Best Recipe For Dinner Guests

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.

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.

Simple Make Ahead Meals For Overnight House Guests

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.

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.

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

Indian Dinner Party Menu With Sample Menus

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.

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.

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.

Quick And Easy Dinner Ideas To Add To Your Menu

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.

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.

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.

Easy Dinner Party Recipes

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.

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.Take the stress out of hosting with these casual dinner party menu ideas. They're just right for any easy-going meal with friends.

Everyone needs an easy dinner party recipe. Try this sheet-pan chicken with roasted potatoes for a simple and tasty meal guaranteed to please the whole family. If you use fresh lemon juice, garnish each serving with a little lemon zest for bright flavor. —Andrea Potischman, Menlo Park, California

Best Saturday Night Dinner Ideas: 31+ Recipes For The Weekend

Thai Drunken Noodles with BeefWe raise wagyu beef on our ranch and love to use it in this quick pasta dish. I think it’s better than many of the drunken noodles you get at many Thai restaurants, but I’ll let you and your guests be the judge of that. —Cassandra Butler, Tempe, Arizona

Baked Feta PastaThere's a reason this baked feta pasta recipe went viral on TikTok! It's simple to throw together and incredibly creamy and delicious. —Sarah Tramonte, Culinary Producer

Foil-Baked SalmonBaking salmon in foil is an easy technique that can also be used on the grill. This quick recipe uses lemon zest and slices plus garlic for flavor, but you could also try other citrus fruits, herbs and spices. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Easy Pre Holiday Dinner Menu

Moroccan Apricot ChickenTraditionally, Moroccan chicken with apricots includes chili pepper paste, but I use chili sauce in my version. Serve it alone or with couscous for a heartier meal. —Arlene Erlbach, Morton Grove, Illinois

Smoked Salmon PastaThis pasta originally came to be from the miscellaneous ingredients in my fridge, and depending on whom I'm cooking for, it changes a little each time I make it. The recipe makes enough for a party or for leftovers, which is a bonus because it is excellent the next day whether you serve it cold or reheated. —Jackie Hennon, Boise, Idaho

Chicken Parmesan PizzaThis tasty pizza is the perfect combo—quick and easy to make, and a winner with even picky eaters. It’s a handy option for a family dinner on a busy night or for a casual dinner party. —Karen Wittmeier, Parkland, Florida

Best Potluck Recipes

The Best Beef StewThis stew has tons of flavor thanks to the herbs, red wine and balsamic vinegar. —James Schend, Dairy Freed

Sheet-Pan Honey Mustard ChickenThis sheet-pan chicken is an easy gluten-free, low-carb meal ideal for busy weekdays or low-key gatherings. The chicken is tender, juicy and so delicious! It’s now on the list of our favorite meals. You can substitute any low-carb vegetable for green beans. —Denise Browning, San Antonio, Texas

Turkey Cordon Bleu with Alfredo SauceThis turkey is tender and flavorful, full of smoky ham and melted cheese, but the crispy bacon really sets the dish off. Dinner party guests (and you!) will love it. —Sandy Komisarek, Swanton, Ohio

Easy Dinner Party Mains

Gorgonzola Shrimp PastaThis creamy pasta dish is so quick and easy. It’s perfect for weeknights, but feels special enough for a dinner party menu. —Robin Haas, West Roxbury, Massachusetts

Country Chuck Roast with Mushroom GravyThis tender, savory roast practically melts in your mouth. It looks a bit complex, but the hands-free oven time makes it my go-to company recipe on a cold day. —Mary Kay LaBrie, Clermont, Florida

Warm Chicken Tortellini Au GratinThis is one of my favorite recipes. It’s fast and delicious, and paired with a green salad and toasty bread, you have a meal that’s fancy enough for company. —Brenda Cole, Reisterstown, Maryland

Easy Pasta Dinners The Whole Family Will Love

Teriyaki Beef RoastMy father and I created this pot roast with a hint of Japanese flair. It will make your taste buds dance! Try this for your next dinner party. —Mary Flurkey, Golden, Colorado

Italian Chicken ChardonnayOne day I needed to have dinner ready when we walked in the door after work and school. I altered a skillet dish that my family likes, creating this delicious slow-cooker meal. It's perfect for a weeknight but nice enough for company, too. —Judy Armstrong, Prairieville, Louisiana

Roasted Tuscan Chicken DinnerWhen an Italian friend shared many years ago that she often added Italian sausages to her pan of baked chicken, I had to give it a try! The sausages give the chicken an amazing flavor. Over the years, I've turned it into a one-dish meal by adding potatoes, onions and peppers, and it has become a family favorite that I often use for holidays, spur of the moment company and Sunday dinners. —Teri Lindquist, Gurnee, Illinois

Recipes Your Dinner Guests Are Hoping You'll Make I Taste Of Home

Beef and BarleyI like to serve this to company. I'm not sure where the recipe originated for this country-style dish, but I have had it for years and rely on it when I'm hosting a meal for a group. —Linda Ronk, Melbourne, Florida

Old-Fashioned Chicken PotpieAlthough it uses leftover chicken, this old-fashioned chicken pot pie is a great dinner-party dish. Actually, my husband may enjoy it more than the original roasted bird with all the fixings! —Marilyn Hockey, Lisle, Ontario

Lemon-Rosemary Pork TenderloinThis tender pork is seasoned with a wonderful herb and lemon rub I created. Even my husband, who is a chef, thinks this dish is dinner party-worthy. —Carol Birkemeier, Nashville, Indiana

Best Party Salads For Your Next Get Together!

Fold-Over Tortilla BakeHere’s something a little different to shake up taco night. But don’t reserve this zippy dish for a weeknight—it’s perfect for dinner parties and potlucks, too. —Deborah Smith, DeWitt, Nebraska

Beef and Noodle CasseroleWhen I was working on the local election board in the '50s, one of my co-workers gave me this ground beef casserole with noodles recipe, and it has