How to Impress Dinner Guests — When You Can’t Cook
Inside: How to impress dinner guests…even if you’re not the world’s greatest chef!
People often tell me that I’m lucky I married a man who can cook.
My response?
It wasn’t luck! The first time my husband-to-be prepared me a home-cooked meal, I knew he was the one and I couldn’t let him get away! Otherwise I’d still be living on frozen chicken breasts and broccoli like I did in my college days…
How to Impress Dinner Guests at the Holidays…When you Can’t Cook!
Though I mostly stay out of his way while he works his magic in the kitchen, I have learned a few tricks from watching my husband. Today I’m sharing tips on how to prepare a gourmet meal that will wow your holiday guests…even if you’re culinarily-challenged like me!
Find products to make your job easier
Save-A-Lot stores recently debuted America’s Choice Creations®, a top-quality line of easy-to-make foods from salmon to burgers to brownies. So they’ve got you covered from starters to dessert!
Honey Bourbon Salmon filets are the perfect go-to dish that is sure to impress even the most discerning palate. They’re pre-seasoned so you know that the flavors are on-point.
Seafood can be intimidating for an amateur chef, but my husband developed a foolproof method for cooking perfect salmon — every single time. Seriously, I’ve tried it and it works! (And if I can do it, anyone can).
Start the night with the perfect bites!
Giving your guests something to nibble on as soon as they walk in the door automatically puts you in their good graces! Who doesn’t love appetizers ready and waiting when they arrive?
Toss some Cheddar & Caramel Gourmet Popcorn in your favorite party bowl for an awesome appetizer that’s ready in seconds. It doesn’t get any easier than that!
Break out the fine china!
It’s ok to take a few shortcuts in your dinner prep — like easy-peasy heat and serve Bacon Macaroni and Cheese from America’s Choice Creations. (Find it in the freezer section at Save-A-Lot).
If you present the finished dish in your own gorgeous serving ware, no one will ever be the wiser! Let them think that you’ve been over the stove all day crafting the perfect cheese sauce — this decadent Bacon Mac & Cheese will sure taste like you did!
Grab a garnish!
You’d be surprised how a little dash of green takes any dish from “blah” to brilliant! All you have to do is chop a little parsley, cilantro, green onion, or whatever you have on hand and sprinkle artfully on top or around the plate.
Double up on dessert!
If I’ve learned anything from my husband, it is that you always feed your guests dessert. Two desserts actually! Whenever we have company, my husband almost always makes two sweet treats — talk about wow factor! Not only will your guests not expect such a fabulous finish to the meal, but two options will allow you to please just about everyone.
With America’s Choice Creations, dessert is easy and affordable — you could even serve three! Peanut Butter Fudge Trifle Brownie (the name alone sold me!), Pecan Caramel Brownie Cookies, and the forever classic Chocolate Chip Cookies will have your guests talking long after the night is over!
Enter to win a Save-A-Lot Gift Card for Your Holiday Shopping!
Enter to win a $25 Save-A-Lot gift card with the easy entry giveaway below! Also, be sure to check out our second $25 gift card giveaway on Instagram!
Simply comment with the America’s Choice Creation(s) that you’d most love to try and how you’d use them in your holiday spread…and you’re entered! (There are also bonus entries to earn more chances)!
Giveaway closed – thank you to all who entered!
CLICK HERE to Find the Save-A-Lot Location nearest you and start saving today!
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Save-A-Lot. The opinions and text are all mine.
- Pineapple Pork Chops - April 25, 2025
- 50 Ways To Celebrate Earth Day With Kids - April 18, 2025
- Chocolate Coconut Energy Balls - April 16, 2025
I would use the cheesecake with assorted fruit toppings.
I would like to try tha salmon and i would serve it as an appetizer
I would have cheesecake with chocolate and bananas.
I would use chocolate and bananas in a cheesecake.
Peanut butter fudge trifle brownie sounds amazing.
Totally the cheesecake! Family loves it!
I am most interested in trying their bacon and cheese macaroni.
With a hungry toddler at home….I’d DEFINITELY go for the pizza!!!
I would like to try the New York Style cheesecake and serve it for dessert
The Bacon Mac and Cheese looks really good
You do have an awesome teacher! Great post!
Thanks Amanda!! 😉
I would get the cheesecake for sure. everyone loves it.
Yum, salmon is a good option. I like making desserts cause it’s so much easier for me, lol. Or trying an easy Crock-Pot meal so I can do all the work well ahead of time and focus during the holiday visits.
I’d use the cheesecake and have a cheesecake bar at my holiday party guests can dress up their cheesecake with any toppings they please!
I would love to try the salmon and use it as an appetizer!
Definitely the cheesecake!!!
I would use the cheese cake with various fruit toppings
I’d like to make the Honey Bourbon Salmon as the main dish.
