Happy official first day of autumn! I’m sharing the 12 most popular fall recipes here on the blog to help us get in the mood for a very cozy, comforting season of cooking & baking ahead. Here are the fall recipes that readers keep coming back to over the years, along with a few new ones from last year that quickly shot up to the top of the list. Plus, a few bonus recipes at the end that are some of my personal fall favorites!
fall recipes you will love…
No. 12: Onion Dijon Soup with Pretzel Roll Croutons
An irresistible take on the classic French Onion Soup, this is the perfect soup recipe to start with when the air turns crisp! The deeply flavored onion broth, plus the toasted bread soaking into it and cheese melting on top is irresistible.
No. 11: Braised Short Ribs with Roasted Root Vegetables
My classic braised short ribs recipe is just as cozy and comforting as any dish you could dream of. Short ribs slowly cooked in a rich braising liquid of tomato paste, red wine, balsamic vinegar, beef stock, and hearty herbs. Finished with a little lemon zest and served over whipped potatoes, with simple roasted root vegetables alongside. A quintessential fall dinner.
No. 10: Roasted Apple Salad with Caramelized Shallot Vinaigrette
An unbelievably delicious roasted apple salad to make for lunch or add on to any autumn meal! Crispy bacon, creamy blue cheese, and olive oil fried pecans give this salad so much rich depth of flavor. It’s sweet & salty, full of texture, and drizzled with a caramelized shallot vinaigrette. One of the best salads that has come out of my kitchen to date!
No. 9: Caramelized Brussels Sprout Toast with Burrata & Bacon
Perfect for fall or winter entertaining, this is such a delicious toast recipe to have in your back pocket. The flavors are sweet & savory, with just a touch of creaminess from the burrata cheese and a nice crunch from the roasted hazelnuts.
No. 8: Spicy Paccheri with Sausage & Greens
Every new season needs a really, really good pasta dish. And this spicy paccheri with sausage & greens is it. Large, tube-like pasta tossed in a white wine butter sauce, full of spicy Italian sausage, wilted green chard, and lots of pecorino cheese. Trust me, this is a cold weather pasta that you will fall in love with.
No. 7: Whipped Goat Cheese with Bacon & Dates
Another great entertaining recipe that was wildly popular last year…creamy whipped goat cheese topped with a caramelized mixture of dates, shallots, vinegar and honey, with bacon and fried rosemary crumbled over top. You can serve this just like a dip, with either toasted bread or crackers for dipping. Kind of a spin on the classic “bacon wrapped dates” that everyone loves to bring to a party. It’s bold, flavorful, and such a beautiful dip to serve for any fall or winter holiday.
No. 6: Pumpkin Risotto with Bacon & Parmesan
The most delicious, seasonal pumpkin risotto – full of fresh thyme, white wine, a little butter, honey for some sweetness, lots of parmesan cheese, and topped with crispy bacon & black pepper. It is the perfect side dish for any meal this time of year!
No. 5: Butternut Squash Ravioli with Hazelnut Honey Butter
If there was ever a quintessential fall pasta dish, it’s this butternut squash ravioli. Homemade pasta dough, filled with a creamy butternut squash & ricotta filling, tossed in a sage-flavored hazelnut honey butter sauce. Get ready to plan a very cozy fall cooking night soon!
No. 4: Maple Apple Ricotta Cake
This maple apple ricotta cake is the perfect way to get in the fall, festive mood. It’s a dense, buttery cake with hints of brown butter, maple glazed apples, creamy ricotta cheese, and vanilla. So delicious with a hot cup of coffee to start or end the day on a sweet note!
No. 3: Best Ever Apple Cake
Another apple cake option, this is a recipe from my mom’s childhood that she insisted we make together a few years back. I can definitely confirm that it is the best ever. It’s rich, buttery, and full of sweet cinnamon apple flavor. And the texture? Insanely delicious.
No. 2: Baked Rigatoni with Butter Roasted Tomato Sauce
While this baked rigatoni might not be suitable for the entire fall season, it is one of the very best cozy dishes to make while you can still get your hands on good, fresh tomatoes. Baked rigatoni with butter roasted tomato sauce…the simplest recipe, yet so decadent and perfect for any fall night. Bubbling, golden, cheesy pasta…what could be better this time of year?!
No. 1: Maple Pumpkin Bread with Cinnamon Butter
And of course, the fall wouldn’t be complete without this maple pumpkin bread! It’s warming and cozy, with a perfectly moist & tender texture. Flavored simply with nutty brown butter, rich maple syrup, a hint of cinnamon, and vanilla. Sliced thick and topped with a swoosh of cinnamon butter for just a little extra flavor! You can serve this bread warm or eat it at room temp. And truly…it works any time of day – for a decadent breakfast, an afternoon pick-me-up with a hot cup of coffee, or a festive dessert.
a few bonus fall recipes…
Roasted Pumpkin Soup with Hazelnut Sage Pesto
Since it’s the best time of year for soup and only one made the round-up, I had to mention this roasted pumpkin soup with a hazelnut sage pesto drizzled over top. It’s a simple, savory soup that let’s the homemade roasted pumpkin shine through. The pesto on top is hinted with honey, pecorino, hazelnuts, balsamic, and has a really deep herb flavor from the cozy sage. It’s such a gorgeous, festive soup to make in celebration of the first cold autumn nights!
Harvest Apple Salad with Pomegranate Sage Vinaigrette
Another personal favorite: harvest apple salad with pomegranate sage vinaigrette. Full of sharp cheddar cheese, charred chicken, crisp apples, pomegranate seeds, and candied pumpkin seeds + hazelnuts. It’s truly the best fall salad. I find myself making it all the time in September and October as a simple weekday lunch or dinner!
Caramelized Apple & Bacon Grilled Cheese
Last but not least, I absolutely love the sweet and savory flavors of this caramelized apple & bacon grilled cheese! Sweet apples sauteed with shallots, maple and herbs, crispy bacon, white cheddar & gruyere cheese…all mounded between two slices of sourdough bread. Cooked in hot butter until golden and melted. It’s the ultimate fall comfort food that everyone is going to LOVE.
I hope these recipes give you plenty of fall inspiration to kick off the new season! If you give any of these recipes a try, make sure to leave a comment and let me know what your favorites are. Enjoy!
Your photography and composition are absolutely stunning! Your recipes are really great as well.. Thank you !