Indian Dinner Party Ideas (Sample Menus + Recipes)

Step 1 – Finalize the party theme

Throwing a party starts with finalizing the guest list. Before you send out the invites, determine if it is going to be a potluck or not. If it is going to be a potluck, you definitely need a theme to make sure the dishes that your guests bring pair well with each other.

Even if it is not a potluck, having a theme will help you create a cohesive menu.

Examples of themed parties include: 

• Indian street food 
• Backyard Barbeque
• Vegetarian Only 
• North Indian
• South Indian 
• Brunch 
• Festival-themed – Holi, Diwali, etc. 
• Holiday parties – Christmas, Thanksgiving, etc.

Looking to try something new to make this Thanksgiving? Check out this Thanksgiving menu: it is an interesting mix of South – Asian Inspired dishes as well as some classics for your dinner this year.

What to include in the menu

When hosting an Indian dinner party, it is customary to serve three courses. The first course usually consists of appetizers and drinks. The second course, or main course, includes a variety of dishes such as rice or biryani, curries, sides, flatbreads, and a cooling yogurt dish (raita). And the last course is, of course, dessert.

To come up with a menu, you need to decide the number of items to include by course.

Planning a potluck menu

If you are going the potluck route, I have a few tips to share:

• Plan a theme and share it with your guests. 
• Create a group chat via text or WhatsApp for easy coordination so that everyone knows what each person is bringing.
• Give suggestions but let people pick what they want to bring :). Here’s where having a theme helps. 
• As a host, plan on preparing (or buying from the store) one item from each course. In case a guest bails out due to sickness or any other reason, you’ll still have enough dishes to make a complete meal. Dishes that other guests can bring:
  • Appetizers
  • Side dish
  • Rice dish – biryani or jeera rice
  • Dessert
• Don’t forget to thank the guests for coming and getting a dish!

Popular dishes at an Indian dinner party

If your guests are having homemade Indian food for the first time, including popular Indian restaurant dishes on your menu will be a good idea. Here are a few that I would recommend:

Make sure you serve the main course with Basmati rice.

Tandoori chicken

Punjabi samosa

Garlic, Butter, Plain naan

Chicken tikka masala

Chana masala

Gulab jamun

These are just a few examples; you’ll find more ideas in the recipe ideas by course section below.

1 week before the party 

• Make a shopping list. Don’t forget to check the refrigerator/pantry for ingredients you may already have.
• Make room in your refrigerator to store store-bought frozen food and produce.
• Buy your basic produce (onion, tomatoes, ginger, garlic, spices, pulses, rice, paneer) and frozen appetizers/naan.
• Prep ahead by making masalas. Make ginger-garlic paste, onion-tomato masala, and/or tikka masala. Store it in the freezer.

1-2 days before the party

• Review your menu and create a shopping list. Shop for chicken, seafood, vegetables, bakery items, and drinks. Buy ice (if needed) for your drinks.
• Buy fresh flowers (optional).
• Chop all the veggies and store them in the refrigerator. 
• Soak chickpeas/beans in water.
• Marinate the meat and refrigerate it.
• Thaw pre-made masalas in the fridge.
• Make raitas, chutneys, drinks, and desserts and put them in the refrigerator.
• Make protein-based (chickpeas/kidney beans/ chicken curries) dishes a day in advance and refrigerate them. The longer the meat or legumes stay in the sauce, the more flavor and richness they acquire.
• Refrigerate the store-bought drinks and bottled water.
• Clean and decorate the house.
• Set the table – get the plates, glasses, serving spoons, and silverware ready. 

The day of the party

• In the morning
  • Cook the remaining food except for rice.
  • Transfer the food to an oven-proof serving dish. 
  • Put the frozen appetizers (including naan) in the refrigerator to thaw.
  • Take care of any dishes in the sink.
• Two hours before the party
  • Add the tempering to all the dishes that require it.
  • Chop the herbs for the garnish.
  • Cook the frozen appetizers – bake/air-fry/microwave. 
  • Pan-fry or bake the naan. 
  • Put the finished dishes /appetizers in the oven with the ‘Keep warm’ function on, or set it at the lowest temperature your oven allows.  
  • Keep rice in your Instant Pot and set a timer for 30 minutes before you are planning to serve dinner. 
  • Clean up the kitchen and get the dishes done. 
  • Empty the trash. 
• One hour before the party
  • Relax and change into party wear 🙂
• Right before the guests arrive
  • Set the appetizers and welcome drinks in the designated area.
• Before serving 
  • Use a microwave to heat as needed.
  • Don’t forget to garnish your dishes with herbs.

