Planning a Fall Dinner Party? Check Out These Menu Ideas

Baked brie is always a hit, but it’s deceptively easy. This version combines sweet and savory notes of fig jam, dried cranberries, pecans, and thyme that will be delicious served alongside some crackers and apple slices. You can also omit the nuts if you have any guests with allergies, making this an adaptable appetizer option.

Not only is this autumnal app delicious, it’s also a plant-based, gluten-free option that everyone can enjoy! Pumpkin and garlic add plenty of fall flavor to this simple app. This is another option that’s easy to serve with crackers (gluten-free as needed!) and veggies.

You just can’t go wrong with bacon-wrapped anything for an appetizer. These bacon-wrapped dates offer a sweet, savory, and smoky flavor profile that will have guests asking for more. Creamy goat cheese inside the dates and a maple coating add an extra-flavorful punch in every bite.

If you’re entertaining a crowd and need something that’s vegan and/or gluten-free, look no further: this stuffed squash recipe is packed with fall flavor, but completely free of animal products or gluten. Each acorn squash is stuffed with quinoa, mushrooms, apple, cranberries, and plenty of herbs and spices for a dish that will have guests begging for the recipe!

Knock out your main dish and a side with this easy, one-pan dinner, starring chicken with support from in-season produce like sweet potatoes, Brussels sprouts, shallots, and apples. You can easily customize this dish to add in your other favorites, like squash or peppers, and clean-up is a breeze.

Risotto always adds a classy touch to dinner, and while it takes a while to cook, it’s impressively easy to make. This version features roasted butternut squash and crispy, fried sage for extra flavor throughout. Serve with chicken or beans for extra protein, or enjoy as-is with your favorite wine.

Salads are a classic dinner party staple for a reason. They’re easy to throw together, you can adapt them based on what you already have on hand, and they provide fresh, crisp flavors among all the decadent fall food. This harvest salad is packed with amazing ingredients, including sweet potatoes, apples, and kale, then finished with a tangy apple cider vinegar dressing. Yum!

You can’t have a fall dinner party without Brussels sprouts, and these aren’t the sad, soggy, steamed variety from when you were a kid. These Brussels sprouts are irresistible, with a crispy texture and a sweet yet tangy maple syrup and balsamic vinegar glaze. Plus, this side dish is vegan and gluten-free!

Round out your menu with these incredible carrots that will compete for star of the dinner table. They take only five or so minutes to prep, but the combination of butter, honey, and garlic complement the earthy sweetness in a way that will have guests raving. Feel free to add a bit of red pepper flakes or your favorite spicy seasoning for a kick!

After all that cooking, you’ll likely want something that’s pretty simple and hands-off for dessert. Enter these no-bake mini cheesecakes, which are easy to make and can be made the day before or morning of. Then, just pull these desserts from the fridge when it’s time for dessert.

If you have an abundance of apples on hand, put them to good use in this easy, delicious apple cobbler. Prep it just before dinner is done, then pop it in the oven to bake while you eat. Then, it’ll be ready to serve warm right after dinner—just be sure to grab some vanilla ice cream and/or whipped cream for serving!

Step aside, pumpkin and apple. There’s a new fall flavor ready to take over your fall dinner party menu: cinnamon. This creamy, luscious cinnamon pie recipe is bound to be a hit with guests, plus you can make it ahead of time to save yourself a bit of stress during the dinner party.