Vegetarian Dinner Party Ideas for Every Type of Eater

by HexClad Cookware

Crispy White Bean & Sweet Potato Veggie Burger held in hands

Hosting a vegetarian dinner party and not sure what to make? Whether you’re vegetarian and wanting to impress the in-laws after last year’s tempeh debacle or you're hosting veggie guests, we’ve got you covered with recipe ideas worthy of any dinner party.

One easy tip to make planning dinner parties easier? Choose a central dish and theme. Think: pizza party with Italian apps and desserts (hey, tiramisu is vegetarian!) or a cozy Korean feast featuring steaming bowls of tteokbokki mafaldine.

Below, we have ideas for dinner party dishes and ways to build a menu around them. No matter the menu you’re making, why not set out a gorgeous vegetarian charcuterie board? Top your Extra-Large Beechwood Cutting Board with cheese, pickled things, fresh and dried fruit, chutney, crackers, olives, dips and vegetables to get the party started (and keep guests out of the kitchen).

4 VEGETARIAN DINNER PARTY IDEAS FOR EVERY TYPE OF EATER

1. HOMEMADE VEGETARIAN PIZZA PARTY

The great thing about making pizza at home is that you can make over-the-top, decadent pies without a touch of meat. Start by either making homemade pizza dough or buying store-bought. (Plan on 1 pound of dough for each pizza.) Set your pizza steel in a hot oven or on the grill and set out a bar of toppings for guests to assemble their own pies. No pizza steel? You can make pizza on your Hybrid Double Burner Griddle or on the stovetop in your 10” or 12” Hybrid Fry Pan.

Looking for topping combinations to get started? Try our recipes for Grilled BBQ Chicken Pizza with Jalapeño Ranch Sauce, Margherita Pizza, or Hot Hex Pizza, but skip the meat!

Margherita Pizza being constructed on pizza steel

Ideas for the rest of your pizza party menu: Antipasti skewers to start, chopped salad as a side, and tiramisu for dessert. (We love this easy tiramisu recipe from the New York Times).

2. LAID-BACK VEGGIE BURGER BASH

"Please, could veggie burgers really be dinner party food?"

Yes, indeedy! Take a look at these gorgeous Crispy White Bean & Sweet Potato Veggie Burgers. Spiced sweet potatoes and cannellini beans comprise the patties, which are coated in toasted panko breadcrumbs to add a satisfying crunch to each bite. You’ll top each with slices of Havarti cheese, quick pickled onions, spring greens and snap peas, plus a drizzle of tangy Primal Kitchen Avocado Lime Sauce. (If you can’t find it at your grocery store, whisk together a few tablespoons mayonnaise, ¼ ripe avocado, 1 tablespoon lime juice, and a pinch of salt. Adjust ingredients until pourable.)

Perhaps best of all? The patties can be made entirely ahead and frozen up to 1 month in advance. Double or triple the batch to serve 8 to 12, and all you have to do is set out toppings.

Ideas for the rest of your burger party menu: Grilled Sour Cream & Onion Potato Salad as a side, and Peanut Butter Swirl Skillet Brownies a La Mode for dessert.

3. KOREAN FEAST DINNER PARTY

Spice lovers will delight in a dinner party featuring Joanne Molinaro’s Tteokbokki Mafaldine, which combines tteok (Korean rice cakes) with ruffled noodles in a spicy veggie sauce. (Pro tip: Check with guests that they’re good with heat before settling on this dish, which can burn strong.) Want to go with something that has more customizable heat? We love Maangchi’s recipe for vegetable-centric bibimbap. Or double down on the heat and get your Hybrid Double Burner Griddle going with a side of kimchi fried rice. (We love this recipe from Serious Eats).

Ideas for the rest of your Korean Feast menu: start with a vegetarian gujeolpan (a nine-part assortment of foods) and hotteok. (Snag the recipe for these sweet filled pancakes from Maangchi).

4. SUMMER VEGETABLE CELEBRATION

If you think that protein-and-two-starches has reigned over dinner for too long, perhaps you’d like to throw a vegetable celebration that features side dishes. Worried guests will hem and haw about the lack of true main? Offer grilled tofu or bean salad to help round things out or a cheeseboard crowded with nuts, olives, dried fruits and dips. Piling veggies on toast can make things feel like dinner, too. Once the gorgeous spread full of colors and flavors is out, few folks are likely to complain. This is a great dinner party to throw during peak summer, when the bounty of different vegetables is at its finest.