Hearty, fall comfort food just tastes better when the weather starts to cool off. These recipes are the perfect solution to cooler temperatures and an ideal way to take advantage of the bounty of fresh fruits and vegetables available in the fall. With squash, sweet potatoes, and crisp apples, these fall foods are sure to warm you up.
Baked Ziti with Sausage and Pumpkin Tomato Sauce
Hearty and filling baked ziti gets a spot on your fall comfort food menu with this rendition incorporating pumpkin. The fragrant squash pairs perfectly with zippy tomatoes and zesty, sweet Italian sausage.
Cheesy Sausage Bread
There's something about gooey, ultra-cheesy bread that's even more satisfying in autumn. One of the ultimate fall comfort food recipes, a hearty sausage bread is made to be shared with friends and family. This cheesy loaf seasoned with Italian herbs is designed to pull apart while warm, so get in there with your hands and dig in!
Pull-Apart Pretzel Skillet
Fall means football, and in our book, football means fall comfort foods! Get ready for the game-day snack of the century with these pretzel bites served with warm, gooey beer-cheese dip. Of course, this recipe can double as an appetizer or a yummy party snack on brisk autumn nights. Whatever time of day you enjoy it, make sure you tackle it with a few friends!
Surprise-Inside Chocolate Bread
A warm slice of pumpkin bread is a classic fall food (for breakfast or dessert), but adding chocolate makes it even better. This fall comfort food highlights several of our favorite flavors: sweet chocolate bread, pumpkin bread, and a cream cheese swirl. Not to mention it's the cutest comfort food we've ever seen!
Spiced Pumpkin Bars
You cannot beat pumpkin bars when it comes to fall comfort food recipes. These rich pumpkin bars are the perfect comfort food if you have an insatiable sweet tooth. Finish the bars with a dollop of luscious cream cheese frosting to make them extra special.
Maple-Kissed Cream of Sweet Potato Soup with Bacon-Cheddar Crostini
If a steaming bowl of fall soup is what you're after, you can't get much better than this maple-infused sweet potato soup recipe. A cheesy crostini tops the velvety soup for a fall comfort food recipe that is sure to chase away any autumn chill.
Butternut Squash and Fettuccine Alfredo
Enjoy the indulgence of decadent pasta with added nutrients in this fall comfort food recipe. A perfect option for weeknight meals or special occasions alike, this heavenly pasta dish is made even more hearty with the addition of smoked sausage and butternut squash, one of our favorite fall foods.
Rich Maple Butter Cake
You won't miss the frosting on a slice of this buttery cake. Toffee-like maple syrup ensures it's plenty sweet and creates an ultra-moist fall cake. But if you want an even more delicious topper, a dusting of powdered sugar adds sweetness to this already decadent fall comfort food.
Cinnamon Roll Pumpkin Pie
Turn plain pumpkin pie into the best of fall comfort foods with one easy swap: instead of using a regular piecrust, use cinnamon rolls! Pumpkin and cinnamon are a match made in heaven, so adding extra cinnamon to the crust makes this pie even more delicious. No one at Thanksgiving dinner will be able to tell that the crust is made from soft, gooey cinnamon rolls until they take a bite, making for a sweet surprise.
Oven-Fried Chicken
Honestly, we could eat fried chicken any time of year. Crunchy outside and juicy inside, this comfort food dinner pack the goodness of fried chicken into a more healthful baked rendition. Drizzle with some warm maple syrup for the ultimate fall comfort food.
Test Kitchen Tip: For a twist, replace the coating or crushed cornflakes with bread crumbs seasoned with Italian spices.
Chocolate Bread Pudding Casserole
Gooey bread pudding is practically the definition of a fall comfort food dessert. This version is sprinkled with chopped chocolate and topped with an indulgent chocolate ganache for a fall comfort food recipe you'll return to every year. Dig in while it's warm from the oven to make this cold-weather sweet even more irresistible.
Pumpkin Green Chile Tot Casserole
Any casserole loaded with potato tots is a win in our book, but this recipe is perfect because it incorporates one of our favorite fall foods. Pumpkin makes this dish a little bit sweet, while chorizo and poblano peppers make it a little bit spicy, the perfect combination for a chilly fall night.
Pork and Poblano Stew
Fall stews can chase away the chill, and this one is no exception. Pair this pork- and spice-filled stew with a citrus-topped green salad for a bright contrast. The best part? You can make this stew up to three days in advance for those nights when you need a batch of fall comfort food at the ready.
Chicken Pot Pies
The best fall comfort food recipes are warm, creamy classics like these mini chicken pot pies. After only 10 minutes in the oven, the savory aroma of our classic chicken pot pie recipe will draw the whole family to the table. Plus, everyone gets their own, so no one gets stuck with a skimpy slice.
Macaroni and Brie with Crab
Crabmeat and Brie cheese take your average mac and cheese into luscious, sophisticated territory. Fall comfort foods aren't typically known for being refined, but you can feel a little more fancy serving this indulgent dish in individual ramekins rather than one big casserole.
Shredded Pork Roast Sandwiches
These impossibly easy sandwiches make for the perfect fall comfort food recipe. With a few hours in your oven, you'll achieve tender, pull-apart pork, the definition of a slow-roasted fall comfort food dinner. Then, keep the sandwich filling warm in a slow cooker for a super-delish tailgating meal.
Red Beans and Rice with Squash
With meat, beans, veggies, and rice, this satisfying one-bowl meal will punch up any fall comfort food menu. Butternut squash or any other winter squash gives this Southern comfort food dish a deliciously sweet undertone reminiscent of fall flavors.
Pappardelle with Butternut Squash and Blue Cheese
Squash pasta is the hearty fall comfort food that deserves its time to shine. With sweet squash, sharp cheese, and a rich sauce, this hearty pasta will be the star of the show on your next fall comfort food menu.
Harvest Chili
How many fall foods can we fit into one bowl? This surprisingly healthy fall comfort food recipe packs in quite a few: butternut squash, Granny Smith apples, Golden Delicious apples, chicken-apple sausage links, and fresh sage all share the spotlight. Beans (pinto, in this case) make the meal even heartier.
Spicy Pasta with Sweet Potatoes
For a truly warm and hearty fall comfort food recipe, do more than just serve sweet potatoes on the side: Add them to your entrée! For a satisfying fall comfort food dinner, toss pasta with roasted sweet potatoes, cream cheese, and chili sauce in this delicious recipe.
Cinnamon-Sugar Bourbon-Pumpkin Muffins
These muffins may be smaller than a traditional loaf of pumpkin bread, but somehow, they manage to pack in even more flavor. A drizzle of bourbon in the batter adds a hint of the alcohol's rich, sweet flavor. A topping of cinnamon-sugar and pecans turns this fall comfort food recipe into a favorite afternoon snack (or dessert).