How to Host a Laid-Back Weeknight Dinner Party
Hosting a dinner party while juggling work, parenting, and everything else on your plate? Been there. In fact, this entire dinner party happened during a regular workweek—between grocery runs, Zoom meetings, and bedtime routines.
The best part? I did it all without spending a fortune or losing my mind.
In this post, I’m sharing the exact steps I followed to host a cozy, low-stress dinner party—complete with an easy, affordable menu and my hand-sewn, tomato-inspired tablecloth (yes, I even made the tablecloth myself!).
Whether you’re dreaming of a relaxed girls’ night, a backyard summer gathering, or simply looking for fresh table decor, you’ll find plenty of inspiration to make your next dinner feel special—without the overwhelm.
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Summer Party Menu
Here’s the full menu from my summer dinner party—served on my hand-drawn and hand-sewn, tomato-inspired tablecloth (yes, really - you can read about the whole process in my studio vibes archives here, here, and here!):
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Samin Nosrat’s Buttermilk Chicken — a no-fail favorite
- Her Panzanella Salad with Tomato Vinaigrette — fresh, bright, and perfect for summer (Samin herself recommends it in her book to pair with the chicken), similar recipe here
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Simple Roasted Okra from the Farmers Market — salty, crispy, and unfussy, using Defined Dish’s method to cook it
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Brownies + Ice Cream — because the peaches weren’t quite ready for the olive oil cake I planned to make, but honestly…no regrets.
Step 1: Design Your Menu Around Ease + Affordability (Yes, You Can!)
My unofficial dinner party rule? No sweating over the stove while guests sip wine in the next room.
This was also my New Year’s resolution dinner—a girls’ night on a tablecloth I designed myself! I wanted the whole vibe to feel effortless and joyful.
Here’s how I planned the menu without breaking the bank:
✔ Start With the Star (Usually the Protein):
I almost always start with the main dish—the thing that feels like the “centerpiece.” For this night, it was Samin Nosrat’s buttermilk chicken, which marinates overnight and basically roasts itself to golden perfection.
✔ Build Your Sides Around It:
I wanted something colorful, tangy, and fresh to balance the rich chicken. Enter: Samin’s Panzanella Salad. Bonus? It requires zero oven space, no fussy prep during the party, and highlights summer produce beautifully.
✔ Round It Out With a Simple Veggie:
Roasted okra was my wildcard—just olive oil, salt, and pepper. It’s a little Southern nod and roasts right below the chicken in the oven. Easy peasy.
✔ Keep Dessert Unfussy (But Fun):
Originally, I planned Wishbone Kitchen’s olive oil cake with peaches…but my peaches weren’t ripe yet (I picked them up the morning of the party). So we pivoted to brownies and ice cream—a combo that never disappoints.
The key here? Plan a menu where almost everything can be made before guests arrive. I always want to sit down with my friends, not shout “Behind!” in my own kitchen.
Bonus step: divvy out apps or deserts to friends! Anything that doesn’t require day-of prep or oven space could totally be brought over by a guest.
Step 2: My Real-Life Timeline for Hosting
Want the honest truth? This dinner party was planned down to the minute. Between work, parenting, and sewing my first-ever tablecloth, I didn’t have time for last-minute stress.
Here’s exactly how I pulled it off (you can totally copy this!):
✔ Early Week (Monday or Tuesday):
Grocery shop or order delivery—get it done early so you’re not scrambling.
✔ Wednesday (Work-From-Home Lunch Break):
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Prep the buttermilk chicken to marinate overnight, at least 24 hours before cooking starts.
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Bake a loaf of bread for the panzanella (or buy one—zero judgment!).
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Prep any pantry staples.
✔ Thursday (Party Day) Lunchtime:
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Chop veggies + prep dressing for the salad.
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Set the table early—trust me, it’ll feel amazing to see it ready!
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Pre-roast the okra if you’d like, or plan to cook it alongside the chicken.
✔ Party Time:
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Pop the chicken in the oven at your planned time before the party starts.
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Roast okra when the chicken is nearly done.
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Toss the salad at the last minute.
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Light candles, open wine, and enjoy!
I highly recommend writing out your cooking timeline—when to marinate, when to preheat the oven, when to set out the butter. It sounds type-A, but it makes the party flow like magic with no stress.
Step 3: Make It Look Special (Without Spending a Ton!)
My tomato tablecloth was the star of the table. I designed it with farmers market tomatoes in mind on a Hamptons inspired blue stripe — bright, casual, and playful.
For a super simple centerpiece, I used:
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The peaches I picked up from the Peach Truck (so pretty in a wooden bowl!)
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Cut garden flowers and herbs in tiny vases from my travels — instant charm.
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Candles for a little evening glow.
Truly, it felt effortless—but still special enough to elevate a Thursday dinner to a celebration-style party.
The Magic of Hosting Without Stress
This night reminded me that hosting doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive.
With thoughtful prep, a cozy setting, and food that feels like summer, you can throw a beautiful dinner party even during a hectic week.
If you’d love to recreate the vibe, you can shop my hand-painted Tomato Tablecloth here—it’s the first of many designs I plan to release! For those inclined to sew, the extra-wide fabric is here.
