Who says fancy dinner recipes have to be complicated? You can eat well and still have time to enjoy time with your friends and family. These 27 recipes will impress your guests and won’t have you slaving away in the kitchen for hours.
27 Fancy Dinner Recipes That Are Incredibly Easy to Make
1. Chicken Florentine
Chicken Florentine always makes an impression at the table – it just looks fancy! But it’s surprisingly easy to make and is sure to be a crowd-pleaser.
If you have butter, chicken and olive oil, you’re halfway there. The Florentine sauce may not be authentic, but it’s still delicious and easy to put together. It calls for half and half, white wine, cream cheese, lemon juice, spinach, garlic and parsley.
Pair this chicken with pasta or steamed vegetables.
2. Short Rib Ragu w/Parmesan Mashed Potatoes
Short ribs basted in a rich tomato red wine sauce with creamy Parmesan mashed potatoes. Sounds like a gourmet meal, right? This recipe takes some time, but it’s worth every minute – and most of it is hands-off.
Use high-quality wine and Parmesan cheese to take the flavor to the next level.
3. Chicken, Wild Rice, Sweet Potatoes and Mushrooms
This cozy dinner looks fancy and is so flavorful without being overcomplicated. You’ll need some chicken thighs, sweet potatoes, fresh herbs and your favorite mushrooms.
If you can’t find wild rice, use whichever type of rice you prefer.
4. Autumn Chicken and Tortellini with Roasted Vegetables
We love fancy dinner recipes like these because they’re so colorful and flavorful. It’s perfect for the cooler months and uses seasonal vegetables like butternut squash and Brussels sprouts. The tortellini and chicken add so much flavor.
Feel free to swap out the vegetables for the ones you prefer.
5. Garlic Butter Steak with Brussels Sprouts and Butternut Squash
An autumn-inspired dinner with rich flavors and a fancy presentation. Flank steak is cooked in butter, garlic and fresh thyme and then paired with roasted, fiber-rich veggies.
If you don’t like butternut squash, you can use sweet potatoes or acorn squash instead. And make sure that you give the Brussels sprouts plenty of time for roasting. The roasting is what gives this veggie its great flavor.
6. Baked Sage Chicken Meatballs with Parmesan Orzo
Here’s a healthy and fancy take on classic meatballs. Instead of ground beef, you’ll use ground chicken thigh. A delicious blend of herbs and spices make these meatballs unforgettable.
The Parmesan orzo is so easy to make and has a tasty sauce with sage, shallots, white wine, heavy cream and a handful of other simple ingredients.
7. One Pan Balsamic Chicken
One pan is all you need for this fancy dish. It’s so simple and easy to put together, but the flavor combination is amazing.
To make this dish, you’ll need chicken breast, fresh cherry tomatoes, fresh mozzarella balls, basil, Dijon mustard, balsamic vinegar and a few spices.
You can serve this chicken with mashed potatoes or even rice.
8. Caramelized Onion French Lentils and Cheesy Toast
Caramelized onions do the heavy lifting in this recipe, adding tons of flavor without being too complicated. And who doesn’t love cheesy toast?
If you’re a vegetarian or you’re having vegetarian guests, then this recipe is perfect. It’s fancy, it’s flavorful and it’s really simple. You’ll need some lentils, onions, balsamic vinegar, fresh herbs, cheese, bread and some spices.
9. One-Pot Coq au Vin
When it comes to dinner, it doesn’t get much fancier than Coq au Vin. This one-pot take on this recipe is easy and takes just 45 minutes.
You’ll need bacon, onion, carrots, sweet potatoes, garlic, tomato paste, chicken breasts, mushrooms, wine and fresh herbs. Serve with mashed potatoes for a tasty, fancy dinner.
10. Basque Pipérade with Fresh Eggs
Basque Pipérade is similar to Shakshuka and is one of those unexpected fancy dinner recipes that you can’t wait to serve guests. It’s super easy to make, but it’s so delicious and loaded with flavor.
Fresh eggs are baked in a rich tomato sauce. Serve your meal with toasted bread that you can dip in the tomato sauce – yum!
11. Sundried Tomato and Ricotta Stuffed Shells
Stuffed shells are always a fancy dinner choice, and this one takes it to the next level. Instead of plain ricotta stuffing, this recipe adds lemon zest, Parmesan cheese and spinach. Top with a creamy sundried tomato sauce for a memorable meal.
12. Red Wine Braised Short Ribs
Here’s another tasty short ribs recipe that’s fancy and easy to make. The red wine sauce is what makes this dish so special. The recipe recommends using a good Cabernet Sauvignon. Feel free to use boneless or bone-in ribs – whatever you prefer.
It takes a few hours to cook this dish, but most of that time is hands-off.
Related: 15 Easy No Bake Desserts for Your Next Party
13. Stuffed Chicken with Sundried Tomatoes
This stuffed chicken is sure to impress your guests and their taste buds. Each chicken breast is stuffed with gouda cheese, sundried tomatoes, basil and baby spinach. Just a few ingredients give this meal so much flavor.
