Cooking Light Easy Recipes for Entertaining: 107 Crowd-Pleasing Favorites

When cooking for a large gathering of friends and family, the adage “quality over quantity” simply doesn’t apply. You need both: a satisfying, delicious meal that yields enough to feed a crowd. When hungry guests arrive, you’ll want to have something spectacular—but straightforward to prepare—on the table. That’s why our easy recipes for entertaining are designed for make-ahead ease and have a company-worthy factor.

Easy Recipes for Entertaining has over 100 crowd-pleasing favorites, including one-dish casseroles, make-ahead mains, and fast appetizers. Our “Sips and Snacks” section ensures your guests will mix and mingle with delectable bites in hand like roasted tomato hummus with pecorino and thyme and spiced mulled wine. Our casserole recipes like Greek Lamb Feta Lasagna and Eggplant Parmesan yield cheesy, creamy, saucy, hearty, and filling one-dish dinners. Roast recipes such as Rosemary-Dijon Crusted Standing Rib Roast and Cherry-Port Glazed Pork Loin make for centerpiece mains that elicit oohs and aahs at the table with none of the fuss in the kitchen. For more casual fare, we offer our pizza, pie, and sandwich recipes, from Shorty Shrimp Po-Boys to Carne Asada pizza. Of course, you’ll have to round out your meal with fitting side dishes, like Lemon Couscous and Browned Butter Bourbon Mashed Sweet Potatoes. With the help of Cooking Light, preparing for you next dinner party will be a no-brainer!