31 Comforting October Recipes That Will Have You Ready To (Finally) Embrace Cooler Fall Weather

We finally made it to spooky season.

Welcome all to my favorite month of the year and what I like to think of as the official start to soup season. The days are finally getting chillier, which means more comforting meals (and all the squash I can get my hands on). So, whether you're hosting some spooky get-togethers or having a cozy night in, here are some recipes to help you out this month.

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1. Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal

Two Peas and Their Pod / Via twopeasandtheirpod.com

Take advantage of all the delicious fall apples with this incredibly easy breakfast that will have you set for the whole week.

Recipe: Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal

2. Chai-Spiced Sweet Potato Pancakes

Ambitious Kitchen / Via ambitiouskitchen.com

Save yourself some time by cooking and mashing your sweet potatoes ahead of time, or even use canned pumpkin if you’re trying to go super minimal effort.

Recipe: Chai-Spiced Sweet Potato Pancakes

3. Orange Glazed Cranberry Bread

Sally's Baking Addiction / Via sallysbakingaddiction.com

This super simple quick bread is an absolute show-stopper that evokes all the flavors of fall. Serve it any time from breakfast to dessert.

Recipe: Orange Glazed Cranberry Bread

4. Butternut Squash, Bacon, Kale, and Goat Cheese Frittata

Coley Cooks / Via coleycooks.com

While this super-filling breakfast is perfect for a weekend brunch or a week-long meal prep, it would also be an amazing lunch served with a simply dressed green salad.

Recipe: Butternut Squash, Bacon, Kale, and Goat Cheese Frittata

5. Roasted Grape Crostini with Brie and Fresh Thyme

Cookie and Kate / Via cookieandkate.com

This simple appetizer will only take you 10 minutes to prep and leave you with the perfect combo of jammy roasted grapes and creamy brie.

Recipe: Roasted Grape Crostini with Brie and Fresh Thyme

6. Whipped Goat Cheese with Bacon and Dates

The Original Dish / Via theoriginaldish.com

You’ll probably need to make seconds of this sweet-savory dip. Serve with some crusty bread for the ultimate bite.

Recipe: Whipped Goat Cheese with Bacon and Dates

7. Maple Chipotle Pumpkin Hummus

How Sweet Eats / Via howsweeteats.com

Spicy, smoky, and subtly sweet, this hummus is the perfect dip for colder nights.

Recipe: Maple Chipotle Pumpkin Hummus

8. Brussels Sprout, Kale, and Apple Salad with Sharp Cheddar and Bacon

Coley Cooks / Via coleycooks.com

Shred the fruits and veggies in this salad to fit everything on your fork for a satisfying bite. A mandoline will make this effortless, but it’s still very doable without one.

Recipe: Brussels Sprout, Kale, and Apple Salad with Sharp Cheddar and Bacon

9. Pear and Prosciutto Ricotta Tart

The Original Dish / Via theoriginaldish.com

If you’re looking for a crowd-pleasing appetizer, or maybe even a snack for yourself, this tart is just the thing you need. You can even try swapping the ricotta for goat cheese or brie if you’re looking to change things up.

Recipe: Pear and Prosciutto Ricotta Tart

10. Broccoli Manicotti with Burrata

Feasting at Home / Via feastingathome.com

You can skip boiling the pasta here as it all cooks in the sauce when baking. Is there really anything better than getting to skip a cooking step?

Recipe: Broccoli Manicotti with Burrata

11. Chipotle Black Bean, Sweet Potato, and Quinoa Chili

Ambitious Kitchen / Via ambitiouskitchen.com

Done all in one pot, this rich vegetarian chili couldn’t be easier to make. Plus, it packs plenty of protein to keep you full.

Recipe: Chipotle Black Bean, Sweet Potato, and Quinoa Chili

12. Brussels Sprouts Pizza with Balsamic Red Onions

Cookie and Kate / Via cookieandkate.com

If you’re ever struggling to find a more creative (and tastier) way to eat Brussels sprouts, here’s your answer. This pizza skips the classic tomato base and replaces it with balsamic onions for the ultimate cozy meal.

Recipe: Brussels Sprouts Pizza with Balsamic Red Onions

13. Cauliflower Orange Gnocchi

Pinch of Yum / Via pinchofyum.com

This isn’t your average bowl of gnocchi. The key here is to slice the cauliflower as thin as possible using a mandoline (a sharp knife will also do the trick) to get it to crisp up beautifully.

Recipe: Cauliflower Orange Gnocchi

14. Creamy Polenta with Roasted Mushrooms

Two Peas and Their Pod / Via twopeasandtheirpod.com

Sure, polenta takes a bit of hands-on cooking time, but don’t let that intimidate you from making this super comforting (yet simple) dish.

Recipe: Creamy Polenta with Roasted Mushrooms

15. One Pot Stovetop Pumpkin Mac 'n' Cheese

Half Baked Harvest / Via halfbakedharvest.com

This luxuriously creamy seasonal mac 'n' cheese is going to quickly become your go-to fall dinner. The best part? It comes together in one pot in only 30 minutes.

