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Hosting a fall dinner party? We have 15 delicious recipes, ranging from appetizers and salads to hearty mains and indulgent desserts. Seasonal flavors, simple tips, and a menu your guests will love!
Here, in the mountains of North Carolina, we're surrounded by forests, which are still vibrantly verdant, but the shorter, cooler days we've been experiencing recently are telltale signs that our beautiful blanket of green is preparing to bid us farewell once again.
I love summer and its array of fantastic produce and fun outdoor activities, so the thought of autumn on the horizon is a little bittersweet. But, the more I think about it, it's mostly sweet! Thoughts of fall get me psyched up for glorious displays of crimson, persimmon, and saffron, clear azure skies with geese winging their way south in perfect V's, and (best of all) gatherings with family and friends around the table.
We feel that creating beautiful memories around the table is worth its weight in gold, but we also believe that it doesn't have to be time-consuming and stressful. That's the purpose of this post today: to share a collection of easy and/or make-ahead recipes that are perfect for a fall dinner party.
Pick a few and make them ahead of time for easy entertaining. Each post contains tips and tricks to make sure the recipe is a success every time. You'll find everything from appetizers, salads, bread, and entrées to dessert. Enjoy!
Pumpkin Jam (Confiture De Citrouille)
If you've never had the pleasure of tasting pumpkin jam, you've missed out on something incredibly delicious! No worries, though, you can make it yourself in less than 30 minutes!
Copycat Trader Joe's Pumpkin Cranberry Crisps
These Copycat Trader Joe's Pumpkin Cranberry Crisps are super delicious and are perfect for appetizers and gifts. They cost a fortune at the gourmet markets - but you can make them at home, for pennies!
Sweet and Spicy Roasted Almonds
A delicious snack, cocktail nibble or salad topper, all in one easy recipe! But beware: these Sweet and Spicy Roasted Almonds are difficult to stop eating!
No-Knead Porridge Bread and Beet Butter
This charming, old-fashioned porridge bread boasts a buttery, crisp crust, a soft and tender interior, and a wealth of fabulous flavor. !
Ridiculously Easy Rosemary Bread
This Ridiculously Easy Rosemary Bread takes 5 minutes to prep, 10 minutes to shape and it looks like it comes from an artisan bakery!
Harvest Apple Arugula Salad
I'm calling this a Harvest Apple Arugula Salad, but it could just as easily be called Fall in a Bowl.
Apple Cranberry Spinach Salad
Apple Cranberry Spinach Salad with Honey Cider Dressing - an insanely delicious and super healthy salad - perfect for any get-together with family and friends!
Caramelized Pear Arugula Salad
This Caramelized Pear Arugula Salad is a show-stopper with fresh greens, pan-roasted pears, ruby red pomegranates, thin slivers of sweet white onion and butter-roasted pecans. The delicious honey cider dressing ties it all together.
Eggplant Italian Sausage Gratin
This Eggplant and Italian Sausage Gratin is bursting with delicious, universally beloved Italian flavor. It's a dinner party-worthy meal that can be made in advance and just popped in the oven at the last minute!
Butternut Chicken Coconut Curry
Healthy and super delicious, this Butternut Chicken Coconut Curry comes together in less than an hour. It makes a beautiful presentation and can be prepped ahead for easy, elegant entertaining.
Make-Ahead Italian Sausage Puttanesca
This Italian Sausage Puttanesca is a delicious entree for a dinner party, but it's also great for a weeknight meal. It can be made ahead, freezes well and its a big hit with young and old alike!
French Mustard Chicken Breasts (Poulet à la Moutarde Française)
This French Mustard Chicken Breasts recipe will make you feel like a fancy chef, but it comes together quickly and can be prepped in advance. You'll want to eat the luxurious mustard sauce like it's soup!
Ridiculously Easy Magic Apple Cake
This one-bowl, no-mixer, Ridiculously Easy Magic Apple Cake is super moist and ridiculously delicious. The fabulous caramel icing is the crowning glory!
Maple Pumpkin Pots de Crème
These make-ahead Maple Pumpkin Pots de Crème have an amazingly silky smooth texture. Each delicious bite is bursting with warm, spiced flavor, a beautiful, gourmet alternative to pie!
Ridiculously Easy Apple Cider Bundt Cake
This Apple Cider Bundt Cake is not only super easy, it's moist, tender and loaded with delicious apple flavor. The crisp candy-like glaze is the crowning glory!
Shop Our Café Loves
We’ve gathered our favorite kitchen tools, tableware, and entertaining treasures in one place, the Café Loves store. It’s a wonderful spot to find something special for yourself or the cooks and hosts you love!
marvelous recipes! Thank you. You've already planned my first autumn dinner party!
Wonderful! Thanks for the kind comment, Elizabeth!