The September issue of Food & Wine is filled with weeknight-friendly recipes to help you ease into the busy fall season. Think slow cooker versions of long-simmering dishes like chicken pho, and creamy noodles that come together in just 20 minutes with umami-packed pantry staples. For dessert (or breakfast!), make the most of shoulder season with tender zucchini bread. Here are 15 easy, cozy recipes to make right now.
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Creamy Udon with Umami Butter
Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Styling by Julia Bayless
The creamy butter sauce for these quick-cooking noodles from F&W recipe developer Anna Theoktisto is infused with umami-forward ingredients like anchovies, white miso, and Parmigiano-Reggiano.
Dr Pepper–Braised Pot Roast
Greg Dupree / FOOD STYLING by CHELSEA ZIMMER / PROP STYLING by ABBY ARMSTRONG
The molasses-like caramel notes of Dr Pepper bring sweet complexity to this tender chuck roast and vegetable braise from F&W recipe developer Liz Mervosh, made in the slow cooker.
Slow Cooker Chicken Pho
Greg Dupree / FOOD STYLING by CHELSEA ZIMMER / PROP STYLING by ABBY ARMSTRONG
This simplified version of the Vietnamese noodle soup from Liz Mervosh leans on an aromatic broth made with collagen-rich chicken wings and traditional pho spices like star anise, cinnamon, and coriander.
Chicken Korma
Morgan Hunt Glaze / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Julia Bayless
F&W recipe developer Renu Dhar builds flavor for this warming braised chicken curry with yogurt-marinated chicken thighs, caramelized onions and cashews, and a triple dose of cumin.
Ricotta Gnocchi
Greg Dupree / Food Styling by Julian Hensarling / Prop Styling by PRISSY MONTIEL
These pillowy ricotta-filled gnocchi from chef Geoffrey Zakarian are tossed in a simple sage-infused brown butter sauce with crispy bits of pancetta. Stock them in the freezer for last-minute dinners.
Zucchini Bread
Greg Dupree / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Christina Daley
This moist, cinnamon-spiced zucchini quick bread from North Carolina chef Ashley Christensen might be the most delicious way to eat your vegetables.
Pollo al Chilindrón (Chicken Stew with Peppers and Tomatoes)
Julia Stotz
Cured black olives and salty-umami bites of serrano ham stud the sweet vegetable sauce for this paprika-spiced chicken stew from Arizona chef Ana Borrajo.
Creamy Tuscan Chickpea Soup
Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Styling by Julia Bayless
This quick fall soup from Anna Theoktisto is packed with creamy chickpeas, spicy Italian sausage, and lacinato kale. A splash of heavy cream gives the chicken stock base a little more heft — perfect for sopping up crusty bread.
Chocolate–Olive Oil Cake
Julia Stotz
This elegant, ultra rich chocolate cake from Ana Borrajo gets a subtle kick from cayenne pepper, fruity notes from olive oil, and surprising lightness from whipped egg whites.
Cumin Lamb Noodles
Morgan Hunt Glaze / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Julia Bayless
Made with well-marbled lamb shoulder steaks, this quick noodle stir-fry from cookbook author Kristina Cho gets an abundance of flavor from ingredients like cumin, black vinegar, and chili crisp.
Cuban-Style Black Beans
Morgan Hunt Glaze / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Julia Bayless
Seasoned with an aromatic sofrito, these flavorful black beans come from the late award-winning photographer Romulo Yanes. Make them on the stovetop or in a pressure multicooker.
Sticky Toffee Overnight Oats
Greg Dupree / FOOD STYLING by CHELSEA ZIMMER / PROP STYLING by ABBY ARMSTRONG
Liz Mervosh uses a slow cooker as a water bath for this indulgent yet nutritious breakfast, made with steel-cut oats, puréed Medjool dates, brown sugar, and warming spices like cinnamon and nutmeg.
Three-Cup Pork
Greg Dupree / FOOD STYLING by CHELSEA ZIMMER / PROP STYLING by ABBY ARMSTRONG
For this melt-in-your-mouth slow cooker variation on the popular Taiwanese dish from Liz Mervosh, pork shoulder is infused with soy sauce, rice wine, and sesame oil.
Ensalada Campera (Spanish Country-Style Potato Salad)
Julia Stotz
This hearty salad from Ana Borranjo ties together oil-packed albacore tuna, bite-sized potatoes, and vibrant vegetables like green beans and bell peppers with a zippy lemon and sherry vinegar dressing.
Gigante Beans with Sausage
Greg Dupree / FOOD STYLING by CHELSEA ZIMMER / PROP STYLING by ABBY ARMSTRONG
Creamy gigante beans soak up a savory chicken broth flavored with crushed tomatoes, soppressata and Parmesan rinds for this satisfying slow cooker dish from Liz Mervosh.
Dining and Cooking