34 Easy Dinner Party Recipes for Stress-Free Entertaining

Yahoo

09-06-2025

I love hosting my friends and family for dinner parties. No, really. There's nothing better than seeing my loved ones gathered around a table full of food, chatting and eating. What I don't necessarily love is the stress that comes along with it (planning menus, shopping for ingredients, spending the whole day cooking—you know the drill) and the last-minute push to get everything done when I'd rather be hanging out with my guests.
Luckily, I've honed my hosting technique over the years. My secret to success? Crowd-pleasing dishes that look super impressive, but are actually so simple to pull off. Think jambalaya, an Italian bruschetta bar, easy one-pan ratatouille and all the lightning-fast pastas, for starters. Here are 34 easy dinner party recipes to try for yourself that fit the bill.
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Photo: Christine Han/Styling: Katherine Gillen
Time Commitment: 1 hour
Why I Love It: sheet pan recipe, crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy
Serves: 4 to 6
Can I let you in on a secret? Spatchcocking your chicken—basically, removing the backbone—will yield evenly cooked results in far less time than if you roasted it like usual. "By doing so (easily, with kitchen shears), you can split and flatten the entire thing, which speeds up the cooking time and increases the surface area for more browned, crispy skin," former PureWow senior food editor Katherine Gillen explains. "I like to pair it with peppery radishes and creamy roasted potatoes, but any vegetable will work."
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Katherine Gillen
Time Commitment: 6 hours and 45 minutes
Why I Love It: slow cooker recipe, make ahead, crowd-pleaser
Serves: 8
Who knew your slow cooker could make such an elegant main course? "When I've made this sauce in the past, I've been able to freeze a quart of it for later, so it can easily serve at least eight people," Gillen writes. "It's a set-it-and-forget-it number that tastes rich and hearty without much effort on your end." Use a long, flat pasta (like pappardelle) for an elegant presentation and so the noodles can get fully coated in the sauce.
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Katherine Gillen
Time Commitment: 3 hours and 30 minutes (includes chilling time)
Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, beginner-friendly
Serves: 8
"I know it's really tempting to use store-bought pie dough, but I promise the ounce of extra effort it takes to make your own is worth it," Gillen urges. "You'll be rewarded with an ultra-buttery, flaky crust that will impress your guests to next year (or at least the next dinner party). The tomatoes don't even have to be in season because the oven will concentrate their flavor."
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Katherine Gillen
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, one pan, kid-friendly
Serves: 4
Store-bought pizza dough and a cast iron skillet are the keys to making a homemade pizza party entirely stress-free. "My favorite topping combination is sausage and fennel because their flavors are complementary, but you could put anything on this pie and it would be good," Gillen claims. "Just make sure you cook any vegetables beforehand so they don't make the crust soggy."
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Katherine Gillen
Time Commitment: 15 minutes
Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser, no cook
Serves: 4 to 6
Take it from me: A charcuterie board can totally count as an entree if you make it big enough. And what better way to take the pressure off entertaining than to indulge in a gorgeous, no-cook spread? "You can follow the recipe to a T or just use my suggested cheese selection as a jumping-off point," Gillen says. "I think all boards are best with a creamy cheese, a semisoft cheese and a blue cheese, but anything goes."
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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 1 hour
Why I Love It: one pan, beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser
Serves: 6
When it comes to dinner parties, we all want something that looks like it took all day but really took 30-ish minutes. To streamline the process, this take on paella features fewer types of seafood than the original, but doesn't skimp on flavor. (Bonus: Because it's made in one pan, you won't be left with a pile of dirty cookware when all the guests go home.)
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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 1 hour
Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy, crowd-pleaser, make ahead
Serves: 6
This elegant DIY bruschetta bar looks like it came from a fancy caterer. But really, it's just a matter of buying the right essentials—like cornichons, marinated artichoke hearts, pesto and charcuterie—and a little artful arrangement. Most importantly, you won't need to do any "cooking," besides toasting the bread.
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Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 1 hour and 30 minutes
Why I Love It: vegan, one pan, special occasion-worthy
Serves: 4
If a cartoon rodent can make this dish look fancy, so can you. With summer squash, tomatoes and eggplant in the mix (and no cheese), it's totally vegan and gluten free, so it's a great thing to serve when you're not totally up on what your guests prefer. Add pasta, rice or quinoa to complete the spread.
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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 15 minutes
Why I Love It: no cook, <30 minutes, make ahead
Serves: 4
Wondering how to make a salad look impressive? As it turns out, all you need to do is serve it on a board instead of in a bowl, which not only looks nice but also makes all the toppings more easily accessible. This one, full of ripe figs and ribbons of prosciutto, is a first-course knockout.
