Love having friends for dinner but don’t have the time to cook for a crowd? Try putting together a dinner club. Gather a group (size is up to you, but a group of 6-10 lends a lively atmosphere). Pick one friend to host; she’ll decide on the menu theme and serve a main course. Everyone else should bring an appetizer, side dish or dessert that fits the theme. Try different world cuisines, cook from the same book or follow the seasons. Above all, enjoy the time around the table in each other’s company!
Lime-Chipotle Carnitas Tostadas
Here’s a terrific recipe for your next weeknight dinner. Set out various toppings and garnishes so your family members can custom-make their own tostadas with the lime-kissed shredded pork. —Jan Valdez, Chicago, Illinois
Kathy’s Herbed Corn
My husband and I agreed that the original recipe for this corn needed a little jazzing up, so I added the thyme and cayenne pepper to suit our tastes. Now fresh summer corn makes a regular appearance on our grill. —Kathy VonKorff, North College Hill, Ohio
Mojito Marinated Fruit
All the flavors of the popular mojito cocktail are featured in this fantastic salad. After you eat the fruit, you’ll want to sip the luscious syrup! —Marcy Griffith, Excelsior, Minnesota
Chapati Breads
My daughter and I used to make this chapati recipe frequently. It’s so fun and goes well with any spiced dish. We use this Indian flatbread to make sandwich wraps, too. —Joyce McCarthy, Sussex, Wisconsin
Five-Cheese Spinach & Artichoke Dip
Whenever I go to an event, I’m always asked to bring this hot dip. Five types of cheese make it a standout and oh-so delicious. I love its party-ready convenience— I serve it straight from the slow cooker, so set-up and clean-up are a breeze! —Noelle Myers, Grand Forks, North Dakota
Buffalo Chicken Lasagna
This recipe was inspired by my daughter’s favorite food—Buffalo wings! It tastes as if it came from a restaurant. —Melissa Millwood, Lyman, South Carolina
That Good Salad
When a friend shared this recipe, it had a fancy French name. Our children can never remember it, so they say, “Mom, please make ‘that good salad.'” Now our friends and neighbors request it for potluck dinners. It really is one of the best salad recipes. —Betty Lamb, Orem, Utah
Layered Chocolate Marshmallow Peanut Butter Brownies
A friend gave me the recipe for these layered brownies, but I added my own touch–chunky peanut butter. Every time I take them to a group gathering, I get requests for the recipe. It’s a real crowd-pleaser! —Judy Sims, Weatherford, Texas
German Beer Cheese Spread
We’re of German heritage, so we love bold flavors. This tangy beer cheese dip is perfect to serve with pretzels, crackers, pumpernickel and brats. Choose a beer you like, as it will come through in your finished recipe. —Angela Spengler, Tampa, Florida
Bratwurst Supper
After trying a few bratwurst recipes, I’ve found this meal-in-one is ideal for camping since it grills to perfection in a heavy-duty foil bag. Loaded with chunks of bratwurst, red potatoes, mushrooms and carrots, it’s easy to season with onion soup mix and a little soy sauce. —Janice Meyer, Medford, Wisconsin
Cabbage Roll Casserole
I layer cabbage with tomato sauce and ground beef lasagna-style to create a hearty casserole that tastes like cabbage rolls but without all the work. —Doreen Martin, Kitimat, British Columbia
Best Lasagna
Want to know how to make lasagna for a casual holiday meal? You can’t go wrong with this deliciously rich meat lasagna recipe. My grown sons and daughter-in-law request it for their birthdays, too. —Pam Thompson, Girard, Illinois
Garlic-Cheese Crescent Rolls
Upgrade your basic crescent roll recipe! Here’s a recipe that just couldn’t be much quicker or easier and is sure to add a nice touch to any dinner. The garlic and Parmesan flavors really come through. Enjoy! —Lori Abad, East Haven, Connecticut
Layered Salad for a Crowd
This salad is a favorite of my three sons. I took it to a luncheon honoring our school district’s food service manager, and she asked for the recipe. I like to make the dressing the day before so the flavors blend together. —Linda Ashley, Leesburg, Georgia
Easy Cake Mix Bars
I take these bars to work for Friday pick-me-ups. I love to share them because they’re so easy to eat, easy to make and easy on the wallet. —Amy Rose, Ballwin, Missouri
Smoked Gouda Spinach Pizza
“My daughter actually created this savory pizza recipe as an appetizer. There’s never a crumb left!” Marie Hattrup Sparks, Nevada
Cannellini Bean Hummus
My version of hummus features a delightful nuttiness from tahini, a peanut butter-like paste made from ground sesame seeds. The beans pack a lot of protein so it’s a healthy snack for kids. —Marina Castle Kelley, Canyon Country, California
Blueberry Gelatin Salad
I find myself making this blueberry jello salad often. People request this layered treat for potlucks all the time. This dish can be served as either a salad or a dessert. And preparing it a day ahead makes it taste even better! —Mildred Livingston, Phoenix, Arizona
Fried Chicken and Pulled Pork Cornbread Poppers
These fun little apps are an instant conversation starter wherever they’re served. We love them on game day, but they’d be a hit at brunch, too. —Crystal Schlueter, Babbitt, Minnesota
