17 Easy Recipes For A Dinner Party (2024)

Colder weather is coming, and throwing a dinner party is the only socially acceptable way to stay home all weekend.

Christine ByrnePublished on October 25, 2014
17 Easy Recipes For A Dinner Party (2)
17 Easy Recipes For A Dinner Party (3)

1. Slow Cooker Pumpkin Beer-Braised Chicken

17 Easy Recipes For A Dinner Party (4)

halfbakedharvest.com

Serve it with rice (here's how you make rice without a rice cooker) and maybe have one of your guests bring over some crusty bread, too. Recipe here.

2. One-Pan Chicken with Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto Sauce

17 Easy Recipes For A Dinner Party (5)

foodiecrush.com

Cook it in a pretty cast-iron skillet and leave it in there to serve. Recipe here.

3. Slow Cooker Lamb with Olives and Potatoes

17 Easy Recipes For A Dinner Party (6)

Romulo Yanes / marthastewart.com

There are two parts of this recipe that might make you nervous and I'm going to explain to you why NOTHING ABOUT THIS RECIPE SHOULD MAKE YOU NERVOUS.

1) Maybe you've never bought lamb shanks before. Don't worry, most butchers have them, and they're happy to cut and trim them for you.

2) You need to brown the meat before you put it in the crockpot. This should not scare you. Get a skillet really, REALLY hot, then put the lamb shanks in and turn them a couple of times so that they're browned on ever side. And honestly, if you over- or under-brown, it's not a big deal.

Recipe here.

4. Garlic and Rosemary Roast Pork Loin

17 Easy Recipes For A Dinner Party (7)

Chris Court / foodandwine.com

First, heat a skillet and brown the outside of the pork loin on the stove top. Then, stick the whole skillet in the oven to finish cooking the meat. To complete the meal, these garlic roasted potatoes are great, and you can cook them at the same time as you cook the pork, since both call for a 400°F oven. This simple green salad would be good on the side, too. Pork loin recipe here.

5. Pasta with Chorizo and Chickpeas

17 Easy Recipes For A Dinner Party (8)

Hirsheimer & Hamilton / bonappetit.com

Buying a super-flavorful sausage like chorizo takes no extra effort, but makes an otherwise easy and simple dish dinner party-worthy. Recipe here.

6. Thai-Style Shrimp Curry

17 Easy Recipes For A Dinner Party (9)

Liren Baker / kitchenconfidante.com

Red curry paste, which is sold in the ethnic aisle of most standard grocery stores, adds a ton of complex flavor to an otherwise simple dish. If you can't find Chinese spinach, sub regular spinach or mustard greens. Serve over rice or rice noodles for an impressive but quick (20 minutes, start to finish!) dinner party dish. Recipe here.

7. Chicken in Milk

17 Easy Recipes For A Dinner Party (10)

jamieoliver.com

Jamie Oliver tells you to "baste with the cooking juices when you remember," because even if you forget, the end result will be delicious. To serve, no need to carve (which really isn't that hard but I get it, it's intimidating), just let the chicken cool a little, pull it off the bone, and serve it on plates on top of mashed potatoes, drizzled with the delicious sauce that's creating in the pot with the chicken as it cooks. Recipe here.

17 Easy Recipes For A Dinner Party (11)

8. Roasted Chicken Legs with Potatoes and Kale

Tina Rupp / foodandwine.com

This impressive-looking dish is almost stupidly simple: Remove kale leaves from the stem, slice potatoes, cut chicken legs in half, throw everything together in a pan with oil and seasoning, and roast. If separating the chicken thigh from the drumstick sounds intimidating, just buy 8 chicken drumsticks and 8 chicken thighs. Recipe here.

9. Easy Beef Lasagna

17 Easy Recipes For A Dinner Party (13)

jocooks.com

Easy, and everybody's favorite. Recipe here.

10. White Bean Chicken Chili with Butternut Squash

17 Easy Recipes For A Dinner Party (14)

foodiecrush.com

This easy stew is so pretty and so hearty that all you need to serve it with is tortilla chips! The recipe is for 6, but if you have a big (at least 6 quart) pot, you can double it and freeze the leftovers. Recipe here.

11. Braised Pork Shoulder

17 Easy Recipes For A Dinner Party (15)

marthastewart.com

You could serve this with a quick stovetop polenta. That would be good. Recipe here.

