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Need some dinner ideas for entertaining? Check out my favorite easy 3-course meal ideas! I’ve included some of my favorite menus for everything from casual backyard gatherings to elegant dinner parties.
![Collage of images of dinner ideas.](https://www.yellowblissroad.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/3-course-meal-ideas-title.jpg)
Table of Contents
Planning a Meal for a Dinner Party
It’s pretty simple to plan food for big parties, because finger foods and appetizers are all you need. But when it’s a more intimate gathering with a sit down dinner, it gets more complicated!
There’s the menu planning, prep, cooking, table setting, and of course the clean-up… it can be super intimidating. So it begs the question:
How Do You Create a 3-Course Meal?
- PLAN AHEAD. When you plan ahead, you’re prepared for all the steps.
- KEEP IT SIMPLE. When you invite friends for a dinner party, have an idea in mind of a main course and then plan the accompaniments around it. If the main dish is more complicated, keep the others simple and prep ahead what you can.
- ASK FOR HELP. Ask the people in your household for help setting the table, chopping vegetables, or cleaning up afterward. You could even ask a guest to provide the wine, appetizer, or dessert.
3 Course Meal Ideas
![](https://www.yellowblissroad.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Olive-Oil-Bread-Dip-fb.jpg)
![](https://www.yellowblissroad.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Roasted-Broccolini-social.jpg)
![Italian Ricotta Cookies are a fluffy treat that begs to be eaten! Top them with your favorite seasonal sprinkles for an irresistible cookie perfect for the holidays!](https://www.yellowblissroad.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Ricotta-Cookies-SQUARE.jpg)
![](https://www.yellowblissroad.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Million-Dollar-Spaghetti-social.jpg)
Main: Million Dollar Spaghetti Casserole
Starter: Garlic & Herb Olive Oil Bread Dip or Caesar Salad
Side: Roasted Broccolini
Dessert: Ricotta Cookies
![](https://www.yellowblissroad.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Spinach-Artichoke-Dip-fb.jpg)
![](https://www.yellowblissroad.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Baked-Potato-with-Sour-Cream-and-Chives-fb.jpg)
![](https://www.yellowblissroad.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Biscoff-Cheesecake-social-scaled.jpg)
![A plate of Grilled Steak](https://www.yellowblissroad.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Grilled-Steak-Marinade-fb.jpg)
Main: Grilled Steak
Starter: Spinach Artichoke Dip or Steakhouse Salad
Side: Baked Potatoes and Garlic Green Beans
Dessert: Biscoff Cheesecake or Strawberry Brownies
![Kale salad, social media image.](https://www.yellowblissroad.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Kale-Salad-social.jpg)
![](https://www.yellowblissroad.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Mashed-Potatoes-social.jpg)
![A dish of Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp with ice cream](https://www.yellowblissroad.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Strawberry-Rhubarb-Crisp-fb.jpg)
![Social media image](https://www.yellowblissroad.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Braised-Beef-Short-Ribs-social.jpg)
Main: Braised Beef Short Ribs
Starter: Kale Salad with apples
Side: Mashed Potatoes and Green Beans
Dessert: Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp or Apple Spice Cake
![Arugula salad social media square image.](https://www.yellowblissroad.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Arugula-Salad-social.jpg)
![egg noodles with butter, wooden spoon, silver pan](https://www.yellowblissroad.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/buttered-noodles-social.jpg)
![](https://www.yellowblissroad.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/chocolate-cream-pie-social.jpg)
![A pan full of Chicken Piccata](https://www.yellowblissroad.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Chicken-Piccata-social.jpg)
Main: Lemon Chicken Piccata
Starter: Arugula Salad
Side: Buttered Noodles and Asparagus
Dessert: Chocolate Cream Pie
![A plate of crab cakes, with lemon wedges.](https://www.yellowblissroad.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/crab-cakes-social-1.jpg)
![](https://www.yellowblissroad.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Rice-Pilaf-social.jpg)
![Chocolate Pudding Cake in a white bowl topped with whipped cream and chocolate sprinkles.](https://www.yellowblissroad.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Chocolate-Pudding-Cake-4.jpg)
![](https://www.yellowblissroad.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Baked-Lobster-Tails-social-scaled.jpg)
Main: Baked Lobster Tails
Starter: Crab Cakes or Shrimp Cocktail
Side: Easy Rice Pilaf and Asparagus
Dessert: Chocolate Pudding Cake or Creamy No-Bake Chocolate Lasagna
![A dish filled with homemade tortilla chips sprinkled with salt.](https://www.yellowblissroad.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/air-fryer-tortilla-chips-social.jpg)
![A close up of Mexican Rice.](https://www.yellowblissroad.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/mexican-rice-social.jpg)
![A cup of Horchata with cinnamon stick.](https://www.yellowblissroad.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/horchata-social.jpg)
![](https://www.yellowblissroad.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/carne-asada-tacos-sq.jpg)
Main: Carne Asada Tacos
Starter: Air Fryer Tortilla Chips and Fresh Salsa
Side: Mexican Rice and Refried Beans
Dessert: Homemade Horchata or Mexican Hot Chocolate Cupcakes
![A plate of wedge salad with dressing, bacon, cheese, and tomatoes on top](https://www.yellowblissroad.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Wedge-Salad-social.jpg)
![Potatoes romanoff social media square image.](https://www.yellowblissroad.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Potatoes-Romanoff-social.jpg)
![](https://www.yellowblissroad.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Mississippi-Mud-Cake-social.jpg)
