34 Impressive (and Affordable!) Dinner Party Recipes (2024)

Home Recipes Meal Types Dinner

Updated: Feb. 01, 2024

Entertaining doesn't have to break the bank. From easy roasts to pastas and more, these guest-worthy appetizers and entrees will impress everyone at your table.

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Puff Pastry Chicken Pot Pie

When my wife is craving comfort food, I whip up this chicken pot pie with puff pastry. It’s easy to make, sticks to your ribs and delivers soul-satisfying flavor. It’s a favorite dinner party recipe. —Nick Iverson, Denver, Colorado

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Spicy Lemon Chicken Kabobs

When I see Meyer lemons in the store, it must be spring. I like using them for these easy chicken kabobs, but regular grilled lemons still add the signature smoky tang. —Terri Crandall, Gardnerville, Nevada

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Flavorful Grilled Pork Tenderloin

Folks can find me grilling, no matter the weather. This moist pork tenderloin has loads of flavor thanks to its special spice blend, and this dinner party recipe doesn’t get much easier to make. —Steve Ehrhart, Villa Park, Illinois

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Strawberry Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing

My family is always happy to see this fruit and veggie salad on the table. If strawberries aren’t available, substitute mandarin oranges and dried cranberries. —Irene Keller, Kalamazoo, Michigan

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Grilled Steaks with Cilantro Sauce

Fresh herbs made into a sauce help make these steaks the main star of our favorite summer grilling menu. —Lynne Keast, Monte Sereno, California

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Green Onion Rolls

Better double the batch! One of the easiest dinner party recipes, these savory, elegant rolls will disappear fast. —Jane Kroeger, Key Largo, Florida

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We love to make meals into celebrations, and antipasto always kicks off the party for Italian dinners. This one is almost too pretty to eat, especially when sprinkled with pimientos, fresh basil and parsley. —Patricia Harmon, Baden, Pennsylvania

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Best Lasagna

Want to know how to make lasagna for a casual holiday meal? You can't go wrong with this deliciously rich meat lasagna recipe. My grown sons and daughter-in-law request it for their birthdays, too. —Pam Thompson, Girard, Illinois

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Slow-Cooker Burgundy Beef

When my adult children are coming over for dinner, this is the request. All three of them, and their significant others, love this dish. Yum! — Urilla Cheverie, Alfred, Maine

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Buttery Grilled Shrimp

This grilled shrimp recipe is an easy and delicious dinner party recipe! These shrimp are great with steak, but for a special occasion, brush the sauce on lobster tails and grill. —Sheryl Shenberger, Albuquerque, New Mexico

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Asian Turkey Lettuce Cups

Such a cool idea for a light lunch or even an appetizer simply served in small lettuce leaves. When I want to make it easier for my kids to eat, I mix it all up with shredded lettuce and serve in a bowl. —Diana Rios, Lytle, Texas

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Baker's Dozen Yeast Rolls

A yummy honey-garlic topping turns these easy dinner rolls into something extra special. Try ’em with soups and chili. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

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Garlic-Apple Pork Roast

One of the best dinner party recipes to have in your back pocket, I have become famous for, and it is so simple. The garlic and apple flavors really complement the pork. It’s especially good with steamed fresh asparagus and roasted red potatoes. —Jennifer Loos, Washington Boro, Pennsylvania

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Cowboy Pasta

This Cowboy Pasta recipe combines ground beef, bacon, corn, tangy buttermilk and Monterey Jack cheese for an easy but hearty weeknight dinner or dinner party recipe. Add more chili powder or a chopped jalapeno to give this delicious pasta dish more of a kick. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

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Butternut Squash Soup with Cinnamon

The golden color, smooth and creamy texture, and wonderful taste of this soup make it welcome on a chilly fall day. It has a slightly tangy flavor from the cream cheese, and the cinnamon really comes through. —Jackie Campbell, Stanhope, New Jersey

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Baked Parmesan Broccoli

I began making this creamy side dish years ago as a way to get my kids to eat broccoli. They have since grown up but still request this satisfying casserole. It's truly a family favorite. —Barbara Uhl, Wesley Chapel, Florida

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Sunday Pot Roast

With the help of a slow cooker, you can prepare a down-home dinner any day of the week, not just on Sundays. The roast turns out tender and savory every time. —Brandy Schaefer, Glen Carbon, Illinois

