Chilled avocado salad
TASTE
Oops-you just promised to host a dinner party for your friends. Only one problem: you rarely, if ever, cook. To avoid an embarrassing disaster, make one of these 8 entrees and 3 desserts. Each recipe employs just one basic technique, and some can be prepared the night before. (If you're really unsure in the kitchen, tinker with a few recipes ahead of time. Your friends will thank you.)

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11 Easy Dinner Party Recipes

Can you boil water? Than you can make this fresh, filling pasta for your friends. Elevate the dish by sprinkling it with imported Italian cheese.


Get the recipe for Turkey Sausage & Arugula Pasta

11 Easy Dinner Party Recipes

Frittatas are even easier than omelets because you don't have to flip them. Serve with a simple salad.

Get the recipe for Green Eggs & Ham Frittata

11 Easy Dinner Party Recipes

This basic, satisfying pizza is open to endless variations: scatter it with capers, sliced red peppers or pitted olives. You can also substitute coarsely chopped arugula for the basil.

Get the recipe for Pizza Margherita

11 Easy Dinner Party Recipes

Be sure to tell your dinner guests that salade Niçoise is one of the great summer dishes of Southern France. (No need to mention it's also one of the easiest!)


Get the recipe for Grilled Niçise Tuna Steaks

11 Easy Dinner Party Recipes

If you're stressed about time, this is the recipe for you. There's no meat to brown or noodles to boil, and it can be assembled a day ahead.

Get the recipe for Easy Lasagna

11 Easy Dinner Party Recipes

This gorgeous dessert functions as a perfect dinner party finale because requires very little effort.

Get the recipe for Summer Berries with White Chocolate Sauce

11 Easy Dinner Party Recipes

This frozen treat features the sweet-tart flavor of a Key lime pie*-but with a fraction of the effort (and calories.) It looks festive served scooped into hollowed-out lime or lemon halves or in a martini glass. Freeze until ready to serve.

Get the recipe for Key Lime Ice

11 Easy Dinner Party Recipes

Crush orange-scented cookies into chocolate ice cream. Mix. Done! Bourbon gives it a richer taste.

Get the recipe for Bourbon Orange Chocolate Lady Dessert

11 Easy Dinner Party Recipes

Inspired by dan dan, the Sichuan noodle dish, this easy flank steak shines owes its special flavor to Sichuan peppercorns and store-bought Chinese black bean–garlic paste.


Get the recipe for Grilled Flank Steak with Sichuan Peppercorns

11 Easy Dinner Party Recipes

The unexpected pairing of melon and feta is the superstar combination of this dazzling main-dish salad. Add cold poached shrimp to bump up the protein factor.


Get the recipe for Summer Salad of Melon, Feta and Shrimp

11 Easy Dinner Party Recipes