79 Fall Recipes to Welcome Cooler Weather
Our summer dinner strategy often involves avoiding the kitchen, but the best fall recipes welcome us back. In the early weeks, juicy tomatoes, luscious eggplant, zucchini are still abundant. But as the humidity falls and the weather cools, it’s time to embrace fall’s bounty: roasted squash, sweet potatoes, vibrant greens, and caramelized cauiflower. Below, you’ll find our go-to fall dinner ideas, including easy sheet-pan dinners and one-pot pastas for back to school season, plus luscious fall soups, festive fall dinner party ideas, and all the comfort food we crave during leaf-peeping season.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Susan Ottaviano1/79Simple Roast Chicken
Welcome back, roast chicken dinners. Of all the fall recipes on the site, this dish might be the one we miss the most when the weather’s too hot to turn on the oven. Pair with fall sides like potatoes au gratin or simple roasted root vegetables.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Judy Haubert2/79Quick Vegetable Massaman Curry
This shortcut Massaman curry from Epi contributor Leela Punyaratabandhu gets its warmth from red curry paste, a touch of sweetness from Granny Smith apple, richness from coconut milk, and depth from cinnamon and star anise. Total prep time is just 1 hour from start to finish.
Photo by Colin Price3/79Apple Cider Pork Pot Roast
This simple Dutch oven braise is one of our most popular October recipes. Tart Granny Smith apples caramelize alongside the shreddable pork roast. A pile of mashed potatoes would be delicious as a side dish.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell5/79Double-the-Mustard Chicken With Potatoes and Greens
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich7/79Vegetarian Black Bean Chili
This black bean chili is good enough for Sunday football with a crowd but simple and quick enough to make on a weeknight. Top each bowl with grated cheese, cilantro, and scallions, or go with crumbled tortilla chips and sour cream.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Laura Rege8/79Creamy One-Pot Pasta With Sausage and Squash
Easy fall recipes like this one are pure comfort in a pot. And here, it’s just one pot: The pasta and the creamy butternut squash sauce with Italian sausage are all cooked together. You don’t even need to boil water. Fewer dishes? Yes, please.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Mariana Velasquez9/79Stuffed Sweet Potatoes With Beans and Guacamole
When all else fails, you can always have sweet potatoes for dinner. This version is extra-satisfying thanks to a topping of black beans and guacamole. But we have about a million other sweet potato topping ideas too.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Dana Bonagura11/79Sausage and Greens Sheet-Pan Dinner
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Erika Joyce12/79Vegetarian Lasagna
The smart move in this vegetarian lasagna recipe: a quick roasted sauce that concentrates its flavor in the oven.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell13/79Spiced Turkey Chili with Spaghetti Squash
14/79Panko-Crusted Roast Chicken Thighs With Mustard and Thyme
On a busy weeknight, you need an easy chicken recipe that comes with its own side, like this panko-and-Dijon-thyme-butter-crusted chicken with roasted carrots. Serve with apple pie for dessert for maximum fall flavor.
Photo by Charles Masters, Food Styling by Suzanne Lenzer16/79Our Favorite Lasagna With Sausage, Spinach, and Three Cheeses
Invite some friends over for this Italian American comfort food classic. Serve with broccoli rabe or Caesar salad.
