100+ Cozy Fall Recipes

Slow-Cooker Chicken Stew with Pumpkin and Wild Rice Recipe

This savory fall stew is filled with tender cubes of pumpkin, shredded chicken, and nutty wild rice in a creamy sauce. When choosing a pumpkin, look for a sugar or cheese pumpkin. Field pumpkins, which are larger in size, have watery, stringy flesh and are best used for decoration. Or substitute a butternut squash.

Pumpkin-and-Winter Squash Gratin Recipe

Layers of pumpkin, butternut squash, and potatoes are baked in a rich, cheesy sauce until meltingly tender. Serve as a side dish with roasted chicken or pork, or as a vegetarian main dish alongside a green salad.

Warm-Spiced Butternut Squash Soup Recipe

Earthy, fragrant spices like allspice, cloves, and cinnamon make wonderful accents for the natural sweetness of butternut squash. Make sure to simmer the squash until very tender--the softer it gets, the silkier the puree.

Farro Bowl with Curry-Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Brussels Sprouts Recipe

Mix up your weeknight dinner with this savory bowl made with tender, fluffy farro-a nutty, ancient wheat grain that is equally tasty when whipped into risottos or tossed into salads-and roasted vegetables made ever more flavorful with curry powder. The hearty grain bowl is finished with toasted pecans for a great crunch and a creamy dollop of tangy yogurt sauce to diversify the textures. While roasted Brussels sprouts and sweet potatoes would be delicious seasoned with salt and pepper alone, the addition of garlic and curry powder adds a dynamic flavor palette that is needed to complement the neutral grain base and simple toppings. Overall, the result is a filling and healthy dinner option you can whip up in less than an hour. Even better, the farro can be prepared up to two days in advance. Just store it covered in the refrigerator, and then reheat before serving. We think this grain bowl would be wonderful topped with grilled or roasted chicken flavored with curry powder, garlic, salt, and pepper to add more protein if desired.

Pumpkin-Buttermilk Biscuits with Crispy Ham and Honey Butter Recipe

Pumpkin gives these light and flaky biscuits a pretty orange hue and an earthy flavor that pairs well with honey butter and salty country ham. Be sure to use pure pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie filling, which is sweetened and spiced.

Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Shallots Recipe

Here's a crowd-pleasing, holiday-ready take on a classic combo: Brussels sprouts and bacon. Thanksgiving is the perfect time to try out this casserole, but we love it for a regular weeknight as well. This dish is best with small, compact Brussels sprouts because they have a milder flavor than the large, leafy ones.

Pumpkin-Coconut Curry Recipe

Pumpkin and coconut milk pair wonderfully together, as you'll discover in this aromatic curry. Served over hot jasmine rice and topped with yogurt and cilantro, this filling vegetarian supper will become one of your favorite meals.

Southwestern-Style Stuffed Sweet Potatoes Recipe

Piled high with fresh and spicy toppings, these supper-worthy spuds make a satisfying meatless main dish. Quinoa and black beans join forces to keep you full with fiber and protein; the quick sheet pan-roasted salsa steals the show with its balance of fresh and charred flavors. If you can't find Cotija cheese at your market, crumbly queso fresco or goat cheese would make delicious substitutes.

Butternut Squash and Spinach Lasagna Recipe

Silky roasted butternut squash stands in for noodles in this more nutritious take on the starchy pasta casserole.

Easy Lentil Soup with Sweet Potatoes and Bacon Recipe

We spiced up plain-Jane lentil soup with the addition of tender sweet potato chunks, fire-roasted tomatoes, and bacon. This rich, comforting, smoky soup is perfect if you are planning a tailgate event or weekend party because it can be prepared up to three days in advance and stored in the refrigerator. It tastes even better when the flavors have had a chance to marry.

Sausage and Mushroom Pasta With Butternut Squash Recipe

How's this for a hack? Here we slice refrigerated lasagna noodles to get silky pappardelle-style ribbons of pasta that look like they're homemade. Pick up pre-cubed butternut squash to save yourself peeling and chopping time.

