These elegant dinner party menu ideas are perfect for any special occasion! These delicious dishes, sides, and desserts will impress even your picky friend or family member!
Tips to Hosting Great Dinner Party
When planning a fancy dinner party it’s important to think of your guest’s overall experience.
So the first thing to think about is the guest list.
This should be the first thing you do. We love the idea of inviting close friends over, but it can also be a fun twist to have dinner party guests that have never met before.
Identify any food allergies and preferences.
It’s also good idea to find out if any of your potential dinner guests have food allergies or prefer not to drink alcohol if you’re planning on serving a bottle of wine or cocktails.
Choose a Great Bottle of Wine
A good rule is that red meats and savory dishes usually pair well with red wine, and fish and chicken dishes go best with white wine.
Create Special Touches Through the Night
Fresh flowers on the dinner table and having cocktail ready for guests when they come in the door really elevate formal dinner party. We also like to serve a small appetizer like crab cakes, bruschetta topped with olive oil, or a nice cheese board before the gourmet dinner.
Once you have your guest list, you’re ready to plan out your dinner party-worthy main dishes.
The best part is these fancy entrees can be easier than you think to make!
One of the best ways to make a night special is with a delicious recipe! These impressive recipes are perfect for an elegant dinner party menu! What's better than a steak dinner? A fancy restaurant style dinner with steak and lobster is a classic! We love to serve it with mashed potatoes or asparagus. This lasagna recipe from Bitz N Giggles is sure to be well received by your guests. We like to let guests top their own pasta with parmesan cheese and red pepper as well. Enjoy a classic Mexican dinner with this recipe for carne asada from The Forked Spoon This lobster mac and cheese recipe from Made in a Pinch could be a delicious main course or decadent side dish for your dinner. This recipe for pork tenderloin stuffed with spinach and apricot from On My Kids Plate is a great meal to share among family and friends. It also goes great with a simple salad or a sweet potato. This quick and easy one-pan recipe from Eats by April features maple glazed salmon and green beans. Have some fun with your dinner party guests with this simple recipe for snow crab legs from Amanda's Cookin'. Serve these flavorful Italian meatballs from Drive Me Hungry as a main course or add them to the top of a plate of pasta for your dinner. Prepare a delicious beef tenderloin with this recipe from Coley Cooks. Your friends are sure to feel the love when you serve this pasta carbonara recipe from Chef Savvy which features crispy bacon in a creamy egg sauce. Prepared with mushrooms in a creamy wine sauce, this chicken marsala recipe from Love from the Oven is a great idea for a dinner party! The sweet and spicy glaze on this brown sugar salmon from Mae's Menu is accented by the mango salsa on top. Get your meal started on the right foot by serving this steakhouse wedge salad from Mary's Whole Life as a starter. These amazing Hasselback potatoes from Sweetly Splendid will be the star of your dinner because they look so beautiful! Make sure you have a delicious side to serve with your main course for your elegant dinner with this roasted maple brussels sprouts recipe from Simply Scrumptious Eats. These cheesy potatoes au gratin from This Home Kitchen are a delicious side dish that will pair perfectly with any main course for dinner. Serving a sweet treat is the best way to top off your fancy dinner party. That's why these raspberry swirl mini cheesecakes from The Savory Cipolla are the perfect after dinner dessert. We also love to wow guests with a sweet dessert! This strawberry pie from Oh My Food Recipes is as beautiful as it is delicious! Your guests will love snacking on these layered strawberry desserts from Chocolates and Chai after a delicious dinner! This award-winning dessert has the best flavor and is perfect the next time you have a Summer dinner party!21 Elegant Dinner Party Menu Ideas
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