How to Host A Cozy Winter Dinner Party

Cold weather months are a great time to invite friends to your home. You’ll love this menu and decor ideas for a cozy, winter dinner party.

Do you get the winter blues?

I know I sure do.

I’ve tried just about everything from sitting in front of a special lamp to increasing my vitamin D.

But these short days just zap the energy right out of me!

One thing that helps me recharge?

Planning a fun night with friends.

So when AnnMarie and I found out that we were hosting the month of January for our virtual dinner club, we decided a cozy winter dinner party would be the perfect theme.

kitchen dining area prepared for dinner party with table set for entertaining and candles lit in lanterns on floor in corner of room

AnnMarie shared an inexpensive and easy winter centerpiece idea using fresh greenery that I just love!

You’ll have to check out the rest of her ideas for decorating for a winter dinner party.

The best part?

You’ll get even more ideas from five of our closest blogging friends too!

Today, we’re digging into some yummy comfort food.

As the hosts, we’re serving up the main course, and nothing says winter to us more than chili.

How to Set Up a “Top Your Own Chili” Bar

A Top Your Own Chili Bar with plates, spoons, stacks of bowls, containers of toppings, and a crockpot of chili

Since our theme is all about getting cozy, we wanted to keep everything casual.

So we’re serving the chili buffet-style with a top your own chili bar.

Stacks of plates, bowls, napkins, and spoons make setup so easy.

Containers of chopped avocado, cilantro, shredded cheese, & blue tortilla chips in a basket in front of a crockpot of chili

You can put all the toppings in individual bowls and line them up, but I decided to make my toppings look cozy!

I lined a long oval basket with napkins and nestled the toppings inside.

Some blue corn tortilla chips add a fun and colorful touch.

Bowl of white chili topped with cheese and green onions at a winter dinner party with a Top Your Own Chili Bar

Are you hungry yet?

Welcome to Our Virtual Dinner Party!

If you’re new around here, AnnMarie and I are two moms who are lucky enough to be besties and neighbors.

We live right across the street from each other!

We work together to share simple and budget-friendly ideas for decorating, recipes, DIY projects, and tips for life with older teens (and beyond).

You can read more about us and our families over here.

And we would love to learn more about you! Be sure to say “hi” in the comments below and tell us where you’re visiting from.

But that’s enough about us!

Let’s take a look at the menu for this winter dinner party.

Collage of six dishes to serve at a cozy winter dinner party at home

Doesn’t it all look scrumptious?

We’ve got everything you need to treat your guests to a delicious meal!

Hot Spinach and Artichoke Dip

Our friend Stacy from Bricks’n’Blooms is sharing her famous recipe for hot spinach and artichoke dip.

She has some tricks up her sleeve that take this classic appetizer to a whole new level!

I can’t wait to give her version a try.

Sparkling Winter White Sangria

Two lowball glasses on a wood board filled with sparkling white sangria garnished with fruit and fresh rosemary sprigs

We love a refreshing cocktail, and our friend Jen from Midwest Life & Style has got a real treat!

Her sparkling winter sangria recipe sounds so good and I’ve got all the ingredients to whip some up tonight.

Doesn’t it look so pretty?

The BEST White Chicken Chili

Crock of healthy white chicken chili garnished with fresh cilantro, cheese, green onions on a plate with blue tortilla chips.

Okay, so I might be a little biased, but this is truly my favorite white chicken chili recipe.

Not only is it full of flavor, but you can also make it ahead, and it cooks in a crockpot!

Did I mention it’s also really healthy?

There’s zero guilt in going back for second or even third helpings.

Sweet Corn Muffins

Serving bowl lined with a waffleweave cloth filled with mini corn muffins

I can’t think of anything that goes better with chili than cornbread, can you?

Our friend Rachel from The Ponds Farmhouse is sharing her recipe for sweet corn muffins.

My son is a cornbread connoisseur and I can’t wait to let him try these out!

Simple Tortilla Cakes

Wedge of tortilla cake on a small white dessert plate with a place setting of jadeite and white plates in the background

This month, our friend Jessica from The Old Barn is joining us and she’s got a simple and delicious recipe to share!

Don’t let the name fool you, this isn’t a dessert.

These savory tortilla cakes only need four ingredients and can be served as a side dish or for a simple lunch.

I’ve already added all the ingredients to my grocery list and will be making these ASAP!

Coconut Pie Mini Parfaits

Shot glass filled with coconut pie parfait dessert on top of layered white plates for a winter dinner party dessert.

Dessert is always one of my favorite parts of a dinner party, and our friend Michele from Vintage Home Designs has a special treat this month.

She’s taken all the yummy flavors of a coconut cream pie and served them up as a mini parfait!

You know I’m whipping some of these up tonight, right?

Now you’ve got everything you need to host a fun winter dinner party with your friends to beat those winter blahs.

Do you have any other tips for making winter more fun?

Please let me know about them in the comment section below!

More Entertaining Inspiration

Be sure to check out all our entertaining menus. Just click on any of the links below for more tasty recipes.

If you have any questions or suggestions, contact me or leave a comment!

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