We were featured on the Rent. blog for hosting a Fall dinner party! Check out the recent article we were quoted in: Fall Dinner Party Menu. We've also reposted it below!
Host the Best Autumnal Evening with The Perfect Fall Dinner Party Menu
As the days begin to get darker and the air becomes cooler, it’s no surprise if you want to start staying in more. Autumn is truly the season for embracing your inner homebody, cozying up, and inviting your loved ones over to share a meal. Unsure what to cook? Don’t worry! We’ve compiled the perfect fall dinner party menu for you whether you’re hosting in your new rental home in Tacoma, WA, apartment in Minneapolis, MN, or home in Boca Raton, FL. Complete with mocktails, soups, salads, gluten-free desserts, and hosting tips, there’s truly something here for everyone!
Delightful drinks
While you could always go with apple cider or a bottle of wine, why not change it up and make some cocktails? After all, mixology could just be your new fall hobby!
Perfect for all ages and every party guest, consider making mocktails so that everyone is included. In fact, “Non-alcoholic mocktail options are on the rise as more and more people are trying to reduce their alcohol consumption, have cut it out completely, or can’t drink due to health issues,” says Gabby Monahan, owner of Evergreen Curated.
We recommend trying their Apple Cider Spritz mocktail for the perfect transition to fall from an aperol spritz summer. Not only is this drink delicious, but offering non-alcoholic options is a great and easy to be a better host: “As someone who doesn’t drink, it’s the best feeling arriving at an event and finding that the host has gone above and beyond to offer mocktails,” notes Gabby.
If you do want to go with an alcoholic drink, opt for a classic daiquiri. Ten To One Rum’s blend of both Dominican and Jamaican rums are “ideal for adding a touch of sophistication to any fall gathering,” says Ten To One’s chief of staff Shivani Pandya. This refined and refreshing drink is sure to pair well with whatever of the upcoming bites you choose to serve up!
Amazing appetizers
After drinks, it’s time to bring out the appetizers. Having shareable plates is a great way to get your guests to mingle as well as bide time for the mains to finish cooking.
To start, you truly cannot go wrong with a French Cheese Board. Le Chef’s Wife’s Anina Belle Gia recommends setting out the board an hour before guests arrive so the cheese has time to warm to room temperature and so the guests have something to nibble on right away. “It helps take the edge off their hunger and also buys you time to finish up any last minute details,” notes Anina. A cheese board can truly be a work of art, but the key is a variation of cheeses. Anina likes to serve three different types: “one hard, one soft, one stinky (such as a Comté, a goat cheese, and a blue cheese.” Regardless of what cheeses you end up choosing, “Just make sure not to put cheese and charcuterie on the same plate,” reminded Anina.
How about wrapping your cheese in puff pastry? Ten Pound Cake Company’s savory roasted sweet potato puff pastry turnovers will have you making an appetizer that’s “filled with a delicious sweet potato mixture and perfectly combined with caramelized onions and brie cheese,” says owner Julie Swift. These bites are truly the ultimate comfort food appetizer, ideal for parties both large and small.
Scrumptious salads
Whether you’re having a separate salad course or are serving up a bowl family style, we have three great autumnal salad options for you!
“To make a great fall-inspired salad, start by combining hearty fall veggies (like brussels sprouts or sweet potatoes), with greens of your choice and lots of fresh toppings,” recommends Shannon Lyon of Plum Street Collective. Her fall harvest salad includes roasted brussels sprouts, pomegranates, bacon, goat cheese, pecans, and is finished with a sweet mustard dressing.
If you’re more in the mood for sweet potatoes, try her autumn arugula salad that features warm sweet potatoes, shredded chicken, arugula, burrata, pecans, and corn. “The pecans add the perfect crunch and the corn adds just the right amount of fresh sweetness,” says Shannon. Whichever salad you choose, both are sure to please, but just “try to include some kind…that brings in different fall flavors and colors,” reminds Shannon.
You can’t go wrong with a chopped salad, but swap in some fall favorites to make it seasonal. Rachel Tiemeyer, cookbook author and co-creator of the popular food blog Thriving Home, suggests adding tart apples, sweet dried cranberries, toasted pecans, and an apple cider vinaigrette for that fall flair. “The ingredients are simple, fresh, and provide a contrast of textures and flavors,” making it the perfect side, says Rachel.
Superb soups
Fall is one-hundred percent soup season, so we had to include a couple bowls of hearty goodness.
“Fall is here, and so are those cozy dinner nights with our loved ones. What is better to accompany an autumnal evening than a wholesome, tasty velvet soup with leek, potato, and green apple?” asks The Working Gal. “This soup not only is the perfect appetizer for your dinner party, but will also start your meal off on the coziest autumnal note.”
