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Planning a party is fun, but it's also time-consuming—prep work will keep you very busy. We're here to help you keep the joy and reduce the stress associated with hosting by sharing our favorite easy entertaining recipes. Whether you're looking for some nibbles for a cocktail party, easy dinners to celebrate friends and family coming to town, or sweets for a holiday get-together, our recipes for entertaining are exactly what you need for a streamlined celebration.
Our collection includes quick appetizers to make when company is coming (or to make ahead!), fast entrées that are perfect for entertaining and easy to put together, and speedy desserts that sweeten all kinds of occasions. Use these recipes to round out a menu of your favorite dishes—or build your own menu around them.
Easy Chicken Thighs with Cherry Tomatoes and Pernod
With just 15 minutes of prep, then hands-off cooking in the oven, this saucy chicken entrée is just the thing for your next dinner party. While it bakes, you can set the table, wash the salad, and change into your party frock.
Blue-Cheese Spread
A two-ingredient wonder that comes together in 10 minutes and can be made a day ahead. This cream cheese meets blue cheese spread that's made in the food processor is both sophisticated and super easy. Serve with Olive Oil Toasts or your favorite crackers.
Spice-Cookie Parfaits
Pretty as a picture, these parfaits are a riff on the creamy British dessert known as a fool. They need to be made ahead to allow time for chilling but the active prep is short. Simply cook cranberries and pear juice to make a jewel-like sauce, then whip cream and layer in glasses along with crumbled spice cookies. Garnish with berries and another cookie before serving.
Greek Layer Dip
Serve this zesty Mediterranean spin on the traditional seven-layer dip with pita chips for a delightful party starter. It takes 20 minutes to make and doesn't require any cooking—just a whiz in the food processor.
Sweet-and-Tangy Relish
Just 10 minutes is all you need to put this addictive spread together. It's an irresistible mix of artichoke hearts, Peppadew peppers, capers, olives, and salami with lemon juice, olive oil, and herbs. Serve it right when you make it or pop it in the refrigerator for up to two days.
Spanish Chorizo Meatballs
As delicious at room temperature as they are hot out of the skillet, these crowd-pleasing meatballs spice things up. They're made with fresh chorizo sausage.
Seafood Orzo Risotto
Here's a quick and easy main dish that's a combo of paella and risotto, but made with orzo pasta—and even more delicious than either! This one-pan dinner looks and tastes fancy, but is easy to put together in just 45 minutes; you can customize it according to your taste or by using the best seafood available at the market.
Lime Pudding Cups
Take 10 minutes in the morning to make this comforting dessert, then pop it in the fridge to chill before you head out to work. Top with a dollop of whipped cream and some crushed graham crackers, and dessert is served.
Ham and Cheese Flatbread
Using purchased flatbread makes this elegant appetizer so easy to put together. You can also serve it with a nice big green salad for a simple lunch.
Broccoli Frito Misto
Who doesn't like crispy food? Here, both broccolini and broccoli get the deep-frier treatment and are served with a vinegary, slightly spicy dipping sauce.
Grilled Halibut Steaks with Potatoes, Olives, and Onions
This recipe is proof you don't need to spend a lot of time cooking to deliver a gorgeous, delicious dinner, be it on a busy workday or in the after hours of hectic weekend shopping. This entrée will be on the table in just 20 minutes.
Dark Chocolate-Walnut Date Bar
Who would ever think that such a sophisticated, celebration-worthy dessert as this would come together fast and be no-bake, vegan, and gluten-free to boot? Our rich chocolate-date bar does need time to refrigerate until firm, but make it ahead and concentrate on the last-minute elements of the meal knowing a stellar ending is waiting.
Mixed-Olive Tapenade
For this rustic take on tapenade, the ingredients are whole or very coarsely chopped, which makes for the prettiest presentation of this quick appetizer. Serve with toasted baguette rubbed with garlic.
Potato-Chip-and-Pimiento Mini Crab Cakes
Potato chips bring a salty crunch to these one-bite treats. They are baked instead of fried, so there's less mess to deal with after you finish cooking.
Green Mojo Salmon
Serving a whole side of salmon is just plain impressive. And it's surprisingly simple to put together, with just 25 minutes of prep and 15 minutes of oven time.
Butter Pecan Blondies
These treats are perfect if you are expecting a crowd. If you want to gild the lily, go à la mode and top them with ice cream and caramel sauce.
Shucked Oysters with Three Sauces
Nothing says elegance quite like a platter of freshly shucked oysters. With three sauces to choose from, everyone will be happy.
Grilled Lamb Burgers with Yogurt-Feta Sauce
Give burger night a twist with these lamb iterations. Yogurt sauce, chopped tomatoes, and lots of parsley make the perfect toppings for these Greek-style burgers.
Butter Waffle Cookies with Mascarpone
A ridiculously easy treat, this dessert takes just five minutes to make. If you have a bit more time, mix some minced crystalized ginger into the mascarpone.
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