The Perfect Fall Dinner Party Menu (+ Fall Dinner Party Activities)

I’m sharing my tried and true go-to fall dinner party menu along with fall dinner party activities for your next fall-themed dinner party!

If throwing a fall dinner party has been on your mind – DO IT! I threw one last weekend and had the best night crafting, eating, drinking, and catching up with close friends until all hours. It was such a special night!

Fall Dinner Party Tablescape Inspo

What made it extra special was hiring my friend Carly from The Wedding Trailers to do the tablescape. The theme was ‘soft fall’ and she NAILED it. From the pumpkins and candles to the menu design and pear nameplates, it all came together better than I could have ever done myself. I truly cannot thank her enough for her help! I realized it the most when I was busy prepping food up until the minute people arrived. I didn’t have to lift a finger when it came to the dinner table decor – she took care of everything! It was a HUGE weight off my back and the perfect way to have the tablescape reflect the fall season without buying a bunch of decor myself.

If you are local to the Des Moines area, I couldn’t recommend having her help with dinner party decor (or any event!) more!

If you’re not local and looking to recreate, Pinterest has tons of cute options to try and recreate!

Make-Ahead Fall Dinner Party Menu

On to the dinner party menu! The theme was fall (obviously). But the theme was also simple and easy to cook for a crowd–I wanted to enjoy time with friends vs. stressing out in the kitchen with overcomplicated recipes. The recipes below make up the exact fall dinner party menu I served, and I wouldn’t change a thing!

Appetizers

Have these appetizers out as guests arrive along with a sangria bar (sangria + fall garnishes such as pear, apple, and grapefruit slices) or another seasonal batch cocktail.

• Pear and Brie Flatbread – Get this premade crust from Trader Joe’s. Top with shredded mozzarella, sliced brie, and sliced pears. Place on a pizza pan, baking sheet, or for a crisper crust directly on the oven rack, and bake 5 to 8 minutes at 425. Top with a drizzle of hot honey, red pepper flakes, and thyme. So simple. So good.
  
• Whipped Ricotta Dip with Toasted Sourdough – I like to serve this warm (throw it in the oven for a bit before people arrive). Garnish with lots of hot honey, red pepper flakes and thyme. Serve with slices of toasted sourdough. Spread the ricotta on the toast and voila!

FIRST COURSE – Salad

Prep beforehand in a large bowl with a lid so you can store in the refrigerator until go time. Take out, pour in dressing, shake, then serve. I passed around the table.

• Fall salad with cranberries, walnuts, apples and gorgonzola – I will admit, I picked up my favorite salad from a local restaurant for this course but linked a recipe that most closely resembles it. Think leafy greens with some type of goat cheese, apple, and creamy balsamic vinaigrette, or swap with one of your favorite fall salads with seasonal produce.

Main COURSE

This delicious meal can simmer on stove or be re-heated on stove before serving. Pass around family style.

• Orzo with Sausage, Spinach and Corn – This main course recipe is one of my favorites when hosting dinner parties because it can sit on the stove for a while until you’re ready for it. Cut the onion and sausage (I slice this kind) ahead of time so it’s easy to just dump and simmer about 30 minutes before dinnertime. I make it in a large Dutch oven and throw the spinach in just before serving. It’s an easy main dish to double if needed. Garnish with fresh parmesan cheese and red pepper flakes on top!

Dessert

Serve this course with espresso, coffee, or espresso martinis.

• Apple Crisp a la mode (kind of) – A fall classic with little effort. We’re keeping things simple for dessert. Like, really simple. On the menu we’re putting “apple crisp a la mode” but this is a true midwestern *dump cake* (don’t let the name fool you – it’s a true people pleaser EVERY time). I assemble the apple filling in a pan ahead of time so all I have to do is sprinkle the cake mix and top with butter (I even pre-slice a stick of butter into thin slices so I can quickly toss evenly on top). Keep in mind this takes 40 minutes to bake, so pop in the oven during the main course. Top with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

If these fall recipes aren’t tripping your trigger, you can’t go wrong looking for fall dinner recipes to create your perfect menu that incorporate a lot of fall vegetables – think brussels sprouts, butternut squash, sweet potatoes, root vegetables – and aromatic spices. 

Fall Dinner Party Activities

Best-Smelling Fall Candle Contest

This is such an easy one! Have each guest bring their favorite fall candle (it’s okay if it’s used–no need to go buy a new one!). Line them up on a table and put a sticky note or some kind of number on each candle (ex: 1-6). Have little slips of paper nearby and have each person go through the lineup and vote for their top two favorite scents and put into a vase. Once everyone is done, tally the votes! I put together a little gift basket for the winner with my favorite candle lamp and a few fall-themed treats from Trader Joe’s. Have people share where they got their candle, why it’s their favorite, etc.!

pumpkin decorating

If you have a crafty group, consider incorporating a craft like pumpkin decorating! I did this for mine and it was a great option for giving guests something to do while I’m finishing prepping dinner – and nice for guests to mingle over and get to know each other through an activity. Simple route: grab white pumpkins + paint and maybe print out a few inspo pics to get people started. Have time for a little more prep? Do decopodge pumpkins and provide printed-out flowers or napkins etc. for people to cut out and paste on. Perfect for those who might be intimidated by freehand panting!

Overall, I think fall is the perfect time and excuse to host an elegant dinner party! I hope this inspires you to whip up some comfort food and invite friends over for a cozy autumn evening!