It it just me, or is this summer big on impromptu gatherings? Every other afternoon someone’s saying, “Hey, can you come over tonight for cocktails? Or grilling? Or cocktails and grilling?” What absolutely no one is asking is “Can you come over in two weeks for a formal, four-course dinner?”

So when you want to host, what’s the easiest way to entertain? Well, pot luck is a no-brainer with impromptu entertaining. Have guests bring at least one thing each — the fixings for one kind of drink, say, or an uncomplicated side. But beyond that, here are 5 easy and fun ideas for no-fuss but still-stylish hosting this season.

Instead of the usual (but yes, admittedly delish) barbecue ribs and such, make a whole side of grilled salmon for a crowd. This is so much easier than it sounds. First, buy a great side of skin-on salmon — I like wild sockeye from Bristol Bay, Alaska (available at almost any Whole Foods). Pat the salmon dry with paper towels and rub all over with olive oil. Season with sea salt and pepper. Preheat your grill to medium. Slide the fish onto the rack skin side down over indirect heat and cover until the skin is charred and the flesh is opaque, about 20 minutes. Transfer the fish to a platter using several spatulas at once. Cut into pieces and serve with lemon wedges and fresh herbs, with smears of aioli or mustard on the side.

My new favorite is French Bull 11″ Dinner Plates Set Of 4 in Garden Floral ($29.60 on wayfair.com). They’re dishwasher safe, BPA-free, chip- and scratch-resistant, will light the place right up, and immediately put a smile on everyone’s face. In other words, the ideal outdoor summer plate.

Do it once and the rest of the summer (and all summers to come) will be a breeze. For easy access to bevvies, I love the Permasteel Hyannis Stand-up Cooler with Bottle Opener ($359 on potterybarn.com), which not only looks great — it’s lined in fetching beadboard that comes in colors like mint, black, bright red, white, or aqua — but has two llocking casters and a drainage plug located at the bottom, and a shelf beneath it to hold all kinds of cocktail accoutrements. Have guests plop the bottles they’re contributing to the evening directly into it as they make their entrance. Short of setting up an entire bar, few things will make your evening easier.

Forget spending cash and  time making a trip to the florist, gather up a bunch of your prettiest flowers and herbs in small pots, and push them all to the center of the table. They’ll create a casual and friendly garden-themed centerpiece.

One of my favorite new party tricks is to base dessert on a killer cookie like Levain Bakery’s rocky road ($29 for a 4-pack on levainbakery.com and at the 180 Newbury Street location) — it’s back by popular demand, and is my new favorite throwback to childhood flavors met with intense French chocolate decadence. Just split them in half (they’re enormous!), heat them in the microwave for 30 seconds, crown them with a scoop of really good vanilla ice cream, and a single fresh mint leaf. Your guests will be falling all over themselves, both blissing out and trying to guess what that ultra-luscious ingredient is in them besides the chocolate (hint: that would be the marshmallows).