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35 Summer Dinner Party Ideas for People Who Don't Cook

Guilty of using your oven for storage and aren't even sure you own a spatula? No sweat! We’ve got you covered on everything from appetizers and cocktails to main dishes and desserts.

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Limited Kitchen Experience? No Problem!

With our newbie-friendly, party-tested slew of menu ideas, there’s nothing standing between you and an utterly epic summer dinner party. Ready to dive in? We’ve rounded up mix-and-match offerings that you can whip up in no time at all.

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Photo: Heather Baird SprinkleBakes.com. From: Heather Baird.

Seasonal Cheese Board

The simplest way to serve spectacular food is to start at farmers markets, where the ripest and most gorgeous as-is offerings are presented party-ready (after a bit of chopping and creative arrangement). For even more inspiration, ask vendors for their favorite ways to present their cheeses and produce.

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Prosciutto-Wrapped Breadsticks

This one couldn't be any easier — simply wrap thinly sliced prosciutto around crispy bread sticks for an appetizer option. Pair it with a cheese plate, crackers and olives.

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Photo: Heather Baird; Styling by H. Camille Smith. From: H. Camille Smith.

Mocktail- and Cocktail-Ready Shrub

If berries you bought with the best of intentions earlier in the week are tipping into overripeness, don’t banish them just yet: You can mash them with sugar and vinegar to whip up a tangy, fruity shrub that’ll yield unforgettable craft cocktails. Better yet, it comes together overnight, so you can throw this old-fashioned beauty together and go to bed knowing you’ve already nailed part of party prep.

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