Recipe: One Pot Stovetop Pumpkin Mac 'n' Cheese

16. Mexican Roasted Corn and Quinoa Stuffed Squash

Pinch of Yum / Via pinchofyum.com

Stuffed squash is one of my all-time favorite dinners to make in the fall, and I guarantee this hearty yet light version will definitely make its way into your weekly rotation.

Recipe: Mexican Roasted Corn and Quinoa Stuffed Squash

17. Tandoori Chicken and Cauliflower Sheet Pan Dinner

The Modern Proper / Via themodernproper.com

Cauliflower and chicken thighs get tossed in a flavorful tandoori yogurt sauce and popped in the oven for 30 minutes to create this super easy dinner. Serve with some fluffy basmati rice to really round everything out.

Recipe: Tandoori Chicken and Cauliflower Sheet Pan Dinner

18. Creamy Wild Rice Chicken Soup with Roasted Mushrooms

Half Baked Harvest / Via halfbakedharvest.com

You can definitely make this hearty soup on the stovetop, but if you want to make everything as easy as possible, just toss everything in your slow cooker on a busy weeknight.

Recipe: Creamy Wild Rice Chicken Soup with Roasted Mushrooms

19. Smoky Pumpkin Bisque with Grilled Cheese Croutons

How Sweet Eats / Via howsweeteats.com

The classic soup and grilled cheese combo just got a serious upgrade. If you want to keep this vegetarian, skip the bacon or even replace it with a vegetarian "soy-rizo" for that smoky flavor.

Recipe: Smoky Pumpkin Bisque with Grilled Cheese Croutons

20. Creamy Mushroom Pork Chops

Julia's Album / Via juliasalbum.com

This ultra-comforting dish comes together all in one pan making cleanup a breeze. Play around with the mushroom variety while they’re still in season.

Recipe: Creamy Mushroom Pork Chops

21. Butternut Squash, Sausage, and Tortellini Soup

Gimme Some Oven / Via gimmesomeoven.com

This creamy soup is perfect for sneaking in any additional seasonal veggies for all those picky eaters.

Recipe: Butternut Squash, Sausage, and Tortellini Soup

22. Vineyard Chicken

The Modern Proper / Via themodernproper.com

Roasted grapes and shallots elevate this rustic chicken dish, making it an easy fall favorite. Serve with your favorite grain or even let it shine on its own.

Recipe: Vineyard Chicken

23. Mushroom Risotto with Frizzled Leeks

Feasting At Home / Via feastingathome.com

Feel free to serve this risotto with a piece of chicken or fish, but between the hearty mushrooms and crispy leeks, you’ll likely find that it can stand on its own.

Recipe: Mushroom Risotto with Frizzled Leeks

24. Gochujang Delicata Squash with Rice and Tofu

Naturally Ella / Via naturallyella.com

Once you make this, you’ll want to put the spicy-sweet gochujang glaze on everything. Serve with your desired protein and you’re in for a treat.

Recipe: Gochujang Delicata Squash with Rice and Tofu

25. Caramel Apple Upside Down Cake

Sally's Baking Addiction / Via sallysbakingaddiction.com

Don't let the “caramel” of this cake intimidate you — all it takes is melting some butter with brown sugar to create a rich sauce that pairs beautifully with crisp apples.

Recipe: Caramel Apple Upside Down Cake

26. Cranberry Shortbread Bars

The Food Charlatan / Via thefoodcharlatan.com

These bars are buttery, tart, and just sweet enough. The walnut topping really takes it over the edge and adds an additional layer of crunch.

Recipe: Cranberry Shortbread Bars

27. Pumpkin Shortcakes with Cinnamon Apples and Maple Whipped Cream Cheese

Pinch of Yum / Via pinchofyum.com

Can’t decide between pumpkin and apple this season? This can be your happy compromise. This dessert is a little more labor intensive than average, so give it a shot during a rainy weekend or holiday. I promise it’ll be worth it.

Recipe: Pumpkin Shortcakes with Cinnamon Apples and Maple Whipped Cream Cheese

28. Spider Web Cheesecake Tart

The Little Epicurean / Via thelittleepicurean.com

No need for a water bath or super long bake time on this spooky cheesecake. Just account for the two hours of chilling time if you’re looking to serve this up during any Halloween festivities.

Recipe: Spider Web Cheesecake Tart

29. Cinnamon Maple Whiskey Sour

Cookie and Kate / Via cookieandkate.com

With warm spices and maple syrup, this whiskey sour is the perfect cozy cocktail. Plus, it’s easy to batch for all your fall gatherings. 

Recipe: Cinnamon Maple Whiskey Sour

30. Smoky Harvest Apple Cider Margarita

Half Baked Harvest / Via halfbakedharvest.com

This margarita swaps the tequila for mezcal for that signature smoky flavor (but you can totally stick to tequila if you’re not a mezcal fan). If you’re really trying to impress, don’t skip out on the smoked cinnamon stick garnish.

Recipe: Smoky Harvest Apple Cider Margarita

31. Rosemary Blackberry Limonata

The Little Epicurean / Via thelittleepicurean.com

Just because it’s fall doesn’t mean you can’t opt for a more refreshing cocktail. You’ll still get some of those earthy flavors from the rosemary, but can count on the blackberry syrup and limonata to brighten things up.

Recipe: Rosemary Blackberry Limonata