31 Really Good Autumnal Recipes We're Excited To Try This October, From "Baked Salads" To Pumpkin Coffee Cake Muffins
Forget December; October is 100% the most wonderful time of the year. Apple-picking, pumpkin carving, and cardigan-wearing are in full swing, and Halloween festivities jazz up our fall routines. Not to mention, we get to break out the delectable warm spices like cinnamon, clove, and cumin, and it's harvest season for so much produce to inspire us to cook.
The only question is, what amazing meals should we create with the bounty of fall ingredients at our fingertips? We've got the answers with these 31 seasonal recipes.
1.Baked Kale Salad with Crispy Quinoa
Salad season might be over, but baked salad season is just beginning. This one from Justine Doiron (aka Justine Snacks) strikes the perfect balance of flavors and textures after roasting all those usual salad greens and quinoa in the oven and topping with a sweet vinegary dressing. If you find yourself deep into baked salads this season after giving this one a go, you can check out Justine's cookbook (releasing later this month) for more recipes.
Ross Yoder
"If you hate fussy baking but love eating pie — a predicament I often find myself in — Erin Jeanne McDowell's luxurious but simple bourbon apple galette was made just for you. My husband, who requests this dessert every fall, describes this galette as the 'best pie he's ever tasted,' and I'd honestly have to agree with him. It's all the delicious goodness of a classic apple pie for a fraction of the effort, so just in case you find yourself with a literal peck of apples this fall, bookmark this recipe ASAP so you can impress everyone you know."
—Ross Yoder
Recipe: Bourbon Apple Galette
3.Creamy Vegan Gnocchi Skillet with Pesto, Lentils & Broccoli Rabe
The First Mess / Via thefirstmess.com
Lentils, peas, and brassicas bump up the satiety level of this vegan pasta dish, and it all comes together in ONE pan making it ideal for a weeknight dinner.
Recipe: Creamy Vegan Gnocchi Skillet with Pesto, Lentils & Broccoli Rabe
4.Crockpot Short Rib Bourguignon
Believe it or not, chilly fall nights are not so far off, and a bowl of fall-apart short rib stew is just what October dinner dreams are made of.
Recipe: Crockpot Short Rib Bourguignon
5.Butternut Squash and Farro Salad
This kale, farro, and squash salad has all the classic flavors of fall and gets a Mediterranean kick from Aleppo pepper on the butternut squash, and za'atar in the dressing.
Recipe: Butternut Squash and Farro Salad
This spicy and tangy cucumber salad might seem like a mere garnish, but it actually steals the show. Make a big batch and store it in the fridge to upgrade just about any weeknight meal.
Recipe: Chili Crisp Chicken Bowls
The Modern Proper / Via themodernproper.com
Serve these meatballs over rice, with a dip or two (like tzatziki or hummus), or with a side of pita.
Recipe: Chicken Shawarma Meatballs
When you make this Persian rice dish, your home will be filled with the delightful aromas of toasted nuts, candied orange peel, and warm spices like cinnamon and cumin. Traditionally, saffron is what gives jeweled rice its rich yellow color, but this recipe uses a more affordable substitute: turmeric. While less fragrant than saffron, it still delivers vibrant color and flavor.
Recipe: Jeweled Rice
Pinch of Yum / Via pinchofyum.com
This better-than-takeout beef and broccoli tastes even better the next few days as leftovers. Pro tip: Freeze your flank steak for half an hour before you begin cooking, and it will slice so easily.
Recipe: Sesame Beef and Broccoli
10.Quinoa Stuffed Acorn Squash
I love cooking with squash, but I do NOT love how time-consuming and frustrating peeling and chopping them can be. In this recipe, you roast the acorn squash halved without any peeling, which saves sooo much prep time. The dish is vegan, but that doesn't mean it lacks flavor or protein. With a quinoa, spinach, and apple filling seasoned with dijon and balsamic, it's festive, flavorful, and nutrient-packed.
This hands-off main is arguably the best when served over a bed of fresh and fluffy jasmine rice, but a very close second place goes to the leftover curry beef sandwiches you can make with them the next day. Make them bánh mì-inspired with quick-pickled veggies, lots of fresh cilantro, and a generous swoop of mayo — and thank me later.
Recipe: Red Curry Beef
Is it soup? Is it pasta? As a society, we'll never agree — but either way, we can't get enough pastina as soon as the temperature dips and evenings get chillier. This creamy one-pot dish is a totally acceptable meal all by itself, but you can get as creative as you want with the tweaks and add-ins; melt in some frozen spinach and crumbled feta, or you can even make things fancy by serving it as the base to your favorite slow-cooked meat, like short ribs or chuck roast. (Basically, it's the lazy person's risotto.)
Recipe: 10-Minute Pastina
13.Seared Scallops with Whipped Cauliflower, Olives, and Almonds
This dish is just as stunning as it is delicious. Make sure not to overcook your scallops (they only need a few minutes), and use a high-powered blender to get the whipped cauliflower silky smooth.
Recipe: Seared Scallops with Whipped Cauliflower, Olives, and Almonds
Meg Sullivan, Ross Yoder
Don't let the name deter you. Meg wrote about the TikTok viral "DBS" trend earlier this fall; truth be told, our lives have never been the same. For a hearty, filling, and nutrient-packed salad (that keeps nicely in the fridge all week long), there are endless possibilities: follow one of creator Violet Witchel's recipes, try Meg's "Fall-Feelies" variation, or create something entirely your own using the tried and true DBS formula.
