10 things to serve at a casual dinner party

Have a successful evening with 10 things to serve at a casual dinner party.

Summer is underway which means it’s time to pump up the tunes and have some friends and neighbours over for a casual dinner party. There’s no better way to enjoy the beautiful weather than with some great friends and scrumptious eats! We’re here to help you have a successful evening with ten things to serve at a casual dinner party.

 Simple hors d’oeuvres: A variety of fresh bread with good olive oil and balsamic vinegar is a popular way start your meal. Add some spiced cocktail nuts for an additional, simple treat.

Caprese salad: A fresh caprese salad is a great first course for your casual summer meal. Add our Heirloom caprese salad recipe to your menu!

Stay seasonal: With so many delicious fruits and vegetables in season, summer is the perfect time to highlight these wonderful flavours!

Vegetarian option: Even if you don’t have any vegetarian guests, it’s always nice to offer a vegetarian dish to balance the meal.

A fruity dessert: Dessert is the perfect time to highlight the sweet, fresh fruits of summer. Keep it light – try a sorbet or grilled fruit to really impress your guests.

Fun cocktail: Serving a summer-inspired cocktail is a great way to welcome your guests!

Vegetarian lasagna: This is a perfect prepare-ahead meal! Serve a lasagna loaded with summer veggies; this will keep things lighter and seasonal.

A mocktail: Your designated driver friends will love you if you serve a good mocktail. They’ll be surprised (and thankful) you even thought about this!

Pasta salad: Pasta salad is a simple, prepare-ahead dish that will satisfy everyone at your dinner party. Try something with a Mediterranean flair or for something even simpler, use a jar of store-bought pesto as dressing.

Keep allergies and dietary restrictions in mind: Make sure you know your guests dietary restrictions so you serve a dish that everyone can enjoy! Check with your guests when you send out the invites.

For more summer entertaining tips, check out our Summer Entertaining section!