Wanting to wow with limited budget and even less time - 7-8 people

[GoddessOnTheHighway]

Any ideas?

It's got to be a proper evening meal. They don't eat red meat. I'm all out of ideas.

Help please

Side of salmon with a spice rub?
Serve with a pimped up salad eg radicchio with orange and cucumber, parboiled then bashed then roasted (skin-on) new potatoes.

I'd look for a Jamie's 30 minute meals (they always take longer though) and dress the table nicely.

Coq au vin is my go to as it can be made in advance. Keep the cost down by using chicken thighs, and supermarket wine. You can keep it simple or pimp it up with side dishes. It tastes even better when reheated the second day, I usually serve with crusty bread, green beans and mash potato, and it always goes down well.

Chicken curry, mountain of rice, naan and popadum with chutney and onion/tomato salad

Nigella Lawson has some great traybake meals

I have a friend that is really good at this.

She has really cool tableware and serving dishes so everything looks even better.

Last time we went there she did some flavoured chicken, good rustic bread, big interesting salad and a homemade (cole)slaw.

Everyone loved it.

Thank you all so much. Now tied between curry and coq au vin.

This is nice and low effort but wows people ime

https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/slow-roast-persian-lamb-pomegranate-salad

I'd do a bean cassoulet (I sauté carrots, onions, celery, leeks and garlic, add chopped tomatoes, mixed beans, wine or balsamic vinegar, paprika, stock cube, herbs de Provence. Then serve with crusty bread (shop or homemade) and meat of choice, or a selection even - good cheat way for chicken is those maggi roast in bags, currently cheap at Lidl) though duck is very good with this.

The main bean dish is vegan and can be gluten free (check stock cube) so useful when there's a mix of guests. It also makes a great accompaniment for bacon so I make extra for breakfast, beats canned beans!!!