Skip to content

Top Navigation

Southern Living Southern Living
  • Food
  • Holidays & Entertaining
  • Home & Garden
  • Style & Culture
  • News
  • Video

Profile Menu

Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
Login
Subscribe
Pin FB

Explore Southern Living

Southern Living Southern Living
  • Explore

    Explore

    • These Haircuts Are Going To Be Huge in 2021

      The trendy haircuts you’ll be seeing everywhere next year. Read More Next
    • How To Season A Cast-Iron Skillet

      Learn how to season this Southern kitchen staple in five easy steps. Read More Next
    • The Right Way to Heat a Pre-Cooked Ham

      It's so easy, trust us. Read More Next
  • Food

    Food

    See all Food

    Lost Cakes of the South

    These simple and spectacular Southern cakes deserve a comeback
    • All Food
    • All Recipes
    • Holidays & Occasions
    • Quick Fix Suppers
    • Slow Cooker Recipes
    • Desserts
    • Casseroles
    • Healthy Recipes
  • Holidays & Entertaining

    Holidays & Entertaining

    See all Holidays & Entertaining

    70 Wedding Vow Examples That Will Melt Your Heart

    Fight writer's block and find ways to express your love with these romantic, funny, and short wedding vow examples.
    • Christmas
    • Entertaining
    • Thanksgiving
    • Southern Weddings
    • Easter
    • Kentucky Derby
    • Valentine's Day
    • 4th of July
    • Mother's Day
  • Home & Garden

    Home & Garden

    See all Home & Garden

    7 Paint Colors We’re Loving for Kitchen Cabinets in 2020

    ‘Tis the season to ditch your all-white palette in favor of something a little bolder and brighter.
    • Home Decor Ideas
    • Idea Houses
    • Before & After
    • Inspired Communities
    • Curb Appeal
    • House Plans & Builders
    • The Grumpy Gardener
    • Plant Names A-Z
  • Style & Culture

    Style & Culture

    See all Style & Culture

    50 Books Everyone Should Read in Their Lifetime

    Curl up with a classic!
    • Southern Culture
    • Hair
    • Travel
    • Beauty
    • Pets
    • Southern Fashion
    • Healthy Living
  • News
  • Video

Profile Menu

Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow us

  1. Southern Living
  2. food
  3. entertaining
  4. Easy Dinner Party Recipes

Easy Dinner Party Recipes

December 26, 2017
Skip gallery slides
Save FB Tweet
Dinner parties don't have to be stressful and difficult--turn to these simple recipes that feature fresh salads, svaory appetizers, impressive main courses and delicious desserts. Whether you’re having a summer party or a winter get-together, these dishes are perfect year round and are sure to impress. Try a few of our favorites including farro salad with fried cauliflower and prosciutto herb-and-honey-mustard-crusted leg of lamb. Whatever dishes you choose, your guests will be impressed.
Start Slideshow

1 of 23

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Moules Farcies

These broiled mussels with a crispy bread crumb topping are perfect as a fast hors d'oeuvre.

GO TO RECIPE

1 of 23

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 23

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Pepper-Glazed Goat Cheese Gratin

This warm, sweet-spicy goat cheese dip is an easy alternative to a cheese plate.

GO TO RECIPE

2 of 23

3 of 23

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Italian Spritz Punch

Agostino Perrone, head mixologist at London's luxurious Connaught Bar, created this simple sparkling punch. "It would be a great aperitif for a large dinner party," says Wayne Collins; he recommends serving it in teacups.

GO TO RECIPE

3 of 23

Advertisement

4 of 23

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Rosemary, Almond and Parmesan Cocktail Cookies

To bring out the flavor of the rosemary in these barely sweet cookies, Dorie Greenspan first rubs the leaves with granulated sugar—a technique she learned from renowned French pastry chef Pierre Hermé.

GO TO RECIPE

4 of 23

5 of 23

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Zucchini Soup with Crème Fraîche and Cilantro

“This soup marries French cooking, with the leek and crème fraîche, and Texan flavors, with the poblano and cilantro,” says Danika Boyle. The creamy green soup is delicious served hot or cold.

GO TO RECIPE

5 of 23

6 of 23

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Garlic-and-Rosemary Roast Pork Loin

A big, bold, garlicky marinade, made with a whole bunch of fresh rosemary, flavors this juicy roast from Ethan Stowell.

