The Best Fall Recipes for Cozy Season

Fall is my favorite time of year. Even where I live in southern California, the temperatures drop just enough for me to justify finally making soup again. Feeling more open to the idea of turning the oven on also opens up opportunities for sheet pan meals and all the cozy baked goods. From apple and pumpkin to maple and pecan, the flavors of fall are simply irresistible.

As much as we all love fall, it can also be a super busy time of year, especially for parents with kids in school. Routines change from summer break to school mode and dinner can become an afterthought. No matter what season it is, I always try to make recipes that have really simple ingredients and are super easy to make (one pot meals anyone?!). They can usually be made pretty quickly or prepped ahead of time with ease. A lot of my recipes can be made solely from ingredients at Trader Joe’s. One trip to the store makes life so much easier.

This roundup (which I’ll keep adding to, so bookmark it!) has pastas, salads, soups, baked goods, desserts, and even a special fall cocktail. If you’re looking for my favorite Thanksgiving Recipes, I’ve got a whole other post for that! Happy Fall!

But First, Let’s Have a Drink

Spiced Apple Cider Margarita: This Fall Margarita has the perfect balance of sweet and spice. Just add some tequila, Cointreau, and lime and let’s get the party started!

Fall Bowls and Hearty Salads

Fall Harvest Bowl with Maple Sage Dressing: The ultimate cozy yet fresh bowl with all those tastes and textures you want in the fall. It’s perfect for when you want something lighter. I look forward to making this bowl every fall and there’s several easy swaps to make it your own. Save this dressing recipe for more fall bowls and salads!

Shredded Brussels Sprout Salad with Crispy Prosciutto and Honey Mustard Dressing: Shredding Brussels sprouts in a salad may be my new favorite way to eat them. This salad has the best flavor combo and is the perfect side dish if you’re hosting or in charge of a salad as a guest. Save the dressing for later, too!

Fall Chopped Salad: If you think you don’t like salads, I can guarantee that this one will change your mind. It’s so flavorful but also jam packed with vitamins and nutrients that your body needs to stay healthy this season.

Comforting Fall Pasta and Pizza Recipes

Creamy Pumpkin Sausage Pasta: There is literally nothing better than cozying up with a big bowl of pumpkin pasta on a chilly fall night. I’ve kicked this one up a notch with a crunchy brown butter walnut sage topping.

Butternut Squash Mac & Cheese: Quite possibly one of the best pasta recipes I’ve ever made. This creamy, comforting Trader Joe’s remake is perfect for fall. Plus, you can get all the ingredients at (you guessed it) Trader Joe’s!

Butternut Squash Pizza with Bacon, Kale and Goat Cheese: I bet you didn’t know you needed a Fall Pizza recipe. I wanted to incorporate butternut squash and I absolutely love it with goat cheese. Add bacon and that’s it, I’m done. Say no more.

Fall Soups and One-Pot Meals

As you may know, I LOVE soup! I have a whole chapter in my cookbook Seriously, So Good dedicated to them. Many of these fall soups are some of my easiest Speedy Soups you can make in 30 minutes or less. I’ve also added a couple one-pot meals that aren’t soups, but are just as comforting and just as perfect for fall.

Creamy Tomato Tortellini Soup: Another easy, yummy high-protein Trader Joe’s meal. For those cold weeknights when all you want to do is whip up something comforting and enjoy it under the blankets on the couch by a roaring fire. This one also doubles as a one-pot meal.

Creamy Italian Sausage and Orzo Soup: This was one of my first ever Speedy Soups . My husband and I are still fighting over the leftovers every time I make it. It’s simple, packed with protein and has a good amount of fiber from orzo and veggies to keep you feeling full. 

Marry Me Creamy Chicken Chili: This recipe has put many a ring on many a finger, so proceed with caution! Everything is cooked in the same pot. To make things even easier on yourself you can shred a pre-cooked rotisserie chicken. Fall = chili, am I right?!

Rotisserie Chicken Pot Pie: What I believe to be the ultimate comfort food can sometimes be a labor of love. That’s why I created the Rotisserie Chicken Pot Pie, which uses puff pastry instead of having to make your own pie dough. It’s all made in one pot and you don’t even have to cook the chicken!

