The Best Recipes Featured on Giada Entertains

No matter the occasion, plan the ultimate party menu with Giada De Laurentiis' collection of crowd-pleasing recipes.

Rigatoni with Greens

While chickpeas beef up Giada's quick-fix pasta with Swiss chard, the briny capers and red pepper flakes add layers of bold flavor.

Get the Recipe: Rigatoni with Greens

Grilled Chicken Involtini

Rolled with salty prosciutto, creamy cheese and chewy sundried tomatoes, Giada's easy-to-grill chicken cutlets are best served with a lemony herb oil.

Get the Recipe: Grilled Chicken Involtini

Buttery Herbed Potatoes

Roasted right inside a use-then-toss foil packet, these tender potatoes get their flavor from earthy fresh rosemary.

Get the Recipe: Buttery Herbed Potatoes

Mushroom and Grape Crostini

Not just for breakfast snacking, grapes add subtle sweetness to the meaty mushroom-thyme topping atop these party-ready crostini. For added flavor and texture, Giada smears the toasted bread with chive-laced mascarpone cheese before adding the roasted mushroom-grape mixture.

Get the Recipe: Mushroom and Grape Crostini

Spiked Arnold Palmer

The addition of limoncello, an Italian liqueur, complements the sparkling lemonade in this thirst-quenching cocktail. To upgrade the drink for a party, follow Giada's lead and pour it over citrus-studded ice cubes. "To chill your drink but not dilute it, try making citrus ice cubes with some iced tea and few pieces of lemon zest," she notes.

Get the Recipe: Spiked Arnold Palmer

Cheese Ravioletti in Pink Sauce

Tinier than traditional ravioli, ravioletti provide a cheesy base for Giada's wine-spiked tomato sauce, which is simmered with cream to turn out a pink hue. Perhaps best of all, this comforting dish can be on the table in just 25 minutes.

Get the Recipe: Cheese Ravioletti in Pink Sauce

Italian Wellington

While a lean tenderloin is the meaty star of this impressive dish, the blanket of prosciutto around the beef goes a long way in adding salty, deeply savory flavor to the Wellington.

Get the Recipe: Italian Wellington

Chocolate-Hazelnut Fondue

The smooth, creamy spread you know and love gets even more indulgent when melted with chocolate chips and combined with hazelnut liqueur to create the ultimate dessert dip.

Get the Recipe: Chocolate-Hazelnut Fondue

Rosy Prosecco Spritzer

Just a splash of rose water delivers a subtle floral flavor to Giada's five-minute cocktail.

Get the Recipe: Rosy Prosecco Spritzer

Roman Popcorn

Inspired by the classic pasta cacio e pepe, this quick-fix popcorn is tossed with a garlic-butter mixture, plus plenty of cheese and black pepper.

Get the Recipe: Roman Popcorn

Open-Faced Finger Sandwiches

Offering a variety of sandwich toppings — prosciutto, creamy avocado and smoked salmon — ensures that everyone will be able to find something they enjoy.

Get the Recipe: Open-Faced Finger Sandwiches

Blueberry Focaccia

The key to Giada's dessert bread is starting with a loaf of frozen bread dough, which will ensure this focaccia is simple to prepare. She blankets the dough with a cinnamon-sugar mixture, then dots it with sweet blueberries.

Get the Recipe: Blueberry Focaccia

Spiked Root Beer Float Bar

"Arrange all of the ingredients so the guests can help themselves," Giada writes of her approach to this recipe. She offers both chocolate and vanilla ice creams, as well as fudge and caramel sauces, to accompany the hard root beer.

Get the Recipe: Spiked Root Beer Float Bar

Three-Way Tie Sandwich

Giada starts with two-feet-long bread to build an over-the-top sandwich with a whopping three kinds of filling: cauliflower with burrata, Italian deli meats and cheese, and a classic turkey-cheese combo.

Get the Recipe: Three-Way Tie Sandwich

Spicy Calabrian Shrimp

A mix of Calabrian chile paste, fresh lemon zest and nutty Parmesan cheese bring bold flavors to these quick-cooking shrimp.

Get the Recipe: Spicy Calabrian Shrimp

Dip Bar

While guacamole is a must-have staple, Giada transforms her snack spread with two homemade dips: a creamy white bean puree with fresh, fragrant herbs, plus a tangy Gorgonzola-Cucumber dip featuring bright lemon zest.

