If you’re like me, your social feeds are filled with girlies throwing creative themed dinner parties at a rate that almost seems unbelievable. I love entertaining friends and family, but I’m only human, and the idea of presenting a spread (especially with recipes I’ve never made before) to loved ones fills me with a healthy amount of fear. That’s why, when hosting, I need a foolproof recipe that I know will have my family and friends raving while I stay cool as a cucumber—that’s where these 20 recipes come in. Each of these recipes is not only delicious and exciting enough to stand apart from weeknight rotations, but they are surprisingly easy to master, whether you’re an experienced or novice home cook. From restaurant-level dinners to crowd-pleasing apps to big-batch drinks, there is an idea for you here that will impress your guests and leave your night stress free, so you can get back to what’s important: sharing a meal with those you love.

Need more dinner party inspo? Check out all of our side dishes, cocktails, and potluck desserts to fuel your next party theme.

delish!

Let’s get something straight before we dive in—I’m fully aware that panzanella literally means “bread salad.” But I’m also fully aware that bread comes in mannnyyy different shapes and sizes, and that bread stuffed with something is almost always better than unstuffed bread. Hence, my intense desire to swap out the traditional stale bread in a panzanella salad for crispy deep-fried dumplings. The dumplings start crispy and chewy, but after a few minutes of swimming with soy- and chili-marinated tomatoes and cucumbers, they soak up some extra flavor, adding a bit of textural contrast to the dish. This is the perfect low-lift dinner for when you want to feel like you’ve made some effort without actually making a ton of effort.

Trader Joe’s veggie Thai-style pot stickers inspired this creation, but you’re welcome to use your favorite brand to get the job done. Pot stickers are traditionally pan-fried, but I deep-fried these because I wanted them to have a little bit of extra integrity and be able to take the place of a sturdy crouton. I know deep frying isn’t always convenient, especially in the summer months, so feel free to pan fry the pot stickers, or even pop them in the air fryer if need be. Whatever works for you!

Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Note that the dumplings will continue to soften as they sit, so the sooner you eat them, the better they’ll be.

delish!