Food and Recipes Dinner 60 Comforting Dinners To Make This Fall It's fall y'all. By Lisa Cericola Lisa Cericola Lisa Cericola has been on staff at Southern Living since 2015. As Deputy Editor, Lisa manages the food and travel departments and edits those sections of each issue, as well as digital content. Previously, she was the features editor at Food Network Magazine and has more than 15 years of experience writing, editing, and managing photo shoots for print and digital lifestyle brands. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on August 14, 2024 Close Photo: Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox 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. These recipes make use of some of the season's best produce, from squash and sweet potatoes to hearty, leafy greens for creamy, cheesy comfort foods like Butternut Squash Pasta and Chicken And Dumplings. There are also some fun mashups like Cornbread Cowboy Casserole and Chicken And Stuffing Casserole. And whether you prefer the Instant pot or the slow-cooker, we've got you covered all fall long! 01 of 60 Slow Cooker Vegetable Soup 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. get the recipe 02 of 60 Twice Baked Potato Casserole 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. get the recipe 03 of 60 Marry Me Chicken 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. get the recipe 04 of 60 Mississippi Pot Roast 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. get the recipe 05 of 60 Slow-Cooker Chicken And Dumplings 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. get the recipe 06 of 60 Cowboy Spaghetti 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. get the recipe 07 of 60 Cornbread Cowboy Casserole 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. get the recipe 08 of 60 Mushroom And Thyme Chicken-Broccoli Casserole Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis 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. get the recipe 09 of 60 Chipotle-Maple Chicken Thighs With Candied Acorn Squash 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. get the recipe 10 of 60 Cabbage Soup Jen Causey; Food Stylist: Ana Kelly; Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless If you haven't cooked much with cabbage before, switch things up from a classic coleslaw and try this recipe for Cabbage Soup. Bacon fat gives it a smoky undertohttps://www.southernliving.com/cabbage-soup-8347370ne, while caraway seed and onion some flavorful aroma–it's brothy, balanced, savory, and perfect for a chilly fall day. get the recipe 11 of 60 Quick Baked Potato Greg Dupree, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen Sometimes nothing beats a perfect, quick baked potato with salt, pepper, and a a pat of butter—especially in the crisp days of fall. This is the only recipe for that you'll ever need. get the recipe 12 of 60 Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup 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. get the recipe 13 of 60 Spice-Rubbed Turkey Tenderloin With Gravy 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. get the recipe 14 of 60 Butternut Squash Mac And Cheese Antonis Achilleos; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Kathleen Varner 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. get the recipe 15 of 60 Butternut Squash Lasagna 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. get the recipe 16 of 60 Old-Fashioned Chicken Pot Pie 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. get the recipe 17 of 60 Turkey Pumpkin Chili 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. get the recipe 18 of 60 Sweet Potato Soup Greg DuPree 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. get the recipe 19 of 60 Creamy Chicken Alfredo Casserole 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. get the recipe 20 of 60 French Onion Soup Casserole 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. get the recipe 21 of 60 Braised Chicken Thighs With Carrots and Lemons 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. get the recipe 22 of 60 White Chicken Chili 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. get the recipe 23 of 60 Instant Pot Mississippi Pot Roast 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. get the recipe 24 of 60 Chicken Sausage with Fennel and Apples Recipe 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. get the recipe 25 of 60 Skillet Pork Chops With Apples And Onions 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. get the recipe 26 of 60 Double-Crust Chicken Pot Pies 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. get the recipe 27 of 60 Lemon-Rosemary-Garlic Chicken And Potatoes 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. get the recipe 28 of 60 Roast Chicken Brittany Conerly, Food Stylist: Karen Rankin, Prop Stylist: Christina Brockman Impressive yet easy, this roast chicken is seasoned with lemon, dried rosemary, and seasoned pepper. get the recipe 29 of 60 Soulful Chicken Soup 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. get the recipe 30 of 60 Eggplant Rollups 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. get the recipe 31 of 60 Spaghetti Casserole 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. get the recipe 32 of 60 Emily's Red Beans And Rice Peter Frank Edwards 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. get the recipe 33 of 60 Slow-Cooker Corn Chowder 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. get the recipe 34 of 60 Chicken And Sausage Jambalaya 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! get the recipe 35 of 60 Roasted Spatchcock Chicken 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. get the recipe 36 of 60 Greek Baked Ziti 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. get the recipe 37 of 60 Slow-Cooker Bolognese Sauce Over Pappardelle Pasta 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. get the recipe 38 of 60 Southwest Chicken Cutlet Rice Bowl 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. get the recipe 39 of 60 Quick Beef Chili 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. get the recipe 40 of 60 Honey-Soy-Glazed Salmon With Veggies and Oranges 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. get the recipe 41 of 60 Skillet Chicken Pot Pie With Puff Pastry 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. get the recipe 42 of 60 Chicken-Mushroom-Sage Casserole 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. get the recipe 43 of 60 Stuffed Beef Tenderloin With Burgundy-Mushroom Sauce 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. get the recipe 44 of 60 Creamy Kale And Pasta Bake 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. get the recipe 45 of 60 Bacon-Hash Brown Quiche 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. get the recipe 46 of 60 Bacon-Brussels Sprout-Green Bean Casserole Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall 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. get the recipe 47 of 60 Green Chile-Chicken Stew 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. get the recipe 48 of 60 Cheeseburger Casserole 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. get the recipe 49 of 60 Beef Stroganoff 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. get the recipe 50 of 60 Meatloaf Casserole 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. get the recipe 51 of 60 Slow-Cooker Carnitas Tacos 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! get the recipe 52 of 60 White Lightning Chicken Chili 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. get the recipe 53 of 60 Chicken And Sausage Gumbo 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. get the recipe 54 of 60 Southwest Pork Stew 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. get the recipe 55 of 60 Greek Meatballs with Cucumber-Yogurt Sauce and Rice 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. get the recipe 56 of 60 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. get the recipe 57 of 60 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. get the recipe 58 of 60 Vidalia Onion Soup Southern Living 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. get the recipe 59 of 60 Chicken And Stuffing Casserole Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox This recipe flips the traditional chicken and stuffing casserole with thighs on top and stuffing on the bottom. Chicken thighs get golden and crispy while the absorbs all the tasty juices and fat from chicken thighs that rest atop it. get the recipe 60 of 60 Creamy Chicken Sausage-And-Kale Soup Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Christine Keely This one pot meal is full of flavor with onions and garlic that create a savory aroma from the beginning. Succulent, moist chicken sausage stews alongside kale, carrots, and nutmeg for a hearty, cozy dish. get the recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit