19 Fall Dinner Party Ideas to Wow Your Guests

Are you looking for fall dinner party ideas for your next gathering? We’ve got you covered. From centerpieces to recipes, we have 19 fun ideas to inspire your dinner party.

19 Fall Dinner Party Ideas to Wow Your Guests

1. Pumpkin Soup

Pumpkin soup is a seasonal and fitting choice for your dinner party. But don’t just serve it in a pot. Serve it in a mini pumpkin!

This pumpkin bisque recipe is so delicious and will impress your guests when you serve it in a miniature pumpkin they can open and devour.

The best part? This soup is ridiculously easy to make. Along with your mini pumpkins, you’ll need:

Pumpkin puree
Butternut squash puree
Chicken broth
Evaporated milk
Sour cream
Spices
Sprigs of parsley or thyme

If you want to really wow your guests with the presentation, serve your pumpkins on these gorgeous leaf plates.

2. Elegant Table Settings

So many fall dinner party ideas are focused on food, but what about the table? The atmosphere is almost as important as the food, so make sure your table is beautiful and welcoming.

This centerpiece is perfect for an intimate gathering. You’ll need just a few things:

Real or faux pears
Tapered candles and golden candlesticks
Striped table runner
Faux greenery

3. Pumpkin, Leaves and Candle Centerpiece

Here’s another gorgeous centerpiece that’s perfect for a fall dinner party. If you have oak trees on your property, you can gather real leaves, or you can use faux oak leaves.

As for the rest of the centerpiece, you’ll need:

Pumpkins
Votive candles
Acorns and nuts
Plaid tablecloth

4. S’mores Bar

Looking for a fun treat to offer your guests? Create a s’mores bar. Plan a bonfire (or use a portable fire pit), and set up a table with all of the usual s’mores essentials:

Chocolate
Graham crackers
Marshmallows
Marshmallow roasting sticks

You can serve hot chocolate or hot cider, too, if you want.

5. Roasted Pumpkin with Lemon Yogurt Sauce

No list of fall dinner party ideas would be complete without pumpkin recipes – and this one is unique.

Rather than serving plain roasted pumpkin, dress things up by adding a delicious lemon yogurt sauce. Top with pine nuts, fresh cilantro and a pinch of sumac (or paprika).

Your guests are sure to be impressed by this delicious and fancy dish.

6. Pumpkin Risotto with Bacon and Parmesan

Here’s another pumpkin recipe that will always be a crowd-pleaser: pumpkin risotto with bacon and parmesan. The saltiness of the bacon and parmesan complements the hearty and earthy pumpkin flavor.

This recipe also calls for white wine, stock, honey and, of course, butter.

Feel free to add other tasty ingredients, like mushrooms or garlic, to make this dish your own.

7. Apple Galette

Need a fall-themed dessert that will wow everyone at the table? Try this apple galette. Not everyone is a fan of pumpkin, but most people love apples.

This galette recipe is easier than you think, but it looks complicated. For the apple filling, try using the freshest apples you can find (straight from the farm is best). Don’t forget the salted caramel sauce!

8. A Festive Table

This table setting is perfect if you’re serving soup and appetizers. The setup allows you to serve the food family-style, but it also incorporates pots of fresh herbs to make the table beautiful.

Here’s what you’ll need:

A gorgeous soup tureen to be the star of the show
Potted herbs
Mini wooden charcuterie boards for serving

9. Cider Bar

Nothing screams fall like apple cider. Make a cider bar for your guests. Serve it cold or hot in this beverage dispenser – or hard cider if it’s that kind of party.

If you’re hosting your gathering outdoors, decorate the bar with pumpkins, wooden barrels, cornstalks and plenty of gorgeous mums.

10. Rosemary Sprig Table Settings

If you’re looking for fall dinner party ideas for table settings, here’s a great one: rosemary sprigs. Yes – keeping it simple is never a bad idea.

With each table setting, add a sprig or two of rosemary wrapped in twine or a burlap ribbon. You can add a name card, too, if you want.

If you’re going with a rustic theme for your party, this table setting idea is perfect.

11. Outdoor Dining

If the fall evenings are cool but not too cool, consider hosting your party outdoors. How gorgeous and cozy does this table look?

You can recreate the same setting at your own home if you have a patio.

Here’s what you’ll need:

12. Thanksgiving Punch

While we call this “Thanksgiving punch,” you can have it at any time of the year. You don’t even need to celebrate this holiday to make this cocktail. You’ll need to have a few items on hand,e namely cute mason jar mugs.

You can also use any mugs that you have on hand because let’s face it: no one is going to mind what mug you serve it in.

Now, you just need to make the cocktail, which calls for:

Orange slices
Red and green apple slices
Pumpkin pie spice
Apple cider
Fresh cranberries (frozen will do)
Ginger ale
Champagne

If you don’t like champagne or want to add a strong alcohol, you can always add some vodka instead of the champagne.

You can also buy some premade drinks and place them in the mug instead if you don’t want to make your own cocktail.

13. Holiday Salad

If you want to keep things light and simple, you can always make a fall-inspired salad. Your guests will love the array of fall flavors that you choose. Don’t know what items to add to your salad, why not choose:

Beets
Walnuts
Cranberries
Carrots
Brussel sprouts

Adapt this salad to make it your own or opt to make a salad with food items that you’ll know everyone will love.

14. Pie Bar

If someone invited me to their fall party and told me that they were going to have a pie bar, I might show up a day early. Some of the best pies are baked during the fall season and can include a wide array of items, such as:

You can bake an assortment of pies or ask some of your guests who are good at baking to bring a pie of their own. Of course, if you don’t like to bake, you can always order a few pies from the local bakery.

15. Make it a Buffet

Let’s face it: most people go to parties for food. People love to eat and drink with their friends and have a few laughs. One of our timeless fall dinner party ideas is to have a buffet of food that people will love and have it all put out on the table.

You can have:

Chips
Olives
Cheeses
Deviled eggs (like these)
Salads
Plates filled with veggies
Oysters
Bread
Apple pie
Anything you like

Fill the table with foods that you and your guests will love to eat. We chose a few options, but you can also opt for more elaborate dishes if you don’t mind cooking.

Pro tip: Ask everyone to bring their favorite dish and spread the love a little bit. Guests will be able to show off their cooking skills while taking the stress off of you.

16. Fall Centerpieces

Fall-inspired centerpieces are a must-have. You can use real or fake items for these combinations, but you can decide on the option that you like best for your space.

Fake pumpkin planter
Fall flowers

Simple and effective. Orange is a major hit this time of year, but you can also find plant pots that you can fill with real or fake flowers.

17. Charcuterie Board

Finger foods are great for fall, and people are loving charcuterie boards this year. I know that these are my guilty pleasures, and you can either buy the board premade in the store or make your own.

You can add:

Fruit slices
Cheese
Grapes
Tomatoes
Deli meat
Crackers
Olives

Of course, if you’re vegan or vegetarian, you can cut out the meats and swap other items in.

18. Host a Fire Pit Party

It’s not too cold, yet there’s a perfect chill in the air. You can have a wonderful fire pit party in your backyard with a few items, such as fire pit, blankets and don’t forget to pick up some treats from the store.

Snacks, such as chips, marshmallows and smores, will do the trick.

19. Apple and Cinnamon Stick Centerpiece

Cinnamon sticks and apples are the two things I associate with fall. Cinnamon smells so good, and if you place the sticks on your mantle or table, it will be a major hit at your party. You can recreate this centerpiece with just a few items.

You’ll need apples, cinnamon sticks, candles and leaves. Add in a long wooden board and you’re done!