Catering Recipes: How to Develop Catering Recipes [2024]

Although the Covid-19 pandemic had a negative impact on catering businesses, the industry still generates an impressive $12.2 billion per year. While you’ll need to carefully craft the right concept, there’s still plenty of opportunity in this industry.

After all, according to Restaurant Business Online, 78% of consumers report that the taste and quality of food is the most important factor influencing their choice of caterer. So, as long as you can develop and perfect delicious catering recipes, there’s a good chance you’ll be successful!

That’s why, in this article, we’ll explain how you can start crafting unique dishes for your catering business, giving you the best chance of standing out from the competition.

Key takeaways

• Before you begin developing your catering recipes, it’s crucial to define your business concept. This includes the types of events you plan to cater, your style of cuisine, and other unique selling points.

• As you brainstorm catering recipes, look for inspiration from local food markets, other catering businesses, food influencers, culinary events, and current dining trends.

• To create your own unique recipes, start with basic versions of each dish and then experiment with different flavors, textures, and presentations. Most importantly, feel free to get creative!

• Test and retest your recipes to learn what you can improve so you can perfect each dish.

• Consider sourcing local ingredients, and be sure to implement standardized procedures to ensure consistency as you scale up your recipes.

Let's dive in.

1. Define your catering business concept

Before you start developing your catering recipes, it’s crucial to define your concept. After all, your concept will guide every aspect of the recipe development process, from ingredient selection to presentation.

To get a clearer understanding of your concept, be sure to consider the following advice.

Identify your target market and niche

Understanding who your ideal customers are and identifying a niche will help you tailor your recipes to meet specific needs.

To get a feel for who your target customers are, think about the types of events you want to cater, such as:

• Weddings

• Corporate events

• Casual gatherings, like birthday parties

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Additionally, you may want to consider offering niche catering services to set your business apart from competitors. For example, you could offer:

• Gourmet vegan dishes

• Regional cuisine, like Mediterranean, Indian, or Mexican

• Farm-to-table, locally-sourced menus

• A specific food specialty, like ice cream or crepes

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Overall, it’s important to think about what will make your catering service unique. This could be a signature dish, a specific presentation style, or a particular culinary influence. 

Of course, some catering businesses, like sustainability-focused LUX, take their unique selling point to the next level, focusing on more than just food. In an interview with the US Chamber of Commerce, Sarah McClure, the company’s Director of Marketing, said:

So remember, the market and niche you select will not only shape the style, flavor, and presentation of all of your recipes, but the values and entire foundation of your business.

Analyze your competition

Not only is market research important for defining your target customers, but it’s also key for understanding the competitive landscape.

It’s vital to pay attention to what kinds of services other local caterers are providing by looking at their:

• Menus

• Pricing

• Branding

Overall, identifying gaps in the market that you can fill with your unique recipes and services is crucial for building a catering concept that stands out.

Assess your capabilities

Your catering concept should also take into account the level of service you can realistically provide. This depends on several key factors, including:

• Kitchen capabilities/cooking equipment

• Staff expertise

• Available resources

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Ultimately, these factors will determine the complexity and volume of recipes your business is able to handle. 

For example, if you have a small team, you may want to focus on high-quality, smaller-scale events rather than large, elaborate banquets.

2. Research catering recipe ideas

Once you have your catering concept nailed down, you’re ready to start finding potential recipes.

So, think about the following strategies as you research dishes that fit with your idea.

Explore trends and popular cuisines

Staying ahead of the curve with food trends is essential for any catering business. To discover popular cuisines that customers will love, consider doing a deep dive into: 

• Culinary publications

• Food trend reports

• Global food culture websites 

This can help you understand emerging trends like plant-based and vegan diets, ethnic street foods, and regional specialties.

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Additionally, try analyzing the popularity of these trends and consider how you can adapt them to fit your catering menu.

Visit local food markets and catering businesses

Local food markets are treasure troves of inspiration, offering a plethora of fresh, seasonal ingredients. 

So, think about spending time observing and interacting with vendors to learn about unique products and their culinary uses. 

Likewise, visiting established catering businesses can provide insights into successful menu items and operational practices. 

Just be sure to take note of presentation styles, ingredient combinations, and customer reactions.

Follow food influencers

Food blogs, social media influencers, and cooking shows are great sources of inspiration and innovation. 

You can find awesome recipe ideas by subscribing to popular food blogs and following influential chefs and food enthusiasts on social media platforms. These influencers often showcase inventive recipes and cooking techniques, along with valuable tips on presentation and flavor combinations. 

