My Favorite Fall Recipes for Cozy Season
While I truly love summer, fall is my favorite time of year. Give me my favorite hoodie, a white pumpkin candle burning, my coziest blanket, and the Eagles on a Sunday, and I’m a happy girl.
It’s also one of my favorite times of year to cook. My social calendar has finally chilled out, the weather is crisp enough to have banana bread baking away in the oven or a big pot of bolognese simmering on the stove, and, as a girl who really loves soup, this is my time to shine.
So I’ve rounded up 25+ of my favorite fall recipes to make all cozy season long. We’ve got comforting soups, easy weeknight dinners, cozy pastas, seasonal salads, and plenty of baked goods for when you want your whole kitchen to smell like fall. Whether you’re looking for something warm and comforting on a chilly night or just ready to fully embrace cozy-season cooking, there’s a little something for everyone here.
Now the only question is, what are you making first?!
Pumpkin Vodka Pasta
One of my favorite dishes to make during fall, this Pumpkin Vodka Pasta is creamy, savory and topped with the most delicious brown butter sage breadcrumbs for a little crunch in every bite.
Tortellini Soup
One of the most popular recipes on Rockin Meals, and one you guys love to make as soon as the temperatures start to drop (and sometimes even before then, no judgement here!)
Pumpkin Pancakes
Picture this: it’s a crisp fall Sunday morning, and you’ve got the smells of spiced pumpkin pancakes cooking in brown butter over the stove. These fluffy pancakes make for an ideal Saturday morning.
Fall Harvest Kale Salad
This salad gets loaded with seasonal produce like roasted butternut squash, honeycrisp apples, crisp spiced pecans, aged cheddar cheese, all tossed in a delicious maple dijon dressing.
Rotisserie Chicken Pot Pie
A creamy, chicken pot pie filling made quicker thanks to rotisserie chicken, all tucked under a buttery, flaky puff pastry crust.
Brown Butter Banana Bread
I strongly believe salted brown butter and bananas are a match made in heaven. This is, in my humble opinion, the best banana bread ever.
Spiced Pear Spritz
Apples and pumpkin tend to get all the hype this time of year, but we can’t sleep on pears. A light, bubbly cocktail with a spiced pear liquor that’s perfect for fall.
White Chicken Chili
If you need a game day dinner that doubles as meal prep for the week, this one’s your girl. High protein, high fiber, and just highly delicious.
Brown Butter Dutch Apple Pie
This is the recipe I look forward to making every apple season. The crumble has nuttiness from the brown butter, the apples get all jammy and tender. It’s the perfect bite with a big ole scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Pumpkin Sage Stuffed Shells
If you couldn’t tell by my copious amount of recipes with this combo yet, pumpkin and sage go together like peanut butter and jelly. Jumbo pasta shells stuffed with a creamy pumpkin filling and baked until bubbly. YUM.
Honeynut Squash Whipped Ricotta
The fall version of my famous whipped ricotta dip, this has roasted honeynut squash whipped in with the ricotta and topped with fried sage, brown butter, and pecans.
Caramelized Shallot, Bacon and Fig Whipped Goat Cheese
Sweet figs, salty bacon, and deeply caramelized shallots top whipped goat cheese to make a crowd pleasing fall dip.
Tomato Soup in Puff Pastry
Classic creamy tomato soup paired with a crisp, puff pastry shell. An addicting combination perfect for late tomato season.
Minestrone Soup
One of my favorite recipes from my ebook, this is one soup recipe I’ll never get tired of. Veggie/fiber/protein-packed, perfect for your weekly meal prep.
High Protein Buffalo Chicken Dip
You’ll be remiss to see a game day spread without buffalo chicken dip somewhere, and this one gives you all the creamy, cheesy vibes we all love, but healthier and higher in protein.
Brown Butter Rice Krispies
This childhood classic gets a grown-up upgrade with nutty brown butter. Gooey, crispy, salty-sweet and dangerously to have on your countertop.
Crockpot Chicken Enchilada Soup
Kind of like a chicken tortilla soup, but packed with even more flavor. Load it up with avocado, cheese, tortilla chips and all your favorite fixings.
Pot Roast
Fall-apart tender beef cooked low and slow with vegetables in a rich, savory broth. The definition of a Sunday dinner when you have nowhere else to be.
Dutch Baby & Miso Caramelized Apples
A Dutch baby is what you make when you want to impress for a brunch with very little effort. The batter gets made in a blender, and topped with caramelized apples that get a lil umami boost thanks to miso paste.
Butternut Squash Soup
Silky-smooth roasted butternut squash soup topped with crispy sage and prosciutto. Sweet, savory and one of those soups that just tastes like fall.
Favorite Bolognese Sauce
One of the most popular (and oldest!) recipes on the site, for good reason. There’s truly nothing like having this bolognese simmering low and slow on the stove.
Good Chicken Soup
This is what I make when I’m sick, or just when my body could use some veggies. Exactly what the name promises: a really good bowl of chicken soup. Simple, nourishing and the recipe you’ll be happy to have in your back pocket once soup season hits.
Pumpkin Cheesecake
Creamy pumpkin cheesecake packed with warm spices and all the flavors you want in a fall dessert. A great one to bookmark for Thanksgiving (or whatever excuse you need to make cheesecake).
Vegan Miso Ramen
A rich, savory miso broth loaded with noodles and plenty of toppings. A plant-based bowl of comfort for chilly nights when you want something beyond the usual fall flavors.
Butternut Squash Pasta Bake
Rigatoni gets coated in a creamy butternut squash sauce, topped with cheese and crispy sage breadcrumbs, then baked until bubbly and golden.
Chili con Carne
It’s not football season without a pot of chili simmering away on the stove. This doubles as a bit of a weekend project, as it uses whole dried chilies for maximum flavor.
Dirty Chai Tiramisu
A fall twist on classic tiramisu with warm chai spices layered into the creamy, coffee-soaked dessert. Cozy without relying on pumpkin or apple for once.
Apple Cider Mule
A fall spin on a classic Moscow mule with spiced apple cider, warm bourbon, and plenty of ginger beer. Refreshing enough for early fall but festive enough to carry you straight into the holidays.
