Every January, I love hosting a dinner party. I think it’s the perfect time of year. The stress and craziness (and wonderfulness) of the holidays are over. People’s schedules are more open and, while you may have been able to see many friends over the holidays at parties and such, it’s hard to catch up and spend quality time with them.
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Don’t get me wrong, I love a nice restaurant meal. I love the ambiance, the delicious menu options, and not having to do dishes afterwards. But I also love a home cooked meal shared with good friends.
Tips for hosting a great dinner party:
Having the table set before guests arrive is a nice gesture. It gives your guests something to look forward to and adds to the ambiance
Guests mirror the energy of the host - if you are stressed, they will be stressed.
Serving really delicious versions of familiar favorites is sometimes better than trying a new, fussy recipe. While both will be appreciated, guests might be happier to see something familiar.
Having some music on in the background helps to even out the lulls in conversation, at least with folks first arrive. Hopefully everyone will be talking and laughing before long and you won’t be able to even hear the music.
Have an appetizer or two ready when guests first walk in the door. I can’t tell you how many times I show up for dinner at a friends house, already starving, and I am so happy when there is a nice spread already waiting.
Offer your guests a drink - adult or otherwise - when they first arrive. I like to have bottles of wine with glasses, a bottle opener, and glass charms at the ready. I also have a cocktail station set up occasionally, depending on how many guests are coming. I offer one or two signature cocktails, usually one vodka based and one whiskey based.
Serving anything in cute little dishes makes it just that much more special.
Related Reading: 7 Easy & Delicious Appetizers your Guests will Love
I enjoy planning the menu and doing the shopping and prepping the food and setting the table. I love every part of it. I love the moment when the doorbell rings and people start to stream in and my house is suddenly louder and more exciting. I love when everyone sits down to eat and it gets super quiet for just a minute when everyone is digging in.
Not everyone shares my passion for menu creation and dinner party planning. Below are six multi-course dinner party menus, hopefully making your first or next dinner party easier and more enjoyable.
Related Reading: A Step-by-Step Guide on the Most Organized Way to Meal Plan
Things to consider when creating a menu:
Season - what vegetables are in season? What time of year is it? Would something cool and refreshing or warm and hearty be better?
Allergies/Restrictions - are you hosting anyone with a food allergy or someone who is a vegetarian, who is lactose intolerant, or follows a gluten free diet?
Preferences - do you know of any favorite foods or any foods that they don’t like? I personally love roasted Brussels sprouts, but not everyone does.
Formality - what vibe are you going for? A build your own taco bar and grilled steaks with risotto, while both delicious, are different in terms of formality.
Below are six menus to try for your next dinner party. If you’re feeling fancy, you can make printed copies of the menu to get your guests excited about what’s to come!
Grilled Mini Sweet Peppers with Goat Cheese & Spinach Artichoke Dip
Grilled Steaks [season with steak seasoning or salt, pepper, and garlic powder, grill until desired level of doneness]
Grilled Asparagus [snap the ends off, toss in olive oil, salt, pepper, and garlic powder, grill until desired level of doneness]
Seasoned Salt Bar using seasoned salts from Spice & Tea or Salt Cellar
Mixed berries with yogurt
Shrimp Cocktail – store bought, arranged on a pretty platter
Melon, Prosciutto, & Mozzarella Skewers on bamboo skewers
Arugula Salad with Lemon + Parmesan
Chicken Pot Pies in individual ramekin dishes
Key Lime Pie from Trader Joe’s
Note: This would be a great menu for summer time
Firecracker Chicken Meatballs and Chips & Salsa
Corn Chowder served in short individual shooter glasses
Mexican Seafood Cocktail served in tall individual shooter glasses
Carnitas Taco Bar with flour tortillas, guacamole, pico de gallo, shredded cheese, sour cream, pickled jalapenos
Note: Another great menu for the summer
Roasted Asparagus [snap ends of asparagus off (these are tough and you don’t want them), toss with olive oil, salt, pepper, and garlic powder, roast at 425 until desired level of doneness]
Pastry Pups from Trader Joe’s served with whole grain mustard
Build Your Own Salad Bar [mixed greens salad mix, bacon bits, dried cranberries, sunflower seeds, croutons, finely shredded parmesan, homemade salad dressings]
Grilled Marinated Pork Chops with brown sugar and garlic marinade
Roasted Green Beans [toss frozen or fresh green beans in olive oil, salt, pepper, and garlic powder, roast in the oven at 425 until desired level of doneness]
Tortilla Chips with Homemade Tomatillo Salsa
Award-Winning Chili with Jalapeno Cornbread
Note: the chili recipe says award winning chili - but I also won an award at work for best chili, so I can personally attest to the fact that this chili is AWARD winning! :)
What do you think? What are your favorite menus to serve at dinner parties or what tips would you give someone? Let me know in the comments below.
There is nothing more comforting than a warm chicken dish with a side of rice and some veggies. Check out my absolute favorite chicken recipes for quick weeknight dinners and or to satisfy the craving for hearty comfort food.