pairings are perfect on your palate, but not for your budget. Fresh, exotic, or otherwise rare foods are expensive and may need to be imported and ordered far in advance. This is an added expense and time commitment that may take a toll on profits and increase the cost per plate for your customer.

·        Cost per Serving: When it comes to cost per plate, remember that the customer is the boss. If they ask for an exotic or expensive ingredient, cater to their needs and make price adjustments based on menu substitutions clear from the get-go. If your customer is looking for a less expensive spread, check out our recipes section to find economical dishes to please a crowd.

·        Time in the Kitchen: Some recipes require more time and concentration than others. When preparing large portions of certain foods ahead of time, you may require more staff to keep foods fresh, adding to your expenses. Consider the prep, cook, and plating times when choosing a recipe to find one that best suits your time constraints and kitchen situation.

Traditional Catering Menu Ideas

While some recipes are tried and true, it has become more common for offices, party planners, and other similar businesses to search for a unique twist to make their occasions stand out. While it's important to focus on dependable standbys, including distinctive meals on your menu can add flair to any occasion. The following recipes add a fresh variation to some old favorites and will bring your catering company’s daring and bold tastes center stage.

To create an all-inclusive catering selection, make sure you cover the following categories on your menu:

·        Appetizers

·        Salads, Soups, & Sides

·        Entrees

·        Desserts

Appetizer Ideas

Start the night off right with a gooey marriage of classic cheese puffs and savory French onion soup. French onion gruyere puffs combine sweet caramelized onions, melted gruyere, and buttery dough with a kick of mustard to create a sensational pocket-sized pastry perfect for pre-dinner snacking.

Salad Ideas

Didn’t think it could get better than the fresh and familiar combination of mozzarella, tomato, and basil? Throw in another crowd-pleaser, such as stuffed mushrooms, and you’ve got a show-stopping salad. Caprice salad quinoa stuffed portabellas add nutty quinoa, fresh pesto, and roasted pine nuts to turn the salad course into the main attraction.

Soup Ideas

Nothing can quite compare to a warm bowl of mom’s chicken noodle soup, but Thai coconut chicken soup stands out from the rest. With tangy ginger, coconut milk, and rice noodles, this recipe is sure to create a buzz about your business.

Side Ideas

Mashed potatoes are a notorious staple side dish, but when you combine red potatoes with spicy chipotles, fresh scallions, and zesty adobo in chipotle mashed potatoes, your side will be anything but predictable! Fiery jalapeno poppers combined with creamy comfort food is a recipe for success.

Entree Ideas

Meat Entrees

Mix up the traditional steak and potatoes and add a little color to your next catering event with glazed skirt steak fajitas. These are perfect for a crowd; plate them beautifully or let your guests customize one at a buffet-style event with olive oil roasted sweet peppers and onions, chunky tomato and cilantro salsa, salty queso fresco cheese, and sour cream. Any way you slice it, these fajitas will add a memorable spice to your event.

Poultry Entrees

How can you deviate from traditional roast chicken with crispy brown skin and tender vegetables? Pile on the flavor with chipotle-maple glazed turkey. This entree's delicious smell and fusion of sweet and spicy flavors are a sure bet to impress your guests.

Seafood Entrees

Salmon is a classic standby in every chef’s repertoire, but instead of a traditional presentation, mix it up! Pair creamy pasta with pan-seared salmon and spaghetti Carbonara flavors to leave a lasting impression. Bavette with salmon, asparagus, and peas in pesto cream sauce will certainly leave guests with something to remember.

Vegetarian Entrees

Including environmentally-friendly catering menu options will help you appeal to more clients, but accommodating vegans and vegetarians with creative dishes can sometimes be a struggle. With lasagna bechamel, everyone will be happy! The bright sweet potato and subtle cauliflower flavors combine into a dish that is second to none.

Dessert Ideas

Chocolate-covered strawberries provide a short and sweet ending to any meal, but this tuxedo twist is guaranteed to add elegance to any black tie affair. Tweak your dessert presentation to add an extra special touch to your events with these black-tie strawberries. Guests will love this cute trick and your company will get points for creativity.

How to Create Catering Recipes

To make your catering menu stand out, consider developing unique recipes to feature. This will allow you to develop a catering experience that guests can't find anywhere else. Creating a recipe for your catering menu can be achieved in four easy steps, each of which we've outlined below.

1. Experiment With Different Flavors

The first step to creating a recipe should be to experiment with your own blends of herbs, spices, and other flavors in the kitchen. Use local and seasonal ingredients to create your masterpieces, but be sure to take the necessary steps to protect your recipes from competitors.

2. Start with a Proven Recipe

Your next step should be to look at existing recipes for inspiration. For example, if you wanted to create a new cookie, it would be wise to begin with a traditional selection of baking ingredients as the base. Below, we've provided an example of a cookie recipe:

·        2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

·        1/2 tsp. baking soda

·        1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature

·        1/2 cup granulated sugar

·        1 cup packed light-brown sugar

·        1 tsp. salt

·        2 tsp. pure vanilla extract

·        2 large eggs

·        2 cups (about 12 oz.) semisweet and/or milk chocolate chips

Once you've identified a recipe, throw out any ingredients that are not vital to the production of the substance. In this case, you would keep the flour, butter, sugar, eggs, salt, and leavening agent.

3. Combine Ingredients and Add Your Own Flavors

Decide whether you would like to create a sweet or savory dish and add new flavors to make it unique to you. Consider these ingredients which pair nicely in any recipe:

·        Maple

·        Apple

·        Cheddar

·        Orange

·        Chocolate

·        Tomato

·        Mozzarella

·        Basil

·        Balsamic

·        Apple

·        Cinnamon

4. Revamp Your Presentations

When in doubt about veering from favorite recipes, try to present a classic favorite in a new way. Cut it into a certain shape, add garnishes, or stack things in a different formation to give plated items a makeover. You would be surprised how far slight presentation changes can go in making your dish stand out.

Whether you're just looking for inspiration to improve your menu or need specific advice about how to create your own recipes, our list of catering menu ideas is designed to assist you. Use the tips listed above to create an impressive and distinct menu that leaves customers wanting more.