70 Comforting Dinners To Make This Fall

It's fall y'all.

Hands down, Southern food is the most comforting cuisine in the world, and in our opinion, the best. We love our signature comfort foods more than we can explain to any non-Southerners—but if you're from down 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.

In these seasonal recipes, we're making use of some of the season's best produce, from squash and sweet potatoes to hearty, leafy greens. We've got skillet dinners, like our Beefy Butternut Squash Pasta or Potato-Bacon Hash, and sheet pan suppers (our Oven-Fried Pork Chops with Sweet Potatoes and Green Beans is a family favorite). From casserole bakes to hardy soups and stews, and slow-cooked suppers, these comforting fall dinner recipes are sure to leave your crowd full, happy, and feeling cozy throughout the season. These are our best fall meals for a reason.

Mushroom And Thyme Chicken-Broccoli Casserole

Using fresh broccoli, mushrooms, and thyme is the trick to taking this dish to the next level. With crispy panko that gives it a yummy crunch, this fresh casserole will be ready in just 40 minutes.

Chipotle-Maple Chicken Thighs With Candied Acorn Squash

In addition to the acorn squash, pomegranate arils and cilantro add pretty color to this chicken dinner. When preparing the squash, make sure to cut it into 1-inch pieces so it will cook evenly with the chicken.

Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup

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.

Sheet Pan Butternut Squash Mac And Cheese

The kids will have no idea this gooey macaroni and cheese has a good-for-them ingredient in it. Adults with experienced palates will taste the delicious difference made by sweet, seasonal squash.

Butternut Squash Lasagna

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.

Old-Fashioned Chicken Pot Pie

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.

Turkey Pumpkin Chili

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.

Sweet Potato-Topped Southwestern Cottage Pie

We gave cottage pie a fall makeover by topping it with mashed sweet potatoes. We also added peppers, poblano chiles, black beans, and more to add a bit of Southwestern flair.

Sweet Potato Soup

This warm fall soup is packed with flavor from sweet potatoes, buttery Yukon Gold potatoes, healthy carrots, and warm spices. Top with toasted pecans for even more autumnal flare and some crunch.

Beef Stew With Buttery Garlic Bread

Nothing says fall like a hearty beef stew. Serve this cozy dish at your dinner table or pack it to-go in thermoses. Just don't forget the crispy garlic bread for dipping!

Creamy Chicken Alfredo Casserole

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.

French Onion Soup Casserole

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.

Oven Baked Chicken Thighs And Vegetables

Fresh fall produce like Brussels sprouts and sweet potatoes star in this delectable chicken dinner that comes together in your cast-iron skillet. We love to serve this dish with warm, crusty bread to sop up the savory juices in the pan.

White Chicken Chili

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.

Instant Pot Mississippi Pot Roast

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.

Chicken Sausage with Fennel and Apples Recipe

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.

Shepherd's Pie With Potato Crust

The classic shepherd's pie gets a major upgrade with this stunning scalloped potato crust. Alternating between sweet potato and Yukon gold potatoes gives this pie an appealing visual effect that's fit for any fall occasion.

Skillet Pork Chops With Apples And Onions

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.

Double-Crust Chicken Pot Pies

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.

Lemon-Rosemary-Garlic Chicken And Potatoes

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.

Beefy Butternut Squash Pasta

We gave a quick ground beef pasta a fall tweak with the addition of fresh butternut squash. This dish is so good, you'll want it two nights in a row. Reheat leftovers in a skillet with a touch of chicken broth.

BBQ Rub Roasted Chickens With Potatoes And Carrots

Recipe: BBQ Rub Roasted Chickens with Potatoes and Carrots

Roasted carrots and potatoes are always a warm fall staple. We love them in this BBQ chicken dish that makes great leftovers.

Soulful Chicken Soup

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.

Eggplant Rollups

Skip the carb-heavy pasta for fresh and hearty eggplant. These tasty little bundles are filled with herbed ricotta and topped with marinara.

Cabbage, Mushroom, And Bacon Pasta

Reserving pasta water for when you fold all of the ingredients together helps create a smooth, creamy sauce. That extra touch of starch from the water is exactly what this delectable pasta dish needs to set it over the edge.

Spaghetti Casserole

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.

Emily's Red Beans And Rice

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.

Slow-Cooker Corn Chowder

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.

Chicken And Sausage Jambalaya

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!

Roasted Spatchcock Chicken

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.

Greek Baked Ziti

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.

Roast Chicken With Sweet Potatoes And Apples

Sweet potatoes and apples are two of our favorite fall staples. They come together beautifully to complement this simple roast chicken. Choose the size of your bird accordingly to the number of mouths you plan to feed.

Slow-Cooker Bolognese Sauce Over Pappardelle Pasta

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.

Southwest Chicken Cutlet Rice Bowl

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.

Shrimp-Okra-And-Sausage Kebabs

These fresh kebabs provide the perfect excuse to fire up the grill this fall. Sausage adds a hearty meat component to complement the light shrimp and crunchy okra.

Quick Beef Chili

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.

Honey-Soy-Glazed Salmon With Veggies and Oranges

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.

