Dinner Party Menu Ideas

If you’re looking for menus for entertaining you’ve come to the right place. In this guide you’ll find menu ideas for 4, 6, or 8 people. And they’re great for occasions like birthday celebrations, hosting overnight guests, or hosting a theme dinner party for no other reason than the love of gathering with friends.

What Do You Serve at a Dinner Party

When I’m planning a party menu I always follow a formula. Whether it’s appetizer parties, or dessert tables, there’s a systematic approach to pairing food.

For a sit down dinner I usually include an entrée + starch + 1 or 2 vegetables or salad + dessert. However, you can also serve a main dish casserole that’s a combination of both the entrée and the starch. Here’s a quick look at the categories.

• Drinks & Appetizers – I love serving a signature cocktail or pitcher drink for a party of 6 or more, but you can keep it simple with a few bottles of wine if you like. As for the appetizer, I love anything bite-size or a light dip. You don’t want them filling up before the main course!
• Entrees – This is the main protein like beef, chicken, pork, or fish. It can also include plant based protein like beans and lentils for vegetarian diets. The general rule of thumb is to have 4 to 8 ounces of meat per guest. 
• Starch – Remember the classic dinner of steak and potatoes from decades past? Well, we still love the idea of serving a starch to round out our meal. Think potatoes, pasta, crusty bread, rice, couscous, etc. TIP: a bread basket is always welcome even when served with a starchy dish like pasta.
• Vegetables – A serving of vegetables can consist of a salad or a side dish. You can serve both or choose one; whichever rounds out the meal better. Some favorites are roasted or sauteed vegetables, and steamed broccoli.
• Dessert – Doesn’t everyone look forward to dessert at a dinner party? This is one course where you can go completely indulgent or keep it light and easy. I like to plan my dessert around the main meal. For instance, if the meal is heavy and filling it’s probably a good idea to serve a lighter dessert. Likewise, if the main meal is simple and light, a decadent chocolate dessert is a welcome ending. You can choose from cakes, pies, trifles, brownies, or ice cream.

No matter what the occasion, here are some hostess tips to keep in mind as you’re planning.

• Know the basic tips for serving wine at a party.
• Set a pretty tablescape that’s in line with the occasion. 
• Have these conversation starters on hand just in case you need them to help generate conversation around the table.

Expert Tips

• Keep your budget in mind. If you don’t want to spring for filet mignon for 8 people you can always serve pork tenderloin instead.
• Pay attention to timing. There are some recipes that must be made ahead, and there are some that require you to be actively cooking right up until it’s time to serve. It’s always best to balance the menu according to prep time and cooking method. 
• Remember guests dietary needs. This doesn’t necessarily mean you have to make an entire vegan meal for one guest. It just means you’ll need to plan for an alternative option for that guest to have while the rest of you are chowing on chicken. Other dietary restrictions can apply to food allergies like peanuts or shell fish, conditions like diabetes, or simple vegetarians.
• Mix & Match. These party menus are categorized so that you can pick and choose according to the overall experience you want to create, or the amount of time and effort you can dedicate.
• Where to start. If you have a tried and true recipe, that’s a great place to start. You can always build around it.

PARTY TIP: If you’re serving 1 laborious recipe, then make sure everything else is easy to prepare or can be fully prepared in advance (like a cake). 

1. Make-Ahead Menu for 8

When it comes to a make-ahead dinner, it doesn’t get much better than slow cooker recipes you can prepare in advance. Everything in this menu, from drinks to dessert, can be fully made or prepped in advance.

• Signature cocktail: For a crowd of 8, serve this delicious spiced sangria.
• Appetizer: Our brie phyllo cups with apple butter and bacon recipe is easy to double or triple for a large group. And they’re delicious!
• Entrée & Starch: Slow cooker spaghetti sauce for a crowd. Make your pasta ahead too, by following this method.
• Salad: This beet and goat cheese salad is very simple to make and can be prepared, covered, and stored in the fridge until time to eat.
• Dessert: Make this quick chocolate trifle a day ahead to save time. It takes less than 30 minutes to prepare!
• Tablescape inspiration: Create a warm and inviting atmosphere with ideas from this winter dinner party table.

2. Easy Dinner Party Menu for 6

This easy menu takes the labor out of preparation and cooking so you’re a relaxed host.