Persimmon Pie with Pecan Streusel Recipe

If you find fine domesticated persimmons at your local grocery store or farmers' market, they should be easy enough to puree. Hachya and Fuyu are great varieties to make this flavorful pie filling. But don't feel bad if you want to skip the messy work of processing your own persimmon puree and order it frozen online.

Southwestern-Style Stuffed Sweet Potatoes Recipe

Piled high with fresh and spicy toppings, these supper-worthy spuds make a satisfying meatless main dish. Quinoa and black beans join forces to keep you full with fiber and protein; the quick sheet pan-roasted salsa steals the show with its balance of fresh and charred flavors. If you can't find Cotija cheese at your market, crumbly queso fresco or goat cheese would make delicious substitutes.

Sausage and Mushroom Pasta With Butternut Squash Recipe

How's this for a hack? Here we slice refrigerated lasagna noodles to get silky pappardelle-style ribbons of pasta that look like they're homemade. Pick up pre-cubed butternut squash to save yourself peeling and chopping time.

Pumpkin Beer-Cheese Soup Recipe

Made with pureed pumpkin and pumpkin ale beer, this indulgent, velvety soup is perfect for fall. A combination of processed cheese and extra-sharp Cheddar gives this soup a smooth texture and just the right amount of tanginess.

Shaved Carrot, Asparagus, and Apple Salad Recipe

Add sweetness and color to your usual cabbage slaw with this creative side dish that includes green apple, asparagus, basil, and carrots. A vegetable peeler is the best tool to get super thin slices of asparagus. (Buy thicker spears to make this job easier.) We love using angel hair cabbage in this easy salad because it's delicately shredded and breaks down quickly in the vinaigrette while still maintaining a nice crunch. Unlike other slaw recipes, this one needs to be served immediately, although you can prep the fruit and vegetables a day or two in advance and store them, covered, in the refrigerator.

Whiskey-Apple Cider Punch Recipe

We created this refreshing punch with tailgating in mind, but it would be a hit at fall gathering. Made with frozen cranberries, sparkling apple cider, honey, brown sugar, fresh lemon juice, and bourbon, it's deliciously sweet and tangy. Frozen cranberries are best for this recipe; be sure to let them thaw before you add them to the food processor.

Potato Pancakes With Apple Butter Recipe

Frozen hash browns make it possible to whip up latkes in minutes. Enjoy the combo of crisp potato pancakes and a simple green salad for a light entrée, or serve alongside roast chicken or beef for a protein punch.

Pumpkin-Maple Loaf Recipe

For breakfast on the go, spin this recipe into individually portioned muffins by dividing the batter among 12 muffin cups coated with cooking spray and baking at 375°F for 22 minutes. To freeze muffins, let cool completely, and place in ziplock plastic bags. Reheat in the microwave for 30 seconds.

Roasted Butternut Squash and Poblano Pizza Recipe

This Mexican-inspired twist on flatbread is packed with oven-roasted veggies, delivering almost a third of your daily fiber goal. Buy precubed butternut squash to trim down your prep time; swap goat cheese for the queso fresco, if you prefer.

Oven-Fried Pork Chops with Sweet Potatoes and Green Beans Recipe

This hearty sheet pan supper is a cinch to make, even on the busiest weeknight. The secret to crisp, breaded pork chops? Dredge only one side of each pork chop in the panko mixture to keep the underside of the meat from becoming soggy.

Coffee-Rubbed Steak With Brussels Sprouts Salad Recipe

This super fast weeknight meal comes together in 20 minutes, but is elegant enough to impress a date, or wow a family. The blue cheese and honey give the salad plenty of depth and flavor, and the coffee adds an unbeatable richness to the steak. (Don't worry. It's not enough to keep anyone up.) And it all comes together at just 427 calories per serving!

Carrot-Apple Muffins With Orange Glaze Recipe

These tender, lightly sweetened whole-grain muffins have a special can't-put-your-finger-on-it flavor thanks to garam masala. Look for garam masala in the spice aisle; large spice brands make it. If you don't have it or can't find it, you can substitute an equal amount of cinnamon.