Thanks for the contest.
slehan at juno dot com
subscribe email: slehan at excite dot com
I would definitely try the cheesecake, everybody likes cheesecake
The cheesecake with chocolate.
the honey bourbon salmon because here in the pnw its sort of a requirement to have a salmon recipee!
Definitely the bacon macaroni and cheese! By far my favoritest meal ever!! 🙂
I would most like to try the New York Style Cheesecake. I would use it for a holiday dessert, and maybe for a late-night snack for the host.
I would try the cheesecake and put different toppings or berries on top!
New York Cheesecake, yum! I would serve it with different toppings.
New York Style Cheesecake – I would dip each slice in chocolate and decorate them as Christmas trees.
I think I would like to try the Peanut Butter Fudge Trifle Brownie. I would use it for dessert at my family Christmas party. I would serve it with ice cream. Delicious! The New York Cheesecake looks great! I would eat that all myself during November. kristiedonelson(at)gmail(dot)com Thank you.
I’d love to try the crab cakes. I love them in general and they’d make a cool, unconventional additional to my holiday spread!
I’m actually vegan so I would use the gc to buy healthy ingredients to make my own meals 🙂 I actually love to cook!
I would love to try the cheesecake and serve it for Christmas Eve dessert!
I love your blog, and I will definitely be trying the salmon as a main course. It sounds amazing!
Aww thanks Sonya! 🙂
I would get the Lasagna! It looks like it would be a great family meal when I’m exhausted from guests and decorating, but want something that impresses our family! I could add tomato cheese bread and be proud of the meal!
I would be getting some granny smith apples to make homemade applesauce which we always have for holiday meals. Plus granny smiths are my favorite kind of apples.
i want to use the bacon macaroni and cheese for christmas eve dinner!!
Cheescake for sure!
Peanut butter fudge trifle brownie sounds good
I would serve the Pecan Caramel Brownie Cookies.
I have been wanting to try the Bacon Mac and cheese.
The Bacon Macaroni and Cheese looks good. I would serve it to my family.
I would love to try the bacon macaroni and cheese. I would add a bag of peas in to help the kids get some veggies in their system!
I’d love to try the Pecan Caramel Brownie Cookies and I’d just lay them out as a snack!
I would love to try the peanut butter truffle brownie it just looks so delicious!
I would have cheesecake with bananas and chocolate.
I think it would be the cheesecake. Yum!
I will have the cheesecake and fruit for dessert.
I would get the cheesecake! I love cheesecake!
I’d serve the cheesecake with toppings on the side. It would make a great dessert for our holiday meals.
The new york cheesecake looks wonerful! I’d “dress it up” with fresh berries to serve yo my holiday guests!
I’d love to try the PEANUT BUTTER FUDGE TRUFFLE BROWNIE! I’m always in charge of desserts, so this would be perfect!
The Cheddar & Caramel Gourmet Popcorn would be great for filling bowls of munchies while dinner is getting ready. I would also love the Mac and Cheese with bacon as an easy side—who doesn’t love mac and cheese?
I wouldn’t mind that cheesecake! 🙂
Cheesecake! I love cheesecake!
I’d love to try the TEN LAYER 3 MEAT LASAGNA! We have guests coming into town for the week of Thanksgiving. This would be nice to serve them the day or two before the holiday!
I would love to try the New York style cheesecake for dessert.
I’d love to add the New York Style Cheesecake to our holiday menu! Maybe add pumpkin spice flavored whipped cream on top?
I have always wanted to try to make a NY style cheese cake so I would probably go with that!
I would love any kind of cheesecake!!
I would try the bacon mac & cheese as a side dish.
I would use the Peanut Butter Brownie Dessert for parties because we’ve tried it and absolutely love it!
I would use the brownie and sprinkle crushed graham cracker on it
I’d use their Crab Cakes for holiday appetizers.
I love the Pepperoni Pizza the most. I know my whole family loves it!
I love cookies, and the Pecan Caramel Brownie Cookies sound really good.
That cheesecake of theirs sounds wonderful and would be perfect for our family gatherings this year.
I would love the cheesecake for sure
I’d love the America’s Choice Crabcakes….actually I am torn between those and the cheesecake.
I would choose cheesecake!!! my family bleeds cheesecake lol!
i would use the honey burbon salomon as main dish and pour pineapple juice on it and have fruit as a side along with their brownies for dessert! It all looks so good
I would choose the cheecake and make topping for it
I would love to try the cheese and bacon macaroni…
I would love to try the America’s Choice brownies. I always make a tray of brownies bites and cookies for holiday get togethers.
I would use the Chocolate Chip Cookies – I would dip them in milk and layer them with whipped cream. Then I would put it in the fridge and serve it for dessert
I would get the Lasagna! It’s one of our favorite meals to go to during the winter months!
The salmon looks lovely!
i would bring the bacon mac and cheese to my holiday dinner with Mom and Dad, sounds yummy!
Bacon and cheddar beef patties.