Get the Recipe: Dip Bar

Smoky Arugula and Apple Salad

Giada opts for dry ricotta in her 15-minute salad, but she notes that you can swap in other kinds of cheese instead. "The ricotta cheese can be substituted with goat cheese, feta or any other creamy, crumbly cheese you have on hand," Giada explains.

Get the Recipe: Smoky Arugula and Apple Salad

Focaccia with Clementine and Fennel

Not just for casual snacking, bright clementines become a star topping for Giada's fuss-free focaccia after she slices them thinly. To save time in the kitchen, she starts with ready-to-go pizza dough.

Get the Recipe: Focaccia with Clementine and Fennel

Frozen-Fruit Sparkling Water

You know the bag of frozen mixed berries you use to transform your morning smoothie? Put it to work in Giada's crimson-colored mocktail, laced with fresh citrus and fragrant basil, to create a refreshing drink.

Get the Recipe: Frozen Fruit Sparkling Water

Roasted-Carrot Hummus

Sweet, tender roasted carrots transform traditional chickpea-based hummus into a golden-hued puree with bold flavor.

Get the Recipe: Roasted Carrot Hummus

Crab Crostini with Lemon and Herbs

If you're prepping these appetizers for a party, you may want to heed Giada's note and prep a portion of the recipe in advance. She explains, "The crab salad can be made up to one day ahead and stored, tightly covered, in the refrigerator." Once that's ready to go, all you'll have to do is toast the bread and build the crostini.

Get the Recipe: Crab Crostini with Lemon and Herbs

Calabrian Mojito

The secret to Giada's spicy mojito is her homemade Chile-Infused Rum, which pairs well with the cool, refreshing taste of mint leaves and lime juice in the cocktail.

Get the Recipe: Calabrian Mojito

Candied Prosciutto

The best of sweet and salty tastes combine in these crispy baked prosciutto rounds. The meat is dusted with a fragrant blend of allspice and cayenne, which delivers warmth and subtle spice.

Get the Recipe: Candied Prosciutto

S'mores Pizzette

You don't need a campfire to build these s'mores-inspired sweet treats. Giada layers classic fixings — gooey marshmallows, rich chocolate chips and crushed graham crakcers — atop pizza dough to create an extra-special dessert.

Get the Recipe: S'mores Pizzette

Steak and Guacamole Buns

Simply seasoned beef is paired with creamy smoked mozzarella and creamy guacamole in these quick-fix bites.

Get the Recipe: Steak and Guacamole Buns

Parmesan Crisp with Pink Sauce

If you have Parmesan cheese, then you have everything you need to make these deeply savory baked snacks. When it comes to the dipping sauce, sweet piquillo peppers add flavor and and color to the mayonnaise base.

Get the Recipe: Parmesan Crisp with Pink Sauce

Green Grape Slushies

Icy and refreshing, these lime-laced slushies come together easily with the help of a blender.

Get the Recipe: Green Grape Slushies

Roasted Caprese Salad

Giada roasted three different kinds of tomatoes to add different flavors and levels of sweetness to this classic salad.

Get the Recipe: Roasted Caprese Salad

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

This decadent banana bread is packed with chocolate chips and topped with crunchy walnuts.

Get the Recipe: Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

Dark Chocolate Macaron Cake

Featuring a cookie top and bottom made with light, fluffy egg whites, this chocolate lovers' dessert is sandwiched with dark chocolate ganache and bright raspberries, which deliver a fresh bite.

Get the Recipe: Dark Chocolate Macaron Cake

Hazelnut Coffee Martini

It takes only five ingredients to make this quick-mix cocktail laced with rich hazelnut and coffee liqueurs, plus a splash of cream to create a luxurious sip.

Get the Recipe: Hazelnut Coffee Martini

Positano Pizzas

Start with ready-to-go dough to save time when prepping these heart-shaped pizzas layered with classic pie fixings like gooey mozzarella, garlic-roasted cherry tomatoes and nutty Parmesan.

Get the Recipe: Positano Pizzas

Blue Cheese and Bacon Truffles

These savory truffles feature a rich bacon-studded mixture of cream cheese and Gorgonzola, which is rolled in crushed pretzels and fresh chives for added texture and taste.

