5 Profitable Food Business Recipes for 20 Pax Catering

Whether you're starting a small-scale catering service or expanding your current offerings, having a solid menu designed for 20 people at a time offers an excellent balance between profitability and manageability—especially important for those operating in compact venues across the UK or exploring part-time food entrepreneurship. In this article, we share five crowd-favourite recipes that not only guarantee delicious results but are also tailored for efficient batch cooking, ideal for 20 guests at catered events.

The recipes we’ve selected are designed to impress a variety of clients—from casual house parties to formal networking dinners. Each dish balances budget, ease of preparation, scalability, and appeal to a broad British palate. Let’s dive into these top 5 recipes that can bring flavour and profit to your food business.

1. Creamy Chicken & Mushroom Pasta Bake

A pasta bake is a tried-and-true catering favourite. It’s incredibly filling, loved by all age groups, and easy to prepare in bulk. Our creamy chicken and mushroom pasta bake adds a gourmet twist to a classic dish, striking the perfect balance between comfort food and sophisticated dining. It’s suitable for lunch buffets, evening receptions, or even cozy private events.

Start by sautéing chopped onions, garlic, and mushrooms in butter until golden. Add cooked and shredded chicken breast, cream, chicken stock, and parmesan cheese. Mix this with cooked fusilli or penne pasta and bake in large trays topped with mozzarella until bubbling and golden brown.

The best part? You can prep it the night before and bake it on-site. Pair it with a fresh salad and garlic bread to round out the meal. For vegetarians, replace the chicken with roasted butternut squash or aubergine.

This dish has low ingredient costs, and its rich flavour and hearty portions satisfy guests easily, making it perfect for batch catering without compromising on quality.

2. Moroccan Lamb Tagine with Couscous

Bring the exotic to your menu with a slow-cooked Moroccan lamb tagine. Infused with spices like cinnamon, cumin, and ginger, this dish offers bold flavours and a warm presentation—ideal for winter and autumn events across the UK.

Using lamb shoulder keeps the costs manageable while providing excellent tenderness when slow-cooked. Combine with dried apricots, chickpeas, carrots, and a rich tomato base. Let it simmer for hours, developing layers of flavour that truly impress guests. Serve over fluffy lemon and herb couscous to soak up the rich sauce.

This dish is not only delicious but presents beautifully, especially in buffet-style catering or plated services. For vegetarian guests, consider a sweet potato and chickpea tagine version that’s equally satisfying.

The recipe’s ability to stretch across large servings while retaining an upmarket appeal makes it a firm favourite among UK caterers targeting corporate and private clients alike.

3. British Mini Beef Sliders with Brioche Buns

Mini sliders are an excellent finger-food option that packs serious flavour. Whether you're catering for birthday parties, casual business functions or even weddings with a relaxed theme, sliders offer full customization and a visually appealing spread.

Use high-quality British beef mince, seasoned with salt, pepper, and a dash of Worcestershire sauce. Form small patties, grill to desired doneness, and top with cheddar, caramelised onions, and a touch of mustard-mayo sauce. Serve them in toasted mini brioche buns with gherkins for that perfect pub-inspired bite.

You’ll want around 2–3 sliders per guest, which means roughly 50–60 sliders for a group of 20. They can be prepared earlier in the day and rewarmed before service, making them suitable for all types of event logistics.

To create a vegetarian version, swap beef for beetroot or halloumi patties. Offering both options on your menu demonstrates versatility and consideration for dietary preferences among British customers.

4. Thai Green Curry with Jasmine Rice

A Thai green curry adds a vibrant and dynamic dish to any catering menu. It’s light, aromatic, and full of character. By using ingredients like coconut milk, lemongrass, lime leaves and green curry paste, you deliver depth of flavour that most guests won’t expect from a typical catering buffet.

Chicken thighs are ideal for tender results, while aubergines, green beans, and courgettes help bulk out the curry and introduce freshness. Serve alongside fluffy jasmine rice, garnished with fresh coriander and lime wedges for extra zest.

This dish offers great flexibility—you can easily make a vegetarian or vegan version by using tofu and a plant-based curry paste. Thai curries also hold well when kept warm in chafing dishes, which is crucial for extended service periods.

You’ll appeal to modern foodies, young professionals, and diverse crowds by including this cultural favourite on your offerings list. Moreover, it's a relatively low-cost dish that gives an exotic edge to your service.

5. BBQ Pulled Pork with Coleslaw & Brioche Buns

Nothing draws guests in quite like the smoky aroma of BBQ pulled pork. It’s a crowd-pleaser and works wonderfully for both indoor and outdoor functions across the UK. This dish is particularly effective for weddings, birthdays, summer markets, and casual corporate events.

Use pork shoulder slow-cooked for hours with smoked paprika, brown sugar, garlic powder, and barbecue sauce until it becomes tender and shreddable. Serve it in warm brioche buns with fresh, crunchy slaw and optional hot sauce on the side.

We recommend preparing the pork in advance and transporting it in insulated containers. It's low in cost, high in flavour, and excellent for self-serve buffet styles, plated meals, or food station catering.

This dish scales incredibly well, offering a high profit margin with minimal ingredient variety. Plus, its familiar flavour profile appeals to traditional British tastes while offering the elevated touch that discerning clients seek.

Ingredient Quantities for 20 Servings (Example Table)

Here’s a sample ingredient list for the Creamy Chicken & Mushroom Pasta Bake, scaled for 20 portions:

Final Thoughts

These five catering-friendly recipes not only cater to wide-ranging tastes popular throughout the UK but also allow you to efficiently control costs, scale up with ease, and maintain high food quality. Whether you're appealing to young professionals hosting loft parties in Manchester, DIY families in Birmingham, architects planning networking mixers in London, or professional tradesmen celebrating milestones in Leeds—there’s a winning recipe here for every event.

As a catering service in the UK, using these recipes gives your business a robust foundation for profitability, repeat customers, and favourable reviews. Try integrating one or more into your catering menu—your guests (and your books) will thank you for it.