Step 5 – Serve and enjoy

If you have followed all the steps above, then you are all set for the party. All you need to do is:

• Serve the guests a welcome drink a few minutes after they arrive. Set the appetizers out for them to munch on as they settle down.
• Lay out the main course an hour or so after serving the appetizers.
• Set out the desserts as the guests finish up the main course.

Indian dinner party tips

• Planning ahead is crucial to avoid any last-minute scrambling.
• Use tried and tested recipes – Never cook a dish that you have never made before. Trying to salvage failed recipes at the last minute can be stressful and time-consuming.
• Set up designated areas for food and drinks and serve them buffet-style. This way, the guests can help themselves, and you are free to enjoy the party. Also, it makes managing and replenishing food much easier.
• Take help – Enlist your family members (including your kids) to help decorate, chop veggies, and take care of the dishes/trash. If your guests are offering to help, allow them to assist in warming the dishes, cleaning up afterward, etc.
• Hire a server – For larger gatherings, hire help to serve, replenish drinks, and clean up empty bottles/drink cups lying around.
• Reduce food waste – Keep a stack of to-go containers or zip-lock bags ready so that your guests can take the leftovers home.

Enjoy your party! Do you have some tips or tricks to share? Please leave them in the comment section below, and I’ll update my post to include those.

Recipe ideas to craft your own menu

Are you ready to get started on creating your menu? I’ve organized the recipes by course for you to pick from. If you would rather look at the sample menus that I’ve put together for you, click here – sample menus for Indian parties.

Drinks recipes (Pick 1 or 2)

The easiest choice is alcohol, soda, or sparkling water for adults and juice for kids. But if you are looking to make it interesting, here are a few options: 

• Mango lassi
• Mango milkshake 
• Lemonade (perfect for summer and BBQ parties)
• Homemade pineapple juice
• Sweet lassi 
• Ginger tea or Masala chai (preferably post-lunch or brunch)
• Beer/wine. Read this: Indian food and beer pairings. Also, read what wine goes with Indian food.
• Thandai (during Holi)

Recommendation: I often go with Mango lassi or Mango milkshake. They are super easy to make with store-bought pulp. You can’t go wrong – most people I know love it!

Appetizers (Pick 2 or 3)

If you are calling folks over for brunch or lunch, skip the appetizers unless it is a late lunch. I often rely on store-bought appetizers that I buy from either Costco or Indian stores. 

Vegetarian

• Baby corn Manchurian
• Bread roll
• Corn bhel
• Chili Paneer
• Instant Pot Dudhi Muthia
• Instant Pot Khaman
• Mysore Bonda
• Onion Pakoda
• Air Fryer roasted chickpeas
• Paneer Tikka
• Rava Dhokla
• Samosa
• Veg cutlet

Non-vegetarian

• Chicken Tikka
• Chicken seekh kabab
• Chicken 65
• Tandoori chicken
• Tandoori Salmon
• Tandoori fish tikka

Store-bought appetizers

These are best bought in-store rather than online. The links are provided so that you know which one to get. 

Indian store appetizers

• Deep cocktail samosas (air fry them at 400 degrees F for 8 minutes)
• Deep kachoris (air fry them at 400 degrees F for 8-10 minutes)
• Patra / Alu vadi

Costco appetizers

The appetizers from Costco are not Indian, but they are convenient, and sometimes it is fun to mix it up. 

• Spanakopita 
• White meat chicken Taquitos 
• Mini quiche 
• Chicken potstickers
• Mozzarella sticks
• Spring rolls
• Hummus with pita chips
• Spinach and Artichoke dip with chips
• Chips and Salsa (their Mango salsa is really good!)
• Rojo’s 6-layer dips

Accompaniments

Chutneys are a must with most Indian appetizers. Coriander and tamarind chutney are popular choices. And for your main course, be sure to have some raita on hand to help soothe your guests’ taste buds after enjoying a flavorful and spicy Indian meal.

Chutneys for appetizers (Pick 1 or 2)

• Cilantro chutney
• Cilantro mint chutney 
• Tamarind chutney

Chutneys to serve with a South Indian meal

• Coconut chutney
• Red chili coconut chutney
• Peanut chutney

Click for more: Here’s a list of 10+ Indian chutney recipes for you to choose from. 

Raitas (pick 1)

• Grated cucumber raita
• Boondi raita
• Onion raita
• Cucumber- tomato raita 
• Mango raita (don’t serve this if you are already making Mango lassi or Mango milkshake)

For more ideas: Here’s a list of 10+ raita recipes for you to choose from. 

