One of my favorite parts of college is inviting my friends over to my apartment and hosting dinner parties. I curate the perfect playlists for background music, set out card games, and send out funny, “partiful” invites.
But let’s be real for a minute. While all that extra stuff is cute, the food is the most important part of a successful dinner party. As college students, ramen and scrambled eggs are a staple of the average diet, so you don’t need to make anything too crazy to impress your friends. These are three of my all-time favorite dinner recipes that will wow the girls and won’t break the bank:
- Spaghetti Squash Pasta
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This recipe is my go-to when I have friends over for dinner. At this point, my friends literally beg me to make this dish when I’m cooking, and you’ll understand why when you taste it. With only six ingredients — two of which are salt and pepper — this spaghetti squash pasta is so easy to make. You can follow a TikTok video for specific measurements and ingredients, but I have some tips and tricks to make it even better.
Spaghetti squash is healthy and versatile, but cutting it can be…difficult. To combat this, I usually put the spaghetti squash in the microwave for a few minutes to soften the skin and make it easier to cut in half before I cook it.
It’s advised to cook the filled spaghetti squash for an hour, but some recommend keeping it in for up to an hour and a half to make the squash softer. After trying it with both cooking times, I definitely think it’s better if you cook it for longer, but it depends on whether you want your spaghetti squash to be crunchy or creamy.
- Spicy Calabrian Chili Pepper Pasta
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Spice lovers, this one’s for you! This recipe is made solely with Trader Joe’s products, but feel free to use ingredients from whatever your grocery store of choice is. However, the Italian Bomba Hot Pepper Sauce from Trader Joe’s is essential to this pasta (hence, the “Mouth on Fire” tag on the recipe).
I usually add extra garlic, pepper, and oregano to make the pasta extra flavorful, so don’t be afraid to use extra spices if you want to. You can add ground sausage or chicken to the dish to elevate it and serve it with crusty bread to make this simple pasta meal feel fancy.
- One-Pan Chicken Sausage and Orzo
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If you’re anything like me, your least favorite part of cooking a nice meal is the tedious cleanup. Luckily, nothing is easier to make or clean up than this one-pan meal. This meal is so hearty and perfect for a cozy, cold night with the girls.
All you have to do is chop up some vegetables and sausage, put everything into a pan, stir occasionally, and voilà! I feel like I always have extra peppers and onions in my fridge, so this recipe is perfect to get rid of those extra veggies while making something that tastes absolutely delicious!
There’s nothing better than spending time with your friends and eating good food. I hope you try some of these recipes out with your girls, so get cooking and happy hosting!
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