When people are coming over, it helps to have recipes that feel familiar without being boring. This list covers the kind of dishes that cook up hearty, serve easily, and give everyone something worth going back for, from saucy chicken and baked pasta to loaded potatoes, sliders, and desserts. Some are made for passing around, some are better sliced from a casserole dish, and a few are the sweet finish that makes people ask what you put in it.

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