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 are some dinner party ideas? ›

Most Popular Dinner Party Recipes
  • Chicken Parmesan Meatballs.
  • Creamy Butternut Squash Pasta.
  • Herb Roasted Turkey.
  • Cheddar Jalapeno Chicken Burgers with Guacamole.
  • Ground Chicken Tacos.

What to make when having people over for dinner? ›

17 Easy Recipes For A Dinner Party
  1. ADVERTIsem*nT.
  2. Slow Cooker Pumpkin Beer-Braised Chicken. ...
  3. Slow Cooker Lamb with Olives and Potatoes. ...
  4. Pasta with Chorizo and Chickpeas. ...
  5. Chicken in Milk. ...
  6. Roasted Chicken Legs with Potatoes and Kale. ...
  7. White Bean Chicken Chili with Butternut Squash. ...
  8. Sunday Night Stew and Potatoes.
Oct 25, 2014

What is a good menu for a party? ›

41 Ideas For Party Food That Will Please Any Crowd
  • Spicy Crunch Wrap Supremes. tasty.co. ...
  • PB&J Pizza Pasta Sticks. tasty.co. ...
  • Texas-Style Frito Pie. tasty.co. ...
  • Chicken Fajita Quesadillas. tasty.co. ...
  • Cheeseburger Sliders. tasty.co. ...
  • Tomato Basil Bruschetta. tasty.co. ...
  • Cranberry Pecan Cheese Ball. tasty.co. ...
  • Chicken Pesto Pinwheels. tasty.co.
Aug 27, 2024

How do you throw an easy dinner party? ›

Keep it simple, keep it simple, keep it simple. And keep it casual. Make food that can be cooked ahead of time and kept warm while the guests arrive. I always make a huge pot of soup or chili with crusty bread and have the guests bring salad and dessert.

How to make a small dinner party fun? ›

  1. 6 DINNER PARTY ENTERTAINMENT IDEAS. Dinner parties aren't just about the food. ...
  2. GAMES. Games are a party classic, a sure fire way to have your guests laughing and bonding with each other. ...
  3. DIY. ...
  4. KARAOKE. ...
  5. THEMES. ...
  6. MURDER MYSTERY. ...
  7. TAKE THINGS OUTSIDE.

What are the most common party foods? ›

Best Easy Party Foods for Large Groups
  • Mac and Cheese Cups. ...
  • Fruit Kabobs. ...
  • Guacamole and Salsa Bar. ...
  • Crostini With Toppings. ...
  • Buffalo Cauliflower Bites. ...
  • Cucumber Sandwiches. ...
  • Chocolate-Dipped Pretzels. ...
  • Homemade Pita Chips With Tzatziki. Party food doesn't need to be over complicated.
Aug 23, 2024

What are 10 good dinner foods? ›

Our 20 most popular dinners of 2024
  • Air-fryer salmon.
  • Sweet potato & peanut curry.
  • Beef stroganoff.
  • Easy sausage casserole.
  • Chicken & chorizo jambalaya.
  • Lasagne.
  • Easy chicken curry.
  • No-fuss shepherd's pie.
Mar 14, 2024

What to cook for lots of people? ›

  • Big-batch bolognese. A star rating of 4.6 out of 5. 73 ratings.
  • Southern fried chicken. A star rating of 3.4 out of 5. 29 ratings.
  • Slow-roasted salmon with potato salad & dill & mustard mayonnaise. A star rating of 5 out of 5. 2 ratings.
  • Somerset stew with cheddar & parsley mash. A star rating of 4.5 out of 5. 160 ratings.

What to cook for a group of friends? ›

  • 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.
Aug 6, 2024

What is a good dinner that everyone would like? ›

33 Quick And Easy Dinners Your Whole Family Will Love
  • Sheet Pan Gnocchi. tasty.co. ...
  • Artichoke Spin Dip Pasta. tasty.co. ...
  • Marry Me Chicken. tasty.co. ...
  • Slow-Cooker Chicken Tacos. tasty.co. ...
  • One-Pot Creamy Tuscan Pasta. tasty.co. ...
  • Easy Sheet Pan Southwestern Dinner. tasty.co. ...
  • One-Pot Cheeseburger Pasta. ...
  • Garlic Broccoli Shrimp Stir-Fry.
Aug 28, 2024

What are some good side dishes for dinner? ›

30 best side dishes
  • Cauliflower cheese.
  • Epic summer salad.
  • Quick kimchi.
  • Roasted carrots.
  • Easy pilau rice.
  • Ultimate roast potatoes.
  • Giant couscous & tomato salad with zhoug-style dressing.
  • Best ever macaroni cheese.

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