15 Cozy Fall Recipes

Fall cooking means cozy meals, sides, breakfasts, and treats that actually taste like the season. These recipes make the most of autumn’s best ingredients without requiring fancy techniques or hard-to-find items.

The mix includes simple weeknight meals alongside dishes that work great for entertaining. You’ll find practical ways to use pumpkin, apples, and squash, plus some clever shortcuts that deliver homemade flavor without all the work.

1. Maple Bacon Turkey Sliders

These baked sliders come together in one dish with caramelized onions and a sweet maple-butter glaze brushed on top. The combination of savory turkey and bacon with that touch of sweetness makes them vanish fast at parties.

Get the Recipe: Maple Bacon Turkey Sliders

2. Pumpkin Cream Cheese Cookies With Frosting

The secret to these incredibly soft cookies is cream cheese in both the dough and the frosting. They bake up fluffy in just minutes, making them ideal for when you need a quick fall treat.

Get the Recipe: Pumpkin Cream Cheese Cookies

3. Apple Pork Chops

A simple marinade does all the work here, tenderizing the pork while you prep other things. The honey-Dijon flavor complements fresh apples that roast alongside the meat.

Get the Recipe: Apple Pork Chops

4. Pumpkin Pecan Waffles

These might just become your new favorite fall breakfast once you try them. The pecans add wonderful texture, and the pumpkin flavor comes through beautifully without being overwhelming.

Get the Recipe: Pumpkin Pecan Waffle Recipe

5. Sweet Potato Gnocchi

Making gnocchi from scratch sounds intimidating, but this recipe breaks it down into simple steps. The roasted sweet potatoes create pillowy dumplings that feel special enough for company.

Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato Gnocchi

6. Apple Cobbler

This shortcut version using boxed vanilla cake mix tastes completely homemade but cuts down on prep time. The cake mix creates a golden, buttery topping that’s irresistible with vanilla ice cream.

Get the Recipe: Apple Cobbler

7. Slow Cooker Pumpkin Chili

Everything is added to the slow cooker at once for this hands-off dinner. It’s filling thanks to beans, pumpkin, and chunks of sweet potato.

Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Pumpkin Chili

8. Autumn Salad with Chicken

Chicken breast, greens, dried cranberries, and feta combine to create this delicious fall salad. The creamy honey balsamic dressing brings together all the sweet and savory elements nicely.

Get the Recipe: Autumn Salad with Chicken

9. Shepherd’s Pie

This comfort food classic comes together easily with pantry staples. The creamy mashed potato topping gets golden and crispy on top while staying fluffy underneath.

Get the Recipe: Shepherd’s Pie

10. Maple Dijon Brussels Sprouts

The air fryer makes these Brussels sprouts crispy without any fuss. Adding the pecans and garlic halfway through gives them time to get toasted without burning.

Get the Recipe: Maple Dijon Brussels Sprouts

11. Thanksgiving Crescent Ring

This genius way to use up Thanksgiving leftovers transforms your turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and cranberry sauce into a yummy appetizer or meal. Plus, it’s so easy to make.

Get the Recipe: Thanksgiving Crescent Ring

12. Tuscan White Bean and Kale Soup

Lentils and white beans create a hearty base while kale adds color and nutrients to this Italian-inspired soup. Serve it with crusty bread for a cozy and filling fall meal.

Get the Recipe: Tuscan White Bean and Kale Soup

13. Baked Maple Donuts

A sweet maple glaze made with real maple syrup and maple extract gives these donuts a rich fall flavor. The small batch size means you can enjoy fresh donuts without tons of leftovers.

Get the Recipe: Baked Maple Donuts

14. Roasted Honeynut Squash

This roasted honeynut squash recipe is a must-make for fall. The toppings cook while the squash roasts, making this elegant side dish surprisingly doable for busy nights.

Get the Recipe: Roasted Honeynut Squash

15. Pumpkin Cupcakes

These cupcakes bake up incredibly moist with warm spices that let the pumpkin shine through. The tangy cream cheese frosting provides the ideal contrast to the sweet, spiced cake.

Get the Recipe: Pumpkin Cupcakes