Kohlrabi and Apple Slaw Recipe

Kohlrabi is a good source of vitamin C; it makes a great stand-in for celery in this riff on Waldorf salad.

Easy Butternut Squash Casserole Recipe

This delightful twist on sweet potato casserole is sweet, warm, and comforting. If you're short on time, use Whole Foods' canned butternut squash purée instead of roasting your own. Marshmallows are optional, but recommended. 

Whipped Sweet Potato Butter Recipe

You need to make a pan of buttermilk biscuits or a skillet of hot cornbread just so you can try this very creamy and very buttery Whipped Sweet Potato Butter. The recipe not only makes a lot, but the butter freezes well. Simply roll the butter into a log in parchment paper, wrap in plastic wrap, then aluminum foil, and freeze. Cut off pieces as you need them like it was a regular stick of butter. It pairs perfectly with our Cheddar-Caramelized Onion Bread.

Mushroom Quiche With Sweet Potato Crust Recipe

Sweet potatoes make the perfect gluten-free crust for this custardy quiche. Brown the mushrooms with garlic to deepen their meaty flavor.

Curried Coconut-Pumpkin Soup Recipe

This fall-flavored soup tastes lush and creamy, but has no heavy cream whatsoever. Want to make it in your Instant Pot? Click here for the recipe.

Ziti with Mushroom, Fennel, and Tomato Ragu Recipe

Think your Ragu has to filled with ground beef? Think again. While traditionally a meat sauce, we've developed flavors and textures in this sauce with multiple varieties of mushrooms. Serve a loaf of warm bread to sop up all the saucy goodness of this pasta dish. Use a Parmesan rind in your Ragu, soups, and stews to subtly infuse the dish with the flavors of the cheese. If the rind doesn't dissolve during the cooking process, you can remove it from the mixture, as instructed in this recipe, or break it up with a fork into small, chewy pieces. While any pasta shape will work with this hearty vegetarian dish, we prefer penne or ziti; these noodles help capture every last bite of the chunky sauce.

Pumpkin Cheesecake Recipe

Does it get any more decadent than this fall cheesecake? We think not.

Rosemary-Crusted Pork with Mushrooms Recipe

Feeding a crowd this season? This recipe's a cinch to double-simply brown the pork in batches, then proceed as directed. If you can't find instant polenta, regular is fine; start cooking it before you prep the pork so it's ready on time.

Green Bean Casserole Recipe

We've given the classic casserole an upgrade by swapping sodium-heavy canned soup for a rich and chunky homemade mushroom sauce. For bean blanching instructions, see the note on the recipe at left.

Pumpkin Spice Latte Cupcakes Recipe

Loaded with toasty fall flavors, a batch of these easy PSL cupcakes will have you in sweater weather mode faster than hitting the Starbucks drive-thru.  

Butternut Squash Risotto Recipe

"Here's a perfect example of a traditional Italian dish and cooking technique adapted to an American ingredient. Where the recipe originated in Italy, the Italian pumpkin, zucca barucca, is used. But here in the States, I use butternut squash. In fact, I have served this risotto as a first course for our Thanksgiving." -Giuliano Hazan

Make this Italian-inspired risotto recipe a staple in your culinary rolodex.

Sweet Potato and Sausage Strata Recipe

If you make this dish ahead, bring it to room temperature before baking so it will reheat evenly.

Sautéed Spiced Apples and Cabbage Recipe

This tasty spin on skillet apples gets a fiber upgrade thanks to crunchy green cabbage. Pair with roasted pork tenderloin or chicken.

Pumpkin Fudge Recipe

These sweet little pumpkin fudge squares feature canned pumpkin, white chocolate, and marshmallow creme.

Charred Sesame Green Beans Recipe

One taste of these quick-charred green beans, and you'll never just steam again. Letting the beans sit in the hot skillet without stirring is the secret to getting a nice char; adding the sauce to the still-hot skillet helps it reduce quickly and cling to the crispy, smoky beans. Serve with roasted pork or salmon.