Photo and Food Styling by Joseph De Leo18/79Yogurt and Spice Roasted Salmon
This is just about the easiest way to cook great salmon: You’ll cube it up for maximum surface area, add a spicy yogurt marinade, and cook it super-hot and fast.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell19/79Crispy Pan-Seared Chicken and Zucchini with Olives and Lemon
This flavorful chicken dish, doused in an olive and chile relish, is a great way to use up whatever zucchini you have lingering.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell21/79Sheet-Pan Pasta Bake With Chicken and Kale
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Molly Baz22/793-Ingredient Creamy Pumpkin Pasta
If you’ve already made pumpkin bread and you’re not quite ready for pumpkin pie, you might be looking for other ways to use pumpkin purée this fall. The key to balancing the richness of the cream and the sweetness of the pumpkin in this easy pasta sauce is salty, starchy pasta water.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton23/79Chicken and Potato Gratin With Brown Butter Cream
Photo by Andrew Thomas Lee24/79Slow Cooker Ribollita
You can cook with a slow cooker year-round, but it feels especially right in fall, when you’re craving a hearty soup like this one. Ribollita is thickened with bread and redolent with garlic.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Ali Nardi25/79Sheet-Pan Cumin Chicken Thighs With Squash, Fennel, and Grapes
We’re all about tackling complete fall dinners in one pan. Here, sweet acorn or delicata squash and grapes roast under the cumin-rubbed chicken thighs.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell26/79Cauliflower Carbonara
Sometimes you just want to eat a lot of pasta. Sometimes, adding veggies—like cauliflower—makes that dinner feel even better.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell27/79Winter Salad Hummus Bowls
Okay, we know this is called a winter salad, but the truth is, it’s a template for the perfect easy fall dinner too. Take hummus, dress any greens or veg you like with this delicious dressing. Top with our make-ahead Seedy Power Sprinkle and serve with jammy eggs.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell29/79Lentil and Chicken Soup With Sweet Potatoes and Escarole
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Lillian Chou30/79Braised Butternut Squash in Spiced Coconut Gravy
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Sean Dooley32/79Pollo Rostizado con Naranja y Chile de Árbol
PBS star Pati Jinich developed this orange-and-chile roast chicken for Epicurious as a part of this leftovers-focused meal plan.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell34/79Freeform Chicken Meatballs With Carrots and Yogurt Sauce
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Prop Styling by Anne Eastman, Food Styling by John Bjostad35/79Chicken Tagine With Apricots and Almonds
This chicken tagine from Gourmet is savory and a little bit sweet, and gently spiced with cinnamon.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Ali Nardi36/79Sheet-Pan Chicken Saltimbocca with Roasted Potatoes and Crispy Kale
Looks fancy, cooks easy. This entire Italian-inspired dinner is cooked on two baking sheets, so dish duty is quick.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Sophie Strangio, Food Styling by Monica Pierini37/7910-Minute Sausage Skillet with Cherry Tomatoes and Broccolini
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Photo by Eva Kosmas Flores38/79Cauliflower Puttanesca
Even if pasta is your love language, sometimes you need a break. This popular recipe pairs cauliflower with the bold and briny sauce.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson40/79Pasta Carbonara With Cabbage and Mushrooms
We love keeping cabbage around the house, since it lasts so long in the fridge. This dish has all the comfort of carbonara, with the added savory flavor of mushrooms and ribbons of cabbage.
Photo by Joe Woodhouse41/79Dumplings Over a Potato and Mushroom Stew
This vegetarian stew-and-dumplings combo appeared in one of our favorite cookbooks of 2022, Home Food by Olia Hercules..
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Drew Aichele43/79Air Fryer Salmon With Sweet Tamarind Glaze
Got an air fryer and not sure what to do with it? Start with this easy salmon recipe from Epi contributor Nik Sharma.
Photo by Quentin Bacon44/79Maple-Roasted Acorn Squash
It’s useful during fall to know how to roast vegetables. This is a classic method for squash from Ina Garten. You’ll fill the cavity of each gourd with butter and maple syrup. Serve with pork chops or juicy, crispy chicken thighs. Looking for stuffed acorn squash? We have that too.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Laura Rege45/79Butternut Squash Soup With Apples and Bacon
It’s not fall until you’ve made a big pot of soup, and this is one of our all-time favorite fall soup recipes. Don’t skip the garnishes.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Katherine Sacks46/79Wild Mushroom and Parsnip Ragout With Cheesy Polenta
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Drew Aichele47/79Air-Fryer Brussels Sprouts Salad With Spiced Maple Vinaigrette
Another air fryer recipe, this time featuring one of the fall vegetables that air fryers do best.
Photo by Con Poulos48/79Maple and Chile Roasted Squash With Quinoa Tabouli
Brush butternut squash with maple-chile oil before roasting, then top with a lemon-tahini dressing and herby quinoa.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Erika Joyce49/79White Chicken Chili
A quick, one-pot family fave: creamy white chicken chili with beans and corn. Add a wedge of cornbread—being sure to preheat the skillet first—if you have a little extra time to prep.