Rice dishes (Pick 1-2)

Even if you are serving biryani, it is a good idea to make a small batch of plain rice for those who like to enjoy their curries with rice. Kids often prefer plain rice over seasoned rice as well.

• Basmati rice or Jeera rice
• Ghee rice
• Chicken biryani
• Shrimp biryani
• Vegetarian Biryani
• Egg Biryani

For more rice dish ideas, check out this collection of exciting Indian rice recipes that you can make in your Instant Pot.

Flatbreads (Pick 1)

Having flatbreads is a must if you are serving any North-Indian curries, such as paneer butter masala, dal makhani, or any chicken curry. Though rotis and parathas are most commonly served during everyday meals, buying store-bought naans might be a better bet when feeding a crowd.

• Plain naan or garlic naan. You can get these from Indian stores (recommend the Haldiram brand). They are also available at Costco and Trader Joe’s.
• Homemade rotis
• Plain parathas

For more varieties of Indian flatbreads, check out this post – 10+ Indian flatbread recipes.

Curries (Pick 3-5)

Lentils-based curries (Pick 1)

• Tadka dal
• Dal fry
• Rasam
• Sambar

Pulses (Pick 1)

• Dal makhani
• Chana masala
• Rajma
• Kaale channe ki kadhi

Vegetarian side dishes/curries (Pick 1-2)

• Paneer Makhani
• Matar Paneer
• Palak Paneer
• Aloo gobi
• Aloo matar
• Simple potato sabzi

Chicken & Seafood curries/side dish (Pick 1)

• Chicken ghee roast
• Simple chicken curry
• Chicken tikka masala
• Butter chicken
• Chicken Chettinad
• Tandoori chicken
• Chicken Vindaloo
• Shrimp curry
• Prawns Balchao
• Salmon tikka masala

Dessert (Pick 2)

Typically, two desserts are enough for an Indian dinner party unless it’s a Diwali celebration. On this occasion, many people greet their guests with a tray of sweets and snacks, including barfis, laddoos, and other savory treats. If you need ideas, take a look at this post with over 15 easy Diwali sweets and snacks.

Homemade

• Rice kheer
• Sev kheer
• Fruit custard
• Gulab jamun
• Carrot or gajar halwa
• 15-minute Tiramisu
• Fig and walnut halwa
• Chocolate coconut balls

Storebought

• Brownies
• Cookies
• Cheesecake from Costco
• Cake
• Ice cream

Looking for more dessert ideas? Check out this post on 45+ Indian sweets and desserts.

Sample Indian menus

Here are some sample menus for the most popular themes – North Indian, Indian Street Food, South Indian, vegetarian dinner, lunch, and brunch. If you need more ideas, drop a comment below, and I will be happy to help.

North Indian menu

• Drinks: Mango lassi
• Appetizer: Paneer Tikka, Instant Pot Khaman, and Chicken 65
• Rice dish: Jeera rice
• Raita: Boondi raita
• Main course: Naan, Dal fry, Channa masala, Aloo gobi, and Chicken tikka masala
• Dessert: Carrot halwa and store-bought ice-cream sandwiches or bars for kids

If you are serving dry Paneer tikka as an appetizer, don’t make Paneer tikka masala for the main course. The same rule applies to chicken tikka and chicken tikka masala.

South Indian menu

• Drinks: Mango milkshake 
• Appetizer: Idli + coconut chutney and Mysore Bonda
• Rice dish: Plain rice, lemon rice
• Raita: cucumber tomato raita
• Main course: Sambar, beans poriyal, chicken Chettinad, cabbage palya
• Dessert: rice kheer and brownies for kids

Vegetarian dinner menu

• Drinks: Mango lassi
• Appetizer: Onion pakoras, corn bhel
• Rice dish: Veg biryani and plain rice
• Raita: Cucumber raita
• Main course: Naan, Dal makhani, kadhai paneer, bhindi masala
• Dessert: Carrot halwa and store-bought ice-cream sandwiches or bars for kids

Indian street food party menu

• Drinks – Lemonade
• Appetizers – Veg grilled sandwich (cut bite-sized), bhel puri, and samosas
• Accompaniments: Cilantro chutney and Tamarind chutney
• Main course – Pav bhaji and Paneer kathi rolls
• Dessert – Dahi vada, Kulfi, and/or store-bought ice-cream sandwiches or bars for kids

Brunch ideas

Skip the appetizers and keep it simple.

• Menu idea 1 – Poori, shrikhand, and aloo sabzi with Mango lassi.  Dessert – Gulab jamun
• Menu idea 2 – Aloo paratha or Paneer paratha with sweet lassi and cucumber raita. Dessert – rice kheer.