If you’re from the South or even if you’ve just pulled up a chair to eat dinner here, you just know: We aren’t afraid to use butter, cream, or mayo to bring a meal together in a heartbeat, and autumn is the perfect time to make some of our favorite comfort foods for the whole family.
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Greg Dupree; Food Stylist: Ana Kelly; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely
This veggie soup recipe is packed with aromatic vegetables and just enough bacon to give it some heft and smoky flavor. And it’s as versatile as it is delicious—substitute collards for kale, if you like, and feel free to use another type of small dried beans.
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Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
With roasted butternut squash, shallots, and garlic, this pasta is all about rich, fall flavors.
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Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Twice-baked potato casserole makes a rich and comforting addition to any fall feast. It can also serve as a cozy main dish with some salad on the side.
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Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Marry Me Chicken may be a viral hit on social media with home cooks, bloggers, and amateur chefs, but it’s popular for a reason. Sautéed chicken breasts are cooked in a sun-dried tomato and cream sauce that’s outrageously addicting and summons great fall vibes.
Stuffed Delicata Squash
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Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer Prop Stylist: Priscilla Montiel
If you see delicata squash at your local grocery store or farmers’ market, go ahead and grab a few so you can make this delicious fall dinner while they’re in season.
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Jen Causey; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless
This Mississippi Pot Roast recipe is made for the low, slow, hands-off luxurious nature of a slow cooker. Plus, it’s full of tangy, salty, even a little spicy flavor.
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Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
This recipe for Chicken and Dumplings couldn’t be easier: all you need is a slow-cooker and a handful of pantry staples—plus bone-in chicken breasts and cream of mushroom and cream of celery soup, just in case you don’t keep that on hand. Take our word for it, the result is one of the most comforting fall dinners you could imagine.
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Jen Causey; Food Stylist: Lauren Odum; Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless
Cowboy Spaghetti is suprisingly perfect for a clean-out-the-fridge moment, especially in the fall. Toss together whatever produce you have (peppers, onions, celery) and canned goods (tomatoes, beans, and veggies) for a rich, decadent, memorable dish.
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Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Nothing says “fall” quite like a crispy, toasty, buttery cast-iron of cornbread, and this recipe is all of that—with a twist. A savory mix of hearty chili, corn, black beans, and tomatoes are topped with cheese and a layer of cornbread.
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Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Karen Ranking; Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless
Juicy and tender pork chops are made flavorful by a spicy rub, and the sauce is sweet and tangy. Serve with cozy mashed potatoes and greens for a perfect autumn meal.
Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling; Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall
This bright, cozy soup recipe is just what the doctor ordered for fall. Classic lemon-chicken soup flavors are boosted by seasonal bounty including sweet potato.
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Alison Miksch; Food Stylist: Karen Rankin; Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle
Oven-baked turkey tenderloins are ready in under an hour and have all the flavors of a warm and toasty Thanksgiving feast. This recipe serves 2, but it’s easy to double as long as you have a skillet that can hold all the meat.
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Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall
According to the reviews, even meat lovers will love this hearty lasagna so much that they won’t even care that there’s none in this lasagna recipe. We make it a little easier by using oven-ready lasagna noodles.
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Stacy K. Allen; Food Stylist: Torie Cox; Prop Stylist: Shell Royster
When fall comes around, it means it’s time to serve up classic comfort food and chicken pot pie is one of the old-fashioned recipes we’ll always rely on.
Credit: Photographer: Antonis Achilleos, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer
While chili is a quintessential fall food, we’ve made it even more seasonally appropriate by adding pumpkin to the ingredient list. Plus, it comes together in just 30 minutes.
Credit: Greg DuPree
It might be hard to believe that a dish this rich and decadent comes together in under an hour, but this recipe is the proof in the pudding. This creamy, hardy meal will satisfy on a chilly night, quick and easy enough for a long day.
Credit: Jennifer Causey; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Torie Cox
Of course, we think any recipe tastes delicious in casserole form, French onion soup included. Bread, onions, and cheese are a terrific trio to fill your 13 x 9 dish.
Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez
Sweet carrots and tangy lemons make this simple dish of braised chicken sing. We love to serve this dish with warm, crusty bread to sop up the savory juices in the pan.
Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez
This is what we consider a “dump and go” recipe, meaning all you have to do is dump all of the ingredients into your slow cooker, turn it on, and come back to a delicious dinner.
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Hannah Zimmerman
We took the Pinterest-famous Mississippi Roast and sped it up with the help of our Instant Pot. Ranch seasoning is our trick to the tastiest meat over rice, egg noodles, or mashed potatoes.
Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez
Throw all of the ingredients for this easy fall supper onto a sheet pan and dinner will be ready about 40 minutes later, once the apples are golden brown.
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Becky Luigart Stayner
Not only will this skillet supper be on the table in under an hour, but it also comes together in one dish. So it’s quick, easy, and cleanup is a breeze.
Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez
Something about chicken pot pie just feels cozy and right during the fall. The perfect pot pie is flaky on top, steaming inside, and 100% delicious.
Credit: Becky Luigart Stayner
This recipe makes an easy weeknight dinner and weekend crowd-pleaser. Roasted chicken and potatoes are always a no-brainer and this citrus-herb recipe is no exception.
Credit: Iain Bagwell
Something about old-fashioned chicken soup with egg noodles screams comfort for us, and not just on sick or rainy days! Let your slow cooker do the hard work and rejoice in feel-good soup for supper.
Credit: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Cat Steele
Skip the carb-heavy pasta for fresh and hearty eggplant. These tasty little bundles are filled with herbed ricotta and topped with marinara.
