What is Your Go-To Autumn Meal for a Crowd?

[Flavorsavor]

Hello All,

My extended family meets for dinner every month, rotating between our respective houses. I’ll be lucky enough to host the first Fall meal this year, and I’m looking for some Autumn inspiration.

The host handles the main dish and maybe a side or two- the other attendees pot luck it up.

This is a long standing tradition, and we have been in the rotation for many years, so we have Brisketed, Butted, Ribbed, Chickened, Chopped, Chucked, and generally speaking smoked or grilled for these folks in all the traditional ways.

I’m hoping to pull some inspiration from y’all for a fall-flavored Power Meal to celebrate the season with my favorite people. What’s your go-to?

[LA Pork Butt]

My go to meal for a crowd is pulled pork, charro beans and slaw. Dessert is usually ice cream.

[Purc]

My family loves a boneless leg of lamb on the rotisserie or smoked rack of lamb as a change from beef, pork and chicken. I also like a stuffed, smoked turkey or a spun turkey on the roti.

[RonB]

Nothing sez Fall like a turkey. I'm not a fan of turkey, but if I cook one, it's gonna be on the the kettle using a rotisserie. I hear the Pit Barrel does a decent job too.

[Alan Brice]

PBC here! Flawless.

[HawkerXP]

..., ..., ...!

[Livermoron]

kettle rotisserie and turkey breast are my go-to. It's just the two of us, but with stuffings and other sides we have plenty in case one of our neighbors blows up the oven (it's happened...)

[barelfly]

Fall meals out this way in the Land of Enchantment - Green Chile Stew - lines up with the harvest (although green chile stew is a year-round meal). I do realize green chile may not be something you can find.

But could you make a meal around a harvest theme? Root veg for a side and perhaps a roasted pork loin or two depending on number of people?

Or go with an Oktoberfest themed meal? That could be fun too.

[Flavorsavor]

My wife is making stuffed pumpkins as a side, so we’re definitely hitting that harvest theme. Last time I smoked a pork loin and cut it into chops to serve, but it’s been awhile so I may do it again with some kind autumny glaze

[SheilaAnn]

Flavorsavor What a great tradition!

pumpkin spice _________ JUST KIDDING!!! 🤣🤣🤣 🎃


chicken and dumplings
NE Clam Chowder; have a guest bring small bread bowls
A monster lasagna; antipasti salad, garlic bread
and what Purc said (I’m making one tonight)

[jfmorris]

Hmmm. Pumpkin spice chicken & dumplings, pumpkin spice clam chowder.... and so on. I've got that stuck in my mind now!

[bbqLuv]

pumpkin spice _________ You Go Girl.

[Duanessmokedmeats]

Whatever will fit on my Hasty Bake, or in the Pit Barrels.

[SheilaAnn]

Flavorsavor yes!!!! You can justify it!!!

[Duanessmokedmeats]

Flavorsavor Do it! You will not be sorry.
This does everything from smoking, grilling, baking and searing.
It is easy to maintain temps.

[dpearce]

Justify? You mean it doesn't just "show up" on the patio one day? (lol)

[TripleB]

How many people are you cooking for? 10, 20, 30??

[Flavorsavor]

Excellent question. Usual crowd is around 15.

[Duanessmokedmeats]

Flavorsavor Do not forget to make more for leftovers.

[BillyBriskets]

I’ve been doing a butternut squash lasagna when hosting something in the fall the last few years and it’s always a hit

[Flavorsavor]

That does sound awesome

[Tax Man]

Squash is a must-have for big fall meal!

[Alan Brice]

Briskie Chili! That is yer base to start. Cook up some spaghetti n shredd Chedd for three ways. Taco fixins. Chopped tomatoes and diced onion. Fresh Salsa n all bases are covered. Yummm!

[klflowers]

Chili. With cornbread. Maybe a cheese board or something like that. A big bowl of salad with an assortment of salad dressings. And don't forget the beans in the chili

[Uncle Bob]

So you didn't get the vegan/vegetarian completely out of your life eh? Might as well take all the meat out of the chili rather than contaminate it...

[klflowers]

Uncle Bob that was almost pretty funny.

[texastweeter]

Dont be contribute to the downfall of civilization by adding beans to your chili, but some jalapeño cheddar cracklin cornbread pairs well...then against o does fritos, chopped onions, and cheddar.

[rodkeary]

I notice that you have not mentioned any seafoods being done. Although more of a year round item(s) how about a seafood gumbo or jambalaya?

[Flavorsavor]

Yknow that’s a pretty solid idea. Maybe a sausage and seafood gumbo cooked in the cast iron pot above the breeo…I’m liking that a lot.

[Carolyn]

Yes, cool temps and warm gumbo. Can't go wrong, and you can easily make a lot of it. You can serve using cups as a side or a bowl as a main dish.
I cut french bread real thin, butter it and lightly toast it.

[Johnny Booth]

Wasn’t thinking that way, but yeah. 😎

[ItsAllGoneToTheDogs]

A crowd of family? Prime rib and baked or smashed taters

A crowd of co-workers? Pulled pork or ribs and beans

A random crowd? Hotdogs and burgers with canned beans

[Flavorsavor]

I like your thinking. They’re all family, but they’re not getting prime rib outside Christmas!

[ItsAllGoneToTheDogs]

Flavorsavor for more frequent gatherings a nice roast beef or some home cut thick chops off a loin.

[acorgihouse]

Autumn to me is soup. Warm. We don't have that here, we have hot, really hot, and holy smokes it's hot! Still. Since way back in school, when I was the only person who could cook in my circle of friends, we'd meet up after a big exam or bad week, and I'd give them a grocery list. I would make two soups, at least, depending on how many might be there. Chicken and rice, split pea and chunky tomato were the favs (and not pricy). Then sandwiches, either BLT (if bacon on sale) or I would often get chuck roast for $.88/pound, at the campus Kroger, and grill it (on an ancient kettle I stole from my dad), to slice for sandwiches. Good cold weather fare, good for watching ballgames on the weekend, and good for poor students who had to pool their money to get a pound of bacon. Still works for my family.

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[Huskee]

I like the above idea of lasagna...but the twist, with you being a BBQ guru, is bake them in your smoker or grill. Low smoke of course, but even low smoke will be enough to add a new dimension.

[Flavorsavor]

Nice. Those are both solid suggestions. It would take the pressure off of my wife to make the stuffed pumpkin side, too.