1
Cheesy Tomato Basil Baked Orzo
This orzo baked with tomato and fresh basil is parmesan heaven. It’s sort of like a pasta dish with imposter syndrome. Or should I say…im-pasta syndrome. (I’m sorry.)
Get the recipe from How Sweet Eats.
2
S’mores Pie
A fluffy, chocolatey, no-bake dessert that only takes 10 minutes to put together? Happy birthday to me.
Get the recipe from My Baking Addiction.
3
Sangria
Batched cocktails can save you time and $$$ when you’re hosting lots of guests, and sangria is one of the easiest drinks to prep in advance. It only requires six ingredients, and your friends will love sucking the alcohol out of the fruit left at the bottom of the pitcher when it’s done (just me?).
Get the recipe from Isabel Eats.
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4
Chimichurri Quinoa With Flank Steak
Don’t you love when a fresh, light meal and a hearty main dish join forces to create the perfect plate? Well, that’s exactly what we have here.
Get the recipe from How Sweet Eats.
5
Prosecco Marshmallows
Marshmallows with a touch of bubbly? Count me in. Prosecco marshmallows are very much a thing, and TBH, it’s the sort of celebratory dessert the world has been patiently waiting for.
Get the recipe from Rosalynn Daniels.
6
Bacon-Wrapped Scallops
These are basically the fanciest form of lollipop out there, and they’re a must on any platter of passed apps. So tender! So juicy!
Get the recipe from Delish.
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7
Lemon Pasta
Cozy, creamy, classic—what more do you need in a pasta dish? Bonus: It only requires six ingredients, most of which are probably already taking up space in your fridge.
Get the recipe from How Sweet Eats.
8
Mini Caesar Salad Parmesan Cheese Cups
These mini Caesar salads in crunchy parmesan cups are the chicest hors d’oeuvres I’ve ever seen. End Tweet.
Get the recipe from Aleka’s Get Together.
9
Asparagus Puff Pastry Pocket Squares
One bite of this pocket square pastry, and you’ll have a mouthful of asparagus/prosciutto/smoked gouda deliciousness.
Get the recipe from Rosalynn Daniels.
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10
Salty Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
There must be a scientific reason as to why a sprinkle of salt on top of chocolate chip cookies elevates both one’s mood and the dessert. Can we conduct a study on that?
Get the recipe from Cravings by Chrissy Teigen.
11
Chicken Enchilada Bake
This enchilada dish leaves a lot of room for versatility and ingredient swaps (as long as you keep the avocado, bc let’s be honest, that’s non-negotiable). Any way you serve it, it’ll be a hit.
Get the recipe from Joy the Baker.
12
Tomato Herb Pepperoni Pizza
This pie checks all of the pizza boxes, with high marks for its crispy, cheesy, gooey edges. Throw it in the oven ASAP.
Get the recipe from Half Baked Harvest.
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13
Oreo Milkshake
This baby is creamy, dreamy, and so thick that sipping it through a straw is almost a workout. All you need is vanilla ice cream, Oreos, milk, chocolate sauce, and a blender.
Get the recipe from Tastes Better From Scratch.
14
One-Pot Marry Me Chicken
One taste of this and you’ll understand how it got its name. Something about this recipe inspires lifelong commitment in diners everywhere—and tbh, I get it.
Get the recipe from Joy the Baker.
15
Spiked Strawberry Lemonade Arnold Palmers
This summery drink is the perfect pre-dinner treat. Mint leaves go the extra mile and make these casual cocktails feel extra fancy.
Get the recipe from Cravings by Chrissy Teigen.
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16
Burrata Caprese Salad
I firmly believe that every dish is made better by adding a blob of burrata, and this caprese salad puts the gooey cheese front and center. Add as many different types of tomatoes as you can find, a huge glug of olive oil, and some flaky salt to the burrata, and bam! An instant winner.
Get the recipe from Sweet Tea and Thyme.
17
Chewy Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars
Chocolate and PB is such a tried-and-true combo. Bake up a batch of these and serve ’em instead of a classic birthday cake. Trust me, your dinner guests won’t mind.
Get the recipe from Half Baked Harvest.
18
Vegetable Biryani
No meat, no problem. This traditional Indian spicy rice and veggie recipe could function as a side dish, but honestly, it’s hearty enough to take center stage.
Get the recipe from Food52.
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19
Cucumber Cilatro Margarita
This is the ultimate refreshing cocktail to top off just about any alfresco meal. The fresh cucumber-lime-cilantro combo goes down just as easy as seltzer (so be careful, lol).
Get the recipe from Joy the Baker.
20
Cake Pops
These easy-to-make cake pops only look complicated. The recipe calls for boxed cake mix, and they come together without any hassle. For real!
Get the recipe from Preppy Kitchen.
Annabel Iwegbue is an assistant editor at Cosmopolitan who covers lifestyle, fashion, and astrology. Before joining Cosmo, she covered pop culture and entertainment for Harper’s Bazaar, The Knockturnal, and Black Film. You can check out some of Annabel’s work here and also find her on Instagram and Twitter.
Associate Lifestyle Editor
Hannah Chubb is the associate lifestyle editor at Cosmopolitan, covering all things home, travel, food, health, career, and more. She spends pretty much every hour of every day curating the internet for the best new products, trends, and travel destinations. You can typically find her looking for houses she can’t afford on Zillow or Airbnb, planning her next meal before she gets to the restaurant, or taking all of the Justin Bieber classes over and over and over again on Peloton. Follow her on Instagram.