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Mediterranean Kofta Meatballs

For a new dinner party recipe, try these quick kofta meatballs that are flavorful and full of Mediterranean spices and herbs. Shape meat mixture around soaked wooden skewers and grill them for a more authentic twist. —Rashanda Cobbins, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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Greek Roasted Chicken and Potatoes

You'll find this meal is a nice one to prepare for company or to serve your family for Sunday dinner. All you need with it is tossed salad and some crusty French bread. —Pella Visnick, Dallas, Texas

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Stamp-of-Approval Spaghetti Sauce

My father is very opinionated, especially about food. This recipe received his almost unreachable stamp of approval. I have yet to hear a disagreement from anyone who has tried it! —Melissa Taylor, Higley, Arizona

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Parmesan Pork Roast

Great sweet, savory flavor comes from just a few pantry staples in this easy roast. It’s a surprising elegant dinner party recipe that impresses everyone. —Karen Warner, Louisville, Ohio

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White Cheddar Scalloped Potatoes

This recipe has evolved over the past eight years. After I added the thyme, ham and sour cream, my husband declared, “This is it!” I like to serve this rich, saucy entree with a salad and homemade French bread. —Hope Toole, Muscle Shoals, Alabama

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Mixed Olive Crostini

These little toasts are pretty and irresistible—they’re always a big hit. Even though they look as if you fussed, the ingredients are probably in your pantry. —Laurie LaClair, North Richland Hills, Texas

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Chicken Piccata with Lemon Sauce

Once you’ve tried this tangy, yet delicate lemon chicken piccata, you won’t hesitate to make it for company. Seasoned with parmesan and parsley, the chicken cooks up golden brown, then is drizzled with a light lemon sauce. It looks fancy, but it’s really one of the easiest dinner party recipes. —Susan Pursell, Fountain Valley, California

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Rosemary Roasted Baby Carrots

Baby carrots go over big when seasoned with the subtle taste of rosemary. I like to sprinkle raisins on top for a combination of sweet and savory. —Aysha Schurman, Ammon, Idaho

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Honey Balsamic Salmon

Look no further—you’ve just found the first, last and only way you’ll ever want to fix salmon again. The sweet and tangy flavors blend beautifully in this easy-to-remember honey balsamic salmon recipe. —Mary Lou Timpson, Centennial Park, Arizona

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Pressure-Cooker Tex-Mex Risotto

I love food with lots of flavor and a Mexican twist, but am too lazy to stand over a pot of risotto. This recipe gave me the opportunity to marry my love of Mexican and creamy risotto—no muss, no fuss. —Sharon Marx, Grand Blanc, Michigan

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Kale Salad

I love making meals that wow everyone. The flavor and nutrition in this kale salad set it apart from other 30-minute creations. —Gina Myers, Spokane, Washington

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Asparagus 'n' Shrimp with Angel Hair

We’ve all heard that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, so when I plan a romantic dinner, this shrimp asparagus pasta with angel hair is one dish I like to serve. It is easy on the budget and turns out perfectly for two. —Shari Neff, Takoma Park, Maryland

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Shrimp Enchiladas with Green Sauce

I started making these enchiladas last year during the Lenten season. When I brought it to school, my co-workers couldn’t get enough of it. And it’s a great dinner party recipe for a casual get together. —Mari Acedo, Chandler, Arizona

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Grilled Pork with Pear Salsa

My husband, Dave, and I have been in a dinner group with three other couples for a few years. We often share our recipes. This grilled pork was served by one of the couples, and I decided to "pear" it with this fabulous salsa. —Suzan Ward, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho

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Roast Pork Loin with Rosemary Applesauce

I made this for a family get-together on my husband's birthday. The homemade rosemary applesauce adds an extra layer of comfort to the tender pork. —Angela Lemoine, Howell, New Jersey

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Mexican Stuffed Peppers

This nutritious yet economical summer meal makes the most of my home-grown peppers. I like to top it with sour cream and serve with tortilla chips and salsa, but it’s wonderful on its own, too. —Kimberly Coleman, Columbia, South Carolina

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Country Chuck Roast with Mushroom Gravy

This 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

Originally Published: April 28, 2017