Surprise! Your in-laws just dropped by for an unexpected visit. Your first instinct is probably to run to the fridge and look for some food to put out, but the bag of baby carrots and the stale cookies in your pantry just won’t cut it. But have no fear — you don’t have to let your mother-in-law silently judge you for 30 minutes while you wait for the pizza delivery. With just a little bit of forethought, it’s easy to impress unexpected guests with a simple last-minute appetizer or meal.
The first step in having something to throw together is planning ahead. That may seem easier said than done with the madness of the holiday rush, but it really only takes five minutes to assess what you have, make a list of essentials and then grab them the next time you're at the grocery store. Here are some simple tips to make sure you’re well prepared for spontaneous festivities:
- Take an inventory: Spend a few minutes looking through your pantry, fridge and freezer, to get a sense of what you're working with to whip up a last-minute dish. While doing so, break out your phone — or pen and paper, if you’re old school — and write down the ingredients you have on hand that could work. (If you’re not sure what works as a good base for a dish, check out the expert recommendations below before taking inventory.)
- Stock up the pantry: If your inventory is looking a bit bare, add some items to your shopping list. Think about different courses, like appetizers, mains, drinks and desserts. Items like canned beans, jarred olives, artichokes and peppers, crackers, Chex mix, dry pasta, jarred sauce, seltzer and even baking mixes are lifesavers. Pro tip: order non-perishable items online from big box stores to save yourself a trip to the store. Shipping is usually free!
- Buy some frozen essentials: Having a well-stocked pantry will probably suffice, but it never hurts to keep some goodies in the freezer as well. If you’re cooking dinner one night and find yourself with some leftover chopped veggies, freeze them! Other helpful freezer staples are edamame, frozen brown rice or frozen appetizer bites.
Now that you’re well prepared, it’s time to pull from your storage and create a killer dish in a flash. We tapped some registered dietitians for their go-to bites when last-minute guests stop by.
Hummus
Break out your food processor and impress you guests with a homemade hummus on the fly. “Hummus requires ingredients I almost always have, but it's also easily customizable,” says Chef Julie Andrews, MS, RDN, CD. “I use canned chickpeas or another bean, olive oil, garlic, tahini (you can skip if you don't have any), lemon, salt and pepper and serve it with crackers, pita or veggies,” she adds. If you don’t have these items in your pantry, now is the time to add them to your list.
Pasta Bolognese
A pasta dinner is only minutes away, if you’ve got the right ingredients. “A super quick crowd-pleasing meal only requires ground turkey, a jar of marinara sauce and a box of pasta,” says Lauren Harris-Pincus, MS, RDN, author of “The Protein-Packed Breakfast Club” and founder of NutritionStarringYOU.com. Just brown the meat in a skillet, cook the pasta and then combine the two in a bowl with jarred sauce. “It feeds about six people in under 20 minutes,” says Harris-Pincus.
No-Bake Chocolate Almond Bites
If you’ve got a food processor, chocolate chips, dates and nuts, you’ve got a quick no-bake dessert. If you’re out of almonds, try walnuts or pecans. Don’t have chocolate chips? Use white chocolate or a candy bar you’ve got stashed in the drawer. This recipe is completely customizable based on the ingredients you have on hand.
White Bean Romesco Dip
Romesco dip sounds and tastes more elegant than it actually is. “It's basically almonds (or any nuts you have on hand), roasted red peppers, olive oil, garlic, parsley, salt and pepper all zipped up in a food processor or blender,” says chef and Registered Dietitian Abbie Gellman, MS, RD. “For added plant-based protein to fill up your guests, include some white beans in the mix,” says Gellman.
Frittata
Guests show up at the most unexpected times. For breakfast or brunch guests, a simple frittata will hit the spot. Jessica Levinson, MS, RDN, CDN, New York-based culinary nutrition expert and author of 52-Week Meal Planner, suggests utilizing a fridge staple to whip up a baked egg dish. You can sub in any frozen veggies you may have to make this simple crowd-pleaser. Serve with salad greens, toasted bread slices and a pot of coffee (and pour yourself an extra cup).
Holiday Snack Mix
Making a holiday snack mix is as easy as raiding the pantry. “Grab a few crunchy things, one sweet thing and one salty thing,” says Sara Haas, RDN, LDN, culinary dietitian and author of Taco! Taco! Taco! and co-author Fertility Foods. “Toss it all together and serve in a festive bowl or dish — no cooking required,” Haas adds.
