Our favourite dinner party recipes for stress-free entertaining
No-one wants to spend all night in the kitchen
It's now peak dinner party season, so if you're looking for an easy dinner party recipe to impress your guests — you've come to the right place.
The key to hosting a good dinner party is all in the atmosphere, so make sure you're relaxed and sitting down at the same time as your guests. It's important to remember that dinner parties don't have to be perfect, either.
With that in mind the ideal dinner party recipe can be mostly made in advance, giving you time to get ready and relax before guests arrive. It can be served family-style, made ahead of time, only take 10 minutes to throw together... throw that traditional rule book away.
Dinner party tips
Our number one tip for hosting your best-ever dinner party is to prepare ahead of time. There's nothing worse than being stuck in the kitchen all evening when your guests are outside enjoying your lovingly prepared food and drink, so making sure you cook everything you can ahead of time is key.
Another hosting hack is to batch-make cocktails for your welcome drink. Shake up a load of margaritas or make your own pre-made negroni mix and store in a jug or jar in the fridge until your guests arrive, then divide ice cubes between glasses and serve.
It's also a good idea to choose your tableware beforehand - serving platters are your best bet for a relaxed atmosphere, and make sure to set out plenty of serving cutlery.
We've got a whole host of dinner party desserts to finish off the evening with a bang too.
Lemon, mozzarella and thyme pizzettes
These pizzettes make a lovely little snack with an Aperol or two for aperitivo hour, or the main event at a casual pizza party dinner.
Thai chicken salad
Some days call for a feel good salad that oozes fresh and vibrancy, and this recipe packed with crunchy leaves, a tangy dressing and shredded coconut chicken is just that.
Silvana's saffron fish risotto with red mullet ragu
This saffron-yellow risotto with a super savoury fish ragu is the perfect summer platter dish that's best mopped up with a hunk of bread and a fresh green salad.
Italian meatballs and spaghetti
Everyone loves a Lady and the Tramp moment, and our recipe for traditional Italian meatballs with a garlicky tomato sauce and spaghetti does it best.
Chicken curry bao
Fancy making something a little bit different for a Chinese-themed spread? Our fragrant chicken curry bao are absolutely delicious.
Baked aubergine pasta with tomatoes and mozzarella
This recipe is a little like a cross between an aubergine parmigiana and a pasta bake. It's perfect for prepping ahead for dinner guests, and works beautifully alongside plenty of your favourite red.
Moroccan-style lamb chopped with raita and speedy picked tomatoes
Lamb is a real crowd-pleaser, and this surprisingly speedy spiced lamb chop recipe is no exception. Served with a cooling mint raita and quick pickled tomatoes, it's best enjoyed outdoors at golden hour.
Spaghetti alla vongole
Simple yet elegant, spaghetti alla vongole is one of the easiest dishes to impress guests with at a dinner party.
Giant couscous and pomegranate salad with orange dressing
This jewelled salad is just as gorgeous by itself or alongside our Persian-inspired spatchcock chicken.
Porchetta with salsa verde
Our porchetta recipe has the crispiest skin, simple roasted new potatoes and a bright and zesty salsa verde that's sure to make you the host with the most.
Persian spatchcock chicken
Coated in fragrant spices and yoghurt, our Persian spatchcock chicken works beautifully as a centrepiece alongside a fresh salad and traditional tahchin.
Harissa hasselback butternut squash
This veg-focussed main pairs sweet, fudgey roasted squash with sharp feta and bright pops of pomegranate for the most gorgeous vegetarian dish.
Nduja pasta
Hosting a pasta party? Our spicy nduja pasta is a deceptively easy and works wonderfully alongside a bitter leaf salad.
Whipped feta with glazed leeks
Whipped feta is the dreamiest dinner party dip, and topping it with toasted pine nuts and glazed leeks makes it into the ideal sharing starter.
Roast pork belly
Our pork belly recipe makes creating crispy skin easy, and goes perfectly with our parmesan roast potatoes and fresh spring greens.
Haddock orzotto
Hosting a dinner party but don't want to spend all night in the kitchen? This 10-minute smoked haddock orzotto is an absolute winner.
Moroccan lamb chops with speedy pickled tomatoes and raita
Ready in under an our, these harissa-marinated lamb chops with sweet and spicy pickled tomatoes are guaranteed to please a crowd without too much effort.
One-pot chicken risotto
If you dread post-dinner party washing up, this recipe is for you. A creamy sweetcorn risotto with a whole roast chicken in lovely juices - all in one pan.
Pork and mushroom meatballs with butterbean mash
We've given mashed potatoes and sausages an elegant upgrade by switching potatoes for creamy butterbeans and sausages for flavoursome pork and mushrooms in this comforting yet dinner party-worthy recipe.
Beef shin ragu
There's nothing more inviting than a big pot of ragu simmering on the stove, so treat guests to a slow-cooked pasta dish this weekend for ultimate friend points.
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