Photo by Emma Fishman, food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich, prop styling by Sophie Strangio50/79Harissa-Roasted Eggplant With Fried Capers
Eggplant isn’t over just because fall is arriving. Served with this combo of harissa and cherry preserves, it’s really a showstopper.
Photo by Nassima Rothacker51/79Butternut Squash With Red Lentils and Tamarind
Masoor dal meets squash in this easy vegetarian recipe from Chetna Makan.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton53/79Crispy Chicken Over Turmeric-Lemon Cabbage and Peas
Photo & Food Styling by Kendra Vaculin54/79Pumpkin Dutch Baby With Pumpkin Butter
Is there a better fall brunch than this quick and easy Dutch baby? Whip up the batter in your blender, and use the extra canned pumpkin to make a concentrated pumpkin butter for putting on top.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich57/79Stuffed Squash With Preserved-Lemon Gravy
This vegan main course is stuffed with dried fruit, hearty barley, and fragrant spices. Serving at a celebration? Kick things off with this pumpkin spice latte in cocktail form.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson58/79Vegetarian Three-Bean Chili
Photo by Laura Murray, Food Styling by Yekaterina Boystova59/79Crispy Tofu With Maple-Soy Glaze
If you’re trying to eat a bit less meat (or a lot less meat!), this is one tofu-cooking technique you should definitely know.
Joseph De Leo60/79Miso–Butternut Squash Soup
Make fall meal prep easier with this two-for-one dinner idea.
Photo by Marcus Nilsson, Prop Styling by Amy Wilson, Food Styling by Frances Boswell64/79Sweet-and-Saucy Pork Chops
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson65/79Sheet-Pan Roasted Squash and Feta Salad
Sweet roasted squash becomes a hearty dinner when tossed with tangy feta, toasty croutons, and bitter greens. This could also be served as a Thanksgiving side along with your favorite cranberry sauce and stuffing.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Astrid Chastka, Food Styling by Anna Hampton67/79Crispy Chicken and Potatoes With Cabbage Slaw
Another easy chicken dinner, coming through! Here, cumin-spiced chicken thighs and roasted potatoes are balanced by a zippy, jalapeño-spiked alternative to coleslaw. Serve caramel apple cupcakes for dessert.
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Photo by Evan Sung68/79Roasted Beets With Crispy Sunchokes and Pickled Orange-Ginger Purée
Even if you don’t make this entire recipe, don’t sleep on the pickled ginger and orange purée.
Photo by Stephen Kent Johnson, Prop Styling by Kalen Kaminski, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich69/79Slow-Roasted Salmon With Harissa
If you’re looking for tender, flavorful salmon that’s never overcooked, you need to get on board with slow-roasting. This version has a punch of spicy harissa, but you could also use a little pesto, curry paste, tapenade, Calabrian chile, mustard…or just lots of olive oil and a few sliced lemon wheels. Want a fancy starter? How about wine-poached pears with goat cheese sabayon.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell70/79Hot Honey Pork Chops With Escarole and White Beans
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Prop Styling by Sophie Strangio, Food Styling by Monica Pierini71/79Cheesy Baked Butternut Squash Polenta
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell72/79Ancho Chile Pork Tenderloin With Brussels Sprouts and Squash
Pork tenderloin is one of the easiest paths to a great weeknight dinner. Here, an ancho chile spice mix seasons the pork, the squash, and the brussels sprouts.
Photo by Emma Fishman, Food Styling by Pearl Jones, Prop Styling by Sophie Strangio73/79Winter Squash and Kale Pasta
Photo by Chelsie Craig, Food Styling by Claire Saffitz74/79Slow-Cooked Eggplant With Lemon and Fennel Seeds
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Kat Boytsova75/793-Ingredient Tomato Soup
When you’re out of fall dinner ideas, this simple, classic soup is here for you. Serve with grilled cheese made however you like it.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell78/79Cider-Braised Chicken With Apples and Kale
Photo by Alex Lau, Styling by Claire Saffitz79/79Cast-Iron Pizza With Fennel and Sausage
We’ll wrap up this list of favorite fall recipes with this crowd-pleaser. Browning sausage in the same skillet used to bake this pizza not only preheats the pan (the key to a crisp crust)—it also infuses the crust with rich, porky flavor. Now you just need some ideas for fall desserts…
