Entertaining Dinner Party Ideas 18 Fancy Dinners Ready in 30 Minutes These easy and fancy dinner recipes are ready in just half an hour. By Vicky McDonald Vicky McDonald Vicky McDonald is a Seattle-based editor with over 15 years of experience in the media industry. She currently works as an editor for ParentMap.com. Prior to that, she was a senior content manager at Allrecipes. She loves baking, developing new recipes, and growing vegetables. Allrecipes' editorial guidelines Updated on May 15, 2024 Close Whether it's an anniversary, a special birthday, a first date, or Valentine's Day, there'll come a time when you want to spoil someone with a fancy homemade dinner. When the time does come, however, you might find yourself short on time and need to make something fancy and quick. Never fear, we're here to help save that special occasion. Here are quick-and-easy recipes that will make someone feel special—and make you look like a top chef. 01 of 19 Sesame Grilled Salmon Nicolette Salmon is a great quick option for dinner, and this Asian-style marinade makes it taste delicious without a lot of work. This dish is perfect served with some simple noodles or rice. View Recipe Save 02 of 19 Bourbon Pecan Chicken chibi chef This dish looks and sounds like it comes from a fancy restaurant, but in a mere 30 minutes, it could be ready in your kitchen with some mashed potatoes on the side. Yum! View Recipe Save 03 of 19 Filet Mignon with Rich Balsamic Glaze Ani Make this tender steak and red wine glaze in just 20 minutes, giving you more time to enjoy dinner with that special someone. Serve with some seasonal vegetables and potatoes. View Recipe Save 04 of 19 Grilled Cod with Spinach and Tomatoes KGora This cod fillet with tomatoes, spinach, and balsamic vinegar is simple and sumptuous. Serve with a fresh green salad and bread. View Recipe Save 05 of 19 Chicken Breasts in Caper Cream Sauce Allrecipes Magazine Serve this creamy chicken and caper dish with some mashed potatoes to soak up all that tasty sauce. View Recipe Save 06 of 19 Quick and Easy Chicken Piquant Buckwheat Queen This chicken dish is deliciously sweet, salty, tangy, and spicy all at once. Serve with some plain white rice. View Recipe Save 07 of 19 Patti's Mussels a la Mariniere iCrayon Mussels cooked in wine are so tasty, yet take just minutes to whip up. Serve with some crusty white bread and a chilled glass of white wine. View Recipe Save 08 of 19 Chicken Breasts with Balsamic Vinegar and Garlic chibi chef Upgrade your regular pasta dinner with this garlicky, balsamic chicken. Serve with a glass of gutsy red wine. View Recipe Save 09 of 19 Tomato Basil Salmon This tomato basil salmon is as simple as it gets but looks super posh. Serve on a bed of pasta. View Recipe Save 10 of 19 Awesome Baked Sea Scallops Awesome Baked Sea Scallops. Allrecipes "This recipe is awesome. I made this to the directions for my wife's 40th birthday party. The only problem is the guests wanted more!" — HOLLYROY View Recipe Save 11 of 19 To Die For Fettuccine Alfredo cwcs There's no time like a special occasion to indulge in cheesy, buttery fettuccine alfredo. View Recipe Save 12 of 19 Alaska Salmon Bake with Pecan Crunch Coating chibi chef "Easy, very classy, and delicious! I make it all the time. I keep a container of the pecan topping in my freezer. All I do is spoon on the mustard and sprinkle on the ready-made topping and bake." — RENEERN View Recipe Save 13 of 19 Chicken Marsala A classic, crowd-pleasing dish like Chicken Marsala (which averages almost five stars) would be fit for a large gathering or a dinner for two alike. View Recipe Save 14 of 19 Heavenly Halibut Nigel Tufnel "This is by far one of the best recipes on this site. This is beyond restaurant quality. Every time I make this everyone has to have the recipe," John OBrien says. View Recipe Save 15 of 19 Chef John's Steak Diane Chef John's Steak Diane. Chef John Ready in 30 minutes. Seared steaks cook with shallots and a splash of cognac to deglaze. Dijon, Worcestershire, tomato paste, cayenne, and cream complete the scene. "Steak Diane was a staple on menus in fine dining establishments back in the day," says Chef John. "Prepared tableside where the server ignited the cognac, it was an impressive sight. You don't need to flame the cognac; just keeping it on the heat will eventually evaporate the alcohol." View Recipe Save 16 of 19 Savory Sea Scallops and Angel Hair Pasta Allrecipes Ease meets elegance. Tender sea scallops are seared and served over angel hair pasta with a super quick sauce of lemon juice, butter, parsley, and fresh basil. Add cream or Parmesan cheese if you like. "Scrumptious!" raves margordon. "Both my love and I thoroughly enjoyed this dish. Made last night and he raved about it. Very easy to make. View Recipe Save 17 of 19 Crab-Stuffed Lobster Tail Crab-Stuffed Lobster Tail. wickedcharm Lobster tails are treated to a New England-style cracker and crabmeat stuffing. "Serve with fresh lemon wedges and homemade dinner rolls for an exquisite but surprisingly simple meal," says Lotus. View Recipe Save 18 of 19 Sesame Seared Tuna Lana R. "This recipe is amazing. I've made it twice now and both times it has been perfect," writes KDMEWS. "I made it for a friend the second time, and he commented that it was better than anything he ever had in a restaurant." View Recipe Save 19 of 19 More Inspiration Allrecipes Magazine 15 Fancy Potato Recipes to Serve With Dinner 50 Fancy Desserts That You Can Make at Home 12 ‘Fancy’ Comfort Food Recipes Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit