Fall Dinner Party Menu Ideas to Delight All Your Guests (2023)

Fall Dinner Party Menu Ideas to Delight All Your Guests (1)

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!

Fall Dinner Party Menu Ideas to Delight All Your Guests (2)

Ren Fuller

1 of 36

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.

Fall Dinner Party Menu Ideas to Delight All Your Guests (3)

Ren Fuller

2 of 36

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.

Fall Dinner Party Menu Ideas to Delight All Your Guests (4)

Ren Fuller

3 of 36

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.

.

Fall Dinner Party Menu Ideas to Delight All Your Guests (5)

Getty Images

4 of 36

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.

Fall Dinner Party Menu Ideas to Delight All Your Guests (6)

Dana Gallagher

5 of 36

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.

Fall Dinner Party Menu Ideas to Delight All Your Guests (7)

Hector M. Sanchez

6 of 36

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.

(Video) 35 Best Fall Dinner Party Menu Ideas To Delight All Your Guests !

Fall Dinner Party Menu Ideas to Delight All Your Guests (8)

Ren Fuller

7 of 36

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.

8 of 36

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.

Fall Dinner Party Menu Ideas to Delight All Your Guests (10)

Becky Luigart-Stayner

9 of 36

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.

Fall Dinner Party Menu Ideas to Delight All Your Guests (11)

Ren Fuller

10 of 36

Mini Apple & Raspberry Pies

Treat guests to the perfect bite-size after-dinner treat with these gorgeous little single-serving pies.

.

Fall Dinner Party Menu Ideas to Delight All Your Guests (12)

Hector M. Sanchez

11 of 36

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.

Fall Dinner Party Menu Ideas to Delight All Your Guests (13)

Tara Donne

12 of 36

(Video) FALL DINNER PARTY ON A BUDGET

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.

Fall Dinner Party Menu Ideas to Delight All Your Guests (14)

Ren Fuller

13 of 36

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.

Fall Dinner Party Menu Ideas to Delight All Your Guests (15)

Ren Fuller

14 of 36

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.

Fall Dinner Party Menu Ideas to Delight All Your Guests (16)

Ren Fuller

15 of 36

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.

Fall Dinner Party Menu Ideas to Delight All Your Guests (17)

Ren Fuller

16 of 36

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.

Fall Dinner Party Menu Ideas to Delight All Your Guests (18)

Helen Norman

17 of 36

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.)

Fall Dinner Party Menu Ideas to Delight All Your Guests (19)

Brian Woodcock

18 of 36

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.

(Video) 20 Fall Dinner Party Ideas - Fall Entertaining Tips

Fall Dinner Party Menu Ideas to Delight All Your Guests (20)

Brian Woodcock

19 of 36

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.

Fall Dinner Party Menu Ideas to Delight All Your Guests (21)

Becky Luigart-Stayner

20 of 36

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.

Fall Dinner Party Menu Ideas to Delight All Your Guests (22)

Courtesy of Little Green Notebook

21 of 36

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.

Fall Dinner Party Menu Ideas to Delight All Your Guests (23)

Brian Woodcock

22 of 36

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.

Fall Dinner Party Menu Ideas to Delight All Your Guests (24)

Brian Woodcock

23 of 36

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.

Fall Dinner Party Menu Ideas to Delight All Your Guests (25)

Helen Norman

24 of 36

Add a Bowl of Gourds

(Video) Fall Dinner Party Ideas - Fall Entertaining Tips

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.

Fall Dinner Party Menu Ideas to Delight All Your Guests (26)

Brian Woodcock

25 of 36

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.

Fall Dinner Party Menu Ideas to Delight All Your Guests (27)

Dana Gallagher

26 of 36

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.

Fall Dinner Party Menu Ideas to Delight All Your Guests (28)

Brian Woodcock

27 of 36

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.

.

Fall Dinner Party Menu Ideas to Delight All Your Guests (29)

Brian Woodcock

28 of 36

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.

Fall Dinner Party Menu Ideas to Delight All Your Guests (30)

Brian Woodcock

29 of 36

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.

Fall Dinner Party Menu Ideas to Delight All Your Guests (31)

Brian Woodcock

30 of 36

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.

(Video) Hosting a Dinner Party | Fall Recipes | Entertaining and Hosting

FAQs

What is a good fall menu? ›

Fall
  • 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.

What should I serve for an outdoor fall party? ›

Fall Outdoor Dinner Party Ideas
  • 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.
Aug 2, 2022

How do you have a good fall party? ›

  1. Pumpkin Carving Party. Fall without pumpkins is like Halloween without candy. ...
  2. Outdoor Movie Night. ...
  3. Classic Cornhole Tournament. ...
  4. Autumnal Farm-to-Table Dinner Party. ...
  5. Backyard Bonfire. ...
  6. Outdoor Wine Night. ...
  7. Game Night Craft Table. ...
  8. Perfect Pizza Cook-Off.

What should you serve when you have guests over? ›

I've covered all these meals in this round-up – plenty of recipes that your guests will surely love!
  • 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.
Dec 3, 2019

What is the most popular fall food? ›

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? ›

Fall open house ideas.
  • 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.

What are some fall foods? ›

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!

Videos

1. Creative Fall dinner party menu ideas
(Good Decor Art Ideas)
2. Tuscan Chicken | The Ultimate Chicken Dinner?
(Kitchen Sanctuary)
3. The perfect easy fall dinner party - Texas chili, cornbread and pumpkin sheet cake 🎃
(Harrison Wallace)
4. The Dinner Party From Hell - The Office US
(The Office)
5. Maneater Meditation | Be The Main Event & Make Him Obsessed (VERY POWERFUL)
(MANIFEST FAST WITH JASMINE)
6. How to speak so that people want to listen | Julian Treasure
(TED)
Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Kimberely Baumbach CPA

Last Updated: 02/04/2023

Views: 5597

Rating: 4 / 5 (61 voted)

Reviews: 84% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Kimberely Baumbach CPA

Birthday: 1996-01-14

Address: 8381 Boyce Course, Imeldachester, ND 74681

Phone: +3571286597580

Job: Product Banking Analyst

Hobby: Cosplaying, Inline skating, Amateur radio, Baton twirling, Mountaineering, Flying, Archery

Introduction: My name is Kimberely Baumbach CPA, I am a gorgeous, bright, charming, encouraging, zealous, lively, good person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.