Herby Potato, Green Bean, and Tuna Salad Recipe

Herby Potato, Green Bean, and Tuna Salad is chock full of lunchtime goodness. You can also add a hard-boiled egg on top for an extra protein boost.

Steak with Mixed Olive Tapenade, Butternut Squash, and Green Beans Recipe

This bountiful plate comes together in a snap thanks to savvy finds from the supermarket like frozen precooked butternut squash, olives from the olive bar, and spiralized beets (available in the produce section). If you can't find the beets, you can add 1/3 cup precooked, sliced beets to the cooked and drained green beans. Cutting the steak in half will also speed up cooking; be sure to let it rest a few minutes before slicing.

Lobster-Wild Mushroom Galette Recipe

Similar to an Italian crostata, the French galette is a free-form pastry that goes great with both sweet and savory toppings. The best part is that the more rustic it looks, the better.

Apple Quinoa Bowl with Cinnamon Ricotta Recipe

Make this bowl with a batch of our Perfect Quinoa. It captures the essence of a warm slice of apple pie but won't send you into midmorning nap mode. Feel free to swap the ricotta for Greek yogurt, if desired.

Granola and Rosemary Cider Caramel Apples Recipe

Butternut Squash Noodles Recipe

This dish tastes as good as it looks. You can purchase pre-spiralized squash noodles at many grocery stores, so don't worry if you don't have a spiralizer. Trust us, you won't miss the carbs with these easy butternut noodles. 

Caramel Apple Blondie Pie Recipe

Buttery rich layers of tender cake and caramelized apples add up to one sweet combo. The secret to the crisp, flaky crust? Baking in a cast-iron skillet on a lower oven rack.

Bacon-Brussels Sprout-Green Bean Casserole Recipe

We combined two Thanksgiving side dishes, green bean casserole and Brussels sprouts, into one crowd-pleasing recipe. Topped with fried onions and crispy bacon, everyone will love this dish on Thanksgiving, or even on a weeknight.

Pumpkin Waffles Recipe

.Top with maple syrup and chopped walnuts for a breakfast treat that tastes like pumpkin bread. You'll be making these pumpkin waffles over and over again.

Roasted Pork with Apples and Potatoes Recipe

This meal shows off the sheet pan at its most versatile: The protein, starch, vegetable, and pan sauce all cook to perfection in the same pan. Look for a large apple so the slices retain some texture after roasting. The pan needs to get very, very hot to get a good crust on the pork: Preheat the oven to 500°F first, then reduce to 450°F after adding the pork so it cooks evenly. The browned bits left in the pan will be incorporated into a luscious sauce.

Shaved Broccoli-Apple Salad with Tarragon Dressing and Bacon Recipe

This healthy broccoli salad is a refreshing new twist on the broccoli-and-bacon picnic standard that sometimes gets drenched in mayonnaise dressing. Here, Greek yogurt and whole grain Dijon mustard stand in for globs of mayo.

Pumpkin-Praline Pie Recipe

Can't decide between pumpkin or pecan? This pie has a taste of both.

Steak with Mixed Olive Tapenade, Butternut Squash, and Green Beans Recipe

This bountiful plate comes together in a snap thanks to savvy finds from the supermarket like frozen precooked butternut squash, olives from the olive bar, and spiralized beets (available in the produce section). If you can't find the beets, you can add 1/3 cup precooked, sliced beets to the cooked and drained green beans. Cutting the steak in half will also speed up cooking; be sure to let it rest a few minutes before slicing.

Salted Caramel Gingerbread Poke Cake with Pumpkin Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe

The flavors of gingerbread, salted caramel filling, and pumpkin cream cheese frosting marry to become the ultimate fall and holiday poke cake. This cake is a great snack cake or dessert and it's pretty enough to serve to guests. One taste and you're sure to bring this cake to potlucks all season long.

Beef Tagine with Butternut Squash Recipe

Take your basic beef stew to the next level by making this simple, fragrant beef tagine featuring butternut squash.

