10 Underrated Recipes to Enjoy This Fall

Yes, you can make sweet potato pancakes with just two ingredients (give or take)! If you're a little skeptical, you'll become a believer after biting into them. They're simple enough for weekdays, yet feel indulgent enough for an autumnal weekend brunch. We've included a delicious topping that only three more ingredients. Roast a couple of sweet potatoes ahead of time, and try it this weekend!

Just like our Skillet Apple Chicken Thighs, but with pork. This twist on an easy one-pot recipe is weeknight-fast yet fit for company and makes us simply giddy for fall. The chops will finish cooking in the apple mixture, and get ready, because your kitchen is about to smell like a crisp, Autumn breeze.

If you're not sold on the idea of adding cheese to your apple pie, well… just wait until you taste a slice of this. There's no turning back after you experience the wow-worthy flavor combination of sweet apples and pears matched with sharp, salty cheddar, further complimented by a smoky hit from bacon in a buttery crust. This richly dynamic apple and pear pie is an impressive dessert for the holidays; and better yet, it's absolutely delicious served with coffee as a next-day breakfast (which is a very important consideration when choosing your holiday pies). While we went with a decorative cut-out crust on top, you could also top your pie with the second crust, as is, and cut a few slits to allow steam to release. 

Super savory miso takes this cauliflower side dish from ho-hum to wow-worthy. Stick with white miso for a milder taste, or switch in more salty varieties like red miso for a change of flavor. 

They're everything you love about a classic PB&J sandwich, but in cookie form (i.e. way better). These peanut butter and jelly bars feature a chewy peanut butter cookie layer, topped with a sweet-tart jammy layer, and finished off with a crunchy peanut butter streusel. While they would make for a perfect lunchbox treat to send with your kiddos (particularly if you're not already packing them a PB&J sandwich), these nostalgic, deliciously balanced cookie bars are also a huge hit with the grown-up crowd. Pack them up for your next tailgate or potluck, and ready yourself for rave reviews. We went with grape jam for our bars, but feel free to use your favorite flavor instead. 

Missing springtime's asparagus quiches? Try this fall-friendly leek frittata instead. Plenty hearty for breakfast, it also makes a delicious dinner when paired with a side salad. 

Try this quick, playful spin to turn pizza night on its head—in a good way. You get all the creamy goodness of chicken potpie, in a fun, eat-with-your-hands way that kids will love. Grown-ups will dig it, too, especially if you offer hot sauce at the table. Cooking the pizza in a preheated cast-iron skillet makes the crust wonderfully crispy so that it doesn't sog out when the creamy sauce goes on. Be sure to use only 10 ounces of dough (though you'll likely have to purchase in a 1-pound or larger ball); save the remaining dough to make breadsticks the next night.

The smart technique for this simple soup eliminates the need for sautéing the vegetables, which preserves the bright color and flavor of the carrots and results in a brighter, more refreshing soup. To keep it vegetarian, substitute vegetable broth for the chicken broth.

Change up pasta night by baking your spaghetti. This budget-friendly dish (costing under $10) allows you to stretch a small amount of meat over several servings.

Silky roasted butternut squash stands in for noodles in this more nutritious take on the starchy pasta casserole. It's a cheesy dinner that makes great use of an abundance of fresh autumnal butternut squash.