Slow Cooker Mississippi Pot Roast: Add everything to the slow cooker in the morning when you have literally just 10 minutes to spare. Eight hours later, you’ll have a hearty, comforting, filling meal for the whole family. It really is the perfect dinner.

One-Pan Meals for Fall

Fall Veggie Sheet Pan Dinner with Maple Mustard Sauce: This right here is what fall dinners are all about. Add your favorite fall veggies and sausage to a sheet pan and bake. Make a quick maple mustard sauce and call it a night. Prep the veggies earlier in the day for an even more effortless evening.

Fall Turkey Skillet: The best combo of the cozy fall flavors you love while leaving you feeling nourished and satisfied. I love that you can change up the flavor and texture whether you use butternut squash or sweet potato. And all in one skillet no less!

Sheet Pan Hot Honey Chicken Bowls: I love making Hot Honey Chicken. Especially this one that comes together so easily in a sheet pan. We all love a good sheet pan meal. My version is simply roasted alongside classic fall veggies. I add mine to a grain bowl and top with creamy goat cheese and fresh herbs.

One Pan Rosemary Chicken Meatballs with Creamy Tomato Orzo: If you’re looking for a creamy, cozy fall dinner, look no further. This dinner is seriously to die for and it’s made all in one pan to keep the dishes minimal, which I know we all want.

Sheet Pan Maple Pecan Salmon: This recipe is the perfect dinner for when you want something on the lighter side, but still want cozy fall flavors. It comes together in a pinch and you’ll find yourself craving it again in no time.

Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Brown Butter, Goat Cheese & Crispy Herbs: Simple roasted sweet potatoes are great. But when you add brown butter, crispy fried herbs, and goat cheese, they’re taken to the next level. This recipe couldn’t be easier, making it the perfect simple holiday side or healthy vegetable dish for a weeknight dinner.

Fall Desserts and Baked Goods

Chewy Maple Brown Sugar Pecan Blondies: These blondies are all about texture — both chewy and fudgy with a crunchy topping! They come together in just one hour and only use one bowl. So there’s really no excuse not to make them for an after-dinner weeknight treat, last-minute dessert for company, or a no-hassle holiday dessert that’s guaranteed to disappear asap.

Pumpkin Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars: Meet your dream fall dessert. A warm chocolate chip cookie bar full of puddles of melty chocolate chips, chewy oats, and warm pumpkin spice. They’re perfectly moist and gooey, but with a boost of nutrition and texture from the oats and canned pumpkin.

Brown Butter Miso Pumpkin Bread with Maple Glaze: I love a festive loaf around the holidays. I can promise you that this is the most moist, flavorful, delicious pumpkin loaf you will ever have. It’s one of those “I can’t put my finger on it, but this tastes better than usual” kind of things. I guarantee you’ll love it!

Apple Cider Coffee Cake: Perfect for a crisp fall morning, this coffee cake is a cozy twist on the classic. It’s moist, full of warm spices, and the perfect way to celebrate apple season. Whether you’re serving it for breakfast, a holiday brunch, or a cozy dessert, this coffee cake is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.

Pumpkin Chai Banana Pudding: Vanilla wafers, gingersnap cookies, and sliced bananas are layered with a fluffy mixture of whipped cream and pumpkin chai pudding. This heavenly dessert is silky and rich yet light and full of beautiful spices. And best of all, it’s so easy to make, but sophisticated enough for a dinner party.

Caramel Apple Galette: If a caramel apple and an apple pie had a baby, it would be this gorgeous galette. This dish is both rustic and beautiful, and makes the most incredible fall dessert. It all comes together in this stunning yet un-fussy treat that’s equally perfect for entertaining and cozy weeknights at home.

Caramel Apple Stuffed Dates: Fall is also State and County Fair season. So these stuffed dates really satisfied my caramel apple craving. But honestly, the apple-to-caramel ratio in a regular caramel apple is so off. These are truly better in my opinion and are therefore the perfect fall snack or dessert.