Farro, Green Bean, and Kale Salad Recipe

This recipe goes with: Farro Salad Lunch Box

Hasselback Beets with Tangy Dill Sauce and Caraway Recipe

Elevate sweet, earthy beets into a show-stopping side dish with a bold but balanced Eastern European flavor profile and a little hasselback magic. A handy trick for hasselbacking is to place your beets between the handles of two wooden spoons or two chopsticks in order to cut the slices well into each beet, but not all the way through to the cutting board.

Pumpkin Pie Pudding Recipe

We took the best part of the classic fall pie and stuck it in a glass for a perfectly-portioned treat. Top with a dollop of whipped cream and chopped walnuts.

Rhubarb-Apple Crisp Recipe

Honeycrisp and Golden Delicious apples hold their shape well and won't get too mushy after baking. Brown sugar lends deep molasses flavor to the topping.

Spiced Pumpkin Chiffon Pie Recipe

Celebrate the best of fall flavor with this creamy pumpkin pie. This version of the classic Thanksgiving pie is a fluffier, less dense version of the original, so it's perfect for serving at holiday gatherings when you want a crowd-pleaser.

Pumpkin Spice Latte Pie with Coffee Liqueur Whipped Cream Recipe

Whether or not you're a fan of the infamous, seasonal Starbuck's beverage, we're willing to bet you won't have any regrets about swapping your typical pumpkin pie for this caffeinated uptake this Thanksgiving. We were surprised by just how amazing a hint of coffee sets off creamy, spiced pumpkin pie filling, but the depth of rich flavor speaks for itself-this PSL-inspired pie is in a league of it's own. Served with a coffee liqueur-spiked whipped cream, this fall dessert reaches a level of decadence a basic pumpkin pie could only dream of. Note: If you opt to create a decorative lattice effect as we did here, be very careful when placing your dough strips atop the pie-the pie's surface will be very hot and not fully set.

Fantastic Beets, Baggage, and Brew Stew Recipe

Red and purple beets give this stew an inviting vibrance, while fresh thyme, garlic, and red onion add to the rich flavor. Inspired by the magical wizarding world, this smooth and flavorful soup is sure to satisfy the greatest of Harry Potter fans. 

Sweet-and-Spicy Sheet Pan Chicken with Cauliflower and Carrots Recipe

There's nothing quite as satisfying as a sheet pan supper that's high on flavor and low on cleanup. This tangy sheet pan chicken supper gets a little kick from cayenne pepper that's balanced in the sauce with caramelized grapes. Roasted cauliflower and carrots offer a savory touch to the dinner, while couscous makes it hearty and healthy. Since the chicken is bone-in, it takes a little longer to roast than thin filets; but the amount of flavor in the end is more than worth it! The seedless grapes are definitely the secret ingredient in this dish. They melt and caramelize while roasting, adding a subtle hint of sweetness to the sauce.

Couscous Pilaf with Roasted Carrots, Chicken, and Feta Recipe

Flavored with golden raisins, toasted almonds, and an ingeniously simple lemon-brown butter sauce, this fluffy couscous is delicious on its own, but roasted carrots and chicken turn it into a memorable one-bowl meal. There are countless ways to repurpose a rotisserie chicken, and this clever recipe is a delicious way to do so. The lemon-brown butter sauce pairs beautifully with all of the ingredients in this one-bowl meal. You're picky eaters can enjoy all the parts separately, but it really taste even better together. We think that's reason enough to try this one for dinner tonight. If you are short on time you can use baby carrots, which come ready to roast-there's no chopping or peeling required. Yet another way to cut down on your time in the kitchen!

Bacon-and-Apple Braised Cabbage Recipe

Cabbage has a naturally high water content; it will wilt considerably in the pan with just 1/2 cup added liquid. We add the sweet (apple and brown sugar) and tangy (sherry vinegar) flavors toward the end of braising so they stand out in the finished dish. If you don't have sherry vinegar, you can substitute apple cider vinegar. Serve with roast pork or slow-cooked beef.

