Easy dinner party mains

Planning a dinner party can be exciting but also daunting. If you’re not sure what to cook, take the faff out of entertaining with our simple recipes. These delicious main course ideas are all easy to assemble and cook. Some can be made ahead, some are quick to prepare on the night, and all of them offer maximum flavour for minimum effort.

Take your pick from classic dinner party ideas like creamy risottos, fishcakes, venison, pork and lamb. Choose from elevated chicken traybakes, a whole sea bass with a tomato sauce, or homemade gnocchi. You’ll also find plenty of vegetarian and vegan dinner party mains, which are impressive enough to feed the whole gang.

Need help deciding on what to serve with your lasagne, or looking for an idea for a full menu? We’ve pulled together dinner party menu ideas – from vegetarian to seasonal options.

For those nights when hosting isn’t on the cards…check out our easy midweek dinner recipes.

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Braised chicken with kefir, orzo and dried limes

One-pot chicken recipes

Braised chicken with kefir, orzo and dried limes

This surprisingly simple one-pot chicken and orzo dinner from food writer Ravinder Bhogal has something special about it. “Tender chicken...

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Cheddar and chive soufflé

Soufflé recipes

Cheddar and chive soufflé

This cheese soufflé makes an impressive main course for a light, elegant lunch. Simply serve with a green salad. Have...

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Herby tamarind lamb with baked jollof rice

Alternative Christmas roast recipes

Herby tamarind lamb with baked jollof rice

This tamarind and herb-stuffed lamb leg with baked jollof rice recipe is a celebratory Senegalese-inspired one-pot by award-winning author and...

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Roast duck breast with honey, sesame, orange and celeriac

Duck recipes

Roast duck breast with honey, sesame, orange and celeriac

Thrumming with earthy autumnal sweetness, this dish has serious duck à l’orange undertones. The celeriac – half made into a...

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Braised chicken with a runner bean fricassée

August seasonal recipes

Braised chicken with a runner bean fricassée

This is a simple and summery chicken dish which makes great use of seasonal produce (and plenty of garlic). Runner...

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Grilled miso, lime and ginger mussels

30-minute meal recipes

Grilled miso, lime and ginger mussels

Perfect for a starter or served with chips for a main, these crispy-zingy mussels come complete with their own mini...

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Summer roast chicken with holiday potatoes and courgette and peach salad

New potato recipes

Summer roast chicken with holiday potatoes and courgette and peach salad

delicious. food producer Pollyanna loves roasting a chicken in the summer: “There’s nothing more universally loved than a simple, home-cooked...

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Saucy romesco chicken with sautéed potatoes

30-minute meal recipes

Saucy romesco chicken with sautéed potatoes

Bring some sunshine to your weeknight chicken dinner with this warm romesco sauce, full of tang and sweet nutty depth....

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Miso and gochujang butter roast chicken

Roast chicken recipes

Miso and gochujang butter roast chicken

“Miso and gochujang bring all the sweet-spicy-umami richness you need to this buttery roasted chicken dish,” says chef Lara Lee....

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Roast pork loin with lavender honey-glazed apricots

Apricot recipes

Roast pork loin with lavender honey-glazed apricots

In this lovely roast pork loin recipe, lavender honey-glazed apricots soak up the meat juices and are served with the...

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Orzo carbonara

Easy dinner party mains

Orzo carbonara

It certainly won’t please any Italians, but making carbonara with orzo instead of the more usual spaghetti or rigatoni creates...

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Sticky marmalade chicken with ’nduja haricot beans

'Nduja recipes

Sticky marmalade chicken with ’nduja haricot beans

This marmalade chicken dish takes sweet and zingy lemon and marmalade and uses them to marinate chicken thighs, which are...

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Peppercorn mushrooms with butter bean mash

Easy vegan recipes

Peppercorn mushrooms with butter bean mash

Step aside steak – these meaty oyster mushrooms provide all the umami, depth and complex savouriness of red meat, helped...

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Vegetarian paella

Paella recipes

Vegetarian paella

Paella is usually a relatively meaty affair (or fishy, depending where in Spain you are), but this vegetarian version is...

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Spring vegetable gnocchi with beurre blanc

April seasonal recipes

Spring vegetable gnocchi with beurre blanc

Asparagus and peas are just warmed through in a silky butter sauce in this beautifully seasonal dish. The fresh spring...

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Miso-crusted pork with purple sprouting broccoli

Purple sprouting broccoli recipes

Miso-crusted pork with purple sprouting broccoli

Combining umami-rich miso with breadcrumbs to roast a pork tenderloin, and including a little in the piquant sesame-scented dressing, makes...

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