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Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 1 hour and 20 minutes
Why I Love It: one pan, special occasion-worthy, high protein
Serves: 4
Is there anything more inviting than the smell of a chicken roasting? It's one of my back-pocket tricks for feeling like the host with the most. While it looks impressive, it really couldn't be easier to make—you can thank the herbs and lemon for that. Throw some veggies onto the pan or toss a salad and dinner is done.
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David Loftus/Ultimate Veg
Time Commitment: 1 hour
Why I Love It: vegan, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
Serves: 6
This classic Moroccan dish is usually made in a tagine, a traditional clay pot with a cone-shaped top that lets out steam as it cooks. But a regular skillet will work in a pinch. Sub in whatever veggies you have on hand, but don't skimp on all the warming spices. (You'll never look at cinnamon the same way again.)
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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 8 hours and 20 minutes
Why I Love It: slow cooker recipe, crowd-pleaser, make ahead
Serves: 6
OK, I know this is not how Julia Child did things. But the slow cooker is actually a great way to turn the beef melt-in-your-mouth tender. (Plus, you'll actually have time to make a side of mashed potatoes and dessert, and I know she'd approve of that.)
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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, one pot
Serves: 6
Well, aren't you fancy? Bouillabaisse is a notoriously complex dish that can take several hours (and several trips to the fish market). But paring down the ingredients a bit turns it into a totally manageable (and totally delicious) one-pot meal. Talk about an easy dinner party recipe, am I right?
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Erin Kunkel/The Vibrant Life
Time Commitment: 40 minutes
Why I Love It: gluten free, high protein, special occasion-worthy
Serves: 4
In my humble opinion, scallops are fabulous for a last-minute, easy dinner party recipe when you haven't had time to plan or prep ahead of time. They're pretty foolproof (all you need is a hot pan) and come together in minutes. These are served alongside a citrusy mix of summer vegetables, but you could swap in rice or another grain if you'd prefer.
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Photo: Eric Moran/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 2 hours
Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, high protein
Serves: 6
Sometimes the best way to throw a dinner party is to keep things as simple as possible. Good steaks, a bright herby sauce and plenty of good wine? You'll have happy guests, trust me. The meat is marinated in Worcestershire sauce, vinegar, garlic, chile powder and herbs for maximum flavor.
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Half Baked Harvest
Time Commitment: 1 hour and 45 minutes
Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, make ahead
Serves: 8
Lasagna will always be an entertaining crowd-pleaser. Why? All the work is done ahead of time, it feeds a million people and everyone loves it. This extra-flavorful version is a twist on the classic, and it has a hearty meat sauce and a pesto-packed ricotta filling instead of the usual tomato base.
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Laura Edwards/From the Oven to the Table
Time Commitment: 50 minutes
Why I Love It: gluten-free, high protein, beginner-friendly
Serves: 4
This one-pan meal features all the different tastes and textures: crispy chicken thighs, salty feta and a spicy, creamy yogurt sauce drizzled on top, to name the highlights. Arrange it on your most elegant platter and congratulate yourself on a hosting job well done.
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Food Faith and Fitness
Time Commitment: 20 minutes
Why I Love It: vegetarian, <30 minutes, beginner-friendly
Serves: 2
Behold, a nutritious number that can be enjoyed by everyone at your dinner party. (Don't worry, the serving size can be scaled up for a crowd with ease.) Honey-ginger glazed carrots, pineapple, crispy cabbage and snow peas keep it interesting.
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Floating Kitchen
Time Commitment: 1 hour and 40 minutes
Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, vegetarian, one pot
Serves: 8
Yes, it's meat-free, but it's also hearty and seriously delish. Homemade cheesy biscuits tend to have that effect. (If you, like me, aren't the biggest fan of blue cheese, try swapping in cheddar or goat cheese instead for a less intense funk.)
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Minimalist Baker
Time Commitment: 1 hour and 15 minutes
Why I Love It: make ahead, vegan, kid-friendly
Serves: 3
You can't please everyone all the time, but you can please your vegan friends with these meatballs. They're made with quinoa and black beans for a tender texture and lots of protein. Toss them over some spaghetti, serve up some crusty garlic bread and your dinner menu is set.
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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 5 hours and 20 minutes
Why I Love It: high protein, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly
Serves: 4
It's just like grandma used to make. The capers and lemons make the entire dish bright and briny, but most importantly, the trusty Crockpot basically cooks dinner for you. How's that for stress-free hosting?
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Minimalist Baker
Time Commitment: 55 minutes
Why I Love It: gluten free, vegan, make ahead
Serves: 4
This healthy side is packed full of flavor, courtesy of beets, avocado and a tahini maple dressing. It's the ideal accompaniment to whatever your dinner party main might be (although personally, I think it would pair great with chicken).
