There’s nothing quite like getting together with friends and family over a delicious meal. And for many, entertaining is a way to express their love of cooking. But it’s not always easy to decide where to start.

Learn how to host the perfect dinner party or special event, from big family-style recipes to menu planning, to host and hostess etiquette. 

Entertaining Recipes and Tips

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Backyard entertaining ideas

Backyard cookouts and parties are some of the best parts of summer! Throw a Fourth of July barbeque, or have a shrimp boil at your next family reunion. When it comes to hosting a great outdoor party for friends and family, it’s all about the details.

Make sure drinks and snacks are abundant, you have plenty of ice on hand, and plan both to provide enough shade in the daytime, as well as proper lighting after the sun sets. 

Party entertaining

From holidays to birthdays, to graduations and other special moments, there are endless reasons to throw parties. Planning ahead will save you a lot of trouble and make sure your party is an event to remember.

Formal invitations, whether paper or digital, are important to help you get an accurate guest count. This will help you prepare your space, decor, party favors, and menu accurately. Getting the fine details right — like having the perfect Thanksgiving playlist — will make a big impression on your guests.

Tips for hosting parties

There’s just something about a party that makes everyone in the room feel like they’re the most important guest in the house.

For the host, it’s an opportunity to show off your style, impress your friends, and laugh with old acquaintances.

Personal touches like name cards, specialized drinks, and remembering food preferences and allergies will make every guest feel like you are throwing a party just for them. Above all else, make sure that 

Food and recipe ideas for entertaining 

For many parties, food and drink are a central focus of the whole event! Your menu should depend on the season, the occasion, and the formality of your party.

For casual summer parties, interactive family-style meals like a shrimp boil will feed a huge crowd, and be fun for kids and adults alike. We have a massive list of game day recipes perfect for any football or MMA match.

If you are throwing a quiet, upscale dinner party at home, a charcuterie board will always be a winning appetizer, and a roast like a boneless leg of lamb will make a big impression. 

Easy meals that will impress

If you want to throw a memorable party but don’t have days to prepare ahead of time, there are tons of simple recipes that are still crowd-pleasers.

Set it and forget it with a crockpot roast or stew, or use a pressure cooker to cut your cooking time in half. Using fresh and high-quality ingredients will make simple dishes like a Caprese salad really shine.