Spectacular Overnight Slaw
To come up with this dish, I used a number of different recipes, plus some ideas of my own. It’s great for a potluck because it’s made the night before and the flavor keeps getting better. Whenever I serve it, I’m inundated with recipe requests. —Ruth Lovett, Bay City, Texas
Sweet & Spicy Beans
My husband and I love this sweet and savory bean dish. It can be enjoyed as a side, but it’s also fun for tortilla and corn chip dipping. —Sondra Pope, Mooresville, North Carolina
Watermelon Tomato Salad
Watermelon and tomatoes may seem an unlikely pair, but they team up to make a winning combination in this eye-catching salad. —Matthew Denton, Seattle, Washington
Southwest Egg Rolls
Moderately crispy with a rich and creamy filling, these semi-spicy appetizers taste like they’ve been fried. —Danielle Booth, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Roasted Honey Sweet Potatoes
Cinnamon and honey bring out the natural earthy sweetness of sweet potatoes in this simple, elegant side dish. —Laura Mifsud, Northville, Michigan
Creamy Chicken Enchiladas
My daughter has the best chicken enchiladas recipe I’ve ever tried. She brought 10 pans of it to my wedding reception and they were the biggest hit of all the food. So many guests wanted the recipe, we sent it out with our Christmas cards. —Pat Coffee, Kingston, Washington
Loaded Veggie Dip
Packed with veggies and bursting with flavor, this chunky dip is sure to be a hit at your next party. Be sure to serve it with a thick cracker that can be used as a scoop. —Patrice Slaughter, Palm Bay, Florida
Garlic Bread Pasta Torte
My kids love to stuff spiral pasta inside bread for a clever dinner torte. We save the bread crusts to make garlicky croutons for salad. —Melissa Birdsong, Waleska, Georgia
Pistachio Mallow Salad
This fluffy pistachio salad is a real treat since it’s creamy but not overly sweet. It’s easy to mix up, and the flavor gets better the longer it stands. It’s perfect for St. Patrick’s Day, served in a green bowl. -Pattie Ann Forssberg, Logan, Kansas
Southern Seafood Gumbo
I tasted a similar dish at a local restaurant and later duplicated it pretty closely. I trimmed it down a bit and no one in my family seemed to mind. —Susan Wright, Champaign, Illinois
Baker’s Dozen Yeast Rolls
A yummy honey-garlic topping turns these easy dinner rolls into something extra special. Try ’em with soups and chili. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Vietnamese Pork Lettuce Wraps
Casual, flavorful and low in carbohydrates, these Vietnamese Pork Lettuce Wraps are a perfect and low-fuss way to feed a group. Place the ingredients in separate dishes and let your guests assemble their own wrap, which allows them to personalize to suit their tastes. —Gretchen Barnes, Fairfax, Virginia
Teriyaki Pineapple Drumsticks
We have a large family and throw big parties, so I look for ways to free my husband from the grill. Roasted drumsticks keep everyone happy. —Erica Allen, Tuckerton, New Jersey
California Pasta Salad
Not only does this salad travel well to get-togethers such as picnics or tailgate parties, but people absolutely love it when it gets there. —Jeanette Krembas, Laguna Niguel, California
Mini Barbecue Meat Loaves
I gave classic meat loaf a tasty twist by adding barbecue sauce. My kids usually get bored with beef entrees, but they keep asking for this dish. It’s become a dinner staple at my house. —Vicki Smith, Okeechobee, Florida
Roasted Red Potato Salad
I got this roasted potato salad recipe from my sister-in-law and I’ve made it numerous times at the request of friends and co-workers. It’s quick and easy, just what I need in my busy life. I learned how to cook from the two best cooks I know—my mom, Arline, and my Grandma Etta. —Ginger Cusano, Sandusky, Ohio
Shredded French Dip
A chuck roast slow-simmered in a beefy broth is delicious when shredded and spooned onto rolls. I serve the cooking juices in individual cups for dipping. —Carla Kimball, Callaway, Nebraska
Rich French Onion Soup
When entertaining guests, I bring out this savory soup while we’re waiting for the main course. It’s simple to make—just saute the onions early in the day and let the soup simmer until dinner-time. In winter, big bowls of it make a warming supper with a salad and biscuits. —Linda Adolph, Edmonton, Alberta
Strawberry Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing
My family is always happy to see this fruit and veggie salad on the table. If strawberries aren’t available, substitute mandarin oranges and dried cranberries. —Irene Keller, Kalamazoo, Michigan
Nutty Stuffed Mushrooms
Basil, Parmesan cheese and mushroom blend together well, while buttery pecans give these treats a surprising crunch. Our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren always ask for them! —Mildred Eldred, Union City, Michigan
Dirt Dessert
Perhaps “Down and Dirty Dessert” would be a better name for this delicious concoction because you’re going to want to put a spoon in each hand and go to town! This sweet dirt recipe just that good! —Kristi Linton, Bay City, Michigan
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Kelsey Mueller