12. Sunday Night Stew and Potatoes

17 Easy Recipes For A Dinner Party (16)

thepioneerwoman.com

The best part of beef stew is that it pairs well with both red wine and bourbon, the two greatest things about staying in when it's cold outside. Recipe here.

13. "Stacked" Chicken Enchiladas

17 Easy Recipes For A Dinner Party (17)

gimmesomeoven.com

Enchiladas can be easy to make, but this enchilada casserole is even easier. And face it, everything falls apart on the plate anyway. Recipe here.

14. Passover Brisket

17 Easy Recipes For A Dinner Party (18)

thepioneerwoman.com

You need to plan ahead, since this one takes 12-24 hours to marinate and 7 hours to cook. But other than that, all you need to do is mix ketchup and soup mix, smother it on brisket, put it in the fridge, take it out of the fridge, put it in the oven, and take it out of the oven. Sandwiches are a good idea, I think, but if that's too lowbrow for you, you can serve this with potatoes. Recipe here.

15. Pork Shoulder Ragu

17 Easy Recipes For A Dinner Party (19)

dinneralovestory.com

The only ragu you'll ever want to eat again. Serve it with pasta, prefereably a thick noodle like pappardelle. Recipe here.

16. Best-Ever Homemade Tacos

17 Easy Recipes For A Dinner Party (20)

yummyhealthyeasy.com

Sometimes you just want to have a bunch of people over, and you just want to feed them something delicious. This recipe serves 4, but you can easily double it to serve 8. Recipe here.

17. Baked Ziti

17 Easy Recipes For A Dinner Party (21)

simplyrecipes.com

Red sauce Italian is always a crowd pleaser. Recipe here.

Trending Recipes

Trending Recipes

More Tasty Guides

More Tasty Guides

    See all
    17 Easy Recipes For A Dinner Party (2024)

    FAQs

    What to serve 20 people for dinner? ›

    19 Ideas For Easy Meals For Large Groups
    • Taco Bar.
    • Meatballs.
    • Butter Chicken.
    • Lasagna.
    • Chili.
    • Homemade Pizza.
    • Baked Pasta.
    • Skewers.
    Apr 4, 2023

    What to feed 15 people? ›

    Feed-a-crowd recipes
    • Spiced salmon with traybaked sag aloo. ...
    • Chicken Provençal. ...
    • Chicken gyros. ...
    • Sharing bavette with blue cheese, beef dripping wedges & ranch salad. ...
    • Sticky tamarind tomato & spinach whirl. ...
    • Summer vegetable & flatbread platter with dill & mustard dip. ...
    • Spring sharing board. ...
    • Waste-nothing loaded potato wedges.

    What do you bring to a casual dinner party? ›

    what to bring to a dinner party
    • Something to drink. This is probably the most obvious. ...
    • fresh flowers. This is another safe one and something I personally love receiving. ...
    • a good book. ...
    • an appetizer. ...
    • dessert. ...
    • top shelf olive oil. ...
    • a homemade consumable gift. ...
    • Sea Salt and a salt cellar.
    Jan 17, 2024

    How to feed 15 people cheaply? ›

    Cheap tricks for the best outdoor cookouts.
    1. 1 / 7. Hot Dog Snack Board. ...
    2. 2 / 7. No-Cook Dip and Veggie Summer Board. ...
    3. 3 / 7. Instant Pot Pulled Porchetta Sandwiches. ...
    4. 4 / 7. Chicken Caesar Salad Skewers. ...
    5. 5 / 7. Chopped BBQ Chicken Salad. ...
    6. 6 / 7. Fish Tacos. ...
    7. 7 / 7. Ice Cream Sandwiches for a Crowd.
    Apr 19, 2023

    What is a good meal to feed a large crowd? ›

    Gather, Share, and Eat: Easy Meals for Large Groups That Won't Break the Bank
    • The Classic Spaghetti and Meatballs. ...
    • Tantalizing Tacos. ...
    • Perfectly Baked Potatoes. ...
    • Pizza Extravaganza. ...
    • Mouthwatering Pulled Pork. ...
    • Fabulous Fajitas. ...
    • Hearty Chili. ...
    • Build-Your-Own Sandwiches.
    Oct 19, 2023

    What's the cheapest way to feed a lot of people? ›

    SOUP BUFFETS ARE SOUP-ER

    Warm up a crowd with a buffet of different soups! Soups are typically very affordable to make and stretch a long way. Pair with cornbread, french bread, and crackers for a cheap way to fill everyone up!