Lentil Soup With Sweet Potatoes And Bacon

Lentils are high in fiber, inexpensive, and super nutritious, making them a staple in our fall diets. This easy fall soup pairs lentils with indulgent sweet potatoes and bacon for a well-rounded dish.

Skillet Chicken Pot Pie With Leeks And Mushrooms

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.

Sweet Pepper Pasta With Sausage

This quick dinner is full of colorful sweet baby bell peppers, hot Italian sausage, and orecchiette pasta. Best yet, it only takes 30 minutes, which is perfect for an easy weeknight fix.

Mushroom Stroganoff

These wide egg noodles swimming in creamy mushroom sauce will transport you back to Grandma's kitchen. Though meatless, this recipe is supremely hearty thanks to savory, meaty cremini mushrooms and smoked paprika.

Chicken-Mushroom-Sage Casserole

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.

One-Pan Pasta With Chicken Sausage, Mushrooms, And Collards

Chicken sausage is our new favorite, lighter alternative to smoky pork sausage. Thrown in with savory mushrooms and greens, it's a welcome addition to autumnal pasta dinner.

Stuffed Beef Tenderloin With Burgundy-Mushroom Sauce

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.

Creamy Kale And Pasta Bake

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.

Pecan Soup

Most southerners have mastered the tried-and-true pecan pie, but have you ever tried using those crunchy pecans in a smooth fall soup? This velvety supper is autumnal comfort in a bowl.

Potato-Bacon Hash

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.

Bacon-Brussels Sprout-Green Bean Casserole

Who said you need a hearty cut of chicken or beef to make a stunning main dish? This casserole is packed full of roasted fall veggies and, with the addition of crispy bacon, it can stand alone on the dinner table.

Oven-Fried Pork Chops With Sweet Potatoes And Green Beans

We try to use sweet potatoes any way we can during fall, and this simple sheet pan supper is an easy way to do so. Follow our tips for crisp, breaded chops to avoid soggy pork.

Green Chile-Chicken Stew

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.

Cheeseburger Casserole

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.

Baked Chicken Thighs With Dressing

Apples and fall vegetables meet with juicy chicken thighs and crusty chunks of cornbread with this weeknight version of dressing. Carefully cut your apples and vegetables so that they all cook to perfection in one shot—that's the beauty of a sheet pan recipe.

Beef Stroganoff

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.

Meatloaf Casserole

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.

Slow-Cooker Carnitas Tacos

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!

White Lightning Chicken Chili

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.

Andouille Sausage And Smoked Chicken Gumbo

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.

Southwest Pork Stew

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.

Green Chile Pork Stew

Stir together this spiced stew for a weeknight dinner and freeze leftovers for when you need a cozy meal in the future. It freezes beautifully so that green chile and pork can warm you up twice.

Greek Meatballs with Cucumber-Yogurt Sauce and Rice

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.

Chunky Vegetable Beef Soup

This hearty soup is the remedy for a chilly day. Cook it slowly so that the vegetables and meat become tender and flush with warming flavors.

Chicken And Dumplings

If you look up "comforting" in the dictionary, you'll probably find a photo of a heading portion of classic Southern Chicken and Dumplings. This down home dish is as easy and cozy as it gets.

Classic Roasted Duck With Orange-Bourbon-Molasses Glaze

The trick to preparing perfectly textured duck with crispy skin is keeping it dry. Take care to pat it down before baking it and slathering on sultry citrus-bourbon glaze.

Italian-Style Grits And Greens With Pulled Pork And Mushrooms

Serve this homestyle meal family style by preparing a large bed of grits to ground savory meat and mushrooms. Each component of this dish, from the pulled pork, to the garlicky sautéed mushrooms, and the grits packed with herbs, is a delicious balancing act of comforting and elegant.

Sheet Pan Flank Steak, Greens, And Yukon Gold Fries

Before starting your day in the morning, set your flank steak up to marinate in olive oil, spices, and herbs. Closer to dinner time, this meat and potatoes recipe will come together in about an hour, bursting with all the deep flavor soaked into the steak.

Vidalia Onion Soup

French onion soup is a classic go-to for comforting fare, and this version using Southern produce only sweetens the deal. Vidalia onions from Georgia enhance the soup with sweet flavor, especially when caramelized.

Chicken-Mushroom Skillet

This hardy skillet uses two types of mushrooms, oyster and cremini, for maximum indulgent, savory flavor. Our best tip: leave the mushrooms be. Avoid the temptation to stir them as they cook down.

One-Pan Hot Honey Chicken And Rice

Chicken thighs cooked perfectly golden brown are a win for both your wallet and the hungry mouths around the dinner table. With this one-pot recipe, dinner will be a hit and clean-up will be a breeze.

Greek Pork Chops With Squash And Potatoes

Catch the tail end of the zucchini harvest and make these pork chops with roasted squash and potatoes. This colorful square meal in a sheet pan is guaranteed to please.

One-Pan Chicken With Lemon, Olives, And Artichokes

As if learning that delicious dinner can be prepared in just one pan with minimal dirty dishes isn't comforting enough, this bold, Mediterranean-inspired dish has coziness to spare. Green olives, parsley, and thyme are a bright and briny trio brought to earth by hearty couscous to soak up herbaceous flavors.

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Read the original article on Southern Living.