3 easy dinner party menus you can prepare ahead

Choose a menu that leaves you time to sit down

The easiest dinner party menus have one main event and simple supporting dishes. If every course needs last-minute frying, whisking or plating, you will spend the evening facing the hob. Choose at least one cold starter or make-ahead dish and keep the dessert straightforward.

Ask guests about allergies and dietary requirements before settling the menu. A vegetarian guest should have a complete dinner, not just a plate of the side dishes that happen to be suitable.

Menu one: Mediterranean sharing supper

Start with lemon hummus, warm pitta and cucumber. For the main course, make chicken with peppers and basil with couscous and a big tomato salad. Finish with bowls of berries and yoghurt or a dairy-free alternative.

The hummus can be made ahead and chilled. Chop the salad vegetables and keep the dressing separate. Cook the chicken shortly before dinner, while the couscous takes care of itself. If serving a plant-based main, prepare a separate butter bean and pepper skillet.

Menu two: an Italian-inspired evening

Offer olives, bread and a small plate of sliced tomatoes to begin. Make tomato and basil spaghetti the main course, with roasted courgettes or a crisp green salad. Finish with a scoop of gelato or sorbet and fresh fruit.

Make the sauce ahead, but cook the pasta when guests are ready to eat. Use a large serving bowl, warmed with hot water and dried before filling. Toss the pasta in the sauce first so guests receive a finished dish rather than separate piles of spaghetti and sauce.

Menu three: relaxed steak night

Build the table around steak, oven wedges and a crunchy cabbage slaw. Put sauces in bowls so guests can choose their own. A roasted mushroom and butter bean plate offers a substantial alternative for anyone avoiding meat.

Keep the starter cold and small: bread, a dip and a few olives are enough. Choose a dessert that is already ready in the fridge. Steak needs attention near serving time, so avoid adding another dish that also requires the frying pan at the last minute.

A simple preparation schedule

• The day before: confirm numbers and dietary needs, shop, make suitable sauces and dips, and check serving dishes.
• Two hours before: set the table, prepare vegetables and clear a shelf for chilled food.
• Before guests arrive: put drinks and glasses where people can help themselves; warm only what needs warming.
• Before the main course: dress the salad, finish the main and bring everything to the table together.

Use our storage and reheating guide for dishes prepared ahead. Do not leave chilled starters sitting out through the afternoon while setting up.

How much variety do you need?

For a small gathering, one main, two sides and a simple dessert usually offer enough choice. Put your effort into a menu that works together rather than adding dishes to fill the table. Write down which pan and oven shelf each dish needs; that small check catches clashes before dinner.

If you would prefer someone else to take care of cooking, see how Hello Chef works and what you can agree with a chef before a booking.