35 Recipes for Cozy Fall Comfort Foods to Make This Autumn (2024)

Baked Ziti with Sausage and Pumpkin Tomato Sauce

Hearty and filling baked ziti gets a spot on your fall comfort food menu with this rendition incorporating pumpkin. The fragrant squash pairs perfectly with zippy tomatoes and zesty, sweet Italian sausage.

Cheesy Sausage Bread

There's something about gooey, ultra-cheesy bread that's even more satisfying in autumn. One of the ultimate fall comfort food recipes, a hearty sausage bread is made to be shared with friends and family. This cheesy loaf seasoned with Italian herbs is designed to pull apart while warm, so get in there with your hands and dig in!

Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese

Crispy bacon, caramelized onion, and melty smoked Gruyère cheese complement in-season butternut squash in this fall comfort food recipe. This twist on a traditional comfort meal makes a decadent recipe that deserves a permanent feature on your fall comfort food menu, year after year.

Pull-Apart Pretzel Skillet

Fall means football, and in our book, football means fall comfort foods! Get ready for the game-day snack of the century with these pretzel bites served with warm, gooey beer-cheese dip. Of course, this recipe can double as an appetizer or a yummy party snack on brisk autumn nights. Whatever time of day you enjoy it, make sure you tackle it with a few friends!

Buy It: Lodge 12-Inch Cast Iron Skillet ($30-$40, Williams Sonoma)

Surprise-Inside Chocolate Bread

A warm slice of pumpkin bread is a classic fall food (for breakfast or dessert), but adding chocolate makes it even better. This fall comfort food highlights several of our favorite flavors: sweet chocolate bread, pumpkin bread, and a cream cheese swirl. Not to mention it's the cutest comfort food we've ever seen!

Pork Sandwich with Tarragon-Apple Slaw

Slivers of fall-fresh apples brighten a crispy panko-breaded pork loin in this hearty sandwich. The easy fall comfort food recipe comes together in about half an hour, so it's a no-brainer for weeknight meals.

Spiced Pumpkin Bars

You cannot beat pumpkin bars when it comes to fall comfort food recipes. These rich pumpkin bars are the perfect comfort food if you have an insatiable sweet tooth. Finish the bars with a dollop of luscious cream cheese frosting to make them extra special.

Maple-Kissed Cream of Sweet Potato Soup with Bacon-Cheddar Crostini

If a steaming bowl of fall soup is what you're after, you can't get much better than this maple-infused sweet potato soup recipe. A cheesy crostini tops the velvety soup for a fall comfort food recipe that is sure to chase away any autumn chill.

Butternut Squash and Fettuccine Alfredo

Enjoy the indulgence of decadent pasta with added nutrients in this fall comfort food recipe. A perfect option for weeknight meals or special occasions alike, this heavenly pasta dish is made even more hearty with the addition of smoked sausage and butternut squash, one of our favorite fall foods.

Cinnamon Roll Apple Pie

We all know that a warm slice of apple pie is the quintessential American comfort food. And although plain apple pie is delicious, we decided to make this dessert even more decadent by swapping mini cinnamon rolls for the crust. Drizzling each slice with caramel sauce secures its title as one of the best fall comfort foods.

Rich Maple Butter Cake

You won't miss the frosting on a slice of this buttery cake. Toffee-like maple syrup ensures it's plenty sweet and creates an ultra-moist fall cake. But if you want an even more delicious topper, a dusting of powdered sugar adds sweetness to this already decadent fall comfort food.

Bacon-Blue Cheese Mashed Potatoes

Any fall comfort food menu is better with mashed potatoes. The pillowy, fluffy, buttery side dish is a must for the holidays and makes a comforting side dish for almost any fall dinner recipe. We upped the tastiness factor by stirring in crispy bacon and blue cheese crumbles.

Cinnamon Roll Pumpkin Pie

Turn plain pumpkin pie into the best of fall comfort foods with one easy swap: instead of using a regular piecrust, use cinnamon rolls! Pumpkin and cinnamon are a match made in heaven, so adding extra cinnamon to the crust makes this pie even more delicious. No one at Thanksgiving dinner will be able to tell that the crust is made from soft, gooey cinnamon rolls until they take a bite, making for a sweet surprise.

Buy It: Pyrex 9.5-Inch Pie Plate ($5, Bed Bath & Beyond)

Skillet Pot Roast with Cherries

Dark sweet cherries and balsamic vinegar add rich notes to beef pot roast in this easy fall recipe. Skillet-cooking pot roast makes this one-dish dinner a quick and easy addition to your fall comfort food menu.

Oven-Fried Chicken

Honestly, we could eat fried chicken any time of year. Crunchy outside and juicy inside, this comfort food dinner pack the goodness of fried chicken into a more healthful baked rendition. Drizzle with some warm maple syrup for the ultimate fall comfort food.

Test Kitchen Tip: For a twist, replace the coating or crushed cornflakes with bread crumbs seasoned with Italian spices.

Chocolate Bread Pudding Casserole

Gooey bread pudding is practically the definition of a fall comfort food dessert. This version is sprinkled with chopped chocolate and topped with an indulgent chocolate ganache for a fall comfort food recipe you'll return to every year. Dig in while it's warm from the oven to make this cold-weather sweet even more irresistible.

