How To Host A Soup Dinner Party That Will Impress Anyone

Host a cozy soup dinner party for fall or winter entertaining at home. This soup party menu and recipes will guide you with great dinner party ideas. Find out how to serve soup at a dinner party, what to serve with soup, and how to set a beautiful cozy table setting. 

Host a Soup Dinner Party for Fall Entertaining

Let’s play a game. It’s the middle of fall or winter, you’re not into football or awards shows, but you still want to host a party. What do you do? How about hosting a soup dinner party with lots of rustic and earthy accents!

That’s exactly what I’ve created here, and I certainly hope you’ll be inspired. As a matter of fact, this year I’m hoping to create a different themed dinner party each month in hopes that gathering around the table will become less theoretical, and more of a reality. 

A soup party at home includes comfort food, a welcoming table setting, and charming accents. Check out our menu and recipe links, and additional ideas to help you with your planning. This is the perfect idea for casual entertaining at home.

How to Host a Soup Dinner Party 

Coming up with ideas for a table setting is always my favorite part. I kind of LOVE how this table turned out as it highlights rustic and organic elements.

• Use an interesting pattern to cover the table, like this Kantha Bengali quilted throw. They are a hand-sewn tradition in India, and are made from fabric remnants so you get a gorgeous combination of colors and patterns. They make terrific table covers, picnic blankets, bed throws, or sofa/chair throws. It really sets the tone for this earthy palette of colors too.
• Speaking of earthy, the place settings couldn’t be more so! Use individual sized wooden cutting boards as “plates” to hold the bread bowls of soup. Place a ceramic tile underneath, for a layered look. Grab some mini wooden plates from Crate & Barrel to hold the salad.
• The centerpiece is a vintage soup tureen I picked up at a thrift store, and makes second helpings easy to retrieve for guests. Small bowls of olives & stuffed peppers are placed on the table so they’re easy to nibble on. And pots of herbs double as party favors for guests to take home. The plants are a nice alternative to flowers for this particular setting, and the fragrance is intoxicating.
• Set up a welcome table so guests can grab a small shot of soup and a hot toddy cocktail as they head into the party.

Soup Party Menu 

To help you plan, I’ve laid out the menu and recipes for you. Of course, if you have your own favorites then by all means use them.

• I wanted this dinner to have lots of seasonal flavors. Welcome guests with a tray of spiced apple hot toddies. They’re a fun way to get the party started. 
• Another fun idea is to offer butternut squash soup shots right off the bat. Serve them on the welcome table as guests enter.
• Serve one or two soups since this is a seated dinner party (see recipes at bottom).

HOSTESS TIP: For a variety of soups, try setting up a soup bar instead. 

What to Serve with Soup at a Dinner Party

Side items that pair well with soup are varied and will depend on the type of soup you’re serving. In general you want to add sides that compliment the soup in texture and flavor.

• Place other items on the table for guests to graze on like olives, stuffed sweet peppers, pickles, nuts, cheese, and crackers.
• This beet & goat cheese salad is perfect for the occasion. You can serve crusty bread on the side.
• Another great salad to try is this butternut squash baby kale salad. It’s wonderful for fall and winter.
• Try adding sauteed brussels sprouts with bacon as a side dish.
• These gluten free cheddar biscuits are a good choice.
• You can forego bread or roles and serve this savory bread pudding instead. It’s cheesy and herb-y and delicious.
• Add corn spoon bread or this cheesy creamed corn casserole on the side.
• One of my favorite and easiest desserts to serve is pumpkin pie dump cake. I prepared and served them in mini baking dishes. Serve pumpkin, and pumpkin spice all winter long, I say!

How to Serve Soup at a Dinner Party

• Serve a big batch of soup in a vintage style soup tureen. Place it in the center of the table for a pretty and functional centerpiece. 
• Bread bowls make a fantastic presentation to serve soup in, and it’s edible! Put one at each place setting and fill it to the rim with soup. This is a unique detail for home entertaining.

HOSTESS TIP: Pick up bread bowls from Panara for about $2 a piece. Call a day or two ahead to make sure they’ll have enough for your needs.

• Remember those soup shots we welcome our guests with? Those can be served in vintage demitasse cups, shot glasses, or these cute espresso cups I used.

Soup Party Recipes

• This curried pumpkin soup is another fantastic fall recipe that works well as welcome soup shooters. Or how about this rosemary white bean soup?
• Serve slow cooker white chicken chili as the main course. It’s hearty and filling, and is delicious in these bread bowls. Or try this smoked chicken chowder recipe.
• You can also serve a less traditional soup/chili fusion like our cheesy chili recipe or slow cooker Brunswick stew. 
• You can also serve turkey vegetable soup or chicken tortilla soup. These would not work as well in the bread bowls though, because the high liquid factor.
• This chicken & wild rice soup is classic and sounds amazing.
• Try this buffalo chicken orzo soup for a spicy twist.
• Add a touch of Italian with minestrone soup.

There you have it – the perfect plan for a cozy soup dinner party with friends. I hope these party ideas inspire you to entertain during the cold, dark winter nights.

I first shared this dinner party menu on RecipeGirl, where I was a contributor.