Food Recipe Collections & Favorites Seasonal Meals 18 Fall Recipes That Are Comforting and Delicious It’s time to bake those pumpkin spice goodies and butternut squash casseroles. By Ariel Klein Ariel Klein Ariel Klein is a freelance writer specializing in lifestyle, fashion, beauty, technology, home, cooking, and gardening topics. Her work has appeared in Real Simple, Well+Good, Travel+Leisure, Better Homes and Gardens, and Food & Wine magazine. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Updated on August 29, 2024 Close Photo: Antonis Achilleos It’s time to break out the autumn décor and pumpkin spice candles and start making your favorite fall recipes. From warm and comforting main dishes to impressive sides and innovative desserts, we gathered some of the best seasonal dishes to make over the next few months.Use your farmer’s market fresh produce for a Brussels sprout salad or curried butternut squash soup. Have an abundance of apples and pumpkin purée? Make an apple pie skillet cake or pumpkin bread trifle. We can promise you there’s something for everyone in this recipe roundup. 01 of 18 Curried Butternut Squash Soup Rich, creamy, and decadent, this butternut squash soup features the epitome of fall flavors and will warm your belly on a cold night. Before serving, garnish with fresh cilantro, peanuts, and crushed red pepper. A drizzle of lime juice adds a delicious citrusy twist. GET THE RECIPE 02 of 18 Wild Rice and Butternut Squash Bake Victor Protasio Once you try this casserole, we bet you'll be keeping the recipe around all season. Loaded with rice, butternut squash, and cheese, this vegetarian dish is mouthwatering and uses some of the freshest ingredients of the season. It can be served as a side or vegetarian main. You can add chicken to the bake if you're looking to add some meat. GET THE RECIPE 03 of 18 Ricotta Roll-Ups in Creamy Pumpkin Sauce VICTOR PROTASIO Creamy and savory, we're sure you'll impress your friends with this one. Adding pumpkin to really anything is the name of the game during fall, and this ricotta roll-up recipe gives you a great excuse to do so. You can make it a day ahead and bake when you're ready, to avoid any last-minute stress. Fresh dried sage leaves top the roll-ups for an added earthy taste. GET THE RECIPE 04 of 18 Grilled Honeynut Squash Christopher Testani Honeynut squash is grilled to perfection and added to a medley of cabbage and radicchio with a sweet vinaigrette. Pepitas give each bite a little extra crunch, while mint adds a little freshness. It's a gorgeous salad full of fall produce picks that pair well with any autumnal meal. GET THE RECIPE 05 of 18 Roasted Root Veggie Quinoa Bowls Victor Protasio This quick and healthy quinoa bowl is packed with the season's freshest produce, including butternut squash, parsnips, and Brussels sprouts. You'll add a dollop of hummus to each bowl before serving for extra creamy flavor. It's the perfect meal when you want something on the healthier side that's uber-comforting. GET THE RECIPE 06 of 18 Hazelnut Romesco Pasta Salad We can guarantee you haven’t had a pasta salad quite like this one. Romesco is similar to a traditional tomato sauce, but it has depth and flavor thanks to the hazelnuts, peppers, tomato paste, and garlic. Add grilled chicken to the pasta to complete your meal. GET THE RECIPE 07 of 18 Artichoke-Chard Pasta and Cheese Greg DuPree The moment you place this pasta bake on the dinner table, your family will worship the ground you walk on. It’s essentially an elevated mac and cheese with a hint of spinach artichoke dip. Serve with crusty bread to sop up every last bit. GET THE RECIPE 08 of 18 Brussels Sprouts Salad Heami Lee Whether you’re hosting a dinner party or meal prepping for the week, this Brussels sprouts salad is the perfect item to add to your menu. It has a little bit of everything: sweetness from dried cranberries, texture from toasted pecans, and saltiness from freshly grated Parmesan. The vinegar and mustard-based dressing can be stored apart from the salad so you can mix it in until you're ready to serve. GET THE RECIPE 09 of 18 French Onion Casserole Antonis Achilleos You don’t have to be a fan of French onion soup to love this creamy, dreamy casserole. It’s essentially a modern version of mac and cheese with decadent caramelized onions. Nutmeg, Worcestershire sauce, and apple cider vinegar also add incredible umami. GET THE RECIPE 10 of 18 Butternut Enchilada Casserole Jennifer Causey This enchilada casserole has the perfect fall twist: It has butternut squash in the filling. And unlike typical enchiladas, this recipe is actually healthy while still managing to be hearty. Sliced avocadoes, jalapeños, cilantro, and sour cream make ideal toppings to take it to the next level. GET THE RECIPE 11 of 18 Pumpkin Bread Trifle With Pepita Streusel Antonis Achilleos Take your traditional pumpkin bread a step further by turning it into a trifle. Layers of fluffy whipped cream, heavenly streusel, and freshly baked pumpkin bread make this dessert an absolute hit! You'll want to plan to serve it pretty quickly after you make it to ensure peak quality. GET THE RECIPE 12 of 18 Warm and Cozy Apple-Pumpkin Baked Oatmeal Fred Hardy Wake up to this comforting baked oatmeal breakfast that packs in seasonal favorites like apple and pumpkin. The breakfast is full of fiber, and just requires 10 minutes of prep time. Top each oatmeal square with a dollop of yogurt and a drizzle of syrup before serving. GET THE RECIPE 13 of 18 Pumpkin Spice Bread Victor Protasio There's nothing quite like waking up to a fresh slice of pumpkin bread in the fall. It makes for a delicious snack anytime you're craving something comforting. This bread is topped with a sugary streusel that includes pumpkin seeds. Plus, it makes three loaves so you can enjoy it for a while or give a loaf to a friend. GET THE RECIPE 14 of 18 Cinnamon-Spiced Pumpkin Muffins Grace Elkus These autumnal muffins taste like they came straight from your local patisserie, yet only require 10 minutes of prep time. They're basically pumpkin bread in a convenient muffin shape, perfect for a quick on-the-go breakfast or mid-afternoon snack. "They made the house smell amazing as well," says one reviewer. GET THE RECIPE 15 of 18 Puff Pastry Cinnamon Rolls Betty Gold If you're hesitant to make cinnamon rolls because of the time and energy commitment, say hello to this 30-minute version. It comes together so quickly thanks to store-bought frozen puff pastry, which creates the flakiest rolls you've ever had. They're drizzled with an easy vanilla glaze and made sweeter with a dusting of powdered sugar. Serve the warm rolls with a cup of coffee if you please. GET THE RECIPE 16 of 18 Apple Spice Donut Pudding Fred Hardy Grab a box of donuts and get to making this warm, apple spice donut pudding. While you can eat it on its own, it's especially good with some fresh ice cream. You can even swap out some of the donuts with apple fritters for even more fruity flavor. GET THE RECIPE 17 of 18 Apple Pie Skillet Cake ANTONIS ACHILLEOS Not a pie person? No problem. You can still enjoy traditional apple pie in the form of a skillet cake! It’s just as delicious and much easier to make—and it’s ready in under an hour. A few scoops of vanilla or caramel-flavored ice cream make the perfect companion to this warm cake. GET THE RECIPE 18 of 18 Maple Pumpkin Pie David Prince We have a feeling you’ll be making this pie more than once this season. Using a store-bought pie crust is the trick to simplicity and a quick turnaround. The filling is beyond easy to whip up and made with pure maple syrup. Top with whipped cream before serving. GET THE RECIPE Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit