541 party recipes

Halloween truffles: two-ingredient chocolate ganache truffles rolled in cocoa, coconut, or nuts and topped with mini pumpkin decorations. The easiest Halloween party dessert that looks like it came from a chocolatier.

Fish and crawfish mold: a creamy Louisiana-style cold seafood spread blending cooked fish, crawfish tails, cream cheese, wine, and hot sauce. Make ahead, serve on crackers at your next cocktail party.

Blue and cheddar cheese ball blends sharp port wine cheddar, pungent blue cheese, cream cheese, and Worcestershire into a make-ahead party appetizer rolled in toasted walnuts. The classic holiday cheese ball.

Smoked salmon mousse layered with a green spinach stripe, set in a ring mold with cream cheese, sour cream, whipped cream, dill, and a hit of lemon. Elegant make-ahead party appetizer.

Slightly potted cocktail franks simmer in a bourbon-spiked sweet-and-tangy sauce of chili sauce, brown sugar and Dijon. A retro chafing-dish party appetizer that disappears off the toothpicks fast.

Curried egg and artichoke dip, a quick chunky party dip with chopped hard-boiled eggs and artichoke hearts in a curry-spiced sour cream and mayo dressing. No-cook appetizer ready in 10 minutes.

Penn & Teller dessert is a theatrical bleeding Jell-O mold for Halloween: thick red gelatin and whipped topping hiding a bag of fake blood that gushes when you cut in. A gory, show-stopping party prank dessert.

Sausage-stuffed mushrooms: caps filled with hot Italian sausage seasoned with fennel and red pepper, bound with a creamy bechamel, studded with olives and topped with Parmesan, then baked until bubbling and browned. A standout party appetizer.

Bite-sized teriyaki chicken pieces marinated and stir-fried with toasted sesame seeds in a glossy, sticky sauce. Serve as a party appetizer with toothpicks or over rice for a fast weeknight dinner.

A low-calorie party dip made from cottage cheese, garlic, parsley, white wine vinegar, and Italian seasoning. No cooking, just mix and chill. Light enough for any diet, flavorful enough for any crowd.

Silky double-boiler polenta topped with a melting slice of tangy Gorgonzola and a swirl of butter. This elegant Italian side dish is simple enough for weeknights yet impressive enough for dinner parties.

Sliced cold roast beef with a bright tomato-vinegar sauce and a creamy Caesar-Parmesan dipping sauce. A 10-minute no-cook platter that turns leftover roast beef into a dinner party spread.

Italian oil-packed tuna blitzed with mascarpone, kalamata olives, capers, anchovy paste, and lemon zest into a luxurious tapenade spread. Pile it on grilled crostini for a cocktail party appetizer that disappears fast.

Minced turkey blended with sour cream, mayonnaise, chopped pecans, and onion soup mix into a creamy, no-cook pate. Chill, mound on a platter, and serve with crackers for an effortless party appetizer.

Double cheese wheel appetizer made from a hollowed-out Chihuahua cheese round filled with a cream cheese, artichoke heart, pine nut, and basil spread. A stunning party centerpiece served in wedges with crackers.

The classic onion tea sandwich: thin sweet onion and mayonnaise on rounds of soft egg bread, with the edges rolled in minced parsley for a pretty green rim. A retro cocktail-party favorite.