There was a time when catering menus were filled with nothing but basic foods and simple recipes that appeal to a mass audience.  For caterers looking to stand out and become known as a high-end solution, a more creative approach with an expanded selection has become necessary.  Packaging costs, kitchen time, food costs and many other factors contribute to the overall profitability of your business, but that shouldn’t stop you from creating a world class menu for your clients to select from.  Assembling a talented and creative kitchen staff will only benefit your business if you allow them to be imaginative and come up with unique dishes.  Here we’ve outlined the core sections of a complete catering menu along with some recipe suggestions to help inspire your own creations.

Appetizers

Layered Sun-dried-Tomato-and-Basil Spread

“Make this festive top-rated holiday dip recipe up to 3 days before the party. The colorful layers make it a fun addition to any appetizer buffet.”

Salads

Chickpea Salad with Carrots and Dill

“My favorite chickpea salad recipe, made with grated carrots, chopped celery, fresh dill, and lots of chickpeas. This protein-rich salad is perfect for potlucks, packs well for lunch, and it’s easy to make! Recipe yields 4 side servings.”

Soups

Crock Pot Cheeseburger Soup

“This awesome soup is cheesy and creamy and filled with flavorful ground beef, potatoes and carrots. It will keep bellies full and happy a long time after it’s eaten.”

Sides

Lemon-Pepper Asparagus

“This simple side dish is just as much about the tender roasted asparagus as it is about the burnished lemon slices that are tossed in the mix. The thin rounds caramelize as they roast alongside the asparagus, retaining their signature sourness as they grow sweeter in the heat of the oven.”

Entrees

Kelsey's Goat Cheese and Herb Stuffed Chicken Roulade

“Kelsey's elegant roulade is stuffed with spinach, goat cheese and lots of fresh, flavorful herbs.”

Desserts

Butterfinger Cookie Dough Cheesecake Bars

“Going from the bottom up you’ll find a chocolate chip cookie dough crust that’s been layered with a heavy bricking of 5 king size packages of Butterfinger.  To add some soft creaminess against the Butterfinger crunch and ease the sweetness is a layer of cheesecake. Finishing things off is a crumbled sprinkling of more cookie dough and a fistful mini chocolate chips.”

Drinks

Non-Alcoholic Orange Slush Punch

“Refreshingly sweet with a tart, citrus twist—you had us at punch. This big-batch drink takes a little more prep time since it needs to freeze overnight. But it’s worth the wait. Trust us!”

Creating a catering menu that truly stands out takes a lot of work from your kitchen staff as well as those that control the finances.  The goal is to have a wide variety of unique items along with popular mainstays that allow you to be profitable.

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