• Signature cocktail: This light mezcal margarita is refreshing and a great start to the party.
• Appetizer: These 2-ingredient cheese hors d’oeuvres are easy to make and won’t fill you up beforehand.
• Entrée & Starch: Easy Mexican pasta bake is home style cooking and everyone I know just loves it. This easy layered pasta bake is also simple to make and can be prepared without meat for a vegetarian option. 
• Salad: A green salad with oranges has fennel and avocado and looks so pretty. Make it ahead but save the avocado until ready to serve to preserve the color.
• Dessert: After a hearty pasta meal this blackberry custard pie is refreshing but still decadent.
• Tablescape inspiration: This creative outdoor table is gorgeous inspiration. 

3. Small Dinner Party for 4

These recipes are good to use for a small party because you can make them in smaller amounts.

• Signature cocktail: Serve this bourbon lemonade cocktail. 
• Appetizer: This is a good time for a small party cheese board.
• Entrée: Salmon with red pepper sauce is a restaurant copycat recipe that’s a crowd pleaser, and is made on the stove. You’ll can make the sauce a day or more ahead to save prep time on party day, or it can be frozen for 3 months making it a great option.
• Starch: Baked mashed potatoes can be made ahead and frozen, or crispy roasted potatoes are simple to make in the oven.
• Vegetable: Brussels sprouts and salmon are a great pairing. This sauteed brussels sprouts with bacon is a scrumptious dressed up version and can cook on the stove while you’re also making the salmon. These green peas with Parmesan and cashews are similar in preparation and will change your mind about peas!
• Dessert: Hope you saved room for dessert because our chocolate chess pie is rich and satisfying.
• Tablescape inspiration: Keep it simple with this round table setting for casual entertaining for four.

4. Elegant Menu

This party menu includes items you may not make every day. It’s beginner to intermediate level “fancy.”

• Signature cocktail: This elderflower gin fizz cocktail is perfect for a special dinner party drink.
• Appetizer: Make this dinner a surf and turf with these crab and avocado stacks as the appetizer course. Make them ahead and keep in the fridge until serving time.
• Entrée: This filet mignon in balsamic reduction is simple to make but the flavor is impressive! It’s a classic entrée for a dinner party.
• Starch: Wild rice pilaf with dried fruit and nuts pairs nicely with the steak and balsamic glaze.
• Salad: The butternut squash & baby kale salad is very delicious with lots of texture and flavor.
• Vegetable: Serve these easy roasted carrots.
• Dessert: Kahlua creme brulee is classic French elegance and tastes fantastic!
• Tablescape inspiration: This black & white dinner party table starts with a plaid taffeta tablecloth for an unexpected twist.

5. Vegetarian Dinner Ideas

This menu proves that plant based dinners can be just as flavorful as meat dishes.

• Signature cocktail: This blackberry moonshine cocktail is super festive.
• Appetizer: Spanakopita appetizer cups are simple bite-size finger foods that taste fantastic.
• Entrée & starch: This easy slow cooker lentil soup serves up to 10 guests. Or try fettuccini with homemade alfredo sauce and toss in some sliced mushrooms.
• Vegetable: Marinated green bean salad is light and flavorful, or crockpot green beans are made without meat added.
• Dessert: A rustic apple galette with caramel drizzle is a great way to end this meal.
• Tablescape inspiration: Here’s an easy casual dinner tablescape with neutral cream and golden amber tones.

6. Birthday Dinner Ideas for Adults

When it’s time to celebrate a special birthday guy or gal!

• Signature cocktail: Say ‘cheers’ and celebrate with this blackberry sparkler cocktail made with champagne or Prosecco.
• Appetizer: This goat cheese crostini with homemade apple chutney is full of flavor and is made ahead.
• Entrée & Starch: Lamb chops with goat cheese polenta is special enough for a birthday celebration. Slow cooker turkey breast is also a good easy option paired with wild rice pilaf with vegetables.
• Vegetable: Make-ahead Asian marinated asparagus is simple and tasty.
• Dessert: Serve this fluffy white layer cake with pineapple for a celebration dessert centerpiece.
• Tablescape inspiration: This black and white celebration tablescape is relaxed but festive. And this gold tablescape with balloons centerpiece will really wow your guests.

More Dinner Party Menus

For more complete party plans, here’s an easy light and rustic dinner party menu that’s got seasonal fuss-free ingredients, or a summer dinner party menu with almost no cooking involved.

If you’re a true beginner or just want something quick and easy, this plan for a laid back dinner party does the trick.

Host an outdoor party with this alfresco dinner party menu. There are two menus to choose from depending on whether you want to use the grill, or have everything served at room temperature.