Our Best Dinner Party Recipes

Jeff swaps in butter crackers for breadcrumbs in this finger-friendly crab cake appetizer. The crackers do double duty in helping the cake bind together as well as infusing the crab with delicious butter flavor.

Soup is always a strong way to start a dinner party — and when it's Ree's comforting tomato soup, everyone's happy. Plus, you can make this the night before so that on the day of the get-together, all you have to do is reheat it.

Magic happens when you fry bread in butter and maple syrup. It gets lacquered and candied; and when you use a good bread like sourdough, it stays chewy on the inside. Topped with a soft cheese, it's exactly what your guests want to eat as a starter with wine.

One of our favorite vegetables gets the royal treatment: It's filled with a cheesy and bacony kale stuffing, coated in crispy breadcrumbs, and baked until melting and tender.