Credit: Jennifer Davick
This slow-cooker version of traditional spaghetti casserole is a fall weeknight favorite. You won’t be stuck in the kitchen all afternoon, which is always a plus.
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This dish is perfect for a big family-style meal and only gets better as the flavors meld together over time. Spicy, tender beans served over well-fluffed white rice is a down South classic we can’t get enough of.
Credit: Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall
This isn’t a boring chowder by any means, with bacon, potatoes, and onions that add so much flavor and varying texture. Don’t over-process the chowder to a point that it’s too thin or overly smooth.
Credit: Greg DuPree
This signature Creole dish is hearty and gives just a little heat. Overall, this recipe is a great combination of flavorful ingredients, but it can be changed and tweaked easily according to what you like!
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Jen Causey; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
The golden-brown color on this crispy chicken skin may just rival the beauty of those golden fall leaves. With baby potatoes, carrots, and Brussels sprouts all roasting in the same pan as this centerpiece-worthy chicken, you’ve got an entire dinner prepared in just over an hour.
Credit: Greg Dupree
There’s nothing better than a hearty pasta dish, and this bake is packed full with ground beef, two cheeses, and warm seasoning. Plus, it freezes beautifully so when made ahead of time, weeknight pasta dinner can come together in a flash.
Credit: Greg Dupree
Pappardelle’s thick ribbon shape is ideal to catch and absorb the rich flavors of fall-favorite Bolognese sauce. Top with shredded parmesan and basil leaves for a pop of saltiness and freshness.
Credit: Greg Dupree
This quick and easy rice bowl is endlessly customizable. Top with Southwest chicken or swap out proteins to make a steak-and-rice bowl, or even try making Southwest-seasoned tofu for a vegetarian twist.
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Greg Dupree; Food Stylist: Kat Steele; Prop Styist: Claire Spollen
On those chilly autumn days, a steaming pot of chili will warm your bones in no time. Enjoy by the fire and top with shredded cheese and a spoonful of sour cream for added creaminess. We also love using this beef chili to top baked potatoes.
Credit: Alison Miksch
Salmon isn’t just for the summertime. Salty from the soy sauce and sweet from the honey, this salmon is beautifully broiled and a great option for a lighter main with lots of flavor.
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Brittany Conerly; Food Stylist: Karen Rankin; Prop Stylist: Christina Brockman
That golden-brown puff pastry crust is enough to make us swoon. With a creamy chicken filling complete with all the classic pot pie vegetables, you can’t go wrong with this take on a classic.
Credit: Iain Bagwell
With mushrooms, sage, and toasted almonds, this stunning casserole utilizes our favorite warm fall ingredients and herbs to complement simple chicken breasts. It’ll be hard to resist, but let this dish stand for a few minutes so the long-grain rice can soak in deep, herbaceous flavors.
Credit: Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller; Food Styling: William Smith
This stunning roulade of beef is sure to impress your company this fall. Plate with fresh herbs and drizzle the burgundy-mushroom sauce over the beef to help maintain its moisture.
Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez
Don’t shy away from the greens. This Creamy Kale and Pasta Bake is a great way to incorporate some veggies into your kids’ diets, using the pasta bake as the ever-versatile vehicle.
Credit: Stephen DeVries, Prop Styling: Missie Neville Crawford; Food Styling: Torie Cox
Breakfast for dinner just got a major upgrade. Top this Potato-Bacon Hash with a few fried eggs for an easy, budget-friendly way to feed the whole family.
Credit: Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis
One of the best things about this comforting fall soup is that it freezes beautifully. This make-ahead superstar has oodles of flavor thanks to green enchilada sauce and a poblano chile.
Credit: Photography: Alison Miksch, Prop Styling: Sarah Elizabeth Cleveland, Food Styling: Melissa Gray
Even though fall temperatures might prevent you from firing up the grill, you can still have the same delicious cheeseburger taste your family loves with an easy one-dish casserole. This homey recipe will satisfy burger cravings and save you a trip to the fast food drive-thru.
Credit: Antonis Achilleos
Beef stroganoff is the ultimate comfort food supper that will cure even the most terrible, no-good, very bad day. Whip up this supper on a gray day to clear the poor weather haze.
Credit: Micah A. Leal
This Southern-ized version of Shepherd’s Pie will quickly become a family favorite for Sunday dinner. Filling meat and creamy mashed potato topping is something to be savored after a long day.
Credit: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall
Marinate your pork in chicken broth, orange juice, and garlic, then leave dinner to the slow cooker for tender, flavorful carnitas tacos. Don’t forget a pitcher of homemade margaritas!
Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Becky Hargett
This dish earns its name not only because its lighter than classic chili with beef or pork, but also because it comes together almost as fast as lightning. Unlike many chilis that need to steep for hours, this recipe comes together in just 30 minutes total.
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Dotdash Meredith
Classic gumbo will always be a cool-weather hit. This hearty version with rotisserie chicken and andouille sausage delivers knock-out spoonfuls of warming, Cajun stew.
Credit: Alison Miksch; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller
Choose your adventure for this mouth-watering stew: You can prepare your own meat r skip the hassle and use grocery store-bought, deli-roasted chicken or shredded pork from your favorite barbecue joint. Combined with warm broth and zesty Tex-Mex flavors, you can’t go wrong.
Credit: Greg DuPree
Meatballs and rice are comforting as can be and extra tasty accompanied by tangy cucumber-yogurt sauce. It’s hearty, filling, and quick to come together—all of our favorite things for a weeknight meal.
Dining and Cooking