One of the best experiences from a trip was a sunset dinner cruise, and you can plan out a great dinner without a ton of money or a lot of prep time! We outline the best dinner on a boat recipes that are easy to make and don’t require a long cleanup time.
After all, enjoying a day on the water is a great way to spend some quality time with your friends.
But if you’re planning on heading out on the boat for a fun day trip or romantic evening, you’ll need to find some boat-friendly recipes to enjoy while you’re on the water. These dinner on a boat ideas are the perfect way to entertain after a day floating on the waves.
A boat trip is great idea when you want to celebrate a special occasion! Below, you’ll find great options to create a fun or romantic dinner that you’ll never forget!
DINNER ON A BOAT IDEAS
Finding good recipes to serve on your boat isn’t always easy. Whether your boat has a full kitchen or just a small grill, you’ll find tons of delicious recipe ideas for appetizers, side dishes, and a main course.
Your dinner guests will love the combination of fresh shrimp and scallops in this seafood pasta recipe from Christina’s Cuccina. It’s a great way to bring the flavors of the ocean to your dinner table.
Make these quick and easy pinwheel sandwiches from Amanda’s Cookin’ before you leave the dock to have a delicious appetizer for your dinner party guests to enjoy.
Since there’s no cooking involved in this cucumber gazpacho recipe from Gastrono Therapy is perfect for dinner on a boat. Simply add your ingredients to a blender and whip up a delicious starter for your meal.
You only need 15 minutes to prepare these quick and easy shrimp tacos from iFoodReal.
Add some Asian flavor to a classic no-bake side dish with this recipe for avocado peanut coleslaw from The Short Order Cook. This simple side is the perfect make-ahead dish for any dinner party on the water.
Cook dinner on the grill while on your boat with this chimichurri steak salad recipe from A Page of Positivity.
This Vietnamese Shrimp Toast is a party favorite! Buttery baguette slices are topped with creamy mixture of shrimp, mayonnaise, shredded cheese, and green onion.
Since this Greek orzo salad from The Healthful Ideas is packed with veggies, it’s the perfect side dish to serve at your dinner party.
If you’re searching for an easy main course for your dinner on a boat, this flavorful recipe for yellow fin tuna from Cooking in the Keys is it! The delicious combination of Ahi tuna and toasted sesame seeds is perfect for enjoying on the boat.
Prep these turkey tikka skewers from Hooked on Heat ahead of time and grill them on the boat for dinner.
This colorful Cajun shrimp salad recipe is packed with bold zesty flavor! So quick and easy to make, this delicious shrimp salad is a healthy, satisfying way to enjoy a taste of the Louisiana bayou.
Toasted bread topped with tomatoes and capers make up this quick and easy recipe for sardines on toast from Little Sunny Kitchen.
The fresh combination of broccoli and apples make this simple broccoli salad recipe from Dinner at the Zoo the perfect side dish for an outdoor dinner.
Whether you’re searching for a refreshing dessert or sweet side dish, your dinner guest will love this mojito pineapple salad from Divine Lifestyle, which features fresh pineapple and mint leaves.
This simple recipe for mini cornbread from On My Kids Plate is the perfect side dish for any seafood recipe.
Enjoy your catch of the day for dinner with this recipe for baked fish bites from Spend with Pennies.
Enjoy the flavors of Spain at your dinner party with this seafood paella recipe from Chocolates and Chai. Featuring calamari, shrimp, and mussels, this seafood dish is a delicious main course for your menu.
Cook some halibut on the grill while out on the boat, then make these delicious halibut tacos from In the Kitch.
Since these Spanish mussels from The Gourmet Bon Vivant are seasoned with chorizo and paprika, they’re packed with flavor.
Make eating dinner on your boat quick and easy with these fun walking tacos from Amanda’s Cookin’. Since all the ingredients are served in a chip bag, this simple meal is perfect for boating.
The flavorful combination of creamy potatoes and crispy bacon in this German potato salad recipe from The Forked Spoon is a delicious side dish for any main course.
Your dinner party guests will love the sweet and salty flavor combo in this watermelon feta salad from Somebody Feed Seb.
Enjoy a restaurant quality meal on your boat with this quick-cooking recipe for seared Chilean sea bass from The Kitchen Girl.
Serve these easy bacon wrapped scallops from Bensa Bacon Lovers as an appetizer for your dinner party guests to enjoy on your boat.
Featuring a creamy lemon sauce and fresh prawns, this linguini recipe from It’s Not Complicated is sure to be a hit at any dinner party on a boat.
These quick and easy Hawaiian sliders from A Paige of Positivity are made with rotisserie chicken, making them perfect for preparing on the boat.
Since this easy side dish is packed with asparagus and kale, it’s a flavorful addition to any dinner party menu. Your guests will love eating this vegetable risotto from Our Love Language is Food along your dinner’s main course.
The Cajun flavors in this blackened shrimp recipe from Low Carb Yum is a great way to add some spice to your dinner menu.
The smokey flavor in this grilled mahi mahi recipe from Flavor Mosaic is a great menu choice for your dinner on a boat.
A Few Tips Before Hosting or Attending Dinner Cruises
While planning our the best food is a major key to a great night, these ideas may help elevate your night even more!
- Will you serve an alcoholic drink? We like a glass of champagne when boarding and a bottle of wine chilling for dinner.
- Will you have any live entertainment or live music?
- Do you have foul-weather gear just in case you hit rough seas?
- Think about food safety. Do any of your food options need to be refrigerated, or can they be kept at room temperature?
- Do you need any kitchen appliances?
- If you’re going at sunset, another good idea is to bring a blanket or sweater.
- Do you plan on seeing anything? For example humpback whales or specific landmarks like the Empire State Building.
- If you’re wanting to keep the meal simple, lunch cruises are a great option! You could serve sandwiches with pasta salad!
The best thing about dinner on a boat is that you can make it what you want! You can plan a fine dining experience with lobster and white wine, or you can do beer or soft drinks and hot dogs after a hot day exploring!
Some of the most delicious meals are because of the memories attached to them!
We hope these ideas help you get out of your comfort zone and have an amazing night on the water!
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