There’s nothing more enjoyable in life than eating good food with good friends. Whether you’re preparing to host an elegant dinner party or you’re just looking for some easy party food to feed a big crowd, the key to a good dinner party is delicious food, fun people and a relaxed host. These recipes will not only keep you sane but they will keep you from spending hours in the kitchen. And they’ll keep your guests coming back for seconds and thirds.

1. Slow Cooker Mac + Cheese: Load up your slow cooker with pasta, cheeses, butter, milk, and spices; and a few hours later, you’re in comfort food heaven. (via Brit + Co)

2. Antipasto Skewers: Guests love assembling their own food which is awesome because then you don’t have to do as much work! Set up a bar full of different options and let everyone personalize their own skewers for a meal big and little kids will love. (via Weary Chef)

3. Greek Meatballs With Feta Tzatziki: You could serve these yummy wraps as appetizers or as a light main course. The feta is not only in the meatballs, it’s in the tangy, creamy tzatziki sauce that goes over them — yum. You could even skip the pita altogether and serve the meatballs as appetizers with the feta tzatziki as a dip. (via A Duck’s Oven)

4. Crostini Appetizers: Don’t let a budget keep you from entertaining! A baguette usually only costs a couple dollars and it can make around 25 crostini, making this a perfect recipe to serve to big crowds. (via Cheap Recipe Blog)

5. Macaroni and Cheese Stuffed Poppers: These are a much healthier and more delicious version of those addicting jalapeño poppers you can buy. They are stuffed with a lighter cheese filling instead of all that cream and then baked instead of deep fried. (via Table)

6. Watermelon With Balsamic and Smoked Salt: Need a good appetizer to use up a watermelon? All you need to do is chop it up and drizzle it with reduced balsamic vinegar for a beautiful and elegant appetizer. (via Peppered Salt)

7. Chicken Pesto Kebabs: These are the perfect meal for summer entertaining! Add some onions and peppers for some extra crunch and serve along with couscous salad and grilled veggies for a delicious and healthy meal. (via Sonis Food)

8. Slow Cooker Taco Chicken: Chili is one of those recipes that is good any time of the year. Anything made in a crockpot makes entertaining a breeze since all you need to do is throw in all the ingredients and let it cook, leaving you more time to spend with your guests. (via Table)

9. Cashew Chicken: This rich and creamy Indian chicken dish goes well with rice and naan and has the potential to be a showstopper recipe at your dinner party. It’s also surprisingly easy to make, so you might not want to save this one for only entertaining purposes! (via Bong Appetite)

10. Spicy Chipotle Quesadillas: Kids and adults alike will flip over these delicious quesadillas. These are filled with scallions, cilantro, chipotle peppers and jack cheese served with a delicious Greek yogurt dip! (via Cup of Zest)

11. Creamy Hummus: There is something about dipping food that is just plain fun, which makes it perfect for entertaining. Fresh, homemade hummus is easy to make and is very inexpensive. You can dip everything in it, from pita slices to fresh veggies! (via Luv My Veggietables)

12. Slow Cooker Tacos: Instead of spending hours babysitting your carnitas in the oven and adding in tons of extra oil, these delicious and crispy carnitas can be made in your slow cooker! Then just throw them in some taco shells with cilantro and onion and you’ll have your guests asking for thirds. (via Gimme Some Oven)

13. Quinoa Tabouleh Salad: Serve this healthy grain as a salad or side to a heartier protein dish. We love all the light, summer flavors of quinoa, red peppers, cucumber and mint. (via The Kitchy Kitchen)

14. Spicy Thai Lime Chicken and Rice: Add some extra kick to the old chicken and rice staple with tasty Thai flavors. Lime and garlic chili sauce bring this dish to life and give it lots of color. (via The Cooking Photographer)

15. Farmer’s Market Orecchiette With Fresh Ricotta: Orecchiette is just a type of pasta, so even though this dish sounds fancy, it couldn’t be easier! Just sauté up some favorite seasonal veggies like eggplant, zucchini, bell peppers, tomatoes and onion, then serve it over hot orecchiette with sprinkled crumbles of fresh ricotta. (via Little Broken)

16. Spanakopita Bites: How fun is bite-sized food? They look fancy, but these bites are super easy and can be made completely ahead of time, plus they look adorable on an appetizer table. (via Handle the Heat)

17. Tomato and Basil Risotto With Mascarpone: Literally bursting with flavor, this risotto is perfect for a vegetarian crowd. Even though risotto can take a little extra kitchen time, it’s really not that bad if you’re sipping wine and chatting with friends while you stir. (via The Wanderlust Kitchen)

18. Fresh Fruit and Cheese Platter: A fruit and cheese platter is a perfect addition to a multiple appetizer lineup, and you can prepare it in advance. It’s also a tasty alternative to dessert if you didn’t have time to make something sweet. (via Snippet and Ink)

19. Burrata With Heirloom Tomato Salad: Summer tomatoes, fresh basil and creamy burrata make this salad a delicious side option to any pasta dish. Add some toasted French bread to soak up all the juicy tomato goodness. (via Kitchen Confidante)

20. Spring Pea Crostini: How pretty are these crostini? Not only are they full of bright colors, the flavors are equally attractive. Ooo, and these are a breeze to make. (via What’s Gabi Cooking)

21. Antipasta Platter: Putting together a snack platter is almost as much fun as the snacking! Mix things up with sweet fruit, pickles, salty meats and creamy cheeses for some very grown-up entertaining. (via Picture Perfect Meals)

What is your favorite thing to serve when entertaining? Talk to us in the comments below!

Kate Thorn
Kate Thorn is an illustrator, foodie, photographer, and blogger at Create & Kate. She loves creating art, traveling, and all things chocolate. A native to the Great Northwest, she is currently living in London and pretending to be a mature grad student.