You can serve this with roasted vegetables, mashed potatoes or a salad.
14. Maple Balsamic Glazed Pork Chops
Pork chops are always a crowd-pleasing choice for dinner, and this recipe adds a tasty maple balsamic glaze.
The glaze is so easy to make. It calls for maple syrup, Dijon mustard, balsamic vinegar, beef broth and fresh herbs.
Serve it with vegetables and a salad for a fancy meal that everyone will love.
15. Apple Cider Braised Pork Shoulder
If you’re looking for fancy dinner recipes that are perfect for fall and winter, this one is it. Pork shoulder roast is cooked in an apple cider sauce with stock, Dijon mustard and spices. Apples are the perfect pair with pork, so this flavor combination is perfect.
16. Creamy Tomato Gnocchi w/Burrata
Gnocchi, tomato sauce and fresh burrata make this dish extra-fancy. Use fresh cherry tomatoes for this dish – their sweetness will add so much flavor.
Try using fresh gnocchi if you can find it, and don’t skimp on the burrata. Shredded mozzarella is no substitute for fresh mozzarella.
17. Butternut Squash Barley Risotto
Risotto is a fancy dish on its own, but this recipe adds butternut squash and uses barley instead of arborio rice.
It’s a super-simple recipe that will impress your guests. The most difficult part is roasting the butternut squash. If you’re short on time, look for frozen, cubed squash in your freezer aisle.
18. Lamb Skewers with Mint Sauce
Tender lamb skewers are a great way to add protein into your diet and are made fancy with the help of mint, lemon, humus, cumin, coriander and fennel seeds and some flatbread. Fire up the BBQ and in 30 minutes, you’ll be eating these mouth-watering skewers.
19. Smoky Grilled Salmon with Salad
Fancy dinner recipes in under 30 minutes are rarely this good. Salmon offers a punch of flavor, protein and Omega 3 fatty acids. Avocados add the fats while jalapeno, lime, cherry tomatoes, garlic and cilantro add flavor to the nutrient-rich salad.
20. Roast Chicken with Red Wine Demi-Glace and Polenta
If you have chicken in your fridge and a handful of ingredients, this roasted chicken and polenta is a dish that will “wow” yourself and any guests that you have over. Asiago, parmesan cheese and wine add a superb flavor to this roasted chicken.
21. Beef Fillet with Easy Bearnaise Sauce
Five-star taste with the help of an easy, fast bearnaise sauce. You’ll need a high-quality tenderloin, four egg yolks, white wine vinegar, butter, and tarragon and in 25 – 30 minutes, your meat will be cooked to perfection.
Related: 21 Best Finger Food Ideas to Serve at Your Next Party
22. Stuffed Flank Steak
Juicy and easy to make with just six ingredients, this stuffed flank steak requires just flank steak, lemon zest, parsley, spinach, salt and pepper. In just 23 minutes, your steak will be filled with a 5-star quality meal.
23. Garlic Rosemary Balsamic Pork Tenderloin
Garlic and rosemary pork is another dish that would fit in any upscale menu and tastes amazing thanks to the balsamic glaze. With red potato quarters, olive oil, pepper and a few spices, this dish is filling and tasty.
One word of consideration is that cooking for 45 minutes will cause the pork to taste dry.
24. Herbed Ricotta Stuffed Chicken
Chicken is healthy, with one pound of chicken having 123 grams of protein. Ideal for a cozy night, this dish is a true delight thanks to the mashed cauliflower, which cuts out some of the carbs and still tastes just as good.
You’ll want to add cremini mushrooms, garlic cloves, thyme, sage, shallots, apple cider, ricotta cheese, gouda cheese, cream cheese, white wine, butter and a few additional ingredients.
25. Honey Garlic Butter Shrimp and Broccoli
If you’re a fan of shrimp, you’ll love this gourmet meal that takes almost no effort to make. But that’s our secret. You’ll only need shrimp, broccoli, soy sauce, honey, ginger, butter, garlic, cornstarch and red pepper flakes.
26. Garlic and Herb Pork Roast
What a delight for those cold days coming up. Gluten-free and cooked in a single pot, you’ll love this pork roast that adds in:
- Garlic
- Red or white potatoes
- Rosemary
- White wine
And red pepper flakes add a punch of spice to this roast. You can make this comfort food in just over an hour, but you’ll need a nice cut of pork loin to go with it.
Related: 20 Easy High Protein Salads for Meal Prep
27. Cranberry and Brie Stuffed Chicken
Fancy and easy to make? This dish tastes delightful and is super good for you, too. Cranberries, thyme and spinach add a punch of flavor, while the two pounds of chicken is filled with heaps of protein.
Add in some Brie cheese, and this stuffed chicken instantly becomes a family favorite.
28. Delicious Green Asparagus with Bacon
This dish is not only easy to prepare but also looks fantastic! All you’ll need are some sliced bacon strips and asparagus. There are various techniques to make this dish, but a common one involves wrapping a few asparagus spears in bacon and baking them in the oven. You can even add cheese and your favorite spices to enhance the flavor. Bon appétit!
Printable Meal Planner
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