9 Family-Style Sharing Platters That Make Summer Dinners Easy The secret to hosting a fun gathering is putting out one of these irresistible self-serve spreads. Close Credit: Christopher Testani If you're looking for a relaxed yet elevated way to entertain, family-style dining puts everybody at ease. The casualness of self-serve platters creates the perfect vibe: fun, warm, and with people at its heart. With a meal like this you can focus on flavors and colors without having to plate different courses—and fewer dishes to wash is always a bonus. Follow our recipes for inspiration, or find your own way to spin it. Just keep in mind that there should be a unifying theme, something familiar, so everyone can take what they want and choose their own adventure. In summer, when we want to keep the heat out of the kitchen, one main course dish can be the solution to creating a memorable gathering—and keeping your cool. 27 Big-Batch Cocktails Just Right for a Party 01 of 11 Grilled Vegetable Agrodolce Credit: Ryan Liebe A sophisticated antipasto platter can be so good that it becomes the main attraction, or you can follow it with a simple pasta or a large salad. Here, a flavorful marinade allows you to prepare seasonal vegetables ahead of time and focus on making a lovely array of sliced meats and cheeses just before guests arrive. View Recipe 02 of 11 Saffron Chicken Kebabs Golden, grilled pieces of chicken with sweet onions and tomatoes complete the best backyard atmosphere. Guests gather around a large serving tray, tear off a piece of flatbread, and assemble their own plate with fresh herbs and a spicy sauce. Feel free to serve with another sauce, like tahini or tzatziki, and substitute more vegetables for the chicken if your party leans vegetarian. View Recipe 03 of 11 Grilled Ratatouille Muffaletta Credit: Andrew Purcell A sandwich platter is a great way to feed a crowd—and even better when the sandwiches are packed full of flavor. These go beyond basic deli meats, starting with a savory grilled vegetable ratatouille. Spread the mixture on slices of rustic bread, then build a platter of hearty sandwiches alongside potato chips, a green salad, or fruit. View Recipe 04 of 11 Sea Scallops Over Shallot-Herb Pasta Credit: Elizabeth Cecil A lovely tangle of herbed spaghetti makes a bed for scallops and fennel just off the grill. Shallots, feathery fennel fronds, and other herbs can be chopped in advance, waiting just until the pasta is cooked before finishing this dressing. Note the use of a grill basket, which helps prevent small pieces of fennel from falling through the grill grates—but it's not essential. View Recipe 05 of 11 Shrimp and Crudite Platter with Two Sauces Credit: Justin Walker A riff on the French tradition of le grand aioli, this generous platter could be dinner. It's packed with baby potatoes, hard-cooked eggs, a rainbow of seasonal crudite, and the star of the show, tender, sweet shrimp. Everything goes with the two sauces: a tonatto mayonnaise and a vegan green goddess dip. View Recipe 06 of 11 Stovetop Clambake Credit: Raymond Hom Perhaps the ultimate sharing platter, that's the clambake when you set out all the elements on rimmed baking sheets or platters so everyone can help themselves. View Recipe 07 of 11 Grilled Halibut Steak With Potatoes, Olives, and Onions Credit: Christopher Testani Summer style, defined. It's all here on a platter: Beautiful grilled fish, vegetables, bread, olives, and salad. This meal would be perfectly good using chicken breast instead of the halibut. View Recipe 08 of 11 Pull-Apart Vanilla-Wafer Cupcake Cake with Berries When it comes to dessert, this simple yet elegant cake makes a lovely centerpiece. Though it looks like a sheet cake, it's actually individual cupcakes, so guests can help themselves—no utensils or cutting required. View Recipe 09 of 11 Fruit Platter With Whipped Ricotta Credit: Ryan Liebe Fruit for brunch or dessert can be enticing when served family-style. Elevate the usual fruit salad by poaching one of your most beautiful fruits—we used peaches here, or try figs or pears. Reach for an assortment of bright colors and serve with our homemade English cookies—alternatively buy your favorite digestives or shortbread cookies. View Recipe 10 of 11 Antipasto Platter Credit: Brie Goldman An antipasto platter is a no-cook, crowd-pleasing way to feed a crowd. With a mix of Italian cured meats, cheeses, marinated vegetables, fruit, and nuts, it's both hearty and easy to assemble. You can use many store-bought items to keep it easy, then add personal touches for a homemade feel. To make it an even heartier meal, add slices of French bread for antipasto sandwiches. View Recipe 11 of 11 Grilled Vegetable Pizzas Credit: Christopher Testani Use a pizza cutter to sliced veggie pizzas, then place on a platter to serve for a simple, beautiful summer dinner. Start by grilling your favorite fresh produce—like mushrooms, zucchini, red onion, and kale—then pile the vegetables onto flatbreads. A mix of blue cheese and mozzarella, plus a mustard vinaigrette, adds bold, tangy flavor to this seasonal platter. View Recipe Explore more: Food & Cooking Recipes Dinner Recipes Summer Dinner Ideas