
Brian Woodcock
Planning a festive autumnal dinner party? We're here to squash your planning woes with a plenty of fall recipes, fall decorating ideas, and delicious autumn treats to help you get started. Whether you’re craving the classic combo of meat and potatoes (we’re talking strip steak with lemony mashed spuds) or something a little more interesting (an impressive from-scratch pasta), there's something for everyone on our list!
Ren Fuller
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Pumpkin Spice White Russian
First up at your autumn dinner party: a cocktail, of course! Greet guests with a drink that carries a touch of the season—and lets everyone relax while you put the finishing touches on dinner.
Get the recipe for Pumpkin Spice White Russian.
Ren Fuller
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Smokey Pumpkin Deviled Eggs
These super cute deviled eggs make the perfect fall dinner party appetizer. A simple flick of the fork makes the pumpkin ridges, and cornichons make the stems. But it's the smoked paprika (our new favorite spice) that make them irresistible.
Get the recipe for Smokey Pumpkin Deviled Eggs.
Ren Fuller
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Pumpkin & Pesto Crostini
Pair Smokey Pumpkin Deviled Eggs with these sweet and easy crostini. Roasted pumpkin, dark rye bread, burrata cheese, and a homemade pesto make ideal bite-sized treats perfect for fall.
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Try Hosting Outdoors
Fall weather can be unpredictable, depending on where you live, but hosting an outdoor party in fall is unexpected—and your last chance before the chilly winter months. However, always have an indoor back-up plan in case of sudden bad weather.
Dana Gallagher
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Composed Waldorf Salad
This refined version of the classic Waldorf salad has all kinds of great fall ingredients, from walnuts and apples to pomegranate pips. It looks beautiful, and guests can pick and choose which ingredients they want.
Get the recipe for Composed Waldorf Salad.
Hector M. Sanchez
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Grilled Apples with Prosciutto and Honey
This easy appetizer makes the most of fresh fall fruit and delicious flavors. Tide your guests over with these grilled apples while waiting for the main course!
Get the recipe for Grilled Apples with Prosciutto and Honey.
Ren Fuller
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Creamy Pumpkin Pasta with Pine Nut Gremolata
Pasta is great for serving a crowd, but put the jar of red sauce down. A can of pumpkin, some pine nuts, and a few herbs are all you need to elevate this fall pasta dish to the ethereal.
Get the recipe for Creamy Pumpkin Pasta with Pine Nut Gremolata.
Brian Woodcock
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Crispy Chicken Thighs With Garlic and Rosemary
The best fall dinner party recipes are the ones that smell heavenly, enticing your guests into your home with their aroma. This crowd-pleasing chicken dish fills the bill perfectly—and it's irresistibly crispy to boot.
Get the recipe for Crispy Chicken Thighs With Garlic and Rosemary.
Becky Luigart-Stayner
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Maple-Apple Tarte Tatin
Looking to impress your dinner guests and wow them with an especially autumn-themed dessert? This sweet dessert is a stunning step up from your standard pie.
Get the recipe for Maple-Apple Tarte Tatin.
Ren Fuller
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Mini Apple & Raspberry Pies
Treat guests to the perfect bite-size after-dinner treat with these gorgeous little single-serving pies.
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Hector M. Sanchez
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Sausage and Apple Pies
Pies don't have to just be for dessert! This savory apple pie is elegantly served in individual portions.
Get the recipe for Sausage and Apple Pies.
Tara Donne
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Autumn-Inspired Decor Touches
Get your home ready for both your dinner party and the fall season in general. Start by sprucing up your front door decorations and then work your way inside. You don't have to go overboard—a few smart autumn additions can make a big impact. We love the look of these leafy branches in a vase, and the fire is a lovely touch as well.
Ren Fuller
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Slow Cooker Spinach-and-Parmesan Meatballs
Fall is for comfort food, and there's little more comforting than these easy, delicious meatballs.
Get the recipe for Slow Cooker Spinach-and-Parmesan Meatballs.
Ren Fuller
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Parsley-Garlic Bread
A little fresh garlic, some butter, and about eight minutes in the oven, and you can turn a loaf of plain country bread into something incredible.
Get the recipe for Parsley-Garlic Bread.
Ren Fuller
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Broiled Broccolini and Capers
When roasted under a broiler, tender broccolini yields a sweet, charred flavor that pairs perfectly with salty capers and a touch of crushed red pepper.
Get the recipe for Parsley-Garlic Bread.
Ren Fuller
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Pumpkin-Chorizo Pizza
Hosting friends for a fall pizza night? Give the meal a big boost of autumn with this smokey, savory dish. Shaved pumpkin is melt-in-your-mouth good, and pairs well with onion, chorizo, and sharp Cheddar cheese.
Get the recipe for Pumpkin-Chorizo Pizza.
Helen Norman
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Use Cozy Blankets as Tablecloths
Two tartan beauties turn this back porch table into a work of art. (The oversize wreath certainly doesn't hurt either.)
Brian Woodcock
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Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad
This fresh, easy-as-ever salad is bound to be a regular in your fall dinner menu rotation. Chopped apple, hazelnuts, and Pecorino cheese make it a winner. Pro tip: Serve it family-style for maximum simplicity.
Get the recipe for Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad.
Brian Woodcock
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Spiced Grit-Fried Chicken Cutlets
What's better than an easy chicken dinner? We love this one, which pairs two Southern favorites (grits and fried chicken) for a taste that's simply out of this world.
Get the recipe Spiced Grit-Fried Chicken Cutlets.
Becky Luigart-Stayner
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Rosemary Beef Tenderloin with Root Vegetables
This delicious roast comes together surprisingly fast, making it a great option for your fall dinner party. It's packed with flavor and plenty of veggies.
