25 Comfort Foods to Serve at Your Fall Dinner Party

Dinner parties are a great way to catch up with friends while sharing a delicious meal with them. When the crisp autumn air starts to roll in, your potential guests might be craving something heartier than a summery strawberry salad. Comfort foods are a great way to feed everyone warm, satisfying meals just like Mom used to make.

Serving creative comfort food at your next fall dinner party is likely to wow your guests. Combining butternut squash and pumpkin into some of our favorite comfort foods puts a spin on classic recipes that your guests will love. You can even serve up some spiked hot chocolate for dessert to keep the fall celebrations going. 

Turkey Chili is a delicious spin on a classic chili recipe. This dish incorporates pumpkin as a nod to the forthcoming Thanksgiving.

Click here for the Turkey Chili Recipe.

These combined superfoods make the perfect fall dish to serve at your next dinner party. This yummy, healthy recipe takes sweet potatoes and lentils to the next level.

Click here for the Autumn Lentils with Sweet Potato and Kale Recipe.

Combining beautiful fall ingredients, this casserole is a great vegetarian dish to enjoy on a cold fall evening. Butternut Squash gives this casserole the sweet flavor that we look forward to every chilly season.

Click here for the Butternut Squash, Sage, and Mushroom Casserole Recipe.

Cheese and potatoes were truly made for each other. This creamy, easy slow-cooker soup combines a mere six ingredients  and provides a comforting, warm dish to accompany, for instance, some tasty buffalo chicken paninis.

Click here for the Cheesy Potato Slow-Cooker Soup Recipe.

Instead of a baked potato, try making these crispy scalloped potatoes as a side dish for any dinner. They would go perfectly with some roasted chicken at your next fall bash.

Check out the Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes recipe here.

Few items are more satisfying on a fall night than a warm bite of chicken pot pie. Combine this homemade favorite with a pasta, and you’ll have an ideal dish.

Click here for the Chicken Pot Pie Pasta Recipe.

Who could forget about what is arguably the greatest comfort food of all? A gooey cookie with a cold glass of milk is a classic dessert to serve at any dinner party.

Click here for the Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe.

This dish definitely brings that wow factor for your guests. Cheesy grits are already so comforting, but combining it with one of our favorite fall squashes, and it’s out of this world.

Click here for the Creamy Grits with Roasted Butternut Squash and Blue Cheese recipe. 

Serve your grilled cheese and tomato soup with style this season. This grilled cheese is an improvement on an old classic; mushrooms, truffles and prosciutto enhance the classic grilled cheese flavor.

Click here for the Creamy Tomato Soup and Truffle Grilled Cheese recipe.

There are so many wonderful recipes that call for pumpkin this season. This one is perfect for vegetarian guests who crave the comfort of soup without the meat. Add cheese or sour cream to enhance this dish or leave them out and make it vegan.

Click here for the Hearty Vegetarian Pumpkin Chili recipe.

Lasagna is among the first meals that come to mind when we picture Italian comfort food. Combining pumpkin into this vegetarian lasagna creates a nice surprise for your guests.

Click here for the Pumpkin Lasagna Recipe.

Switch out the classic comfort foods on your table for something different, like this delicious version of Thailand’s signature noodles. This dish combines sweet and savory notes and will offer a pleasant twist to a typical pasta dinner party.

Check out the Lemongrass Chicken Pad Thai recipe here.

This spinach pesto is a great way to incorporate more green into your dinner.  

Check out the recipe for Linguine and Spinach Pesto here.  

Cheesy, creamy mac and cheese gets an exciting makeover with this butternut squash recipe. Serving this at your next fall dinner party will definitely leave a lasting impression on your guests.

Click here for the Healthy Mac and Cheese with Butternut Squash recipe.

This recipe is a well-balanced meal that’s perfect if you don’t have time to spend hours cooking. Just combine the ingredients and let your slow cooker do the work for you. You can even whip up some creamy mashed potatoes  or some butternut squash mashed potatoes as a side.

Click here for the Easy Slow Cooker Fire Pot Roast Recipe.  

There is nothing like a good, Southern pulled pork sandwich. It’s guaranteed to be a hit at any party and goes great with so many sides, like baked beans or mac and cheese.

Check out the Pulled Pork Sandwiches with Coleslaw Recipe here.

Breakfast for dinner is a favorite that everyone will love. These pumpkin pancakes, sure to get everyone in the mood for fall, go nicely with crispy hash browns.

Check out the Pumpkin Pancakes Recipe here.

Pizza is the ultimate favorite comfort food, but ordering it in sometimes turns into a greasy mess. Try this recipe for homemade pumpkin pizza and try making the dough from scratch.

Click here for the Pumpkin Pizza Recipe.

Butternut squash soup is something that naturally accompanies the cold weather. This twist uses apples and curry to create a creamy, savory soup that’s perfect for any chilly night. You can use extra Granny Smith apples to create a chicken and apple salad to serve alongside your soup.

Click here for the Roasted Butternut Squash and Apple Soup Recipe.

How could you go wrong with a beefy pie topped off with whipped potatoes? This gluten-free shepherd’s pie is sure to leave your guests satisfied on any fall night. Pair it with some Irish beer to impress your guests with this Irish-inspired meal.

Check out the Gluten-Free Shepherd’s Pie Recipe here.

Americans love their mac and cheese. It’s time to switch out your Kraft recipe in favor of this smoked Gouda cheesy combination that will leave your guests enthralled.

Check out the Smoked Gouda Macaroni and Cheese recipe here.

This creamy pasta dish combines some of our favorite items to create this amazing Italian dinner.  With pancetta, Parmigiano-Reggiano, and cream this dish wins its way into our hearts every time.

Click here for the Spaghetti Alla Carbonara recipe.

Tired of your go-to spaghetti bolognese recipe? Try replacing it with this scrumptious spaghetti and meatball recipe. Few things say comfort like a big bowl of spaghetti and meatballs.

Check out the Spaghetti and Meatballs recipe here.

These sweet potato fries are topped off with Parmigiano-Reggiano and cinnamon to create a comforting, fall-inspired side dish. The fries make a great healthy alternative to standard fries and will serve as an excellent side dish for your burger night.

Click here for the Sweet Potato Fries with Parmesan and Cinnamon recipe.

This classic casserole combines creamy mushrooms, pasta, peas, and tuna to provide the ultimate Midwest-inspired comfort food. Any casserole is a simple way to serve a warm, comforting meal at your dinner party, but this one stands out. 

Check out the Tuna Noodle Casserole Recipe here.