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Plan the perfect group cooking night with friends

Turn your kitchen into a cozy cooking party at home with shared recipes, tasks and a bring-something list.

Step-by-step guide to your group cooking night

  1. Define the concept, date and guest list — Decide what kind of group cooking you want: Italian night, tapas, sushi, homemade burgers, or a simple pasta party. Fix a date, time and location (usually your home or a friend’s kitchen) and think about how many people realistically fit and can cook together. Create the event in Fiestukis right away, add the basic info and invite your friends so everyone has the same details from the start.
  2. Choose a menu everyone can cook together — Pick 2–4 simple dishes that can be prepared in parallel: for example starter, main, side and dessert. Consider dietary needs (vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free) and choose recipes that don’t require a professional kitchen or rare ingredients. Share the menu ideas on your Fiestukis event page so guests can comment, suggest alternatives and vote if you’re unsure.
  3. Plan the shopping list and use “bring something” — Break down each recipe into ingredients and quantities, then create a clear shopping list. In Fiestukis, use the “bring something” list to assign who brings which ingredients, drinks or extras like bread, ice and snacks, so you avoid duplicates. Add notes for special items (e.g. “good olive oil”, “fresh basil”) and let people tick off what they’ll bring.
  4. Organize roles, stations and timing — Divide the menu into tasks: chopping, cooking, baking, mixing drinks, setting the table, music. Assign small groups to each dish or station so not everyone crowds the same pan. On Fiestukis, you can add these roles in the description or as extra list items, helping guests choose where they want to help and keeping the evening flowing smoothly.
  5. Prepare your kitchen and atmosphere — Clear your countertops, sharpen knives and gather enough cutting boards, pans and bowls before guests arrive. Think about small details that make a cooking party at home cozy: a playlist, aprons, tea towels, a trash bag nearby and a spot for coats and bags. Share any practical info on Fiestukis (e.g. “bring your favorite apron” or “we’ll cook barefoot, socks recommended”).
  6. Enjoy the evening and wrap up together — Start with a quick welcome drink, explain the plan and then let everyone dive into their cooking tasks. Eat in rounds or all together, take photos and keep the atmosphere relaxed—this is about cooking together, not perfection. At the end, ask everyone to help with a quick clean-up; you can even use Fiestukis afterwards to share photos, recipes and ideas for your next group cooking night.

Complete guide to hosting a cooking party at home

For a relaxed cooking night with friends at home, 4–8 people is usually ideal. Everyone gets to help without overcrowding the kitchen.

If your kitchen is small, stay closer to 4–6 guests and choose recipes that don’t require everyone to stand at the stove at once. You can mention the maximum number of people on your Fiestukis event page so expectations are clear and you don’t end up with too many cooks.

The best dishes for group cooking are simple, flexible recipes that can be split into tasks. For example:

  • Italian night: bruschetta, fresh salad, pasta with two sauces, tiramisu.
  • Tapas: tortilla, patatas bravas, marinated olives, baked feta, simple churros.
  • DIY burger bar: homemade patties, toppings, oven fries, brownies.

Avoid recipes that need constant attention from one person or very precise timing. Share your chosen recipes on Fiestukis so everyone can see what you’ll cook together.

You can either have one person do the main shopping and split the bill afterwards, or let everyone bring specific ingredients and drinks.

With Fiestukis, it’s easy to create a detailed “bring something” list with all ingredients, drinks and extras. Guests simply choose what they’ll bring, so you avoid duplicates and keep the cost fair and transparent for your cooking night with friends.

Plan more small tasks than you think you need: washing, chopping, stirring, tasting, plating, setting the table, mixing drinks, taking photos.

Before the evening, write down simple roles or mini-teams (e.g. “salad team”, “pasta team”, “dessert team”) and share them on your Fiestukis event. People can pick what they like, and shy guests can choose easier tasks like setting the table or handling music.

Do a bit of prep so the group cooking starts fun and not chaotic:

  • Clear counter space and empty the dishwasher or sink.
  • Check you have enough knives, cutting boards and pans.
  • Pre-measure or pre-wash a few ingredients that take long.
  • Chill drinks and prepare a simple snack for when people arrive.

You can list anything guests should bring (extra cutting boards, aprons, containers for leftovers) in your Fiestukis event so nothing is forgotten.

Ask about allergies and preferences (vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, lactose-free) when you invite people. Then choose a menu that can be easily adapted, like pasta with two sauces, build-your-own tacos, or bowls with different toppings.

On Fiestukis, guests can add notes about their diet on the event page, and you can mark which dishes are suitable for whom. This way everyone feels included and can enjoy cooking together without stress.

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