Get the recipe for Rosemary Beef Tenderloin with Root Vegetables.
Courtesy of Little Green Notebook
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Apple-Themed Centerpiece
You don't have to go over-the-top to create a stunning scene. Rather than opt for a big, dramatic centerpiece, interior designer Jenny Komenda used an apple-themed ombre effect to create something much more visually stimulating.
Hurricane lanterns are another great option for outdoor dinners. They add light for function, glow for ambiance, and their shape and size make them practical in windy settings.
Brian Woodcock
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Strip Steak With Lemon Mashed Potatoes
Meat and potatoes for the win! This classic, tried-and-true combo is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser, but get this: You'll be able to whip the whole thing up in just 30 minutes.
Get the recipe for Strip Steak With Lemon Mashed Potatoes.
Brian Woodcock
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Roasted Hasselback Sweet Potatoes
Comforting, homey, and simple, this sweet potato dish makes for an excellent side at any fall dinner party. It also works beautifully in your work lunchbox the next day...but that's assuming you have leftovers.
Get the recipe for Roasted Hasselback Sweet Potatoes.
Helen Norman
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Add a Bowl of Gourds
There's nothing easier than filling a basket with some decorative gourds. Here, they turn a lovely, though unseasonal kitchen into a festive, seasonal retreat.
Brian Woodcock
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Shrimp Chowder with Herb Drop Biscuits
Have guests coming in an hour? Thirty minutes at the stove, and you'll wow them with plump shrimp and herb-flecked biscuits.
Get the recipe for Shrimp Chowder with Herb Drop Biscuits.
Dana Gallagher
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Broccoli and Cauliflower Gratin
For vegetarian guests and kids (or adults) who don't typically love vegetables alike, this cheesy, filling casserole-style side is a sure-fire crowd-pleaser.
Get the recipe for Broccoli and Cauliflower Gratin.
Brian Woodcock
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Sausage & Grits Lasagna
Comfort food is always welcome at any fall gathering, but this lasagna is an ideal dinner party addition for another reason. You don't have to worry about plating it beautifully, because your guests will be serving themselves straight from the pan.
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Brian Woodcock
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Potato Gnocchi With Pork Ragù
Aiming to impress? Then forget the classics and opt for this homemade gnocchi. Topped with a delectable meat sauce, it's a fantastic and memorable entrée...but it's certainly a little on the more advanced side.
Get the recipe for Potato Gnocchi With Pork Ragù.
Brian Woodcock
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Rotisserie Chicken and Potato Chowder
The best dinner party menus are the ones that yield leftovers. Like, a lot of leftovers. This creamy soup does just that, meaning you can enjoy it for lunch the next day at work too!
Get the recipe for Rotisserie Chicken and Potato Chowder.
Brian Woodcock
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Spice up Your Fall Flower Display
Embrace the season and hunt down a few fall-colored vintage food tins the next time you go antiquing. For containers on the taller side, fill with bright, voluminous buds (like these Sanguisorba cones) to create an effortless centerpiece. As for smaller tins, keep the look casual with a looser arrangement.
FAQs
What is a good fall menu? ›
- Easy. Mulled Wine. ...
- Country Mince Pie. A sleeper hit from Bon Appetit's 1974 Thanksgiving menu, this mincemeat pie recipe is deeply fruity and loaded with warm spices. ...
- Pumpkin and Cheddar Strata. ...
- Easy. ...
- Quick. ...
- Pumpkin Spice Crumb Cake. ...
- Caramel Apple Snacking Cake. ...
- Banana Cream Pie.
- Roasted Butternut Squash Soup. ...
- Pan Fried Fish with Roasted Sweet Potatoes. ...
- Apple and Brie Grilled Cheese. ...
- Autumn Salad with Maple-Balsamic Vinaigrette. ...
- Pumpkin Spice Cake. ...
- Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Pork Loin. ...
- Maple Pecan Pie Bars.
- Pumpkin Carving Party. Fall without pumpkins is like Halloween without candy. ...
- Outdoor Movie Night. ...
- Classic Cornhole Tournament. ...
- Autumnal Farm-to-Table Dinner Party. ...
- Backyard Bonfire. ...
- Outdoor Wine Night. ...
- Game Night Craft Table. ...
- Perfect Pizza Cook-Off.
- Green Chile Enchiladas. Elise Bauer. ...
- Best Ever Sloppy Joes. Elise Bauer. ...
- Easy Chicken Lo Mein. Nick Evans. ...
- Ham and Cheese Pasta Bake. Elise Bauer. ...
- Easy Tomato Soup. ...
- Grilled Cheese BLT. ...
- Turkey Tetrazzini. ...
- Mexican Tostada.
In conclusion, the most popular fall foods include apples, pumpkins, sweet potatoes, pumpkin pie, turkey, cornbread stuffing, and pecan pie. There are many more, but these are some of the best-loved ones.
What is the number one food for fall? ›You guessed it – pumpkin and the spices of the season. This is the perfect sweet to enjoy on a crisp fall day.
What do you serve at a fall open house? ›- Hot Spinach and Artichoke Dip. ...
- Homemade Cinnamon Almonds! ...
- Colorful Painted Pumpkin Cookies. ...
- Super Simple Homemade Sparkling Apple Cider. ...
- happy hour: fall sangria. ...
- Chocolate & Peanutbutter Acorns. ...
- Homemade Soft Pretzel Bites | Pretzel Bite Recipe. ...
- Pecan Pie Bars - Just a Taste.
I have apples, winter squash, pumpkin, cinnamon, candy, pies, chiles, cheese, caramel, chocolate, brussels sprouts, figs, pomegranates, a roast, pastas galore, chips, dips and breakfasts… basically my 75 favorite fall foods. If you are one of those lucky ones still sweating your butt off, congratulations!