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Additionally, cooking shows, especially those that focus on professional chefs, can provide a behind-the-scenes look at how to craft exceptional dishes.

Attend culinary events

Lastly, food festivals and culinary events are excellent opportunities to immerse yourself in diverse culinary experiences. 

These events often feature renowned chefs, emerging culinary talents, and innovative food concepts. So, to spark new ideas and get inspiration for unique twists on classic recipes, consider:

• Participating in workshops

• Attending tasting sessions

• Networking with fellow food professionals

Ultimately, the more you immerse yourself in these different types of culinary experiences, the more chances you’ll have to discover inspiration for your own catering recipes.

3. Brainstorm initial catering recipe ideas

Now that you have a concept and have done some research into potential recipes, it’s time to start brainstorming some dish ideas that may work well for your business.

As you think about which recipes you want to integrate into your catering business, be sure to implement the following advice.

List potential dishes

Start by listing a wide range of potential dishes that align with your chosen cuisine and business concept. 

To accomplish this, feel free to get creative! It’s generally a good idea to include a mix of traditional favorites and innovative new ideas. 

Additionally, ensure your list should cover various meal components, from appetizers and main courses to sides, desserts, and beverages.

You may even want to start a spreadsheet where you can organize all of your initial ideas. Be sure to note important aspects of each recipe, such as:

• Main ingredients

• Level of complexity

• Preparation time

• Type of recipe (ie, appetizer, main course, side, etc.)

Overall, a well-organized shortlist of recipes will make it easier for you to narrow down the best options once you’ve finished the brainstorming process.

Consider seasonal ingredients and local produce

Incorporating seasonal ingredients and local produce not only enhances the flavor and freshness of your dishes, but also supports local farmers and reduces costs. 

However, if you decide to buy local, it’s key to research seasonal produce calendars and build your menu around ingredients that are in-season. 

This approach can also lead to new and exciting menu items that change with the seasons.

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Think about menu diversity

A well-rounded menu offers a diverse range of options to cater to different tastes and dietary needs. So, it’s important to ensure your menu includes a variety of proteins, vegetables, grains, and desserts. 

Additionally, consider balancing familiar comfort foods with adventurous dishes to appeal to a broad audience. 

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Lastly, you might think about offering customizable options, allowing clients to mix and match components to suit their preferences.

4. Develop unique catering recipes

At this point, you should have a robust list of potential recipes that align with your concept that you use for your catering business.

So, now you’re ready to take these ideas and put your own spin on them to help you stand out from the competition.

Start with basic versions of each dish

The first step to coming up with your own recipes is to develop basic versions of each dish on your menu. 

These initial versions should capture the essence of the dish and serve as a foundation for further refinement. 

By focusing on mastering fundamental techniques and achieving a balanced flavor profile, you’ll have an easier time putting your own spin on each recipe

Experiment with different ingredients and cooking techniques

Experimentation is key to creating standout recipes. So, be sure to try out different ingredients, spices, and cooking methods. This can help you enhance the flavor, texture, and visual appeal of your dishes. 

Additionally, it’s a good idea to document each variation and its results, noting what works well and what needs improvement. 

Remember, thinking outside the box can help you push culinary boundaries, allowing your business to differentiate itself.

Focus on balancing flavors, textures, and presentations

A successful dish balances flavors, textures, and presentation. Therefore, it’s important to ensure that each component of your dish complements the others. This helps create a harmonious and satisfying experience. 

Additionally, be sure to pay attention to the visual appeal of your dishes. After all, presentation plays a significant role in customer perception and satisfaction.

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Keep portion sizes and pricing in mind

Lastly, it's crucial to consider portion sizes and pricing to ensure your dishes are cost-effective and provide value to your customers. 

So, be sure to calculate the cost of ingredients and determine an appropriate price point that covers expenses and generates a profit. 

Keep in mind the expectations of your target market regarding portion sizes and pricing. As a catering business, you’ll likely need to produce quite a bit of food for each client, meaning the cost of scaling up your recipes is a key consideration.

5. Test and refine your catering recipes

Now that you’ve developed some new and exciting catering recipes, it’s time to see what people think!

By testing and refining your dishes, you’ll ensure each guest has a great experience when you start serving them at events.

Conduct taste tests

Organize taste tests with a diverse group of people, including friends, family, and potential customers. 

As they test out your recipes, be sure to gather honest feedback on various aspects of each dish, including:

• Flavor

• Texture

• Presentation

• Overall appeal

Ultimately, this feedback will provide valuable insights into how clients will perceive your recipes and where you can make improvements.