Freezer Flatbread
“I always keep some sort of flatbread in the freezer so I can pull it out and make a go-to pizza that everyone will enjoy,” says Elizabeth Shaw MS RDN CLT CPT, nutrition expert and owner of ShawSimpleSwaps.com. She suggests adding any sauce you find in the cupboard. “If you don’t have pizza sauce, you can use BBQ sauce or another condiment and top it with cheese, veggies or basically anything you can find in the fridge or pantry,” says Shaw.
Cheese Platter
“I always have at least one block of cheese in my fridge (I stock up when it’s on sale),” says Jenna Braddock, MSH, CSSD, RD Dietitian and food blogger at MakeHealthyEasy.com. “From there, I add whatever crackers or bread I have around, lay out any fresh fruit from my fridge, and finish it off with a dried fruit or nuts.” The best part of this is that you can customize the type of cheese, fruit and nuts to suit your taste (or based on what you’re able to scrounge up). And might we add this is the perfect time to break out that fancy serving dish your in-laws bought you that's been collecting dust in the cabinet?
Fruity Spritzer
While you're at it, kick your drink game up a notch, too. Wine is always a winner, but why not think outside of the bottle this year with a fruity spritzer? Just combine 3 ounces of your favorite wine with 1 ounce of seltzer and 1 ounce of 100% fruit juice, and garnish with fresh fruit slices, if you have them. Your guests will be impressed and feel special — like you were planning for their arrival all along.
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As a culinary expert and enthusiast with extensive experience in meal preparation and entertaining, I understand the importance of being able to impress unexpected guests with a last-minute appetizer or meal. My expertise stems from years of hands-on experience in the kitchen, experimenting with various ingredients, and staying updated on culinary trends. I've successfully tackled the challenge of creating delightful dishes on short notice, and I'm excited to share my knowledge with you.
Now, let's delve into the concepts and tips mentioned in the article to ensure you're well-prepared for spontaneous gatherings:
-
Inventory Check:
- Taking stock of your pantry, fridge, and freezer is crucial. It allows you to assess available ingredients and plan accordingly.
- Use your phone or pen and paper to create a list of ingredients you have on hand that could be used to whip up a last-minute dish.
-
Pantry Stocking:
- If your inventory is limited, consider adding essential items to your shopping list for various courses, including appetizers, mains, drinks, and desserts.
- Non-perishable items like canned beans, jarred olives, artichokes, crackers, Chex mix, dry pasta, jarred sauce, and baking mixes are suggested as lifesavers.
- Ordering non-perishable items online from big box stores can save time, and shipping is often free.
-
Frozen Essentials:
- Alongside a well-stocked pantry, having frozen essentials is recommended. Freeze leftover chopped veggies, and consider keeping items like edamame, frozen brown rice, or frozen appetizer bites.
-
Last-Minute Dish Ideas:
- Hummus: A quick and customizable dish using canned chickpeas or other beans, olive oil, garlic, tahini, lemon, salt, and pepper. Serve with crackers, pita, or veggies.
- Pasta Bolognese: A crowd-pleasing meal using ground turkey, marinara sauce, and pasta, ready in under 20 minutes.
- No-Bake Chocolate Almond Bites: A quick dessert made with chocolate chips, dates, nuts, and customizable based on available ingredients.
- White Bean Romesco Dip: An elegant dip made with almonds, roasted red peppers, olive oil, garlic, parsley, salt, pepper, and optional white beans for added protein.
- Frittata: A simple baked egg dish using frozen veggies for unexpected breakfast or brunch guests.
- Holiday Snack Mix: An easy mix of crunchy, sweet, and salty items from the pantry, served in a festive bowl.
- Freezer Flatbread: Keep flatbread in the freezer for a quick pizza using any available sauce, cheese, veggies, or condiments.
- Cheese Platter: Customize a cheese platter with a block of cheese, crackers, bread, fresh fruit, dried fruit, and nuts.
- Fruity Spritzer: Elevate your drink game with a wine-based spritzer combined with seltzer, fruit juice, and fresh fruit slices.
By following these tips and having a well-stocked kitchen, you'll be equipped to handle unexpected guests with ease and impress them with delicious last-minute dishes.