Another great soup option is Green Weddings Shoes’ roasted butternut squash soup. Green Weddings Shoes’ Jen Campbell recommends serving it up in mini pumpkin bowls as “The rich, creamy flavors paired with the presentation make for a festive and cozy starter that sets the tone for an unforgettable fall gathering.” For garnish, she also suggests adding “a sprinkle of toasted pumpkin seeds for a satisfying crunch and an extra touch of seasonal charm.”
Magnificent mains: The heart of your fall dinner party menu
Moving onto mains, continue to tie in the fall warmth with a decadent butter chicken dish complete with spicy flavors and an irresistible aroma. Tripping on Earth’s recipe is for sure to be a crowd-pleaser. “[The] richness from the butter, comforting warm spices, and juicy tender chicken, [lends its way to] an amazing mouthfeel and indulging essence to your fall dinner party,” says Moksh, blogger of Tripping on Earth.
If butter chicken isn’t your cup of tea, “Consider seasonal offerings like red wine braised short ribs, maple glazed salmon, pumpkin ravioli, or roasted spatcock chicken,” says Sarah Wilkins of Nutritionist Mom. A good rule of thumb is that “each dish should invite new tastes and textures, while complementing the overall cuisine and season of your main course,” notes Sarah. It might be helpful to start with the main and then build the rest of the menu (appetizers, salad, dessert, etc.) around the center dish.
Decadent desserts
Speaking of desserts, we have four great options for your perfect fall dinner party. Since fall really is the season for baking, you could make them all instead of picking just one.
Our first recommendation is none other than an apple crisp. A true fall classic, this dessert is both effortless and impressive. “It requires minimal baking skills and only takes a short time to prepare. You can quickly assemble it and pop it in the oven just before your guests arrive, allowing you to enjoy the evening without the stress of preparing a complicated dish. Plus, it requires minimal cleanup, making it a truly stress-free option,” notes Pretty Delicious Life blogger Kimberly Cauti.
Another great apple dessert option is Conservamome’s apple pie cheesecake bars. You can use a store-bought or homemade apple filling for this recipe, but either way your guests are sure to love this treat. With its amazing combination of flavors and textures, consider serving this delectable at your fall dinner party.
Our last apple dessert recommendation comes from an easy yet delicious mix! Josie's Best offers an incredible gluten free apple bread mix perfect for any dinner party. “The bread's classic texture and real apple pieces make it a perfect pairing for after dinner conversations over a hot cup of coffee or apple cider,” notes owner Josie Johnson. She also suggests putting the loaf in the oven an hour before guests arrive: “The delicious smell of baked apples and cinnamon will fill your home, creating an inviting atmosphere for your guests and by the time dinner is over it will be cooled and ready to enjoy!”
If you’re not into apples, how about pumpkins? This fall flavor staple pairs well with, you guessed it, cream cheese. While you could always do a pumpkin cheesecake or the like, Just As Tasty’s Taleen recommends “topping off a batch of extra soft pumpkin cookies or irresistible pumpkin bars with some perfectly rich cream cheese frosting for a special finishing touch.”
Helpful hosting tips
Now that you have all of your dishes figured out, time to think about hosting! From dinner scapes to tips to keep your evening as easy as possible, we have you covered.
Anina recommends preparing as much as possible in advance. “Plan out your menu so that you are serving dishes that can be made earlier in the day or even days in advance so that you are spending quality time with your guests instead of disappearing into the kitchen,” says Anina. Other things to do before your guests arrive is to set the table, have an empty dishwasher so cleanup is easiest, and prepare a playlist in advance. As for the table itself, Anina suggests “[leaving] a pitcher of water on the table within easy access of your guests [to] help to minimize the time that you spend away from the table.”
Moving onto decorations, opting for a fall color scheme is of course a great and classic choice, but consider going beyond the colors and adding in natural elements. Take Two Tapas’ Jennifer Stewart likes to use flowers, leaves, and twigs in her centerpieces. For example, she adds a few sprigs of leaves in the center of the table surrounding a candle for the perfect centerpiece.
She says, “To complete the look in my dishes, I add fresh herb sprigs to serving dishes and freeze fall fruit to use as ice cubes in my drinks. They add color to the glass, keep it cold longer, and don’t water down the drink,” adds Jennifer. Try not to stress too much about the decor, simply “Look around and see what natural elements you can use to make your fall party a hit,” says Jennifer.
Regardless of what salad, soup, appetizer, or color scheme you choose, we hope we’ve prepared and inspired you for your fall dinner party this season. “Most of all, remember that your guests are coming to your home to spend time with you. Keep your menu simple with familiar favorites so that you can truly enjoy their company,” reminds Anina. Enjoy and happy hosting!