Gather feedback

The best way to gather and organize feedback is to use structured feedback forms to collect detailed opinions on each dish. 

For example, you should ask testers to rate aspects such as flavor balance, texture, presentation, and overall satisfaction. 

From there, you can analyze this feedback to identify common themes and areas you may want to adjust.

Make tweaks based on feedback and retest

Based on your testers’ feedback, the next step is to make adjustments to your recipes. This may involve:

• Tweaking ingredient quantities

• Modifying cooking techniques

• Rethinking presentation styles 

Once you make these adjustments, you should then retest the revised recipes to ensure the changes have enhanced the dish without compromising its core qualities.

Ensure consistency

Consistency is crucial in the catering business, so be sure to develop standardized recipes and procedures. This will help ensure that every batch of your dishes maintains the same taste, quality, and presentation. 

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This consistency will build trust and reliability with your customers, helping you build long-term sustainability for your catering business.

6. Source your ingredients

After testing and retesting your catering recipes, you should have some of them perfected and ready to serve to the world.

Before you can start scaling, however, you first need to source your ingredients. So, use the following advice as you consider how to secure the right ingredients.

Find reliable suppliers

Building relationships with reliable suppliers is essential for maintaining the quality of your ingredients. 

Therefore, it’s key that you research and vet potential suppliers, looking for those who offer fresh, high-quality products consistently. 

Additionally, be sure to consider factors such as:

• Delivery schedules

• Pricing

• The supplier's reputation in the industry

Remember, reliable suppliers are vital to creating consistent and high-quality food for your clients.

Build relationships with local farmers and markets

Establishing connections with local farmers and markets can provide access to fresh, seasonal produce and unique ingredients. 

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These relationships can also foster community support and sustainability, which can appeal to potential clients looking to support their local communities. 

To find nearby suppliers for your ingredients, think about attending farmers' markets and local food events to network with producers and explore potential partnerships.

Consider cost-effective options

While managing costs is important, you should never compromise on the quality of your ingredients. After all, providing consistently high-quality food is vital for establishing a good reputation in the industry and securing new clients.

To keep your expenses lower, however, think about exploring cost-effective options, such as bulk purchasing or negotiating discounts with suppliers. 

Overall, it’s key to strike a balance between cost and quality that aligns with your business goals.

Plan for ingredient availability

Planning your menu around the availability and seasonality of ingredients is another important consideration, especially if you’re using local suppliers.

So, think about creating a flexible menu that you can adjust based on seasonal changes and ingredient availability. This will allow you to take advantage of peak flavors, fresh ingredients, and cost savings.

Ultimately, this approach ensures that you can consistently deliver fresh, flavorful dishes.

7. Scale your catering recipes

Now it’s time for the last step in putting your recipes together–scaling up your dishes so you can serve large groups!

As you think about the best ways to make big batches of your dishes, be sure to keep the following tips in mind.

Adjust recipes for larger batches

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Scaling recipes for larger batches requires careful adjustment to maintain flavor and consistency. 

So, it’s crucial to use  precise measurements and ratios to ensure that each component is properly proportioned. 

Additionally, you should make sure you test the scaled-up recipes to confirm that the taste and quality remain intact.

Ensure consistency for each serving

Consistency in taste and presentation is critical, especially when serving large groups. 

Therefore, it’s vital that you develop standardized procedures and train your team to follow them carefully. 

For example, be sure to use portion control tools, such as measuring spoons and scales, to ensure uniformity across all servings.

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Consider storage and space limitations

Lastly, you’ll need to ensure you take  into account the storage and space limitations of your catering setup. 

To accomplish this, be sure to plan your menu and prep processes to optimize space and ensure that ingredients and prepared dishes are stored safely and efficiently. 

To make the most of your limited space, consider using: 

• Stackable containers

• Compact equipment

• Strategic layout planning

Start creating the perfect catering recipes

Developing recipes for a catering business involves a blend of research, creativity, and careful planning. 

By following the steps outlined above, you can create unique and appealing dishes that stand out from the competition. 

Remember, creativity, persistence, and striving for excellence are the key to taking your catering business from concept to execution.

Of course, it’s also essential that you use the right tools to streamline your operations and improve your clients’ experiences. 

Fortunately, with Toast you can streamline your event planning, automate essential tasks, stay organized, and much more. To learn all the ways you can take your catering business to the next level, be sure to check out all of Toast’s catering and events features!

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