How do you make a boring dinner party fun?

Lots of food, lots of drink and lots of ice and garnishes are key; it's a bore to run out of anything. More is more fun. "If you can't afford a full bar," says Elizabeth Allen, an event planner with offices in Boston and Manhattan, "have red and white wines and a novelty co*cktail."

What makes a fun dinner party?

It's important to create a menu that can be easily prepared in advance and is not overly complicated . Serve various courses and keep things interesting. You can stick to dishes from a specific cuisine, or create your own rules. Don't forget to keep your drink options equally as exciting.

What do you serve when friends come over for dinner?

Pesto Bolognese Lasagna Lasagna will always be an entertaining crowd-pleaser—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 pesto-packed ricotta filling instead of the usual tomato.

54 Easy Holiday Dinner Party Recipes for the Lazy Chef (2024)

There's no need to make the holiday season more hectic when it comes to entertaining. It may sound too good to be true, but ease and elegance can coexist. This collection of 54 festive appetizer and main dish recipes is here to help out along the way. This year, let's stress less and celebrate more with our friends and family. Isn't that what the holidays are all about?

Appetizers

Havarti, Pear and Thyme Puff Pastry Bites

There’s both sweet-savory and make-ahead appeal to these bites. When you get a chance, simply whip up a batch or two and stash them in your freezer for future entertaining purposes. (via Shared Appetite)

Garlic Parmesan Roasted Shrimp

You won’t need any co*cktail sauce to make these roasted, well-seasoned shrimp palatable. They’re so much better than the precooked kind found in the freezer aisle. (via Damn Delicious)

Feta, Sun Dried Tomato and Pistachio Truffles

Enjoy these savory, creamy-crunchy marbles inspired by favorite Greek flavors. The mini cheese balls are perfectly poppable on their own — no crackers required. (via Half Baked Harvest)

10-Minute Pear Ricotta Crostini With Honey Thyme

Simply elegant, you’ll love just how quickly these flavorful, ricotta-topped toasts come together. (via The Pig and Quill)

Smoked Salmon Pinwheels

Serve these four-ingredient pinwheels as a fun co*cktail party appetizer or sandwich for your next tea party. You can’t go wrong with the classic combo of smoked salmon and cream cheese. (via )

Roasted Grape, Honey and Goat Cheese Crostini

Roasting grapes with chopped rosemary and a drizzle of olive oil infuses them with savory, herbal flavor while amping up their sweetness at the same time. Here, they’re accompanied by goat cheese atop slices of bread, but any creamy variety will do in a pinch. (via A Beautiful Mess)

Red and Green Bruschetta

Invite these pomegranate and avocado toasts to your next Christmas party. They’re already dressed up in red and green just for the occasion. (via Bite by Michelle)

Mushroom Pastry Bites

Each flaky bite of this pastry is packed with plenty of umami goodness — mushrooms, cheese and whole-grain Dijon are one heck of a combo. (via The Law Student’s Wife)

Persimmon, Brie and Prosciutto Crostini

We’re all about these fancy, open-face grilled cheese sandwiches. They’re colorful, flavorful and a cinch to prepare. What’s not to love? (via The Wandering Fig)

Garlic Prawns and Avocado Crostini

It might come as a surprise just how filling these toasts are. So much so that you can even get away with serving them as a light meal. (via Cafe Delights)

Sticky Asian co*cktail Sausages

With their sweet, sticky glaze, we definitely recommend spearing these nibbles to help keep fingers clean. (via My Fussy Eater)

Salmon Crisp Hors d’Oeuvres

It’s as simple as switching out the cracker to make these crisps into an entirely new-seeming (and even gluten-free) appetizer. (via Mom de Cuisine)

Pistachio, Feta and Pomegranate Crostini

You’ll love the pop and bright flavors featured atop these festive, fancy toasts. (via Recipes From a Pantry)

Neufchâtel and Smoked Salmon Endive Boats

Crisp endive is an ideal vessel for delivering a flavorful mix of zesty cheese, smokey salmon and dill. (via Brit + Co)

Easy Baked Arancini

Traditionally, these fried risotto balls take hours and hours of prep. This healthy, time-saving hack makes all that a thing of the past. (via Hungry Couple)

Potato Pancakes

We’d love it if these petite potato latkes decided to show up to every party we attended. (via Cookbooks 365)

String Cheese Mozzarella Sticks

These sticks transition from swanky holiday parties to sporty events with ease. (via The Chic Site)

Roasted Herbed Chestnuts

Contrary to popular belief (or holiday songs), no open fire is required to make these roasted chestnuts. (via Sprinkled Side Up)

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