107 Main Course Recipes That Are Worthy of a Dinner Party
Come by for dinner in the backyard! I’m making…what, exactly? If you’re having people over, you want dinner party recipes that feel special (while also being easy and delicious.) Here are a few of our favorite main course options for serving all your favorite folks. We have grilled entrées, easy roasts, and lots of impressive-but-not-labor-intensive vegetarian main dish recipes too. Now all you need to think about is dessert…
Photo by Caleb Adams, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell1/107Cedar-Plank Salmon
A big salmon fillet always feels like a festive main course, especially when it's cooked on a cedar grilling plank, so it picks up a whisper of smoky flavor. Kick off your seafood-themed dinner party with grilled oysters and pair the fish with a simple tomato salad.
Photo and Food Styling by Joseph De Leo2/107Braised Chicken Legs With Grapes and Fennel
There's nothing wrong with defaulting to chicken when you're trying to think of dinner party ideas. The key is to select a truly special chicken recipe, like this easy sweet-and-spicy braise, made with ribbons of fennel and juicy table grapes. You'll want to have a loaf of bread on the side for sopping up the sauce.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich5/107Double-Stack Mushroom and Chicken Cheeseburgers
These chicken-and-mushroom burgers are worthy of a weekend hangout, but totally possible to make for a casual dinner party on a weeknight. Curry mustard is the ideal condiment, but you can use whatever mustard you have on hand.
Photo and Food Styling by Joseph De Leo6/107Quick Potato Gnocchi
Impress your friends with homemade gnocchi, then let them in on the secret: these pillowy Italian dumplings were made quicker with instant mashed potatoes. Top with Parmesan and fresh herbs, and serve a salad after.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Erika Joyce8/107Broken Lasagna With Parmesan and All the Peas
Photo & Food Styling by Joseph De Leo9/107Habanero BBQ Shrimp
Marinate shrimp in a sweet-and-spicy mixture of apricot preserves, lime juice, habanero, soy sauce, garlic, and ginger—then throw them on the grill for an easy 15-minute dinner. Looking for a side dish? Perhaps this simple grilled corn recipe will do the trick.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Christopher Barsch10/107Grilled Pork Spareribs With Soda Bottle Barbecue Sauce
Barbecue brisket is a whole ordeal, but you can get rich, meaty flavor faster if you focus on tender pork spareribs. These have two sauce options, made with your choice of Coca-Cola or ginger ale.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich13/107Gado Gado
When it's so warm out that you can't contemplate any more effort than dialing for takeout, a meal like this is just the ticket. Prep your peanut sauce in advance, then pair with all sorts of crunchy, delightful bites.
