Easy dinner party recipes (2024)

Whether you're looking for a slow-roasted centerpiece, shared platter, or easy finger food, we've got a recipe to help make hosting a dinner party a breeze. Try these dinner party main course ideas for fuss-free entertaining.

Easy dinner party recipes (1)

There’s something a little bit special about serving lamb rack at a dinner party – it’s such a great looking cut, so tender and loaded with flavour. And because it’s a small cut, it cooks quickly so you won’t be in the kitchen all afternoon preparing. Brillant.

Easy dinner party recipes (2)

Lamb Meatballs with Hummus

Spiced New Zealand Lamb Meatballs and Hummus are a perfect match. The soft and silky hummus combines beautifully with the flavoursome and juicy lamb. This surprisingly easy recipe is visually stunning and the definition of late summer dinner party perfection!

Easy dinner party recipes (3)

Slow Roasted Beef Short Ribs with Maple Butternut Mash

The oven puts in the hard yards here and the result is truly wonderous. A full flavour explosion, this dish is a meat-lover's dream come true. We've taken it up a notch with a fresh gremolata made with Italian parsley, mint, orange zest that helps cut through the richness of the beef.

Easy dinner party recipes (4)

The Best Lamb Wellingtons

Beef Wellington's smaller, tastier and far less intimidating cousin. Your guests will be gobsmacked when you serve this up to them - tender, perfectly cooked lamb rump with a tasty mushroom and herb coating, wrapped up in crispy, buttery pastry. And I promise you, it's so easy and uses everyday ingredients. Perfect for entertaining, or as a special treat!

Bacon Wrapped Meatloaf with Tamarind Glaze

A glam and super delicious meatloaf, wrapped in bacon and topped with a Tamarind Glaze. Add kumara and broccoli for a one-tray bake dinner or make your meatloaf the centre of a picnic feast, serving it with a salad of roast kumara and broccoli.

Easy dinner party recipes (6)

Soak up the balmy summer air and enjoy the company of friends and family whilst you barbecue. This recipe pairs the eye fillet with a colourful vegetable and couscous salad, drizzled with a punchy herb dressing.

Easy dinner party recipes (7)

Paprika Spiced Cutlets

Barbecue these lamb cutlets and top with a generous dollop of homemade smoked paprika mayonnaise, for the perfect starter.

Easy dinner party recipes (8)

Rare Beef and Roast Potato Stack with Horseradish Walnut Aioli

Rare beef, hot crispy potatoes, and nutty aioli that packs a punch to make a great little canape to get your party started too. Top bite-sized roast potato slices with a piece of beef, some slow-roasted tomato and the horseradish aioli

Easy dinner party recipes (9)

Slow Cooked Beef Bolar Roast with Smashed Potatoes

This slow cooked beef bolar roast is melt in your mouth deliciousness, with smashed garlic and sage potatoes it's perfect for a Sunday roast.

Use your slow cooker or a casserole dish in the oven for an easy 'prep and walk away' meal.

Steaks with Romesco Sauce

Use up the last of the late summer/early autumn tomatoes and peppers to make a batch of Romesco sauce for a tasty accompaniment to serve atop steaks. A popular Spanish sauce, there are many variations and this is ours. It's a great hassle-free option for a dinner party.

Easy dinner party recipes (11)

Rubbed Beef Fillet with Two Salsas

A recipe to spice up the traditional steaks on the barbecue. Both salsas complement the beef beautifully, yet offer very different combinations of flavour. We suggest keeping a jar of these on hand over the barbecue season - our guess is you'll be enjoying them on a range of meals!

Easy dinner party recipes (12)

Garlic, Red Wine and Rosemary Lamb Shoulder

The combination of smoky, succulent barbecued lamb along with the complimentary flavours and textures of garlic, red wine, and rosemary are very hard to beat.

Easy dinner party recipes (13)

Herb and Garlic Crusted Leg of Lamb

This herb-crusted leg of lamb is a deliciously impressive main course that is perfect for any special occasion. The lamb is roasted in a flavourful pool of garlic, and then topped with a crunchy crust. The result is a tender, juicy lamb that is bursting with flavour.

Easy dinner party recipes (14)

Slow Cooked Pulled Lamb

The shoulder has an incredible flavour, and cooking it on a low heat for a long time gives you beautifully tender meat that falls off the bone. Smothered in a rich gravy from the cooking juices, you’ll be in heaven with this meal. And the best part is it’s dead simple to make.

Easy dinner party recipes (15)

Rib Eye Steaks with Hot Smashed Potatoes

Surprise your guests with something a little more special than what you would normally barbecue. This is the ultimate recipe for when you want to impress without spending too long standing over the grill. Serve alongside smashed potatoes with aromatic rosemary and garlic to complement the beef perfectly.

Easy dinner party recipes (16)

Lamb Shoulder with Zesty Orzo Salad

This recipe is perfect for a dinner party. It uses a semi-boned lamb shoulder which you can ask your butcher for, or you can use a standard lamb shoulder which will give the same delicious result.

Easy dinner party recipes (17)

Sirloin on Seed Crackers with Horseradish Crème Fraiche

We love this combination of barbecued sirloin and horseradish crème fraiche. Serve on crisp seed crackers or store-bought blinis for a perfect starting platter.

