Delicious Fall Comfort Food That Will Make You Feel Warm and Cozy

By BH&G Food Editors
Updated August 08, 2019
Andy Lyons
Savor the flavors of fall with these comfort food dinner recipes, including bubbly casseroles and hearty fall soups. We even have a few dessert comfort foods to help satisfy sweet cravings. These tasty and satisfying fall recipes feature in-season ingredients, and they're perfect for warming up chilly nights.
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Cheesy Sausage Bread

Andy Lyons
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There's something about gooey, ultra-cheesy bread that's even more satisfying in autumn. One of the ultimate comfort food recipes, a hearty sausage bread is made to be shared. This cheesy loaf seasoned with Italian herbs is best when pulled apart warm, so dig in!

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Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese

Andy Lyons
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Crispy bacon, caramelized onion, and melty smoked Gruyère cheese complement in-season butternut squash. This twist on a traditional comfort meal makes a decadent recipe you should definitely feature on your fall comfort food menu.

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Pull-Apart Pretzel Skillet

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Get ready for the game-day snack of the century! These pretzel bites served with warm, gooey beer-cheese dip are an absolute must for football season. Of course, you can also enjoy this fall comfort food as an appetizer or a yummy party snack on brisk autumn nights. But make sure you tackle it with a few friends!

Buy It: Lodge Cast Iron 12-Inch Skillet, $19.90, Amazon

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Surprise-Inside Chocolate Bread

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

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Cinnamon Roll Apple Pie

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A warm slice of apple pie is the quintessential American comfort food. Plain apple pie is delicious, but we made this dessert even more decadent by swapping mini cinnamon rolls for the top crust. Drizzling each slice with caramel secures its title as one of the best fall comfort foods.

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Pork Sandwich with Tarragon-Apple Slaw

Andy Lyons
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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 quick for weeknight meals.

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Spiced Pumpkin Bars

Karla Conrad
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When it comes to fall comfort foods, you cannot beat pumpkin bars. If you have an insatiable sweet tooth, these rich pumpkin bars are the perfect comfort food for you. To make them extra special, finish the bars with a dollop of luscious cream cheese frosting.

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

Jason Donnelly
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If a steaming bowl of fall soup is what you're after, try our maple-infused sweet potato soup recipe. A cheesy crostini tops the velvety soup for extra fall comfort food that is sure to chase away any autumn chill.

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Rich Maple Butter Cake

Jason Donnelly
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You won’t miss 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 really want a topper, a dusting of powdered sugar adds a bit more sweetness to this fall comfort food.

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Bacon-Blue Cheese Mashed Potatoes

Brie Passano
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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.

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Apple and Cheddar Penne Pie

Kritsada Panichgul
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For all those who vote macaroni and cheese as the best fall comfort food recipe, this adult upgrade is for you. For a seasonal switch-up, we mix crisp fall apples with all the gooey goodness of cheddar and cream cheese.

Test Kitchen Tip: Fan thin apple slices on top of the pie halfway through baking. Brush with melted butter and sprinkle with snipped fresh thyme.

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Cinnamon Roll Pumpkin Pie

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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 in 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.

Buy It: Pyrex 9.5-Inch Pie Plate, $5.99, Bed Bath & Beyond

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Skillet Pot Roast with Cherries

Blaine Moats
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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 comfort food on the quick.

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Oven-Fried Chicken

Blaine Moats
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Honestly, we could eat fried chicken any time of year. Crunchy outside and juicy inside, this comfort food dinner packs the goodness of fried chicken into a more healthful baked rendition.

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

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Chocolate Bread Pudding

Andy Lyons
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Gooey bread pudding is practically the definition of fall comfort food desserts. This version is sprinkled with chocolate and topped with an indulgent chocolate ganache. Dig in while it's warm from the oven to make this cold-weather sweet even more irresistible.

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Pork and Poblano Stew

Andy Lyons
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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 bright contrast.