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Real Food With Jessica
Time Commitment: 1 hour and 25 minutes
Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, high protein, gluten free
Serves: 6
Everything tastes better on a stick, no? These sumptuous skewers are a nut-free take on Thai-style chicken satay. They're spicy, nutty and perfect for hors d'oeuvres or as a light entree. You can also pair them with coconut rice or salad if you want to make it a main.
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The Defined Dish
Time Commitment: 35 minutes
Why I Love It: gluten free, Paleo-friendly, high protein
Serves: 4
Light and fresh, these salmon burgers are ideal for a summer night dinner party on the patio. Lemongrass, chiles and cilantro ensure the patties are packed with flavor, but if you don't like spicy food, just omit the peppers. Ta-da, problem solved.
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Photo: Mark Weinberg/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 40 minutes
Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
Serves: 6
When I make tomato-based pastas, I like to add a little bit of spice. This Italian sauce is particularly delicious because it's made with a small amount of cured pork. It gives the sauce enough richness that can stand up to that burst of heat. Guanciale is traditional, but it's hard to find stateside—I've used pancetta with success instead.
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I Am a Food Blog
Time Commitment: 15 minutes
Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, beginner-friendly
Serves: 4
Hot pot might be the greatest (and easiest) dinner party recipe out there, because everyone picks and cooks their own adventure whatever ingredients you prep ahead of time. Try including multiple meats, seafoods and vegetables (like ribeye, shrimp, broccoli and mushrooms) for variety, and don't sleep on frozen dumplings for an indulgent twist.
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The Modern Proper
Time Commitment: 8 hours
Why I Love It: slow cooker recipe, one pot, <500 calories, dairy free
Serves: 10
Juicy, slow-cooked pork shoulder makes an excellent easy dinner party recipe, mainly because it's filling and can be served in an endless number of ways. Just serve the meat as the star of a taco bar and you're set. (Oh, and don't forget the margaritas.)
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What's Gaby Cooking
Time Commitment: 2 hours and 20 minutes
Why I Love It: one pan, high protein, special occasion-worthy
Serves: 4
Recipe creator Gaby Dalkin's smoky, citrusy grilled salmon with jammy cherry tomatoes will become an instant go-to for any warm-weather holiday. Serve it with a crisp white wine and a simple green salad—and never look back.
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EE BERGER/PULP
Time Commitment: 35 minutes
Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy, high protein, beginner-friendly
Serves: 4
I thought fruit and meat sounded like an odd pairing, but here, the berries are just tart enough to pair beautifully with lamb, and the black pepper keeps the dish on the savory spectrum despite the fruit. It doesn't hurt that the whole thing calls for just seven ingredients either.
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Pinch of Yum
Time Commitment: 8 hours and 10 minutes
Why I Love It: slow cooker recipe, crowd-pleaser, high protein
Serves: 10
A slow cooker can be a total dinner party savior. It'll help you do all the heavy lifting earlier in the day, meaning you'll have more time to hang with your guests. This restaurant-worthy dish pairs fork-tender braised beef with al dente pasta, not to mention a dollop of ricotta cheese on top.
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The Recipe Critic
Time Commitment: 50 minutes
Why I Love It: one pan, crowd-pleaser, high protein
Serves: 6
Jambalaya is a fun and festive way to feed a crowd (it's really just a one-pan rice dish packed with shrimp and smoky sausage). Crank up the jazz and serve it with a pitcher of daiquiris for a real New Orleans vibe, and end the meal with beignets to drive the theme home.
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Damn Delicious
Time Commitment: 5 hours and 20 minutes
Why I Love It: make ahead, crowd-pleaser, slow cooker recipe
Serves: 6
There's nothing better for a summer gathering than a good old-fashioned shrimp boil with sausage, corn and plenty of Old Bay seasoning. In this easy dinner party recipe, everything cooks together in a Crockpot, so all you'll need to do once friends arrive is slice up some crusty bread for dipping.
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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 1 hour
Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy, beginner-friendly, one pan
Serves: 2
This recipe serves two, but if you have a larger skillet, you could add another steak and double the vegetables to serve four. In my experience, the easiest way to ensure your steak is perfectly cooked is to use a meat thermometer and check it before your timer goes off. Then, let the meat rest for at least 15 minutes before slicing so it stays juicy.
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Gimme Some Oven
Time Commitment: 1 hour and 10 minutes
Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser, high protein
Serves: 8 to 10
What's more fun than a build-you-own-taco party with friends, especially when the filling is more exciting than what you usually make on a random Tuesday? This cochinita pibil—savory, citrusy pork shoulder—definitely fits the bill, and you can fix it up easily in a slow cooker or Instant Pot. I won't tell if you don't.
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