Easy dinner party recipes (18)

Make this beautiful dish to impress at your next dinner party. The simple flavours marry together to give a rich and flavoursome sauce that will leave everyone wanting more.

Easy dinner party recipes (19)

Ragout on Pappardelle

Revive your taste buds with our easy to prepare ragout. With all the ingredients combined in a casserole dish, let the oven take care of the rest. Enjoy meltingly tender beef on-top of cooked pappardelle and sprinkled with thyme leaves.

Easy dinner party recipes (20)

Posted by Beef + Lamb New Zealand

Easy dinner party recipes (2024)

FAQs

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. ...
  • Crispy sesame chicken. A star rating of 0 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.

What's a good meal to cook for 8 people? ›

19 Ideas For Easy Meals For Large Groups
  • Taco Bar. A taco bar is one of the best inexpensive meals for large groups. ...
  • Meatballs. ...
  • Butter Chicken. ...
  • Lasagna. ...
  • Chili. ...
  • Homemade Pizza. ...
  • Baked Pasta. ...
  • Skewers.
Apr 4, 2023

What to cook for 50 guests? ›

50 Dinner Recipes That Will Feed a Crowd
  • Creamy Chicken Pasta. ...
  • Chicken Parmesan Casserole. ...
  • Philly Cheesesteak Cheesy Bread.
  • Large Group Food Ideas For Your Church Potluck.
  • Easy Chicken Fajitas {Oven-Baked on Sheet Pan!} ...
  • Jiacheng's chicken recipe. ...
  • Spicy Italian Crescent Ring. ...
  • Ham and Cheese Hawaiian Roll Sliders.
Jan 14, 2023

What is the cheapest food to make for a party? ›

20 Great inexpensive party food ideas
  • Ham and cheese pinwheels. ...
  • Mini spinach pies. ...
  • Spaghetti bolognese. ...
  • Baguettes with toppings (bruschetta) ...
  • Egg, cheese, and ham skewers. ...
  • Chicken pot pie. ...
  • Cheese straws. ...
  • Macaroni and cheese. You can make a few dishes of macaroni and cheese and serve it from warming trays.
Oct 13, 2022

What to make for dinner for a lot of people? ›

Nacho or Taco Bar (This meaty cheese dip recipe is our favorite! It's easy to make in bulk and is always a crowd pleaser.) Baked Potato Bar (Bake potatoes in a crock pot or large roaster to make it easy. Set out diced meat or chili, grated cheese, chopped veggies, sour cream, and olives for toppings.)

What to cook when inviting someone for dinner? ›

34 Easy Dinner Party Recipes for Stress-Free Entertaining
  1. Cheater's Skillet Paella. Time Commitment: 1 hour. ...
  2. Italian Bruschetta Bar. ...
  3. Cedar Plank Salmon with Blistered Tomatoes. ...
  4. Slow Cooker Beef Ragu with Pappardelle. ...
  5. Jambalaya. ...
  6. Easy One-Pan Ratatouille. ...
  7. Prosciutto and Fig Salad Board. ...
  8. Slow Cooker Shrimp Boil.
Apr 17, 2024

How do you impress guests at a dinner party? ›

5 Simple Ways To Impress Your Guest At A Dinner Party
  1. Balancing Act. Chefs and avid cooks like yours truly are constantly throwing the phrase “balance of flavours” around like it's going out of fashion. ...
  2. Crunch Time. ...
  3. Mix & Match. ...
  4. D.I.Y. ...
  5. High Hopes.

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.

What is an easy meal for 12 people? ›

Feed-a-crowd recipes
  • Spiced salmon with traybaked sag aloo. ...
  • Chicken dopiaza. ...
  • Chicken Provençal. ...
  • Chicken gyros. ...
  • Sharing bavette with blue cheese, beef dripping wedges & ranch salad. ...
  • Sticky tamarind tomato & spinach whirl. ...
  • App onlyChard, feta & sesame pie with olive oil pastry.

How can I feed 50 guests 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.

How to feed 100 people for 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.

What to feed 30 people? ›

  • Hearty Baked Penne Pasta. This recipe feeds an army. ...
  • Tasty Taco Bar. Everything you need to make your own Taco Bar at home. ...
  • Baked Potato Bar. ...
  • Crockpot Ham. ...
  • Killer Carnitas. ...
  • Chicken Spaghetti. ...
  • Ham and Cheese Sliders. ...
  • Shredded Beef Tacos.
6 days ago

What is the most popular food at a party? ›

What Is the Most Popular Party Food?
  • Source. Pizza. ...
  • Source. Chips and Dip. ...
  • Source. Nachos. ...
  • Source. Meatballs. ...
  • Source. Guacamole. ...
  • Source. Sushi. ...
  • Source. Spring Rolls. ...
  • Chicken Wings. A portion of the wing of a chicken, deep fried and coated in or served with sauce.

What are good party foods for adults? ›

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

What is a good meal for 12 people? ›

Recipes to feed a crowd
  • recipeJools' simple beef stew.
  • recipeSicilian cauliflower & chickpea stew with fluffy couscous.
  • recipeQuiche lorraine with carrot & parsley salad.
  • recipeVeggie korma.
  • recipeKerryann's chilli con veggie.
  • recipeDIY party combos - prawns and Marie Rose sauce.
  • recipeRoasted beetroot toast.

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