Alex Guarnaschelli's Best Dinner Party Recipes

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Photo By: Kang Kim

Yogurt-Marinated Grilled Chicken with Harissa

Both the chicken and the sauce can be prepared hours before your guests arrive, making this a low-stress, high-success dish. Leftover harissa? Don’t worry! This sauce holds in the fridge for 3-6 weeks and works with just about every protein.

Get the Recipe: Yogurt Marinated Grilled Chicken with Harissa

Grilled Shrimp with Walnut Pesto

One of the many great things about shrimp is that they cook up in mere minutes. So this impressive-looking plate can be ready to serve in less than a half hour!

Get the Recipe: Grilled Shrimp with Walnut Pesto

Tomato and Watermelon Salad

This make-ahead summer salad is the cooling side dish your cookout needs. Tomatoes are technically fruits, so they pair well with seasonal strawberries and watermelon.

Get the Recipe: Tomato and Watermelon Salad

Roasted Leg of Lamb

When you need to *seriously* impress your guests, give Alex's show-stopping lamb a whirl. It's actually very easy to make!

Get the Recipe: Roasted Leg of Lamb

Baked Potato Salad

Do you love potato salad but hate dealing with boiling water? This potato salad skips the hassle of boiling potatoes by oven-roasting them, making it even easier to whip up this crowd-favorite side dish. Bake small potatoes and toss with herbs, olive oil and shallots before serving.

Get the Recipe: Baked Potato Salad

Grilled Tomatoes with Scallions, Chives and Ricotta

"Grilling herbs is so underrated, and here the scallions and chives collaborate to provide a charred onion flavor that is great against the sweetness of the tomatoes," Alex explains.

Get the Recipe: Grilled Tomatoes with Scallions, Chives and Ricotta

Deluxe Coffee Cake

Don’t say we didn’t warn you: this cake is highly addictive. Just the aroma of hot cinnamon and butter wafting from the oven as this cake bakes will have all your guests begging for a slice. It’s the perfect breakfast, dessert or late-night snack.

Get the Recipe: Deluxe Coffee Cake

Grilled Romaine Salad with Blue Cheese

Grilling romaine halves adds a subtle smoky flavor to your salad. And since romaine is a pretty hearty green, it can stand up to the heat of the grill.

Get the Recipe: Grilled Romaine Salad with Blue Cheese

Cast Iron Skillet Cornbread

“This is a great recipe and tastes better, I find, when cooked in a cast-iron skillet and served hot tableside," Alex says. "I have also served this recipe for breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner. Whether with jam and butter or fried chicken on the side, there are rarely leftovers!”

Get the Recipe: Cast Iron Skillet Corn Bread

Broccoli and Broccoli Stem Salad

Alex uses every part of your broccoli, not just the florets, to reduce food waste and get the most bang for your buck.

Get the Recipe: Broccoli and Broccoli Stem Salad

Chocolate Pudding with Almonds

Make this decadent pudding the night before you need it so it has time to thicken up before serving.

Get the Recipe: Chocolate Pudding with Almonds

Grilled Herb Vinaigrette with Grilled Vegetables

These are Alex’s top tips for perfect grilled veggies: “Be patient. Some vegetables take longer or less time to cook. The cooking times here are parameters. Touch the vegetables and cook until tender. Place a double-layer of foil in a less-hot section of the grill so you can use that area as a refuge if the vegetables get too charred before they are tender. Keep the lid closed when cooking.”

Get the Recipe: Grilled Herb Vinaigrette with Grilled Vegetables

Pecorino and Rosemary Popcorn

Pop your popcorn in rosemary-infused oil before, then blanket it with freshly grated pecorino cheese for a sophisticated snack that takes only minutes to make.

Get the Recipe: Pecorino and Rosemary Popcorn

Grilled Portobello Mushrooms with Balsamic

This six-ingredient side dish combines the umami flavors of mushroom with the sweetness of roasted garlic and tangy balsamic vinegar to create a symphony of flavors.

Get the Recipe: Grilled Portobello Mushrooms with Balsamic

Stuffed Mini Peppers

These goat cheese-stuffed peppers come together in a hurry and are an eye-catching appetizer for your next party.

Get the Recipe: Stuffed Mini Peppers

Crunchy Chocolate Matzo Bark

Cracker-like Matzo becomes the base for a highly addictive sweet, crunchy snack.

Get the Recipe: Crunchy Chocolate Matzo Bark

Flatbread with Bacon and Scallion Pesto

Save time in the kitchen when you can. In this case, start with a store-bought pizza dough, then top it with a bright caper-scallion pesto for a dressed-up take on flatbread.

Get the Recipe: Flatbread With Bacon and Scallion Pesto

Slow Cooker Chili

Let your slow cooker do the work of making this chili for you. Simply set the timer and come back a few hours later for dinner.

Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Chili

Roasted Sweet Potato Soup with Ham Hocks

Roasting sweet potatoes brings out their natural sweetness, which pairs well with deeply savory ham.

Get the Recipe: Roasted Sweet Potato Soup with Ham Hocks

Pretzel-ish Pigs in a Blanket with Mustard Sauce

“They are fun to make.” Alex says. “It’s just enough cooking when you feel like a project that doesn’t take up too much time.”

Get the Recipe: Pretzel-ish Pigs in a Blanket with Mustard Sauce

Cucumber Pickle Salad

This cold salad highlights the bright and tangy flavors of pickled veggies.

Get the Recipe: Cucumber Pickle Salad

Stuffed Poblano Peppers

“Is this an accidental tribute dish for Bobby Flay or really one of my favorite new side dishes? The answer is: yes” says Alex. “This dish will blow the lid off the sweet potatoes and Brussels sprouts at the holiday table.

Get the Recipe: Stuffed Poblano Peppers

Peach Lemonade Spritz

Thanks to a pre-made lemonade syrup that can be used in countless other ways, this drink becomes hassle-free to whip up once your guests have arrived.

Get the Recipe: Peach Lemonade Spritz