How to plan a menu for a dinner party
Plan a dinner party menu around one main dish you have cooked before, then add a side that cooks in the oven alongside it, a salad or vegetable that needs no last-minute work, and a dessert you make the day before or buy. Ask guests about allergies and diets first, keep only one dish that needs attention at the stove, and write a timeline counting back from when you want to eat.
About 20 minutes to learnEveryday skill
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How to do it
- Ask every guest about allergies and foods they do not eat when you invite them.
- Choose a main you have cooked successfully at least once.
- Pick one side that shares the oven with the main, and one cold salad or vegetable.
- Make or buy a dessert that is ready the day before.
- Limit the menu to one dish that needs stovetop attention while guests are there.
- Write the shopping list by store section and shop two days ahead.
- Write a timeline counting back from the time you want to serve, including preheating and resting.
- Set out a snack and drinks for the first half hour so you are not rushed.
Common mistakes
- Trying a new recipe for the first time on the night.
- Planning three dishes that all need the stove at the end.
- Finding out about a guest's allergy when the food is served.
Quick self-check
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Teach this to someone
A one-page sheet for showing a friend, a roommate or a kid: what to say, what to show, and one question to check it landed.
Teach: How to plan a menu for a dinner party
What to say
Plan a dinner party menu around one main dish you have cooked before, then add a side that cooks in the oven alongside it, a salad or vegetable that needs no last-minute work, and a dessert you make the day before or buy. Ask guests about allergies and diets first, keep only one dish that needs attention at the stove, and write a timeline counting back from when you want to eat.
What to show, in order
- Ask every guest about allergies and foods they do not eat when you invite them.
- Choose a main you have cooked successfully at least once.
- Pick one side that shares the oven with the main, and one cold salad or vegetable.
- Make or buy a dessert that is ready the day before.
- Limit the menu to one dish that needs stovetop attention while guests are there.
- Write the shopping list by store section and shop two days ahead.
- Write a timeline counting back from the time you want to serve, including preheating and resting.
- Set out a snack and drinks for the first half hour so you are not rushed.
The check question
Ask: Which main dish is best for a dinner party?
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