Food

66 Low-Maintenance Summer Dinner Party Ideas

For the lazy hostess

Katherine Gillen

By Katherine Gillen

Updated Jul 24, 2025

Additional reporting by
Taryn Pire
lazy summer entertaining summer dinner party recipes: skillet corn tomato lasagna

Every year once the weather turns hot, you’re faced with the same dilemma: entertaining a crowd with big-batch dishes—and ease (or the illusion of it, anyway). Lugging around three bags of groceries and churning out a five-course feast in 90-degree heat? Not exactly an enticing task, if you ask me.

So when you’re in the mood to entertain but don’t feel like cooking for hours in the sun, try one of these 66 effortless summer dinner party ideas, from easy appetizers and sides to impressive desserts, that taste (and look) spectacular. I’m talking seared scallops with citrus-shallot salad, grilled melon with tahini, chili oil and sesame seeds, broiler s’mores and so much more.

Former Senior Food Editor

Katherine Gillen

Former Senior Food Editor

  • Headed PureWow’s food vertical
  • Contributed original reporting, recipes and food styling
  • Studied English Literature at the University of Notre Dame and Culinary Arts at the Institute of Culinary Education

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