Fall cooking doesn’t have to mean the same five pumpkin recipes everyone else is making.
These fall dishes deliver unique flavor, use ingredients you can find at any grocery store, and make your kitchen smell incredible while they’re cooking.
Some of these might surprise you….
There’s a pasta dish that has nothing to do with pumpkin but screams autumn anyway, and a dessert so simple you’ll wonder why fall baking ever seemed complicated.
Others are the classics done right, because sometimes you just need the perfect apple crisp recipe that won’t disappoint.
From quick weeknight dinners that save you on busy days to weekend projects that are actually fun to make, this collection covers all the ways you want to cook when the weather starts to cool down.
Creamy Pumpkin Pasta
This comforting autumn pasta features tender penne or rigatoni tossed in a luxuriously smooth pumpkin cream sauce. Ready in just 30 minutes with simple ingredients, it’s an easy weeknight dinner that feels special enough for entertaining this fall!
Easy Pumpkin Gnocchi
This homemade pumpkin gnocchi combines the comfort of tender, pillowy pasta with the warm flavors of fall. Made with simple ingredients like pumpkin puree, flour, and Parmesan cheese, these orange-hued dumplings are surprisingly easy to make at home!
Pumpkin Muffins
Warm, spiced pumpkin muffins with a tender crumb and golden tops. Each bite brings cozy fall flavors – sweet pumpkin, cinnamon, and nutmeg – perfect with your morning coffee or as an afternoon treat.
Sweet Potato Beef Stew
This hearty sweet potato beef stew combines tender chunks of slow-cooked beef with perfectly seasoned sweet potatoes, carrots, and celery in a rich, savory broth.
Cabbage Roll Soup
This hearty cabbage roll soup transforms the classic comfort food into an easy one-pot meal that’s perfect for busy weeknights. Tender ground beef, soft cabbage, and fluffy rice simmer together in a rich tomato broth seasoned with paprika, oregano, and a touch of brown sugar for balance.
Creamy Fall Vegetable Soup
This creamy fall vegetable soup transforms simple autumn produce into a luxurious, comforting bowl of goodness. Made with butternut squash, sweet potatoes, and carrots, it’s naturally sweet and incredibly smooth.
Sweet Potato Chili
This hearty sweet potato chili combines tender cubed sweet potatoes with black beans, kidney beans, and corn in a rich, smoky tomato base. Ready in just one hour, this naturally vegan chili is perfect for meal prep and tastes even better the next day!
Meatloaf With Cranberry Glaze
This cranberry-glazed meatloaf transforms a weeknight staple into something special. The savory ground beef mixture gets topped with a sweet-tart cranberry glaze that caramelizes beautifully in the oven.
Fall Fruit Salad
This fall fruit salad combines crisp apples, sweet pears, tart cranberries, and juicy pomegranate seeds with crunchy toasted walnuts. A simple honey-lime dressing brightens all the flavors while preventing the fruit from browning, making it perfect for make-ahead entertaining or meal prep.
Apple Cider Braised Pork Chops
Tender, juicy pork chops seared to golden perfection and slowly braised in sweet apple cider with aromatic herbs. This one-pan comfort food classic creates its own rich, glossy sauce while the oven does most of the work.
Shepherd’s Pie Topped With Sweet Potato Mash
This comforting shepherd’s pie takes the classic comfort food to the next level with a vibrant sweet potato mash topping instead of regular mashed potatoes. It’s a complete one-dish meal that’s perfect for cold weather, family dinners, or meal prep.
Stuffed Acorn Squash With Ground Turkey, Cranberries, And Pecans
This hearty fall dish transforms roasted acorn squash into edible bowls filled with a savory-sweet mixture of lean ground turkey, tart dried cranberries, and crunchy pecans.
Pumpkin Dinner Rolls
Soft, golden dinner rolls infused with pumpkin puree and warm autumn spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger. They just scream “fall is here!”
Pumpkin Ravioli for Fall
This homemade pumpkin ravioli features tender pasta pillows filled with a creamy mixture of roasted pumpkin, ricotta, and fresh sage. Served with a simple brown butter sage sauce, these ravioli make an impressive yet approachable fall dinner that captures the essence of the season in every bite.
Blender Butternut Squash Soup
This butternut squash soup is made in a blender with whole foods and fresh spices like thyme and sage. Try serving it with cornbread!
Maple Glazed Pork Tenderloin
This maple glazed pork tenderloin combines the natural sweetness of pure maple syrup with savory soy sauce and tangy Dijon mustard for a perfectly balanced glaze.
Sheet Pan Chicken Apple Sausage With Brussels Sprouts
Juicy chicken apple sausage gets perfectly caramelized alongside crispy Brussels sprouts and tender roasted apples in this irresistible one-pan dinner. Sweet meets savory in every bite, with golden edges and rich flavors that’ll have everyone coming back for seconds.
Pierogi And Kielbasa Skillet
A hearty one-pan meal that combines crispy golden pierogi with smoky kielbasa sausage, caramelized onions, and colorful bell peppers.
