No-Fail Entertaining Menu

When it’s time to entertain, the first step is deciding on the menu – what food, drinks, and sweets to serve. From holidays to birthdays to weekend parties, these no-fail entertaining tips will help you plan your menu and get the party started!

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Tips

Never try a new recipe for the first time. Make something that is tried and true, and that you are comfortable making.
Don’t make more than three things homemade. Anything more than that and things get stressful! A cheese/cracker platter and dessert are two easy, store-bought items.

No-Fail Menu Formula

Dip
Cheese and cracker platter
Meat-based appetizer
Bread-based appetizer or finger food
Dessert (one main, one bite-sized)

Dip:

Pick either a hot or cold dip, depending on the crowd and occasion. Serve with tortilla chips, veggies, and/or potato chips. Everyone loves a good dip. It seems to be the place where everyone congregates! If you have a big crowd, choose one of each – one hot and one cold dip.

Cheese and Cracker Platter:

Pick up 2 types of cheese and a variety of crackers. Try a gourmet cheese and then a classic, like a sharp white cheddar. Don’t forget the mustard! Add sprigs of rosemary and honey for fragrance and grapes for a pop of color. It instantly dresses up a cheese platter. Use a cutting board to display your food; it adds warmth and texture to your table.

Meat-Based Appetizer:

Farm Rich Apple Butter Crockpot Meatballs

To make sure everyone leaves full, serve at least one meat-based appetizer – like meatballs! People love food on a stick – plus, you save money and cleanup on plates and forks. These Apple Butter Crockpot Meatballs from Farm Rich are always a hit and take about 5 minutes to prep.

Bread-Based Appetizer or Finger Food:

This is a good one to go homemade. Bruschetta and crostini – like this Herbed Ricotta Crostini with Marinated Tomatoes – look fancy but is so easy. Cranberry feta pinwheels are also easy – but taste great and are easy to eat while mingling. Keep the food compact so folks can chat, and not super messy – people may be wearing their holiday best!

Dessert:

Dessert can be the easiest item(s) to serve. Include two sweets: one easy homemade and one storebought. For the homemade, try something super easy – either a dip, like Cookies and Cream Cheesecake Dip or Christmas Cookie Dip, or cookies, bakery-fresh storebought or homemade. Make a few batches of cookie dough ahead of time and freeze them for easy prep later.

For the main dessert, go with a cake. Try the OREO^® Ice Cream Cake. When a store-bought cake tastes this good, there’s no reason to bake! Available in the bakery section or freezer aisle at your grocery store. A vanilla-flavored ice cream cake blended with OREO^® cookie pieces, plus whipped frosting topped with a large OREO^® cookie and even more cookie crumbles. This is a great go-to for a quick but impressive dessert that will be everyone’s favorite.