Keep the menu simple so you can enjoy your own party
A relaxed dinner party depends less on cooking skill than on planning. Most hosts who feel stressed have tried to do too much: a complicated main, three side dishes made from scratch and a dessert that needs the oven at the last minute. Deciding early which parts you will cook, which you will buy and which you will order makes the whole evening calmer.
Before you shop, look at the time you have and the number of guests. Count how many oven shelves and hob rings you realistically have, and decide which dishes can be prepared the day before. Dishes that are served at room temperature or reheated easily are the safest choices. Check dietary needs early too, because a last-minute change to a guest's diet is one of the most common reasons for an extra shop on the day.
Choose a few dishes you can make well and fill the rest with shortcuts
Start with one main course and build the rest around it. A recipe box suits hosts who want a tested method and exact portions without planning a full shop, but it is worth checking the serving size and how long the preparation takes. If you are comfortable cooking, supermarket ingredients give you more flexibility and often cost less per portion, though they require more planning and a list that covers every item.
Think about the trade-offs between effort, cost and flexibility. A main that needs constant attention will leave you stuck in the kitchen while guests are in the next room, so favour dishes that can be left to cook or finished in a few minutes. Snacks, cheese and bread need almost no preparation and can cover the first hour when people arrive at different times. Asian pantry staples such as noodles or stir-fry sauces can add variety to a shared dish, but they work best when you already know how the sauce tastes and how long the noodles take to cook.
A relaxed dinner party comes from a short menu you can prepare in advance, with one or two shortcuts for the parts you do not want to cook.
From the editors
Common mistakes include ordering too much food, forgetting about drinks and ice, and buying a new ingredient for a dish you have never made. Test any new recipe before the party if you can. Keep one or two backup options, such as a takeaway starter or dessert, for the case where something goes wrong. Plan the shopping list by date, so fresh items are bought close to the day, and make sure the fridge has enough space for drinks and desserts.
Was du für den Abend wirklich brauchst
For each item we name a store where you can start comparing.
Recipe box for a main course
A pre-portioned kit with fresh ingredients and clear instructions takes the guesswork out of planning a main dish for several people. Check the serving size before ordering so you have enough for guests who come back for seconds.
Search termsrecipe box dinner party · easy main course for guests · meal kit for hosting
Our recommendationcook.gousto.co.ukBest for easy cookingSupermarket sides and bakery
Ready-to-cook vegetables, salad leaves, bread and a dessert from the supermarket can complete a meal without much work. Buy the fresh items within a day or two of the party to keep them at their best.
Search termssupermarket dinner party sides · bakery bread for guests · fresh salad for hosting
Our recommendationwaitrose.comWidest rangeAsian pantry staples for a shared dish
Noodles, stir-fry sauces and dumpling wrappers can be combined into a shared dish that feels generous and needs little skill. Choose one or two sauces you know well rather than a large range you have not tested.
Search termsAsian groceries dinner party · noodles and sauces · easy shared dish
Our recommendationwanahong.co.ukAsian pantry staplesNibbles and snacks
Nuts, seeds and dried fruit can be set out in bowls before guests arrive, and they keep well if the evening runs late. Plan roughly one small bowl per two or three guests for the first hour.
Search termssnacks for guests · nuts and dried fruit · easy party nibbles
Our recommendationgrapetree.co.ukSnacks and nibblesCheese board
A selection of two or three cheeses with crackers and grapes makes an easy starter or dessert alternative that needs no cooking. Take the cheese out of the fridge about an hour before serving so the flavour develops.
Search termscheese board dinner party · fine cheese selection · no-cook starter
Our recommendationpongcheese.co.ukCheese courseDrinks range with a non-alcoholic option
A mix of beer, wine and soft drinks covers most tastes, and a low-alcohol beer gives drivers and non-drinkers something to hold. Work out roughly how many bottles you need per guest before ordering so you do not run short.
Search termscraft beer for guests · low-alcohol beer · drinks for dinner party
Our recommendationthornbridgebrewery.co.ukDrinks with low-alcohol options
Begin with the main course, then the extras
Start by deciding on the main dish and whether you will cook it from a recipe box or from supermarket ingredients. If you want a tested recipe with exact portions, check cook.gousto.co.uk first and compare the serving sizes with your guest list. For fresh sides, bread and dessert, a single order at waitrose.com saves several trips and lets you buy everything for the same day.
Next, add snacks and an Asian-inspired element if you want one. Grape Tree is useful for nuts, seeds and snacks that keep well, while wanahong.co.uk offers noodles and sauces for a shared dish. Finish with drinks and a backup plan. If something runs short on the day, a takeaway starter or extra drinks can be ordered through ubereats.com, which is a practical last resort rather than the main plan.
Before you order
- Count your guests and any dietary needs before you order anything.
- Check oven and hob space to plan which dishes can be cooked ahead.
- Compare serving sizes on recipe boxes with your guest list.
- Test any new recipe or sauce at least once before the party.
- Buy fresh items within a day or two of the event.
- Check that the fridge has room for drinks, cheese and desserts.
- Keep one backup option, such as a takeaway starter, in mind.
The stores at a glance
cook.gousto.co.uk
Best for easy cookingGousto's recipe boxes deliver pre-portioned fresh ingredients with step-by-step instructions, which suits a main course you can make without planning every shop yourself.
Recommended for Recipe box for a main course
waitrose.com
Widest rangeWaitrose covers fresh produce, meat, fish, bakery and drinks in one order, so you can fill gaps in the menu and buy cheese boards, bread and desserts together.
Recommended for Supermarket sides and bakery
ubereats.com
Fast top-upsUber Eats is useful for last-minute extras, a finished starter or dessert from a local restaurant, or drinks and ice delivered on the day.
wanahong.co.uk
Asian pantry staplesWanahong stocks noodles, sauces and snacks that can turn a simple main into a relaxed Asian-inspired spread without much preparation.
Recommended for Asian pantry staples for a shared dish
grapetree.co.uk
Snacks and nibblesGrape Tree offers nuts, dried fruit, seeds and snacks that work well as make-ahead nibbles to serve while guests arrive.
Recommended for Nibbles and snacks
pongcheese.co.uk
Cheese coursePong sells fine cheeses that make a simple, no-cook course which can be assembled in minutes before the meal.
Recommended for Cheese board
thornbridgebrewery.co.uk
Drinks with low-alcohol optionsThornbridge Brewery offers craft beers, including low-alcohol varieties, so you can serve a good range for guests who are driving or prefer less alcohol.
Recommended for Drinks range with a non-alcoholic option
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Frequently asked questions
Is a recipe box worth it for a dinner party?
It can be, especially if you want a tested method and exact portions without planning a full shop. Check the serving sizes and preparation time before you order, and make sure the recipe suits the number of guests.
How much food should I plan per guest?
Plan for a main course, a side or two, bread and a small dessert or cheese course, and adjust for how hungry your guests are likely to be. It is usually better to have a little too much than to run short, as leftovers can be stored in the fridge.
When does takeaway delivery make sense?
It makes sense as a backup or to add one course, such as a starter or dessert, when your own cooking time is limited. Ordering the whole meal is rarely the easiest option, because the food can arrive cold and the presentation is harder to control.
Should I buy fresh ingredients a day early?
Buy fresh herbs, salad and bread as close to the party as you can, but do the prep and any marinating the day before. Keep cold items in the fridge and check dates when you unpack the shopping.
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