Slideshow: Top 10: Fast Side Dishes

GO TO RECIPE

6 of 23

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 23

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Farro Salad with Fried Cauliflower and Prosciutto

Cooks in Italy fry cauliflower to bring out its nuttiness. Here, Ethan Stowell deep-fries it for an inexpensive salad with salty prosciutto (you could also use ham) and nubby farro, a variety of whole-grain wheat that's both flavorful and filling.

GO TO RECIPE

7 of 23

8 of 23

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Herb-and-Honey-Mustard-Crusted Leg of Lamb

To cook the lamb so it's crusty on the outside and juicy within, Danika Boyle preheats the oven to 500° for at least 30 minutes before then reducing the temperature to 375° and roasting the meat.

GO TO RECIPE

8 of 23

9 of 23

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Roasted Broccoli with Lemon and Pine Nuts

GO TO RECIPE

9 of 23

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 23

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Vinegar-Braised Chicken with Leeks and Peas

This chicken dish is elegant enough for entertaining and easy enough for a simple weeknight dinner.

GO TO RECIPE

10 of 23

11 of 23

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Free-Form Sausage-and-Three-Cheese Lasagna

This rustic and gooey lasagna is packed with cheese and sausage. The style is called free-form because the pasta can be arranged in different ways—for instance, folded over the filling—instead of traditionally layered.

GO TO RECIPE

11 of 23

12 of 23

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Sautéed Spring Greens with Bacon and Mustard Seeds

You can use any greens you like in this quick sauté, which gets terrific flavor and texture from smoky bacon, hot chile and the pop of mustard seeds.

GO TO RECIPE

12 of 23

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 23

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Brown Butter Mashed Potatoes

Michael Symon's four-ingredient potatoes get plenty of flavor from browned butter and crème fraîche. Reserve a little browned butter to drizzle on the potatoes just before serving.

GO TO RECIPE

13 of 23

14 of 23

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Spice Roasted Butternut Squash

Cubes of butternut squash are tossed with a mix of warming spices—including cumin, coriander and cayenne—and roasted.

GO TO RECIPE

14 of 23

15 of 23

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Roasted Chicken Legs with Potatoes and Kale

For this one-pan dish, Grace Parisi roasts chicken legs on a bed of potatoes and kale so the meaty juices keep the vegetables moist.

GO TO RECIPE

15 of 23

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

16 of 23

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Guest-at-the-Doorstep Apple-Berry Charlotte

Classic Soviet cuisine abounded in nifty quick recipes for unexpected guests. This puffy dessert requires only sliced tart apples, a few handfuls of berries and a simple batter.

GO TO RECIPE

16 of 23

17 of 23

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Big Italian Salad

Part green salad part antipasto salad, this recipe combines lettuce, celery, onion, peperoncini, olives and cherry tomatoes—all tossed in a dressing made with olive oil, vinegar and a little mayonnaise.

GO TO RECIPE

17 of 23

18 of 23

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Black Pepper-Raspberry Sorbet with Prosecco

Chef James Holmes of Olivia, in Austin, topped raw oysters with this sweet-savory sorbet before deciding it would make an excellent cocktail with Prosecco. A good-quality, store-bought raspberry sorbet is a fine shortcut.

GO TO RECIPE

18 of 23

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

19 of 23

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Goat Cheese Cakes with Rosemary and Lavender Honey

Pastry chef Sandra Reinli created this recipe using Provençal goat cheese and herbs.

GO TO RECIPE

19 of 23

20 of 23

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Warm Chocolate Cakes with Apricot-Cognac Sauce

Pair these cakes with a dried-fruit-and-caramel-scented tawny port: Taylor Fladgate 10-Year Reserve.

GO TO RECIPE

20 of 23

21 of 23

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Chorizo-Filled Dates Wrapped in Bacon

This timeless tapa from Spanish cookbook author Penelope Casas has everything going for it—it's sweet, smoky and savory, all in one bite.

GO TO RECIPE

21 of 23

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

22 of 23

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Skillet-Charred Cherry Tomatoes with Basil

Chris Cosentino remembers charring tomatoes when he was a line cook under chef Mark Miller at Red Sage in Washington, DC. "Mark always said, 'It needs fleck,' " Cosentino says, referring to the blackened bits on the skins. "The fire brings out the sweetness in the tomatoes."