![Close up of grilled London Broil Steak](https://www.yellowblissroad.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/grilled-london-broil-social.jpg)
Main: London Broil
Starter: Wedge Salad or Smoky Bacon and Bean Soup
Side: Potatoes Romanoff or Cream Cheese Mashed Potatoes, Oven Roasted Asparagus
Dessert: Mississippi Mud Cake or Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie
![](https://www.yellowblissroad.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Panzenella-Salad-social.jpg)
![](https://www.yellowblissroad.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Herb-Seasoned-Rice-social-scaled.jpg)
![](https://www.yellowblissroad.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/No-Bake-Lemon-Cheesecake-social.jpg)
![](https://www.yellowblissroad.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Baked-Salmon-with-Dill-Sauce-social.jpg)
Main: Baked Salmon with Dill Sauce
Starter: Panzanella Salad
Side: Seasoned Rice and Carrots
Dessert: No Bake Lemon Cheesecake
![Cucumber salad social media square image.](https://www.yellowblissroad.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Cucumber-Salad-social.jpg)
![](https://www.yellowblissroad.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/German-Fried-Potatoes-social.jpg)
![Social media image of German chocolate cake](https://www.yellowblissroad.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/German-Chocolate-Cake-social.jpg)
![](https://www.yellowblissroad.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Chicken-Schnitzel-social-2.jpg)
Main: Chicken Schnitzel
Starter: Creamy German Cucumber Salad or Butter Lettuce Salad
Side: German Potato Salad or German Fried Potatoes
Dessert: German Chocolate Cake Brownies or Black Forest Cheesecake
![](https://www.yellowblissroad.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Easy-Healthy-Guacamole-Recipe-fb.jpg)
![](https://www.yellowblissroad.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Black-Beans-and-Rice-social.jpg)
![Mexican Hot Chocolate Cupcakes with Cinnamon Whipped Cream Frosting - a perfect treat for Cinco de Mayo parties!](https://www.yellowblissroad.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/mexican-hot-chocolate-cupcakes.jpg)
![](https://www.yellowblissroad.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Cheese-Enchiladas-social.jpg)
Main: Cheese Enchiladas
Starter: Guacamole and tortilla chips
Side: Black Beans and Rice or Refried Beans
Dessert: Mexican Hot Chocolate Cupcakes
![](https://www.yellowblissroad.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Cream-Cheese-Sausage-Cheese-Balls-FB.jpg)
![A bowl of baked beans](https://www.yellowblissroad.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/04/Slow-Cooker-Baked-Beans-social.jpg)
![A plate of cookies with chocolate chips and nuts](https://www.yellowblissroad.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Cowboy-Cookies-social.jpg)
![](https://www.yellowblissroad.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Pulled-Pork-Sandwich-social.jpg)
Main: BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches
Starter: Cream Cheese Sausage Balls
Side: Slow Cooker Baked Beans, Southern Green Beans, Bacon Ranch Red Potato Salad
Dessert: Cowboy Cookies
![Sauteed shrimp with parsley and lemon](https://www.yellowblissroad.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Spicy-Garlic-Shrimp-social.jpg)
![Social media image of Macaroni Salad](https://www.yellowblissroad.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/hawaiian-macaroni-salad-social.jpg)
![A plate of Pineapple Cobbler with ice cream](https://www.yellowblissroad.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/pineapple-cobbler-social.jpg)
![Huli huli chicken social image.](https://www.yellowblissroad.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/huli-huli-chicken-social.jpg)
Main: Huli Huli Chicken
Starter: Spicy Garlic Shrimp
Side: Hawaiian Macaroni Salad, Sticky rice
Dessert: Pineapple Cobbler or Hawaiian Monkey Bread
![](https://www.yellowblissroad.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Crab-Rangoon-Dip-fb.jpg)
![Stack of garlic Texas toast on a white plate](https://www.yellowblissroad.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Air-Fryer-Texas-Toast-Garlic-Bread-social.jpg)
![A close up of grilled peaches with vanilla ice cream.](https://www.yellowblissroad.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Grilled-Peaches-social.jpg)
![Cast iron pan full of creamy pasta, tomatoes, and cooked cajun shrimp.](https://www.yellowblissroad.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Cajun-Shrimp-Pasta-social.jpg)
Main: Cajun Shrimp Pasta
Starter: Crab Dip Recipe
Side: Homemade Garlic Breadsticks
Dessert: Grilled Peaches with Vanilla Ice Cream
![](https://www.yellowblissroad.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Olive-Garden-Salad-social.jpg)
![](https://www.yellowblissroad.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Homemade-Breadsticks-social.jpg)
![](https://www.yellowblissroad.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Baileys-Cheesecake-social.jpg)
![](https://www.yellowblissroad.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Chicken-Gnocchi-Soup-social.jpg)
Main: Chicken Gnocchi Soup
Starter: Copycat Olive Garden Salad
Side: Homemade Garlic Breadsticks
Dessert: Baileys Cheesecake
![black bean dip social media square image](https://www.yellowblissroad.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Black-Bean-Dip-social.jpg)
![](https://www.yellowblissroad.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Greek-Pasta-Salad-social.jpg)
![](https://www.yellowblissroad.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Strawberry-Pretzel-Salad-social-scaled.jpg)
![](https://www.yellowblissroad.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Yogurt-Marinated-Chicken-Thighs-social.jpg)
Main: Greek Yogurt Marinated Chicken Thighs
Starter: Black Bean Dip
Side: Greek Pasta Salad or Potato Salad
Dessert: Easy Strawberry Pretzel Salad or Orange Creamsicle Icebox Cake
Do you have a favorite menu for entertaining? Share it in the comments!