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8 Easy But Impressive Recipes If You’re Throwing a Dinner Party

Cooking for guests can be intimidating. Between gathering all your ingredients, timing out your cooking schedule, and serving your attendees, creating a bunch of dishes can seem like a daunting task. Recipes can take hours to execute, and they may not even come out the way you planned.

To avoid any unnecessary culinary fiascos, and to make your night as stress free as possible, we’ve come up with a list of easy but impressive recipes to try if you’re having a dinner party. These dishes require minimal time and effort, but they will be sure to impress even the most finicky of guests!

Image: Two Peas & Their Pod

by Carina Wolff

Slow Cooker Enchilada Quinoa Bake

Tossing all your ingredients in a slow cooker takes away the hassle of having to spend hours in the kitchen, and the added quinoa gives a healthy kick to a popular and tasty Mexican dish. (via Cooking Classy)

Image: Cooking Classy

Turkey Lasagna with Spinach and Mushrooms

It’s hard to go wrong with a classic lasagna, and this one is spruced up with spinach and mushrooms. This lower-fat version serves 12 guests and only takes about an hour to prepare. (via LaaLoosh)

Image: LaaLoosh

Greek Chopped Salad

Fresh and hearty salads are always a hit at dinner parties, and this classic Greek salad packs a punch with its abundant herbs and fresh vegetables. All that’s required is a bit of chopping day-of, and you’re good to go. (via A Farm Girl’s Dabbles)

Image: A Farm Girl’s Dabbles

Spinach Artichoke Pesto Pizza

With a ready-made crust and just a few powerful ingredients, this interesting spin on a pizza is super easy to prepare and will be sure to wow your guests with its ingenuity and abundant flavors. (via Two Peas & Their Pod)

Image: Two Peas & Their Pod

One Pot Vegetarian Chili

This quick and simple chili just requires one pot to prepare, and with no meat to cook, and it can be ready in less than an hour. Easy to whip up in large quantities, this filling meal will be sure to please vegetarians and meat-eaters alike. (via Chow)

Image: Chow

Lemon Chicken Breasts

The simple and subtle flavors of this poultry dish will be sure to appeal to a variety of guests, and baking your chicken takes off the stress of having to meticulously tend to your dinner. (via Susi’s Kochen Und Backen Adventures)

Image: Susi’s Kochen Und Backen Adventures

Romanian Meatballs

These meatballs, also known as chiftele, are fantastic as appetizers or tossed in a pasta dish. Just throw all ingredients together and fry in a skillet, and you’ll have a savory and easy-to-serve dish in no time. (via Jo Cooks)

Image: Jo Cooks

Garlic Parmesan Zucchini and Tomato Bake

A wonderful gluten-free side dish, this zucchini bake is a great way to throw in a healthy dose of vegetables with an easy-to-put-together recipe. (via ifoodreal)

Image: ifoodreal

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