Get the Recipe: Blue Cheese and Bacon Truffles

Margarita Chicken Wings

Giada brings the flavor of one of your favorite cocktails to life as a snack in the form of these easy-to-make chicken wings. She preps a combination of tequila and citrus juice and lets it do double duty: first as a marinade for the chicken, then later as a glaze for the wings as they cook.

Get the Recipe: Margarita Chicken Wings

Walnut Football Cookies

Though these touchdown-worthy desserts may look similar to traditional sugar cookies, they're actually flavored with the nutty taste of ground walnuts, plus the warmth of cinnamon and allspice. Giada uses a pastry bag filled with orange liqueur-spiked icing to pipe the seams of the football on top of the cookies for decoration.

Get the Recipe: Walnut Football Cookies

Black-and-White Cupcakes

Featuring both chocolate and vanilla cake and frosting, Giada's two-flavored cupcakes come together easily, thanks to a base of boxed cake mix. She simply starts with vanilla batter, then dresses up half of it with cocoa powder to create a rich chocolate flavor.

Get the Recipe: Black and White Cupcakes

Chocolate Soda

Just a splash of seltzer transforms chilled chocolate milk into an extra-special treat.

Get the Recipe: Chocolate Soda

Inside-Out Slider Bar

Though Giada's juicy sliders may not look like they boast any cheese, there's indeed plenty of gooey cheddar waiting for you; it's just built inside the patty instead of being blanketed on top of it. Once you grill up the burgers, let guests help themselves to a toppings buffet to finish their ultimate burgers.

Get the Recipe: Inside Out Slider Bar

Pulled Pork Tacos

Once you've simmered the succulent pork in a slow cooker with smoky cumin and bold chipotle in adobo, set up a toppings bar with fixings like cool avocado and tangy sour cream, then let everyone build their ultimate tacos.

Get the Recipe: Pulled Pork Tacos

Caesar Salad Taco Bites

No longer is Caesar salad a knife-and-fork-needed dish; Giada uses tortilla chip scoops to hold her classically dressed salad, which she finishes with savory Parmesan crisps.

Get the Recipe: Caesar Salad Taco Bites

Short-Cut Churros

Not only do Giada's sweet-tooth-satisfying churros come together with a shortcut ingredient (store-bought biscuit dough), but they're also just that: short cut. These fried beauties are tossed in cinnamon sugar, then served with decadent fudge sauce.

Get the Recipe: Short-Cut Churros

Warm Chicken Parmesan Salad

There's no need to fry and then bake the chicken in Giada's fast-fix chicken Parm. She simply cooks chicken cutlets in marinara sauce with a layer of gooey mozzarella and rounds out the dish with a salad of peppery arugula and fragrant basil.

Get the Recipe: Warm Chicken Parmesan Salad

Vegetable Bundles with Tarragon-Citrus Dip

Upgrade your usual carrots-and-ranch platter with Giada's 15-minute dressed-up appetizer. She wraps the veggies in a chive for an easy-to-grab bundle, and then serves them with a creamy, tangy yogurt-based dip laced with fresh herbs and lemon juice.

Get the Recipe: Vegetable Bundles with Tarragon-Citrus Dip

Drunken Berries

Instead of simply scooping frozen yogurt into a bowl for your guests, offer them a next-level take on the frozen treat by serving the yogurt atop mixed berries steeped in mulled wine. Giada's easy wine mixture features star anise, cinnamon and cloves for comforting flavor.

Get the Recipe: Drunken Berries

Braised Short Rib Crostini with Remoulade

Not just for sit-down dinners, short ribs can be turned into an eat-with-your-hands appetizer; all it takes is a base of bread to carry the beef. This succulent meat is slowly simmered in a red wine broth, then shredded and served atop crispy bread and layers of a mayonnaise-Dijon remoulade.

Get the Recipe: Braised Short Rib Crostini with Remoulade

Raspberry-Cherry Chocolate Poppers

There's a sweet surprise inside these wow-worthy chocolate desserts: a sprinkle of cherry Pop Rocks. Giada builds these indulgent bites in mini muffin cups to create elegant two-bite treats.

Get the Recipe: Raspberry-Cherry Chocolate Poppers

Gin-Tini

It's best to let Giada's gin- and vermouth-spiked cocktail mixture chill for at least an hour before you serve it, so the flavors have a chance to marry.

Get the Recipe: Gin-tini

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