Test Kitchen Tip: Make this stew up to three days ahead when you know you'll need a quick dinner solution. Reheat and enjoy this fall comfort food with hardly any waiting.

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Chicken Pot Pies

Blaine Moats
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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.

Buy It: Set of Four Porcelain Ramekins, $8.99, Bed Bath & Beyond

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Creamy Turkey Soup

Jason Donnelly
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No need to save turkey for the holidays. This everyday-easy soup recipe slow-cooks turkey tenderloin, potatoes, mushrooms, milk, and spices into a satisfying supper for a comforting turkey dinner any time you want.

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Macaroni and Brie with Crab

Andy Lyons
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Crabmeat and Brie cheese take mac and cheese into luscious, sophisticated territory. Easy comfort food recipes have never tasted so indulgent.

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Peanut Butter-Swirl Chocolate Brownies

Andy Lyons
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Swirls of peanut butter and chocolate are sure to entice people to cut into the these brownies. (Who could resist the classic combo?) But baking any fall comfort food fudgy brownie will put a smile on everyone's face.

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Shredded Pork Roast Sandwiches

Blaine Moats
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A few hands-off hours in your oven turns out tender pork for a slow-roasted fall comfort food dinner. Keep the  sandwich filling warm in a slow cooker for a super-delish tailgating meal.

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Red Beans and Rice with Squash

Andy Lyons
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With meat, beans, veggies, and rice this is a satisyfing one-bowl meal. Butternut squash or any other winter squash gives this Southern comfort food dish a deliciously sweet undertone.

Test Kitchen Tip: Look for precut butternut squash at the grocery store to save prep time.

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Smoky Cheese and Potato Soup

Andy Lyons
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Fall soups make great comfort food, especially when they're as cheesy and creamy as this one. Garlic mashed potatoes and smoked cheese have their own appeal, but together they make a warm fall comfort food dinner recipe that'll quickly become one of your weeknight staples.

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Pumpkin-Black Bean Bake

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

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Salted Caramel Apple Pie

Blaine Moats
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Apple pie is a classic autumn recipe. But we like to think it is even better when you add salted caramel sauce. If you've go a bushel of apples from an orchard, bake one of these for a fall comfort food dessert. This showstopper makes any meal a special occasion.

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Pork Roast with Eggplant and White Beans

Kritsada Panichgul
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Rubbed with rosemary and garlic, this pork roast is destined to become a favorite fall comfort food dinner. Eggplant, beans, and squash—spiced with sage and a hint of lemon—make a perfect seasonal side dish.

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Chicken and Pumpkin Tagine Stew

Scott Little
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Fill your home with the aroma of fall when cloves, ginger, saffron, pumpkin, and chicken cook on the stove. This classic Moroccan stew bursts with comforting ingredients, including a touch of sweetness from honey and raisins.

Test Kitchen Tip: Tagine is both the name of the stew and the name of the clay pot in which it is traditionally cooked.

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Butternut Squash Lasagna

Andy Lyons
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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. Plus, you can take full advantage of all the fresh butternut squash at your grocery store and farmers market.

Buy It: Pyrex 3-Quart Oblong Glass Baking Dish, $10.99, Target

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Classic Chili

Blaine Moats
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You can never go wrong with a hearty bowl of chili. Rich, chunky, and filled with fabulous 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.

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Cinnamon Roll-Apple Cobbler

Jacob Fox
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You may have noticed by now that we love using gooey cinnamon rolls when baking fall comfort food desserts. This time we used them as the topper for ginger-spiked apples. Just add them for the last 25 minutes.

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Apple-Spiked Monkey Bread

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

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Chicken Noodle Soup

Blaine Moats
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Chicken and noodle soup might be one of the best fall comfort foods to slurp up on a chilly day. This soup recipe is superior to others because it's loaded with more of the parts you love—shredded chicken, egg noodles, and veggies—and goes a little easier on the broth.

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