Roasted Carrots with Pecans and Sorghum Recipe

A sweet and tangy vinaigrette made with apple cider vinegar and sorghum syrup makes these carrots incredibly flavorful. If you can't find sorghum syrup, use an equal amount of honey or maple syrup. And be sure to choose small carrots. They will roast and caramelize more evenly and have more natural sweetness than larger ones.

Roasted Butternut Squash, Apples, and Figs with Sage Brown Butter Recipe

If you only want to use one sheet pan and make 4 servings, divide this recipe in half, and save the extra half of your par-cooked butternut squash for a soup, roast, or stuffing.

Apple Pie Nachos Recipe

All of the flavors you crave from a gooey apple pie, but in an easy-to-make, highly shareable format.  

Pumpkin Pie Cutout Cookies Recipe

Bake the cookies up to five days ahead, and store in an airtight container. To make our wind cookies and leaf cookies, we used round cutters and swirly piping to represent the wind, and various sizes of leaf-shaped cutters for fluttering foliage. For more on decorating cookies, visit southernliving.com/cookietips.

Pumpkin-Praline Pie Recipe

Can't decide between pumpkin or pecan? This pie has a taste of both.

Cinnamon-Apple Dutch Baby Recipe

This sheet pan Dutch baby is a perfect dish to whip up for a group brunch, but can easily be transformed into dessert when served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. 

Warm Apple Compote and Aged Cheddar Topping Recipe

Maple Pumpkin Pie with a Message Recipe

To use up the leftover pumpkin, try adding some to a breakfast smoothie, or stir into pancake batter. Or combine with a splash of half-and-half, season with sage, and toss with pasta.

Spiced Mulled Wine Recipe

Oven-drying orange slices gives them a longer shelf life, which is ideal for gift-giving. For a sweet homespun touch, hand-write the recipe on an old-fashioned recipe card.

Hard Cider Braised Sausages Recipe

This hearty pairing of sweet and savory flavors has "autumn" written all over it. Sweet apple and cider balance the salty, meaty sausage and tangy mustard, while fresh thyme and sage round the dish out with earthy depth. It's a great chilly weather dish for a tailgating or a casual weekend get-together. That said, this single-skillet sausage dish comes together quickly enough for a weeknight dinner as well. Serve with a spinach salad and crusty bread for a well-rounded plate. 

Beef Stew Recipe

Originally, this recipe called for the stew to be cooked in a wok, which was trendy at the time. We prefer using a Dutch oven because it provides a large, flat surface to properly brown the meat.

Chicken and Mushroom Stew Recipe

Making this creamy chicken and mushroom stew is one of Cooking Light Editor-in-Chief Hunter Lewis' favorite autumn rituals, along with Saturday morning pancakes, visiting pumpkin patches, and sunset bonfires. Celebrate fall by tossing this into your cast-iron pot and letting it bubble on a lazy Sunday afternoon. 

Red Wine-Marinated Steak with Balsamic Onions and Slaw Recipe

Cook this with either hanger or flank steak, whichever you prefer. The onions add a hit of umami, but feel free to omit them.

Turkey Black Bean Chili Recipe

From Kevin Nelson, executive chef at Terra Bistro at Vail Mountain Lodge & Spa, here's a Turkey Black Bean Chili that's an ideal workout lunch incorporating carbs, protein, and some liquid.

Home-Style Slow-Cooker Pot Roast Recipe

Certain comfort foods are synonymous with Sunday supper, the meal that brings the family together. The convenience of a slow cooker makes it easy to enjoy this classic any day of the week. Be sure to cut the vegetables into large, uniform pieces so they will hold up during the long cook time.

Easy Chili Recipe

Look no further for the ultimate, easy chili recipe. You may think you know how to make chili, but our homemade chili recipe is a gamechanger. With just a push of a button, your weekday dinner is taken care of as the chili cooks away in the slow-cooker. Add chili to your next barbeque to top grilled sausages for an upgraded version of chili dogs. You can easily substitute ground turkey instead of beef for a lighter option and the rest of the ingredients should already be stocked away in your pantry. To top the hot, spicy chili, add shredded Cheddar cheese and corn chips for extra flavor and texture. To go beyond our favorite classic recipe, find more chili recipes here.