How to Plan Seasonal Fall Party Food + 20 Inspirational Fall Food Ideas

Fall is here, and it’s the perfect time to host a party with your family and friends. Fall brings so many built-in themes, such as the Fall Harvest, football season, and Halloween. Once you’ve selected your theme, start your menu planning and make sure to include some fall party food for kids on the menu too.

How much food do you need for a party?

Prepare for guests to have around three pieces of each appetizer. Offer some heavier dishes for dinner that stretch, such as chili with hot dogs or sliders, so that you’ll have plenty of food for multiple palettes. Make sure there are dessert options for each attendee. Additionally, consider the seasonality and make sure to have warming plates or coolers ready as necessary.

Fall beverage ideas

Autumn is the perfect time to take advantage of seasonal flavors. With classics like pumpkin spice and apple cider, here are our favorite fall drinks.

1. Apple cider bar

Serve hot spiced apple cider with all the fixings. Cook apple cider in the crockpot with orange juice, brown sugar, and spices. Set out various toppings like whipped cream, cinnamon sticks, and caramel sauce.

2. Cranberry punch

Making cranberry punch out of cranberry juice and ginger ale is a fall favorite. Add an ice ring made out of water, cranberries, and herbs to make your punch bowl look pretty.

3. Pumpkin spice lattes

Nothing symbolizes that fall is here more than a pumpkin spice latte. It’s easy to prepare a large batch in the crockpot out of coffee, canned pumpkin, and half and half.

Autumn appetizer ideas

These fall party appetizers are easy to make and will compliment the menu of any fall party theme.

4. Fried mac and cheese balls

Mac and cheese balls are a hit at any party, but they need to freeze at least two hours before frying to keep their texture, so plan ahead. They’re best when battered in potato chips and flour.

5. Pumpkin-shaped cheeseball

Make a pumpkin-shaped cheeseball out of two types of cream cheese, freshly grated cheddar cheese, ranch seasoning, green onions, and finely chopped red peppers. Save the stem of the pepper to make the stem of the pumpkin.

6. Cranberry compote with brie

A cranberry and brie crostini is easy to make and festive. Using orange zest and maple syrup adds some sweetness to the tangy dish.

7. Crockpot apple butter meatballs

These meatballs make the perfect fall party appetizer. All you need to do is throw frozen meatballs, apple butter, chili butter, and maple syrup into the crockpot. Serve on toothpicks.

8. Pumpkin hummus

Pumpkin hummus is a healthy way to celebrate fall. It includes ingredients like pumpkin puree, tahini, chickpeas, and garlic.

10. Sweet potato crostini

For a fun party appetizer, combine mashed sweet potatoes with melted butter, brown sugar, and pecans and bake on crostini. Top with broiled mini-marshmallows.

9. Pumpkin-Chorizo pizza

Pumpkin pairs well with chorizo sausage and gruyere cheese. You can easily prepare a few of these pizzas.  Add some chili pepper for spice.

Fall Dinner Party Main Course Ideas

Enjoy some extra warmth together and offer items that work well in the cooler weather like soups, sandwiches, and fresh bread.

11. Three-cheese beer soup

Three-cheese beer soup is made out of sharp cheddar, white cheddar, grated parmesan, and a bottle of beer. It also includes a variety of vegetables. It’s another easy crockpot item.

12. Chili

Prepare a big crockpot of chili. Set out different options so guests can have a bowl, a chili hot dog, or a platter of nachos with chili and cheese.

13. Cuban pork sandwiches

Cuban pork sandwiches are made of a huge pork shoulder and will feed a crowd. These will take at least a day and a half to prepare since the spice rub needs 24 hours to marinate and the pork cooks for eight hours in the crockpot.

14. Buffalo chicken sliders

Sliders make the perfect addition since they allow guests to sample lots of items. These are prepared with chicken breasts, Frank’s red hot sauce, butter, slider buns, and bleu cheese dressing.

15. Bacon-cheddar skillet cornbread

Bacon-cheddar cornbread will make a great addition to the chili and the three-cheese beer soup. It’s easy to make in a cast-iron skillet so bake up a few batches.

Dessert fall party food ideas

These desserts use the best of the fall flavors, such as apples, pumpkins, and cinnamon. They also incorporate fall themes like football or acorns.

16. Caramel apple bar

Instead of providing whole apples, set out apple slices with sticks and various toppings, such as caramel sauce, melted chocolate, nuts, and sprinkles. Kids will love this.

17. Donut Skewers

Cinnamon sugar donuts are just a part of fall. Order a box of cinnamon sugar donut holes from the bakery and offer bowls of various glazes to dunk them in.

18. Pumpkin crunch cake

A pumpkin crunch cake is a perfect dessert for a fall harvest or Halloween party. It’s like a fall dump cake with pumpkin puree, a yellow cake mix, condensed milk, and butter.

19. Football cake pops

These football cake pops are the perfect dessert for a football-themed party. The chocolate cake is mixed with peanut butter chips and decorated to look like a football.

20. Peanut butter acorns

A classic peanut butter cookie with a chocolate kiss in the shape of an acorn makes the quintessential fall dessert.

Final thoughts on planning fall party food for large groups

It’s so much fun to host a party during the fall. It’s easy to use apples and pumpkins as part of your décor or as your menu. They can even be hollowed out to hold beverages as a fun new idea. Use this season to your advantage and utilize the bold, bright colors in your menu and your décor. Once you’ve decided on your theme and menu, make sure you order the food via Instacart.

Grab it now on Instacart:

Best Choice Apple Cider (128 fl oz)

Ocean Spray Cranberry Juice Cocktail with Calcium (64 fl oz)

Cooked Perfect Meatballs, Italian Style, Flame Boiled, Dinner Size (14 oz)

Rienzi Chick Peas, Ceci (15 oz)

Mexican Chorizo Sausage (per lb)

Toll House Milk Chocolate & Peanut Butter Morsels (11 oz)

Hershey's KISSES and HUGS Chocolate Candy Assortment (15.6 oz)

Instacart

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