    What can I cook for 12 people? ›

    Check out our selection of recipes for feeding a crowd and our tips and tricks that will make everyone happy – no matter who is coming round!
    • recipeJools' simple beef stew.
    • recipeSicilian cauliflower & chickpea stew with fluffy couscous.
    • recipeQuiche lorraine with carrot & parsley salad.
    • recipeVeggie korma.

    What to cook for large family gathering? ›

    Casseroles are perfect for a crowd! Pulled Chicken BBQ in the Slow Cooker Recipe Serve over rice or with vegetables, also can be made into roll-ups or served on buns. Slow Cooker Philly Cheese Steak Recipe | Large Family Style! Foil Packet Burgers Large Family Recipe Not just for camping!

    What to cook for 20 people? ›

    spaghetti or order pizza- almost everyone likes them. Spaghetti is also cheap & easy & you can make the sauce ahead of time or use one from a jar. Cooking a ham or turkey is another option if you want something a bit fancier.

    What not to bring to a dinner party? ›

    Avoid scented items like flowers or scented candles (which aren't to everyone's tastes), and don't bring your own dish, which takes attention off the host's cooking. Arrive 15 minutes late, indulge your host's requests, and offer to help clean up in order to secure the invite to the next dinner party.

    What to bring to a dinner party when they say don t bring anything? ›

    "Some of my personal favorites are paper co*cktail napkins, a tin of Louis Sherry chocolates, or a unique candle," recommends Strait. "It is fun to bring something the host might not pick up for themselves! A gift for a host does not have to break the bank, it just shows you appreciate them for hosting."

    What to bring when you are invited to someone's house for dinner? ›

    You may bring a hostess gift, chocolates, wine, or flowers. Take their diets into consideration when being dessert or chocolate. You could also ask what you can bring. When invited to someone's home to dinner, is it rude to ask to take food home?

    How do you feed a crowd of 20? ›

    Meal ideas to feed a vacation house of 20 people, please!
    1. Big pot of Chili with sides of coleslaw, cornbread or toast and toppings of avocado, corn, cheese.
    2. DIY Sandwich, Panini, Grilled Cheese stations people can pick their own fillings and have it cold or grilled.
    3. Burgers & hot dogs.
    Jan 21, 2020

    How to cater for 20 people? ›

    Finger foods, canapes, and grazing tables are great options that can feed a crowd and are easy to shape around any style. From gourmet cured meats and cheeses to catering classics like mini pies and pastries, there is bound to be something for any theme.

    How much food do you need for 20 guests? ›

    Food for Dinner Parties
    FoodUp to 10 guests20-30
    Green salad10 cups30 cups
    Fruit salad5 cups15 cups
    Rolls or bread slices20 pieces60 pieces
    Cakes1 layer cake3 layer cakes
    9 more rows

    What is the best cheap food to feed a crowd? ›

    Feed the masses without breaking the bank with these budget-friendly dishes.
    • Turkey and Pumpkin Lasagne. ...
    • Slow Cooker Savoury Mince. ...
    • Slow cooker barbecue chicken. ...
    • Slow cooker chicken and olives. ...
    • Slow cooker beef stew. ...
    • Creamy Chicken Pie. ...
    • Chicken, Avocado and Bacon Salad. ...
    • Potato Salad.

    References

    Top Articles
    Latest Posts
    Article information

    Author: Trent Wehner

    Last Updated:

    Views: 5936

    Rating: 4.6 / 5 (76 voted)

    Reviews: 91% of readers found this page helpful

    Author information

    Name: Trent Wehner

    Birthday: 1993-03-14

    Address: 872 Kevin Squares, New Codyville, AK 01785-0416

    Phone: +18698800304764

    Job: Senior Farming Developer

    Hobby: Paintball, Calligraphy, Hunting, Flying disc, Lapidary, Rafting, Inline skating

    Introduction: My name is Trent Wehner, I am a talented, brainy, zealous, light, funny, gleaming, attractive person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.