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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.

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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

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jocooks.com

Easy, and everybody's favorite. Recipe here.

10. White Bean Chicken Chili with Butternut Squash

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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

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marthastewart.com

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

12. Sunday Night Stew and Potatoes

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.

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    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 is the best food to serve at a dinner party? ›

    Dinner party mains
    • One-pot chicken chasseur. A star rating of 4.8 out of 5. ...
    • Lamb biryani. A star rating of 4.6 out of 5. ...
    • Beef bourguignon with celeriac mash. ...
    • Mustard-stuffed chicken. ...
    • Goat's cheese & thyme stuffed chicken. ...
    • One-pan salmon with roast asparagus. ...
    • Butternut chilli. ...
    • Smoked salmon & lemon risotto.

    How to feed 12 people cheaply? ›

    1. Hearty Baked Penne Pasta. This recipe feeds an army. ...
    2. Tasty Taco Bar. Everything you need to make your own Taco Bar at home. ...
    3. Baked Potato Bar. ...
    4. Crockpot Ham. ...
    5. Killer Carnitas. ...
    6. Chicken Spaghetti. ...
    7. Ham and Cheese Sliders. ...
    8. Shredded Beef Tacos.
    Apr 2, 2024

    How to feed 15 people cheaply? ›

    Feed the masses without breaking the bank with these budget-friendly dishes.
    1. Mexican Lasagne. A spicy lasagne for those of us who love Mexican and Italian food. ...
    2. Cheese Cob Dip. ...
    3. The Best Burger in Oz. ...
    4. Kangaroo Casserole. ...
    5. Sausage Casserole. ...
    6. Nanna's golden sausage casserole. ...
    7. Quiche Lorraine. ...
    8. Turkey and Pumpkin Lasagne.

    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 is a good meal for 10 people? ›

    8 Delicious Dinners That Feed A Crowd
    • Classic Lasagna. ...
    • Pulled Pork. ...
    • White Chicken Chili. ...
    • Sloppy Joes. ...
    • Beef Stew with Carrots & Potatoes. ...
    • Gail Simmons' Epic Spaghetti Pie. ...
    • Moroccan-Style Brisket with Dried Fruit & Capers. ...
    • The Ultimate Chili Recipe.

    How much food to feed 18 people? ›

    Rules to Plan By

    Each adult will consume 1 pound of food total; children, about 1/2 pound. The more options you have, the less you need of each; decrease the main course portion sizes by 1 to 2 ounces if served on a buffet. Guests will always eat — and drink — more at night than during the day.

    What are common party foods? ›

    38 Ideas For Party Food That Will Please Any Crowd
    • Chicken Fajita Quesadillas. tasty.co. ...
    • Cheeseburger Sliders. tasty.co. ...
    • Tomato Basil Bruschetta. tasty.co. ...
    • Cranberry Pecan Cheese Ball. tasty.co. ...
    • Chicken Pesto Pinwheels. ...
    • Garlic Parmesan-Stuffed Mushrooms. ...
    • Deep-Fried Mini Calzones (Panzarotti) ...
    • Honey Lime Sriracha Chicken Poppers.
    Dec 21, 2023

    How do you host an easy dinner party? ›

    The 7 Things I Do Every Time I'm Hosting a Dinner Party
    1. Consider the guest list. ...
    2. Set the menu. ...
    3. Prep beforehand. ...
    4. Play around with the table setting. ...
    5. Set the mood with sensory elements. ...
    6. Give (some) guests jobs. ...
    7. Lead the flow of the evening.
    Oct 10, 2023

    What can I make to feed 20 people? ›

    Easy Meat Dishes that are Great to Feed to a Crowd
    • Simple Barbecue Beef Roast.
    • Simple Overnight Saucy Crock Pot Chicken.
    • Simple Overnight Melt-in-Your-Mouth Beef Roast.
    • Simple Oven Fried Chicken.
    • Simple Honey Mustard Chicken Legs.
    • Simple Roasted Rotiserie Chicken.
    • Simple Hawaiian Beef Roast.
    • Simple Garlic Parmesan Chicken Legs.
    Jul 24, 2011

    How much food do you need to feed 20 people? ›

    Food for Dinner Parties
    FoodUp to 10 guests20-30
    Pork roast or ham5 pounds15 pounds
    Casseroles2 (13x9")4 (13x9")
    Side dishes5 cups15 cups
    Green salad10 cups30 cups
    9 more rows

    How to feed 100 people cheap? ›

    Serving budget-friendly cuisines like salads, sandwiches and pasta dishes can be a very cost-effective choice. Or, if you're looking for a more casual option, how about a barbeque? Burgers, hot dogs and other grill-oriented foods are sure to be crowd favorites, and they won't rack up a big bill.

    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? ›

    Create a “Bar” and feed everyone cafeteria-style

    There are lots of bar ideas out there, such as the Nacho bar, Baked potato bar, Burrito bar, Hot dog bar, Root Beer float bar, Hawaiian Haystacks bar, Sandwich bar, etc. All of these can be done on the cheap, and links to all these ideas can be found below.

    How do you seat 20 for dinner at home? ›

    Four 8-foot tables combine to make seating for 20-22 people (depending on if you add a seat where the tables join along the sides). This arrangement of tables may also be conducive for a large family meal, a conference or meeting, or to maximize space for seating up to 22.

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