GO TO RECIPE

22 of 23

23 of 23

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Grilled Chicken Breasts with Lemon and Thyme

A bold mixture of red-pepper flakes, garlic, thyme, lemon juice, and olive oil serves as a spicy marinade for bone-in chicken breasts. If you want your chicken spicier still, increase the red pepper or leave the breasts in the marinade for an hour or two.

GO TO RECIPE

23 of 23

Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook
Trending Videos
Advertisement
Skip slide summaries

Everything in This Slideshow

Advertisement

View All

1 of 23 Moules Farcies
2 of 23 Pepper-Glazed Goat Cheese Gratin
3 of 23 Italian Spritz Punch
4 of 23 Rosemary, Almond and Parmesan Cocktail Cookies
5 of 23 Zucchini Soup with Crème Fraîche and Cilantro
6 of 23 Garlic-and-Rosemary Roast Pork Loin
7 of 23 Farro Salad with Fried Cauliflower and Prosciutto
8 of 23 Herb-and-Honey-Mustard-Crusted Leg of Lamb
9 of 23 Roasted Broccoli with Lemon and Pine Nuts
10 of 23 Vinegar-Braised Chicken with Leeks and Peas
11 of 23 Free-Form Sausage-and-Three-Cheese Lasagna
12 of 23 Sautéed Spring Greens with Bacon and Mustard Seeds
13 of 23 Brown Butter Mashed Potatoes
14 of 23 Spice Roasted Butternut Squash
15 of 23 Roasted Chicken Legs with Potatoes and Kale
16 of 23 Guest-at-the-Doorstep Apple-Berry Charlotte
17 of 23 Big Italian Salad
18 of 23 Black Pepper-Raspberry Sorbet with Prosecco
19 of 23 Goat Cheese Cakes with Rosemary and Lavender Honey
20 of 23 Warm Chocolate Cakes with Apricot-Cognac Sauce
21 of 23 Chorizo-Filled Dates Wrapped in Bacon
22 of 23 Skillet-Charred Cherry Tomatoes with Basil
23 of 23 Grilled Chicken Breasts with Lemon and Thyme

Share options

Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Login

Southern Living

Magazines & More

Learn More

  • About Us
  • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
  • Books from Southern Living
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Content Licensing this link opens in a new tab
  • Sitemap

Connect

Follow Us
Subscribe to Our Newsletter
Other Meredith Sites

Other Meredith Sites

  • 4 Your Health this link opens in a new tab
  • Allrecipes this link opens in a new tab
  • All People Quilt this link opens in a new tab
  • Better Homes & Gardens this link opens in a new tab
  • Bizrate Insights this link opens in a new tab
  • Bizrate Surveys this link opens in a new tab
  • Cooking Light this link opens in a new tab
  • Daily Paws this link opens in a new tab
  • EatingWell this link opens in a new tab
  • Eat This, Not That this link opens in a new tab
  • Entertainment Weekly this link opens in a new tab
  • Food & Wine this link opens in a new tab
  • Health this link opens in a new tab
  • Hello Giggles this link opens in a new tab
  • Instyle this link opens in a new tab
  • Martha Stewart this link opens in a new tab
  • Midwest Living this link opens in a new tab
  • More this link opens in a new tab
  • MyRecipes this link opens in a new tab
  • MyWedding this link opens in a new tab
  • My Food and Family this link opens in a new tab
  • MyLife this link opens in a new tab
  • Parenting this link opens in a new tab
  • Parents this link opens in a new tab
  • People this link opens in a new tab
  • People en Español this link opens in a new tab
  • Rachael Ray Magazine this link opens in a new tab
  • Real Simple this link opens in a new tab
  • Ser Padres this link opens in a new tab
  • Shape this link opens in a new tab
  • Siempre Mujer this link opens in a new tab
  • SwearBy this link opens in a new tab
  • Travel & Leisure this link opens in a new tab
Southern Living is part of the Meredith Home Group. © Copyright 2021 Meredith Corporation. Southern Living is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporationthis link opens in a new tab All Rights Reserved. Southern Living may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
© Copyright . All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.southernliving.com

View image

Easy Dinner Party Recipes
this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.