31 Comforting October Recipes That Will Have You Ready To (Finally) Embrace Cooler Fall Weather

Save yourself some time by cooking and mashing your sweet potatoes ahead of time, or even use canned pumpkin if you’re trying to go super minimal effort.

Recipe: Chai-Spiced Sweet Potato Pancakes

This super simple quick bread is an absolute show-stopper that evokes all the flavors of fall. Serve it any time from breakfast to dessert.

Recipe: Orange Glazed Cranberry Bread

While this super-filling breakfast is perfect for a weekend brunch or a week-long meal prep, it would also be an amazing lunch served with a simply dressed green salad.

Recipe: Butternut Squash, Bacon, Kale, and Goat Cheese Frittata

This simple appetizer will only take you 10 minutes to prep and leave you with the perfect combo of jammy roasted grapes and creamy brie.

Recipe: Roasted Grape Crostini with Brie and Fresh Thyme

You’ll probably need to make seconds of this sweet-savory dip. Serve with some crusty bread for the ultimate bite.

Recipe: Whipped Goat Cheese with Bacon and Dates

Shred the fruits and veggies in this salad to fit everything on your fork for a satisfying bite. A mandoline will make this effortless, but it’s still very doable without one.

Recipe: Brussels Sprout, Kale, and Apple Salad with Sharp Cheddar and Bacon

You can skip boiling the pasta here as it all cooks in the sauce when baking. Is there really anything better than getting to skip a cooking step?

Recipe: Broccoli Manicotti with Burrata

If you’re ever struggling to find a more creative (and tastier) way to eat Brussels sprouts, here’s your answer. This pizza skips the classic tomato base and replaces it with balsamic onions for the ultimate cozy meal.

Recipe: Brussels Sprouts Pizza with Balsamic Red Onions

Sure, polenta takes a bit of hands-on cooking time, but don’t let that intimidate you from making this super comforting (yet simple) dish.

Recipe: Creamy Polenta with Roasted Mushrooms

Stuffed squash is one of my all-time favorite dinners to make in the fall, and I guarantee this hearty yet light version will definitely make its way into your weekly rotation.

Recipe: Mexican Roasted Corn and Quinoa Stuffed Squash

The classic soup and grilled cheese combo just got a serious upgrade. If you want to keep this vegetarian, skip the bacon or even replace it with a vegetarian "soy-rizo" for that smoky flavor.

Recipe: Smoky Pumpkin Bisque with Grilled Cheese Croutons

This ultra-comforting dish comes together all in one pan making cleanup a breeze. Play around with the mushroom variety while they’re still in season.

Recipe: Creamy Mushroom Pork Chops

This creamy soup is perfect for sneaking in any additional seasonal veggies for all those picky eaters.

Recipe: Butternut Squash, Sausage, and Tortellini Soup

Feel free to serve this risotto with a piece of chicken or fish, but between the hearty mushrooms and crispy leeks, you’ll likely find that it can stand on its own.

Recipe: Mushroom Risotto with Frizzled Leeks

Once you make this, you’ll want to put the spicy-sweet gochujang glaze on everything. Serve with your desired protein and you’re in for a treat.

Recipe: Gochujang Delicata Squash with Rice and Tofu

These bars are buttery, tart, and just sweet enough. The walnut topping really takes it over the edge and adds an additional layer of crunch.

Recipe: Cranberry Shortbread Bars

No need for a water bath or super long bake time on this spooky cheesecake. Just account for the two hours of chilling time if you’re looking to serve this up during any Halloween festivities.

Recipe: Spider Web Cheesecake Tart

With warm spices and maple syrup, this whiskey sour is the perfect cozy cocktail. Plus, it’s easy to batch for all your fall gatherings. 

Recipe: Cinnamon Maple Whiskey Sour

This margarita swaps the tequila for mezcal for that signature smoky flavor (but you can totally stick to tequila if you’re not a mezcal fan). If you’re really trying to impress, don’t skip out on the smoked cinnamon stick garnish.

Recipe: Smoky Harvest Apple Cider Margarita

Just because it’s fall doesn’t mean you can’t opt for a more refreshing cocktail. You’ll still get some of those earthy flavors from the rosemary, but can count on the blackberry syrup and limonata to brighten things up.

Recipe: Rosemary Blackberry Limonata