Hellobee Boards

I like doing fondue with a variety of dippers (bread cubes, pieces of cooked pork or steak, barely cooked asparagus, raw veggies like bell peppers and broccoli, etc...)

I like to serve baked salmon or chicken with a salad so that all the prep can be done before guests arrive. While the main is in the oven I can hang out instead of cook.

I like to do a big roast chicken (or two) surrounded by roasted root vegetables. And I typically pair it with a big acidic salad and some rolls.

That way all that I do is basically spend 20 minutes prepping the food going into the oven and maybe ten minutes making a salad. I usually do potatoes, shallots, garlic, carrots, beets, parsnips, and kohlrabi. Chop (I usually scrub them well and leave the peels on) and make a bed of those on a rimmed baking sheet. Prep the chicken and put in on the veg and bake for 1.5-2 hours depending on the size/number of the chicken. I've done two chickens in a large roasting pan or one each in an aluminum pan. If you don't carve the chicken right away it'll stay warm for over an hour after it has come out of the oven.

If you want to go all out you can pour off the grease and drippings and make gravy. This is my go-to and it's easy and delicious and looks harder than it is.

I like to do Italian, as many things can be made ahead of time. Depending on the crowd, I'll do meatballs cooked ahead of time and kept warm in sauce in a crock pot, or stromboli/calzones, which can be prepped before and just popped in the oven during the party. Lasagna is great too! Sides usually include garlic bread and salad (garden or caesar), and sometimes caprese salad also.

For a totally different type of crowd, I'll sometimes do a hearty soup (minestrone, chicken tortilla or chilli) with homemade beer bread or cornbread, and garden salad. All make ahead items also!

Pan fried duck breasts is our go-to dish.

I think grilling is the easiest, so we'll grill some meat, have a salad, and sides. I love roasting asparagus and brussels sprouts, but anything else would work.

I like to do pork tenderloin with some roasted potatoes and a vegetable like green beans. Something like lasagna or a one-pot pasta dish is always nice, too.

I opened this thread thinking, well, the vast majority of the time when we have people over, everybody just orders delivery (sometimes coordinated with each other, but not always!) ... Clearly I run with a pretty casual group.

If I'm going to cook for people, I like to do Indian dishes (dal or saag paneer usually) or like a curry or couscous/veggie type thing. People always love a nice pan-seared salmon when it's in season, with grilled veggies. I've also done grilled mini-pizzas where people pick their own toppings, and that's fun during the summer months.

ETA for a side, I get asked for the recipe for this one almost every time: http://cookieandkate.com/2014/spicy-kale-and-coconut-stir-fry/

My family trademark is tacos, and it's usually our standard meal (and most people request it). I'm happy with it because I can do a lot of it beforehand and then hang out with guests, and it's good party food that involves chips, salsa and beer. Everybody wins!

My other favorite for winter time is a white chicken chili with toppings and a large mixed green salad and bread.

If it's informal, I like to make Whistle dogs and home baked oven fries.

Slowcooked Chili with fresh baked rolls.

One time ONLY I made homemade Donairs for a crowd. That's a lot of work, but the crowd liked it.

For a more formal occasion, I like to make a ham in my slowcooker with oven roasted carrots and potatoe cubes.

@sarac: did you mean to include a link? Because that sounds good from your description!

we do a lot of tacos/nachos when people come over... we don't do fancy dinners at all (I kind wish I did though)

Typically it's making shredded pork in the crock pot- and having all of the fixings (including homemade guacamole, because easy) out for people to make their own and head to the table!

Spaghetti is another easy option