Recipe: Dense Bean Salad
15.Creamy Roasted Butternut Squash Soup with Tahini and Hazelnut
Heavy cream gets swapped for tahini in this rich and comforting soup that you'd never guess is vegan. The hazelnut topping adds more of those nutty flavors and extra texture, but some toasted pepitas or dukkah would also make a dreamy addition.
Recipe: Creamy Roasted Butternut Squash Soup with Tahini and Hazelnut
16.Pumpkin Coffee Cake Muffins
Eric King / Easy Gay Oven / Via easygayoven.com
To all of you out there who can never decide between pumpkin bread and coffee cake, you're about to feel very seen. This recipe from Eric King (aka Easy Gay Oven) combines the best of these autumn-friendly baked goods and makes them even better by putting them into muffin form. Take Eric's genius suggestion to use only half the wells in your muffin tin for moist, evenly-cooked muffins.
Recipe: Pumpkin Coffee Cake Muffins
This cocktail is a spooky take on Carrie Bradshaw's famous favorite drink, the Cosmopolitan. Chambord is the "blood" of this cocktail, and if you are unfamiliar with the liqueur, prepare to be converted into a Chambord lover. The black raspberry liqueur is rich and sweet, like honey, with background notes of spice. It's a perfect complement to the vodka base of this drink. This not-so-basic cocktail can be made in a large batch and is perfect for a Halloween soirée.
Recipe: Vampire's Kiss Cocktail
18.Shrimp Brochette Skillet with Poblano Rice
This deconstructed version of a shrimp brochette gives you all the flavor without any of the tedious prep. While you could argue that shrimp is the star here, the slightly spicy yet fresh green rice makes this a stand-out dish.
Whereas traditional shredded pork carnitas calls for pork butt or shoulder and takes hours, this cheater's version calls for pork tenderloin and comes together in a fraction of the time.
Recipe: Easy Pork Carnitas
20.Crispy Fish Sandwiches with Kale Coleslaw
How Sweet Eats / Via howsweeteats.com
If you have a little more time (and a little more ambition) for lunch or dinner, then this sandwich is a must-try. The simple beer-battered fish makes it light and crisp, while the herby coleslaw lends some contrasting creaminess and freshness. Boring fish sandwiches are officially a thing of the past.
Recipe: Crispy Fish Sandwiches with Kale Coleslaw
21.Orecchiette With Broccoli Rabe
Carmelized onions and tangy sundried tomatoes play off the peppery flavor of broccoli rabe for a pasta dish that somehow tastes like the end of summer and the beginning of fall at the same time. Use plant-based sausage to make it vegan or vegetarian, or opt for the regular kind if you've got carnivorous cravings.
Recipe: Orecchiette With Broccoli Rabe
This dish proves that meat is by no means a requirement for bourguignon, treating mushrooms just like beef chuck by searing and braising them with delicious aromatics and umami-bomb ingredients like miso paste and anchovies.
Recipe: Mushroom Bourguignon
This festive, crowd-pleasing mocktail combines cider and ginger beer with other fruity ingredients for an elixir even the witch sisters would get behind. So whether you're having a Halloween movie night and want a refreshing drink to pair with your popcorn or are looking for a non-alcoholic libation for a party that's a huge step up from soda, try this punch.
Recipe: Hocus Pocus Punch
If you're craving some warm and cozy comfort food, look no further than this cheesy eggplant dish that originated in Greece. Moussaka is traditionally made with ground lamb meat, but any ground meat (or plant-based substitute) will do the trick.
Recipe: Rustic Eggplant Moussaka
The Modern Proper / Via themodernproper.com
When you want a quick dinner that's as fitting for rushed weeknights as it is for entertaining guests, look no further. In under 30 minutes, you'll have dinner on the table — and possibly a new favorite way to eat salmon.
Recipe: Parmesan Crusted Salmon
26.Roasted Carrots With Farro, Chickpeas, And Herbed Creme Fraiche
Sweet roasted carrots are right at home in a bed of nutty chickpeas and farro for a dish that comes together in about 40 minutes. It looks fancy enough to serve to guests, but it's also simple enough to whip it up for no special reason whenever you feel like it.
Recipe: Roasted Carrots With Farro, Chickpeas, And Herbed Creme Fraiche
This decadent little puff pastry appetizer only looks labor-intensive. This little piece of melty goodness comes together in just 35 minutes and only calls for four ingredients. Since figs are now in season, you might serve this with some fresh ones on the side for extra credit.
Recipe: Baked Brie With Fig Jam
This warming and creamy Indonesian-inspired curry is ready in 30 minutes or less, and it's perfect for a fall weeknight dinner. Just cook it in a big saucepan, serve it over rice (or your other favorite grain), and enjoy!
Recipe: Satay Sweet Potato Curry
Home Cooking Collective / Via homecookingcollective.com
With warm spices that infuse through this rich broth (think turmeric, Chinese five spice, and red chile powder), this comforting soup is anything but boring. For a hit of brightness, be sure to serve it with plenty of fresh lime, chopped herbs, and diced red onion.
Recipe: Turkey Lentil Soup
30.Radicchio and Apple Salad with Mustardy Croutons
This vibrant fall salad is a great addition to any dinner party, offering a fresh, crunchy contrast to rich dishes like roasted chicken or creamy pasta. Bitter radicchio pairs beautifully with sweet apples, while a tangy yogurt dressing adds balance. The recipe calls for half a leek, but reviewers suggest using the entire leek to avoid waste. The croutons, tossed with mustard, add a satisfying crunch.
Restaurant-quality pasta in just over 30 minutes is possible. Enter this super savory chorizo pasta garnished with wilted spinach, manchego cheese, and roasted peppers.
Recipe: Chorizo Pasta with Spinach
What will you be cooking up in the kitchen this October? Let us know in the comments!
