Hosting Outdoors? Here Are The 16 Dreamiest Recipes For A Flawless Full-Course Feast

Appetizers + Sides

Blueberry Corn Salsa

Grab the chips! The blueberries and strawberries thrown into this 5-minute salsa balance out the heat of the jalapeños perfectly. Your guests will be impressed by the recipe—its gorgeous color palette is just a bonus. (via Averie Cooks)

Zucchini Fritters with Lemon Yogurt Sauce

The hardest part of making these fritters is wringing out the moisture from the zucchini. From there, it's as easy as mixing the ingredients together and lightly frying each bite. The lemon-yogurt sauce has a citrusy, dill-y effect to it—make sure you don't skip it if you're looking for more flavor and dip-ability. (via The Original Dish)

Halloumi Salad with Pomegranate

Halloumi is my absolute go-to in the summertime. It's a nice, lighter protein alternative to make when eating actual meat sounds too... extra. It's so delicious when you slice it and fry it, which is exactly what this salad recipe calls for. It's mixed with pomegranate seeds, orange, cucumber, and arugula, plus some lentils and sunflower seeds for a greens bowl that'll actually fill you and your guests up. (via The Girl on Bloor)

Beet Hummus

Why not make your hummus more glam? Using roasted beets, the hearty dip takes on a very picturesque pink your dinner party attendees will adore. Make sure to complete the spread with pita chips and veggie sticks. (via Feel Good Foodie)

Main Courses

Grilled Chicken Caprese with Burrata

Tomatoes are beyond abundant once summer rolls around, so making something like caprese comes naturally. When paired with burrata and chicken grilled with subtly-sweet seasoning, they're pure magic. Plus, this recipe gives you the chance to show off with your grilling skills without it being overly intricate. (via The Real Food Dietitians)

Vegan Black Bean Burgers

If you have some vegetarian or vegan pals pulling up to your outdoor party, you'll be grateful you had a recipe like this one ready to go. These black bean patties are packed with flavor and are complete with just several minutes in the skillet or oven. I love the idea of doing a build-your-own-burger bar (my kind of BYOB!) with tons of different toppings so you can be sure everyone gets exactly what they like. (via A Virtual Vegan)

Grilled Chili Lime Salmon with Mango Salsa

Salmon always seems to hit the spot in summer, and it only gets better when you pair it with a seasonal side like this mango salsa. After trying it, you won't want to make fish any other way. What I love most about this recipe is it yields four servings, so you can easily assess your dinner party headcount and take it from there. (via Whole and Heavenly Oven)

Crispy Buffalo Chicken Tacos

For a handheld main course, these crispy chicken tacos don't disappoint. They're only filled with Buffalo-flavored chicken and cheese, so you can have further fun planing out all the toppings and dips. Think homemade pico, guac, or even a tangy Greek yogurt ranch. These pair insanely well with cold beers. I don't make the rules. (via Two Peas & Their Pod)

Desserts

Key Lime Pie Possets

Possets are such a hosting hack, I swear. Not only do they look impressive and taste amazing (no matter what flavor you're executing!), making a batch for your party also means you don't have to lug out a ton of extra dishes to serve dessert. This custardy key lime iteration only requires about 20 minutes of hands-on time before you chill them for at least four hours. Loving. (via Crowded Kitchen)

Ube Coconut Cake

This ube-infused coconut cake comes with the surprise of slicing it open to reveal a beautiful purple base. It's sweet and somewhat tropical, providing a nice dose of dessert escapism you'll want to snack on all summer. (via Sugarcane by Arlyn Osborne for Brit + Co)

Stuffed Dates with Peanut Butter and Chocolate

No-bake desserts are another excellent choice to consider when you're building an outdoor hosting menu. They eliminate the need to hover around the hot oven on an even hotter day (plus the subsequent sweat), but can be just as delicious and impressive as baked goodies. These sweet, fibrous dates are rounded out with peanut butter, dark chocolate, and flaky sea salt. I'm drooling already and will definitely be making some for myself this season. Just myself. (via Hello Little Home)

Lemon Olive Oil Cake

The words "olive oil cake" emit elegance to me, and the fact that this cake recipe is made in one bowl makes me unnecessarily giddy. It's definitely punchy when it comes to the lemon (which is what you want), plus the inclusion of Greek yogurt and olive oil ensures every single bite is enjoyably moist. (via Bowl of Delicious)

Drinks

Aperol Spritz

Oh, yes. A classic. Don't deny the amazingness of an Aperol spritz, especially if you're going to be sipping it outdoors. This particular "uncomplicated" recipe employs an easy ratio of amaro, Prosecco, and seltzer so you nail it every single time. From there, all your guests need are some fun glasses. Cheers! (via Big Night: Dinners, Parties, & Dinner Parties by Katherine Lewin for Brit + Co)

Lavender Lemonade Recipe

The tangy, floral notes of this lavender lemonade offer the sophistication you'd expect from a cocktail, even though it's sans alcohol. Making your own lemonade is such a hoot, too. (via Earthly Provisions)

Sweet Tea Prosecco Cocktails

This drink is like an adult-friendly Arnold Palmer, and I'm so here for it. Immediately bookmarking for my next outdoor shindig. Simply shake up some black tea, honey, vodka or gin, lemon juice, Grand Marnier, and Prosecco. This recipe even has a method for a five-person batch, which is perfect for all you hosts who like to plan ahead. (via Vanilla and Bean)

Key Lime Margarita

Margaritas are a summertime classic best enjoyed outside, but I'm just telling you what you already know. Whatever you do, just don't forget the salted rim. (via Barley & Sage)