16 Simple Comfort Food Recipes To Ease You Into Fall (2024)

Sorry to break it to you, but summer is over.

Jesse SzewczykPublished on August 21, 2019

We are only a few short weeks away from fall, which means it's just about time to start cooking with apples, squash, and all the warming spices.

So we rounded up 16 hearty comfort food recipes that are perfect for fall — from creamy butternut squash risotto to stuffed shells — so you can get a head start on your fall menu planning.

halfbakedharvest.com

This recipe swaps out classic marinara for a creamy pumpkin sauce with a subtle spicy kick.

Get the recipe: Spicy Pumpkin and Pesto Cheese-Stuffed Shells

2. Apple Pork Chops

16 Simple Comfort Food Recipes To Ease You Into Fall (2)

dinneratthezoo.com

Six ingredients is all it takes to make these comforting pork chops and apples that are flavored with fragrant sage.

Get the recipe: Apple Pork Chops

pinchofyum.com

Because nothing screams comfort food quite like a classic chicken and rice casserole.

Get the recipe: Chicken Wild Rice Casserole

4. Roasted Butternut Squash Risotto

choosingchia.com

This recipe uses short-grain brown rice to make the risotto, but you can stick to classic arborio varieties if brown rice isn't your favorite.

Get the recipe: Roasted Butternut Squash Risotto

5. Easy French Onion Soup Casserole

16 Simple Comfort Food Recipes To Ease You Into Fall (4)

thecookierookie.com

Caramelizing the onions in the oven takes a good bit of time (up to two hours!), so feel free to knock them out the day before and stash 'em in the fridge to get a head start.

Get the recipe: Easy French Onion Soup Casserole

gimmesomeoven.com

This hearty soup gets finished with a handful of chopped fresh kale, but feel free to substitute it with baby spinach or Swiss chard if kale isn't your thing.

Get the recipe: Cozy Autumn Wild Rice Soup

halfbakedharvest.com

Topping a soup with a cinnamon crumble might sound weird, but it's actually delicious. It provides a nice crunch and subtle sweetness that works perfectly with the savory cheese soup.

Get the recipe: Brie and Cheddar Apple Beer Soup With Cinnamon Pecan Oat Crumble

8. Crispy Garlic Butter Chicken and Brussels Sprouts

16 Simple Comfort Food Recipes To Ease You Into Fall (5)

theendlessmeal.com

This recipe uses bone-in chicken thighs to make sure they stay nice and juicy, but you can use boneless chicken breasts if that's more your style.

Get the recipe: Crispy Garlic Butter Chicken and Brussels Sprouts

9. Ravioli With Sage Brown Butter Sauce, Spinach, and Walnuts

16 Simple Comfort Food Recipes To Ease You Into Fall (6)

budgetbytes.com

All you need is frozen ravioli and six supporting ingredients to make this hearty fall dinner that'll impress anyone.

Get the recipe: Ravioli With Sage Brown Butter Sauce, Spinach, and Walnuts

pinchofyum.com

Just throw everything into your Instant Pot, let it cook, and garnish with whatever toppings your heart desires.

Get the recipe: Instant Pot Sweet Potato Tortilla Soup

11. Roasted Mushroom Kale Pizza

16 Simple Comfort Food Recipes To Ease You Into Fall (7)

halfbakedharvest.com

Hearty mushrooms and kale are the unexpected (and delicious!) pizza toppings you never knew you needed.

Get the recipe: Roasted Mushroom Kale Pizza

12. Slow Cooker Chicken Pot Pie Soup

16 Simple Comfort Food Recipes To Ease You Into Fall (8)

pinchofyum.com

This recipe swaps out standard pie crust for tiny puff pastry hearts to make this recipe both insanely adorable and super easy to make.

Get the recipe: Slow Cooker Chicken Pot Pie Soup

skinnytaste.com

This chili is made without beans, but you can add black or pinto beans to bulk it up if you'd like.

Get the recipe: Turkey and Sweet Potato Chili

14. Sausage and Potatoes Sheet Pan Dinner

16 Simple Comfort Food Recipes To Ease You Into Fall (9)

foxandbriar.com

Just throw everything onto a sheet pan, roast for 30 minutes, and dinner is done.

Get the recipe: Sausage and Potatoes Sheet Pan Dinner

familystylefood.com

Mushrooms take the place of ground beef in this vegetarian ragu that's the perfect thing to serve over creamy Parmesan polenta.

Get the recipe: Easy Mushroom Ragu With Parmesan Polenta

16. Creamy Garlic Chicken

16 Simple Comfort Food Recipes To Ease You Into Fall (10)

saltandlavender.com

Serve this creamy chicken over pasta, rice, or all by itself for the ultimate autumn dinner.

Get the recipe: Creamy Garlic Chicken

Looking for more recipe inspiration? Check out these posts:

16 Budget-Friendly Dinners You Can Make For Less Than $10

21 Wholesome, Easy Dinners To Get You Through Winter Nights

Here Are A Bunch Of Seasonal Recipes To Bookmark For Fall

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    16 Simple Comfort Food Recipes To Ease You Into Fall (2024)

    FAQs

    What are some good foods for fall? ›

    I have apples, winter squash, pumpkin, cinnamon, candy, pies, chiles, cheese, caramel, chocolate, brussels sprouts, figs, pomegranates, a roast, pastas galore, chips, dips and breakfasts… basically my 75 favorite fall foods. If you are one of those lucky ones still sweating your butt off, congratulations!

    What's your go to comfort food best answer? ›

    Soup: A warm bowl of soup, such as chicken noodle soup, tomato soup, or hearty vegetable soup, can be soothing and satisfying on a chilly day. Macaroni and Cheese: Creamy, cheesy macaroni and cheese is a classic comfort food that provides warmth and comfort on a cold and rainy day.

    What are comfort foods for loss? ›

    There is a reason why friends, family, and neighbors gravitate toward carb-heavy meals like lasagna, mac n' cheese, pulled pork, and various casseroles for grieving families: they're comforting. Most people are familiar with these dishes, and it reminds them of happier times.

    What is the number 1 comfort food? ›

    Nearly 15 percent of the 2,252 adults surveyed by Harris listed pizza as their top comfort food, more than twice as many as said chocolate (7 percent) or ice cream (7 percent) and more still than said mac and cheese (5 percent), chips (4 percent), hamburgers (3 percent), steak (3 percent), or either popcorn, pasta or ...

    What food do humans crave most in the fall? ›

    “Fresh produce is always better for you than canned, but possibly more importantly, fruits and vegetables hit peak flavor when that crop is in season,” said Sara Berzofsky (M. Ed, M.S. Nutrition) of Newtritionalyou.com. “Fall is the season for apples, cranberries, and pumpkins.

    What makes a meal comforting? ›

    Consuming energy-dense, high calorie, high fat, salt or sugar foods, such as ice cream or french fries, may trigger the reward system in the human brain, which gives a distinctive pleasure or temporary sense of emotional elevation and relaxation.

    What makes a food comforting? ›

    Our brains reward us more for some foods than for others.

    But as anyone who's ever eaten apple pie knows, sweets can make us feel especially nice. Carbohydrates increase brain levels of serotonin, a chemical that enhances mood. “After eating these foods, we feel calm, we feel happy,” said Dr.

    What are comfort stress foods? ›

    Examples of comfort foods include items like macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes, chili, pizza, and ice cream. “In early human development, life-threatening stressors were frequent, and food was scarce,” explained Dorsey. “The uptake in energy storage while under stress may have had adaptive features at this time.

    What is soul food comfort food? ›

    Often referred to as “country cooking,” or “comfort food,” traditional Southern food includes dishes such as fried chicken, collard greens, field peas, cornbread, sweet potato pie, peach cobbler and more. “Southern food is all about utilizing what is available to you, what is in season.

    What is the number 1 most loved food? ›

    Pizza has rightfully earned its place as the world's most beloved food. This Italian creation has become a staple in numerous countries, with endless variations to suit every taste bud. Whether you prefer thin crust or deep dish, classic Margherita, or loaded pepperoni, pizza has something for everyone.

    What is the number 1 most liked food? ›

    pizza! Whether it's piled high with pepperoni, cheese, or other toppings, many people around the world reach for this marinara-covered pie come dinnertime. Of course, pizza has several delicious competitors. The second most popular food in the world is sushi, and burgers are third.

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