How to Host the Perfect Pie Night (6 Easy Tips)

'Tis the season for entertaining! Having friends or family round for dinner? Want to serve something delicious without spending the entire evening chained to the cooker? We've got just the thing!

It's all about good food, good company and getting everyone round the table for a proper, comforting dinner. And the best bit? You don't need to be a budding chef, own a mountain of fancy serving dishes or spend hours preparing! With a few good pies, some delicious sides and a little forward planning, you can host a cracking evening with minimal faff.

Here are our top tips for hosting a Pie Night to remember.

1. Give Everyone a Little Choice 🥧

One of the best things about Pie Night is that there's a pie for just about everyone.

So, rather than settling on one filling and hoping for the best, why not offer a little selection?

Choose a few Chunk favourites with different fillings and flavours, so your guests can pick their perfect pie. You could go traditional with Steak & Ale, creamy with Chicken, Leek & Bacon, or add something a little different to the mix.

And don't forget your gluten-free guests! Our Gluten Free range means they can tuck into a proper pie dinner, too.

Our tip: Check everyone's preferences before ordering. It's much easier to plan ahead than discover Uncle Dave doesn't eat mushrooms when the pies are already on the table.

2. Get Your Sides Sorted 🥔

A good pie is a wonderful thing. But add a few tasty sides and you've got yourself a proper feast!

Creamy mashed potato, seasonal vegetables and plenty of gravy are classic choices. For something a little more indulgent, cauliflower cheese makes a lovely addition, while slow-braised red cabbage brings a sweet, fruity twist to richer fillings (the perfect accompaniment for those festive pies!).

The trick is to choose sides that complement your pies without giving yourself a mountain of extra cooking! Cue our sides that simply need heating up! 

Our tip: Pick two or three sides that work well with your chosen pies, rather than trying to recreate the entire Sunday roast. You're hosting dinner, not catering for the King!

3. Let Everyone Help Themselves 🍽️

There's something rather lovely about putting everything in the middle of the table and letting everyone tuck in.

Arrange your pies, sides and gravy in serving dishes, pop the dinnerwear out and let your guests build their own perfect plate! It makes the evening feel relaxed and sociable, and saves you from spending half the night marching backwards and forwards between the kitchen and dining room.

It's also a good way to encourage everyone to try something different. A little extra mash? Go on, then! Don't mind if I do!

Our tip: Warm your serving dishes beforehand and make sure there's plenty of room on the table (or alternative serving surface!). A gravy jug that gets knocked over on someone's lap is not the sort of entertainment anyone ordered!

4. Do a Little Prep in Advance ⏰

The secret to enjoying your own dinner party is simple: don't leave everything until the last minute.

Get the table laid, nibbles out and drinks chilled before your guests arrive. Whether you're bunging your pies in the oven from the freezer or fridge, make sure you've checked cooking instructions so everything is ready at roughly the same time. Our sides can also be bunged in the oven for minimal effort (meaning maximum mingling)! If you've got a mixture of gluten free and original pies to heat then cook them all at 180 and get the original pies out 5 mins earlier.

That way, when the doorbell rings, you're not still trying to work out whether the potatoes need another ten minutes while the gravy starts developing a skin.

Our tip: Make a simple cooking schedule and work backwards from when you want to eat. Follow the instructions on each product, particularly where different oven temperatures or cooking times are involved.

5. Keep It Cosy and Casual ❤️

Pie Night doesn't need fancy table settings or complicated recipes.

A few candles, a relaxed table, good drinks and some delicious food will do the trick nicely. Put on some subtle background music, encourage everyone to get comfortable and enjoy the sort of evening where nobody's worried about whether they've used the right fork.

After all, the point of inviting people round is to spend time with them, not spend the entire evening worrying about whether the gravy boat matches the napkins.

Our tip: Don't aim for perfection! Aim for a lovely evening with people you enjoy spending time with. 

6. Remember to Enjoy Yourself!

This might be our most important tip of all.

As the host, it's easy to get caught up in making sure everyone else is happy. But you deserve to sit down, tuck into a delicious dinner and enjoy the company, too.

That's one of the reasons we love Pie Night. With a little preparation and the right pies and sides, you can serve a hearty, satisfying meal without making the whole evening about cooking.

And if someone offers to wash up? Well, we'd certainly encourage that sort of behaviour!

Pie Night, Sorted!

Hosting friends and family doesn't need to be complicated. Choose some delicious pies, add a few tasty sides, and let everyone dig in.

Whether you're planning a cosy night with friends, a festive family get-together or a Friday evening feast, Pie Night is a brilliant way to bring everyone together over proper comfort food.

Because life's too short for a dinner party without pie. 🥧