Cozy up to fall with 19 comfort-food dinner ideas
Fall’s here. There’s no denying it. You may be mourning the last of the beefy tomatoes, juicy peaches and fresh herbs, but maybe, just maybe, you start to realize that the cool breeze is a relief from the scorching sun and that with it comes produce you’ve really missed, like apples, squash and dark, leafy greens. And come on, is there anything better than staying in on a cold, windy night with a glass of red wine and a plateful of warm, hearty, comforting food? Didn’t think so.
So, with that said, here are our favorite fall recipes to hunker down with when the weather starts to get a little bit frightful.
Siri’s Butternut Squash, Leek and Ricotta Toast
Siri’s Butternut Squash, Leek and Ricotta Toast by Siri Daly
Give your favorite tomato bruschetta a fall makeover with creamy roasted butternut squash, ricotta and caramelized leeks. Hit it with a drizzle of balsamic glaze and you’ve got a perfect sweet and salty app for autumn.
Related: Find easy-to-make fall recipes complete with ratings and cooking tips at TODAY.com
Candied Butternut Squash Soup Recipe
Candied Butternut Squash Soup Recipe by Daphne Oz
Compared to summer and spring, fall gets a pretty bad rap for not having colorful food. But are you seeing this beautiful bright yellow color (achieved with some butternut squash, onions, cumin and turmeric)? Looks pretty colorful to us.
Dylan Dreyer’s Crispy Bacon Brussels with Walnut-Parm Crunch
Dylan Dreyer’s Crispy Bacon Brussels with Walnut-Parm Crunch by Dylan Dreyer
These aren’t your mama’s Brussel sprouts. Dylan Dreyer has elevated the classic combination of bacon and Brussels by adding a satisfying, umami-rich walnut-parmesan crunch. The best part? They look fancy, but only require one mixing bowl to prep them.
One-Pot Beef Stew with Ketchup
One-Pot Beef Stew with Ketchup by Casey Barber
Don’t be turned off by the ketchup. This flavor-packed stew comes together in one pot, making it a perfect dish for a busy weeknight or a lazy Sunday.
Oven-braised Pork Chops with Red Onion and Pear
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Oven-braised pork chops with red onion and pear by Lidia Bastianich
This pork chop dish is perfect for fall entertaining. Not only is it hearty, it’s made with easy-to-find ingredients, and can even be prepared in one pot.
Sausage, Spinach, and Apple Strata
Sausage, Spinach, and Apple Strata by Giada De Laurentiis
Strata is the ultimate breakfast-for-dinner dish. In Giada’s version, an unconventional strata ingredient — apple — brings a welcome acidity and sweetness to an otherwise heavy and cheesy dish.
Cumin-Roasted Cauliflower with Lemon, Pomegranate and Parsley
Cumin-Roasted Cauliflower with Lemon, Pomegranate and Parsley by Lauren Salkeld
This may look like a side dish, and it can be, but the mighty cauliflower is hearty enough to be a main dish too. And combined with a variety of flavors and textures, including cumin, lemon and pomegranate, it’ll be anything but bland.
Braised Short Ribs with Vegetables and Golden Raisins
Braised Short Ribs with Vegetables and Golden Raisins by Alon Shaya
New Orleans chef Alon Shaya braises tender short ribs with fall vegetables and juicy golden raisins to add a lovely sweetness.
Spicy Meaty Chili
Spicy Meaty Chili by Ben Ford
When it comes to chili, it’s hard to go wrong with the classic. This versatile recipe uses either ground turkey or beef and packs an extra spicy kick that gets smoothed out with avocado or a dollop of sour cream.
Herbed Pork Tenderloins with Apple Chutney
Herbed Pork Tenderloins with Apple Chutney by Ina Garten
Ina Garten preps her pork tenderloins by seasoning them with rosemary and thyme and wrapping them with prosciutto. She then roasts them just before dinner. You could go for the traditional apple sauce pairing, but if you want to pack in a little more spice, go for Ina’s apple chutney.
Pumpkin Potato Hanukkah Latkes
Pumpkin Potato Hanukkah Latkes by Frances Largeman-Roth, RDN
Who says you have to wait for Hanukkah? Give your typical potato pancakes a subtly sweet spin with pumpkin and cinnamon.
Short Rib Meatloaf
Short Rib Meatloaf by Jeff IcInnis and Janine Booth
A melt-in-your-mouth meatloaf, silky potatoes, and caramelized onions make for a cozy — dare we say romantic? — night in.
Center-Cut Pork Chops with Beet, Carrot & Hazelnut Salad
Center-Cut Pork Chops with Beet, Carrot & Hazelnut Salad by Blue Apron
This dish uses some of your favorite root vegetables infused with vinegar to accent the richness of center-cut pork chops. The result is a wholesome way to warm up.
Collard Greens with Smoked Turkey and Potlikker
Collard Greens with Smoked Turkey and Potlikker by Kevin Sbraga
Fall-off-the-bone tender smoked turkey gives collard greens an unbelievable flavor. But just a warning: This isn’t a quick weeknight meal; this is a soul-satisfying side worthy of a special event.
Four Cheese Wild Mushroom Lasagna
Four Cheese Wild Mushroom Lasagna by Grace Parisi
With four — count ’em, four — cheeses, a creamy white sauce, and a mix of roasted wild mushrooms, this vegetarian lasagna is the definition of decadence.
Charred Broccoli, Mushroom and Egg Strata
Charred Broccoli, Mushroom and Egg Strata by Michael Chernow
The only thing better than burnt broccoli and cheese is burnt broccoli and cheese in strata form.
5-Minute Chicken Breasts with Bacon & Brussels Sprouts
5-Minute Chicken Breasts with Bacon & Brussels Sprouts by Michael Symon
The combination of salty bacon, golden brown Brussels sprouts, and tangy mustard is so good, you probably don’t even need the chicken. (But, then again, crispy chicken skin is pretty amazing in its own right.)
Beet Fettuccine Alfredo
Beet Fettuccine Alfredo by Chloe Coscarelli
Think you need cream to make creamy pasta? Think again. Chloe Coscarelli’s vegan beet fettuccine alfredo uses beets, caramelized onion, olive oil, cashews, water, and lemon juice to accomplish that silkiness.
Sweet Potato Macaroni and Cheese
Sweet Potato Macaroni and Cheese by Nigella Lawson
Somehow, the creamy sweet potato in this mac and cheese makes it better than better than any other mac and cheese — even fancy restaurant macaroni and cheese with white truffle or lobster.