Pumpkin Green Chile Tot Casserole

Any casserole loaded with potato tots is a win in our book, but this recipe is perfect because it incorporates one of our favorite fall foods. Pumpkin makes this dish a little bit sweet, while chorizo and poblano peppers make it a little bit spicy, the perfect combination for a chilly fall night.

Pork and Poblano Stew

Fall stews can chase away the chill, and this one is no exception. Pair this pork- and spice-filled stew with a citrus-topped green salad for a bright contrast. The best part? You can make this stew up to three days in advance for those nights when you need a batch of fall comfort food at the ready.

Chicken Pot Pies

The best fall comfort food recipes are warm, creamy classics like these mini chicken pot pies. After only 10 minutes in the oven, the savory aroma of our classic chicken pot pie recipe will draw the whole family to the table. Plus, everyone gets their own, so no one gets stuck with a skimpy slice.

Macaroni and Brie with Crab

Crabmeat and Brie cheese take your average mac and cheese into luscious, sophisticated territory. Fall comfort foods aren't typically known for being refined, but you can feel a little more fancy serving this indulgent dish in individual ramekins rather than one big casserole.

Shredded Pork Roast Sandwiches

These impossibly easy sandwiches make for the perfect fall comfort food recipe. With a few hours in your oven, you'll achieve tender, pull-apart pork, the definition of a slow-roasted fall comfort food dinner. Then, keep the sandwich filling warm in a slow cooker for a super-delish tailgating meal.

Red Beans and Rice with Squash

With meat, beans, veggies, and rice, this satisfying one-bowl meal will punch up any fall comfort food menu. Butternut squash or any other winter squash gives this Southern comfort food dish a deliciously sweet undertone reminiscent of fall flavors.

Pumpkin-Black Bean Bake

Pumpkin puts a seasonal spin on classic tamale pie in this fall comfort food recipe. Here, the autumn staple combines with layers of ground beef and hearty veggies under a crusty corn bread topper. If fall comfort food casseroles are already a hit at your table, this Mexican-inspired recipe will be no exception.

Salted Caramel Apple Pie

Apple pie is perhaps the most famous of all fall foods. The only thing that could make it better? A drizzle of salted caramel sauce. If you've got a bushel of apples from an orchard, whip up one to add to your fall comfort food menu. This showstopper makes any meal a special occasion.

Three-Cheese Pumpkin Lasagna

Pumpkin and lasagna might not be the most typical combination, but this dish may be the ultimate fall comfort food thanks to the pumpkin. When mixed with pumpkin and packed with veggies, cheesy lasagna gets a makeover with this recipe brimming with our favorite fall foods.

Butternut Squash Lasagna

This vegetarian take on lasagna oozes with creamy sauce, tender butternut squash, and Parmesan cheese. Hot from the oven, this rich, cheesy delight satisfies any fall comfort food casserole craving. You can take full advantage of all the fresh butternut squash at your grocery store and farmers market.

Classic Chili

What's a fall comfort food menu without a hearty bowl of chili? Rich, chunky, and filled with fall flavor, traditional chili is a comfort food classic for a reason. An extra sprinkle of cheese and a spoonful of sour cream add a smooth finish to this autumn recipe that's perfect for a tailgate or a weeknight dinner.

Cinnamon Roll Apple Pie

You may have noticed by now that we love using gooey cinnamon rolls when baking fall comfort food recipes. Who wouldn't? This time we're using them as the crispy, gooey topper for ginger-spiked apples. Just add them for the last 25 minutes.

Apple-Spiked Monkey Bread

Cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger add spice to this apple-filled monkey bread, a must-have for any fall comfort food menu. Carb-lovers, we won't tell if you decide to turn this recipe into a sweet breakfast instead of dessert. After all, sometimes you need comfort food at breakfast.

Pappardelle with Butternut Squash and Blue Cheese

Squash pasta is the hearty fall comfort food that deserves its time to shine. With sweet squash, sharp cheese, and a rich sauce, this hearty pasta will be the star of the show on your next fall comfort food menu.

Harvest Chili

How many fall foods can we fit into one bowl? This surprisingly healthy fall comfort food recipe packs in quite a few: butternut squash, Granny Smith apples, Golden Delicious apples, chicken-apple sausage links, and fresh sage all share the spotlight. Beans (pinto, in this case) make the meal even heartier.

Spicy Pasta with Sweet Potatoes

For a truly warm and hearty fall comfort food recipe, do more than just serve sweet potatoes on the side: Add them to your entrée! For a satisfying fall comfort food dinner, toss pasta with roasted sweet potatoes, cream cheese, and chili sauce in this delicious recipe.

Cinnamon-Sugar Bourbon-Pumpkin Muffins

These muffins may be smaller than a traditional loaf of pumpkin bread, but somehow, they manage to pack in even more flavor. A drizzle of bourbon in the batter adds a hint of the alcohol's rich, sweet flavor. A topping of cinnamon-sugar and pecans turns this fall comfort food recipe into a favorite afternoon snack (or dessert).

Classic Pot Roast

Oh, how we love a good pot roast! Chilly nights seem to require that one is on your fall comfort food menu. This pot roast recipe features melt-in-your-mouth beef and caramelized onions that you'll be proud to serve when hosting the whole family.

Four-Cheese Butternut Spaghetti Pie

We're elevating spaghetti pie one step further. Adding one of our favorite fall foods, butternut squash, takes this weeknight meal to the next level with some healthy nutrients and fall flavor. The best part? It all comes together in one pot for easy cleanup.