Beginners Guide To Host A Laid Back Dinner Party

How do you host a fun dinner party when you’re short on confidence or experience? Rather than going all out for a themed dinner party, you can follow this simple process that makes it super easy! In fact this is the perfect dinner party for BEGINNERS to host friends, neighbors, and family.

Where To Start

Entertaining doesn’t have to be daunting. You can host a casual dinner and feel comfortable whether you’re a first time host or a busy mom.

This party is perfect for 6 people, but you can scale up or down as needed. You can also cross reference this summer dinner party menu for more easy food options.

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This party prep can be done in about an hour, including table setting, flower arrangement, and prepping food. A trip to the store is not included in the time frame.

You can follow these tips when you have last minute guests, or you just don’t feel like pulling out all the stops and making formal dinner party menus.

1. Take Stock, Then Shop

Take stock of what you already have in your freezer and pantry and work from there. I almost always have a pack of flatbread in the freezer, as well as cheese, turkey pepperoni, salad or chopped salad, and some sort of fruit in the fridge.

In the pantry I usually have canned artichokes, tomato paste, sliced black olives, and other staples. With these basic items you have the beginnings of a simple pizza party. You can make 3-topping mini pizzas by picking up a few extra ingredients.

What To Buy

1. Pick up a roasted chicken that you can cut or shred for the pizzas. If you need extra cheese, fruit, or vegetables, add it to the list.
2. Purchase the items for a simple dessert option below.
3. Pick up 3-4 bottles of wine. That insures two people per bottle, plus one extra “just in case.”
   • Malbec, Sauvignon Blanc, and Rosé all go great with pizza. The Rosé is very refreshing, while the Sauvignon Blanc is crisp and goes down easy.
   • As for reds, I’ve always been a fan of Malbec. This is nice with the pepperoni pizza and also pairs well with red meat and pasta. Pinot Noir is a lighter-bodied red wine and also works well.

Need help with wine? Follow these tips for serving wine at parties, and check out the labels on bottles for informative pairing suggestions and tasting notes.

2. Easy Menu

Pair the mini pizzas with a chopped salad and fresh fruit, and add a party cheese board to graze on while the pizza cooks.

Create a menu for 6 by estimating at least 2 ½ mini pizzas per person. Pizzas for this party include: 

• Tomato paste + turkey pepperoni + shredded Parmesan, topped with fresh basil. You might be surprised at how well basic tomato paste works as a base. Just spread a very thin layer on the crust, sprinkle on some dried Italian seasoning, and add toppings.
• Chicken + artichoke + shredded Parmesan. Lightly drizzle extra virgin olive oil as the base, or use a brush to brush it on, and sprinkle with Italian seasoning; add toppings.
• Go vegetarian with shredded Parmesan + fresh figs + goat cheese, topped with fresh arugula. Again, use the olive oil as the base and layer the cheese on top.

Check your pantry for the ingredients to make this quick & easy pesto pizza too. Other favorites include this Mediterranean flatbread pizza, and ham & arugula with honey drizzle.

As the hostess you can prepare the pizzas ahead, or let guests make their own for an interactive activity while sipping on Rosé. Either way, you can pop them in the oven or on the grill and nosh on a cheese board while they cook.

PARTY TIP: 3-Topping mini pizzas are a great go-to for easy entertaining. You can create them in large sizes too.

3. Step Up Presentation

A little food presentation goes a long way and it doesn’t have to be complicated. Serve the food family-style and make it look extra special by presenting it in an attractive way.

How much more effort does it take to serve a chopped salad on a wood cutting board? None! But it’s unexpected and interesting, and fresh fruit can be placed around it so no extra dish is needed for that.

Use another wood board to serve the pizzas. Find edible flowers in the packaged herb section of some grocery stores and sprinkle them around your food boards to elevate the presentation of this simple menu. Other garnishes include microgreens and fresh herbs.

PARTY TIP: Use wooden cutting boards as serving platters for food.

4. Set The Table

Create a simple but attractive table setting using rattan chargers with a single dinner plate for a refined and lovely place setting.

A nice collection of napkins can go a long way in dressing up a table. These striped napkins add interest while the flowers and food add color.

Flowers

If you’re stopping at the store you might as well pick up flowers for a centerpiece. A couple of bunches will do – one floral and one greenery. This time of year we have a nice selection of locally grown ‘farmers picks’ that look great mixed with seeded eucalyptus. Check out my secrets to flower arranging for more guided tips.

Sweet Details

Place a few colorful macarons inside small jars (these are upcycled yogurt jars) and set it on top of the dinner plate to help decorate each place setting. They’re a yummy treat to pair with dessert.

Mini s’mores kit favors make a great take home gift for guests, if you choose to do so.

5. Keep Dessert Simple

Everybody loves ice cream! Serve a scoop each of two different flavors along with fresh berries and mint to garnish. It’s a simple and refreshing dessert that’s always a hit.

If you want to try your hand at an easy semi-homemade recipe, make this cookie butter ice cream or pumpkin flavor a day ahead.

Another alternative is to purchase cake or pies from the bakery section.

6. Plan For Fun

I’m a big believer that conversation is the way to connection so I don’t overthink an activity. In my experience a little wine goes a long way in keeping the conversation flowing, but if you have a lull or just want to rely on something more organized, try one of these entertainment ideas.

• These 36 conversation starters will keep everyone talking.
• We LOVE playing Cards Against Humanity. The laughs never stop!
• We also enjoy playing Apples to Apples. It’s fun for all ages.
• You can play other conversation games like Plead the Fifth, Never Have I Ever, or Two Truths and a Lie. 

Final Thoughts

Hosting a dinner party doesn’t have to be difficult or include a 5-course meal. It just needs to bring people together to nourish our bodies and souls. When you incorporate the tips I’ve laid out here, you’ll feel accomplished and ready for your next hosting venture.

Remember the more you host, the better and more comfortable you’ll become. 

Start small and order in pizza. Next time follow these steps for a beginner dinner party, or try your hand at one simple recipe like dessert or the main dish, and purchase the rest of the meal. Add on each time and pretty soon you may be doing it all…but you don’t have to!