30 Simple Recipes That Are Warm, Cozy, And Exactly What You Need This November
When the sun is setting earlier and earlier, and it's so cold at night that I basically leap from the shower into my sweats to keep myself from shivering, it's important to find comfort where we all can. Enter: these cozy, seasonal recipes, which will brighten even your dreariest November days.
1.Roasted Sweet Potatoes With Miso Butter
Miso and ginger give these buttery sweet potatoes an extra-flavorful boost. You'll sautée ginger with shallots in a bit of oil until they're nice and crispy to make the topping. Pair them with teriyaki tofu (or chicken) and enjoy.
2.French Onion Meatballs with Orzo
Comfort foods collide in this decadent, delicious, one-pot meatball skillet.
Recipe: French Onion Meatballs with Orzo
3.Cauliflower Steaks With Chimichurri
Tangy, herby chimichurri adds a flavorful kick to these rustic cauliflower steaks. I'd serve them over Spanish rice and black beans for a perfect weeknight dinner. Meatless Monday, anyone?
This crispy, crunchy salad is loaded with fall flavors and creamy avocado. It would be an excellent addition to a Thanksgiving (or Friendsgiving) table, but it's also just as welcome on a regular old weeknight at home. If you want, you can swap pears in for the apples or add some dried cranberries to make it extra festive.
Recipe: Brussel Sprout Apple Salad
5.Caramel Apple Upside Down Cake
Sally's Baking Recipes / Via sallysbakingaddiction.com
If you thought pineapple upside-down cake was amazing, let me introduce you to its apple-y cousin. Thick, glossy caramel will coat your fork with each and every bite; the only thing that could make it better is a scoop of your favorite vanilla ice cream.
Recipe: Caramel Apple Upside Down Cake
6.Sage Butter Cheese Pumpkin Ravioli
If you have a pasta craving that can never be satisfied, why not try your hand at these perfectly autumnal ravioli? If you're not a big pasta maker, you can grab some pumpkin ravioli from Trader Joe's, or you can DIY your own delicious little bites. The sage butter sauce is what really makes this dish extra special.
7.Smoky Chickpea, Lentil & Cabbage Stew with Kale
Smoked paprika lends a warm kick to this hearty, plant-based stew, which comes together in under an hour. Tamari, aromatics, and even liquid smoke deepen the flavor of the tomato base. Still, if the latter is not in your pantry, one commenter assures readers it’s optional: “I didn’t use the liquid smoke, but it didn’t even need it. Such a rich, full-bodied soup!”
8.Turkey Pot Pies with Bacon, Caramelized Onions, and Butternut Squash
Got Thanksgiving leftovers? Turn them into one helluva pot pie using store-bought or homemade pie crust. (You do you.)
Recipe: Turkey Pot Pies with Bacon, Caramelized Onions, and Butternut Squash
When you come home exhausted, sweaty, and starving from your romp around the apple orchard (November is Granny Smith season!), make these simple air-fried fritters. The vanilla glaze on top? Perfection in every way.
Recipe: Air Fryer Apple Fritters
10.Tortellini Soup with Italian Sausage and Kale
"This simple weeknight dish has become the tried-and-true recipe that marks the top of soup season for me. It's perfectly tomatoey without being overly acidic, like another viral tomato-based soup recipe I know of...cough, cough, Lasagna Soup. Not for nothing, the leftovers make for excellent desk lunches all week long."
—Ross Yoder
11.Parsnip Gratin with Gruyere and Thyme
For a fresh twist on the classic potato gratin, this recipe roasts parsnips in a cheesy, creamy sauce infused with warm nutmeg and fresh thyme, creating a stunning side dish for any main course. The parsnips can be sliced and arranged in a baking dish ahead of time and stored in the fridge until you’re ready to bake, making dinner prep stress-free. As the cheese bubbles and browns in the oven, an irresistible aroma will fill your kitchen, enticing guests before they even sit down.
Crazy for Crust / Via crazyforcrust.com
You can keep your fancy monkey bread recipes; IMO, canned cinnamon rolls make the best, easiest monkey bread ever. For a more inventive flavor profile, swap the cinnamon for another warm spice or blend, like pumpkin spice or even cardamom.
Recipe: Easy Monkey Bread
Now that it's finally soup season, it's time to treat yourself to something hot, cheesy, and delicious. This broccoli cheddar soup is a fall classic, and it goes oh so perfectly with fresh crusty bread. Plus, it's chock full of veggies, so it's basically a salad. I want to live inside a pot of this for at least the next month.
Recipe: Broccoli Cheddar Soup
14.Butternut Squash Parmesan Frittata
Thanksgiving morning breakfast, solved. When the last thing you'll want to do is reach for another set of pots, pans, and dishes to whip up a meal for your hungry family, this one-pot wonder checks all the boxes — and since it's served with arugula on top, it'll also give you a solid dose of green goodness to supercharge your hectic day.
15.Braised Chinese Mushrooms with Bok Choy
The Woks Of Life / Via thewoksoflife.com
This Shanghainese vegetable dish is dressed to impress, showcasing fall produce while still tasting vibrant and fresh. Despite its elegant appearance, it’s quick and simple to make. Dried mushrooms rehydrate in hot water as the bok choy is blanched. The velvety mushrooms pack an umami punch, simmered in their soaking liquid with soy sauce, vegetarian oyster sauce, and a drizzle of sesame oil.
Recipe: Braised Chinese Mushrooms with Bok Choy
16.Cioppino
This ultra-comforting Italian-American classic will definitely warm you up on those cold November days. It's a little more involved than your average weeknight dinner (but still way easier than it looks!), so save it for a cozy fall weekend.
Recipe: Cioppino
17.Sticky Cider Salmon Kale Salad
How Sweet Eats / Via howsweeteats.com
Yes, salads during colder months can still be comforting! Thanks to the apple cider-glazed salmon, goat cheese, kale, and roasted potatoes, you'll finally have a salad you'll be excited to eat in 40-degree weather.
Recipe: Sticky Cider Salmon Kale Salad
18.Crab Dip
The Modern Proper / Via themodernproper.com
It may be cozy season, but that means it's also football season. Even if your team loses, this cheesy crab dip will make for a delicious consolation prize at your next Sunday gathering.
Recipe: Crab Dip
This fizzy sweet-sour mocktail has over 600 positive reviews, and for good reason. The warm flavors of clove and rosemary offset the bright tang of pomegranate juice, seltzer, and lime juice. This spritzer is like the Club Soda and Cranberry's sophisticated older sister. The first sip of this festive mocktail will blow you and dinner guests of all ages away.
Recipe: Rosemary Pom Spritzer
With fresh fennel, mushrooms, and herbs, this hearty pasta sauce recipe is ideal for a meatless weeknight meal. The ragú is slow-cooked, but most of the cooking time is hands-off, so you can throw it together and let it simmer until dinner time.
Recipe: Creamy White Mushroom Ragú
Not only is this bowl perfect for those nights when you only have 30 minutes to cook, but it's also a great fridge clean-out meal. Throw in whatever veggies you've forgotten about in the back of your fridge and serve with a side of rice for the ultimate weeknight dinner.
Recipe: Curried Salmon Rice Bowl
22.Spicy Pepper Jack Mac And Cheese
Give your Thanksgiving side a little more oomph this year with this spicy mac 'n' cheese. You can serve it stovetop style or put it under the broiler for a few minutes, topped with panko breadcrumbs and jalapeños for a showstopping dish.
Recipe: Spicy Pepper Jack Mac And Cheese
23.Kale Caesar Salad With Homemade Croutons
Look, the Caesar salad is an objectively perfect food, but that doesn't mean you can't switch it up. This kale-based version is so delicious, and making your own croutons means you can add more spices and seasonings to make it just to your taste. Don't forget to massage your kale before you dress it and serve to make it nice and tender.
"I love a dish I can throw in the oven and forget about for a while when I'm hosting fall dinners, and Carolina Gelen's cheesy squash galette is officially my new go-to. Yes, you'll have to make your own crust, but it'll be okay! It all comes together in a food processor and is ridiculously easy. Plus, the addition of cheddar and pumpkin seeds is simply *chef's kiss*.
A quick note that this savory galette is absolutely packed to the brim with squash and cheese (definitely a good thing!), so my pro-tip is to actually make it in a 10-inch cake pan lined with parchment so that it's easier to fill and fold."
—Claudia Santos
Recipe: Fall Squash Galette
What's Gaby Cooking / Via whatsgabycooking.com
This chili verde gets its color from a blend of tomatillos, various peppers, and cilantro. The veggies are roasted, blended, and simmered with chicken thighs and lots of aromatics for a cozy meal that tastes even better as leftovers.
Recipe: Chicken Chili Verde
26.Crockpot Thai Yellow Curry Chicken
It's like Thai takeout, only it comes together in your own kitchen (and thanks to the slow cooker, it's virtually effortless).
27.Grilled Sausage and Vegetables with Creamy Dill Dip
Before grilling season is officially over, give it one last hurrah. This charred sausage tastes delicious with pretty much whatever veggies you've got. Just don't forget to garnish generously with the herby dip.
28.Pumpkin Butter Cinnamon Rolls with Coffee Icing
If you've never attempted a homemade cinnamon roll in your kitchen, you're missing out. Light and pillowy, the canned stuff, while delicious, has nothin' on this — but if the thought of making a yeasted dough sends a shiver down your spine, you could totally just slather a tray of canned cinnamon rolls with this brown butter and coffee frosting for an elevated kick.
29.30 Minute Spicy Ancho Turkey Chili
Packed with turkey, black beans, tomatoes, and farro, this hearty chili calls for a secret, time-saving ingredient: your favorite store-bought salsa.
The Appletini better step aside — a bold new apple cocktail is here to steal the spotlight. This recipe blends mezcal and apple cider, shaking up your typical festive drink menu with a smoky, refreshing twist that’s anything but basic. While the recipe calls for a shaker, I just use a mason jar. Trust me; it works like a charm!
Recipe: Smoky Cider Sour Cocktail
What are you cooking up this season? Let us know in the comments — and if you try any of these recipes for yourself, let us know what you think.
