Autumn is one of the best times of the year to get creative in the kitchen. When the days get colder and darker, there’s something incredibly comforting about cooking soups and stews, hearty pies and casseroles, and delicious desserts.
Many will agree that preparing a warming meal after a crisp autumn walk is the ideal way to celebrate the changing seasons. Plus, autumn brings a harvest of some of the most delicious ingredients, such as pumpkin, apple, pear, squash, and cranberry.
So, if you’re on the hunt for cooking inspiration, look no further. Here are 10 recipes to try this autumn…
And, to learn more, why not tune into the upcoming three-part series on making quick and cosy autumnal meals which is running on Rest Less Events? This kicks off on 7th October 2024.
1. Sausage casserole
A casserole might be the perfect autumn dish. As the weather cools, many of us start to crave warming, hearty foods, and casseroles make brilliant use of all the beautiful vegetables that come into their own at this time of year.
Plus, casseroles are usually cooked in one dish, meaning there’s minimal clear-up required, and more time to spend curled up on the sofa or strolling beneath russet trees!
Sausage casseroles are one of the most indulgent and are also full of protein. Why not try our warming sausage and bean casserole recipe, which is a quick and easy way to stay warm during the colder months – plus it freezes well.
If you want to keep your casserole veggie, you could try this spicy vegan casserole from BBC Good Food. It’s a great way to use up all the odds and ends you have lying around in the kitchen.
Or, have a watch of the video below for more sausage casserole inspiration…
2. Pumpkin lasagne
Pumpkin is arguably the most popular autumnal ingredient. There are dozens of tasty ways to eat pumpkin – in soups, stews, or simply roasted – but a slightly more unusual way is to make a pumpkin lasagne.
Few people don’t like lasagne: it’s comforting, filling, and if you’re careful with your ingredients, can be healthy too. Making pumpkin lasagne is a delicious way to give this classic Italian dish a satisfying autumnal twist.
You might like to try making Jamie Oliver’s pumpkin lasagne, which is packed with slices of roast pumpkin, sweet red onions, chestnuts, and fresh sage, then topped with a bechamel sauce, cheesy breadcrumbs, and pancetta.
Or you can keep things plant-based (and gluten-free!) with this pumpkin and mushroom lasagne from Lazy Cat Kitchen. Stuffed with caramelised pumpkin, protein-packed lentils, minced mushrooms, roasted walnuts, and a dairy-free bechamel sauce, it’s tasty and nutritious.
Check out the video below to see how to make Jamie’s lasagne.
3. Shepherd’s pie
Shepherd’s pie has got to be a contender for one of the most comforting and warming autumn meals. Coming in from the cold and sitting down to a plate of piping hot mashed-potato and tasty meat can be a tonic for the soul – and, despite its reputation, it can be nutritious too.
Shepherd’s pie is traditionally made with lamb (and cottage pie with beef), but the best thing about this dish is that there are dozens of different directions you can go in.
To cook a traditional lamb-based shepherd’s pie, why not try this no-fuss recipe from BBC Good Food? If you’re trying to lower your cholesterol, you might want to swap red meat for white meat, like in this turkey and vegetable shepherd’s pie from Taste of Home.
Or, you can leave out the meat altogether and make a veggie shepherd’s pie. This vegan one from Jamie Oliver is packed with lentils, mushrooms, and chickpeas, and topped with fluffy sweet potato mash and crisp breadcrumbs.
Check out the video below to find out more about making a vegan shepherd’s pie.
4. Apple, cranberry, and cinnamon pie
Getting home after a bracing walk to be greeted by the smell of homemade apple pie baking in the oven is one of this season’s unique joys.
Although apple pie can be enjoyed year round, in autumn, there are so many apples on offer – Granny Smith, Gala, Red Delicious – that making apple pie becomes even more enjoyable. The only thing that could possibly make this dessert more mouthwatering is to add a dash of cinnamon and a handful of cranberries.
This apple, cranberry, and cinnamon pie from Sally’s Baking Recipes looks as good as it tastes – and making your own pastry and creating pretty decorations for the crust can be therapeutic. Adding orange and cinnamon to the apple and cranberry will give this pie a gorgeous spicy, yet fresh, taste – and serving it with a dollop of cream or ice cream makes it taste even better.
If you’d like to make a dairy-free version of this pie, check out our article on the best dairy-free baking alternatives. Or, to make a crumble alternative, have a watch of Gordon Ramsay’s video below.
5. French onion soup
On a dark autumn day, a bowl of soup is wonderfully soothing and restorative. It’s cheap, easy, freezes well, is a perfect starter, and – when paired with warm, crusty bread – works just as well as a main. Endlessly versatile, making a soup will also give you the chance to use up any old veg you have sitting around.
There are enough soup recipes around that you could make a different recipe every day and never run out of options – but one of the most hearty has got to be French onion soup. Though it started out as a simple peasant dish made from onions, water, and stale bread, today, most recipes are much more indulgent.
The key to the perfect French onion soup is to cook the onions slowly so they caramelise without burning. Then, top with cheesy garlic bread for maximum deliciousness.
If this sounds like something you’d like to make this autumn, why not have a go at cooking this recipe from RecipeTin Eats? Or, have a watch of the video below.
6. Slow cooker chicken casserole
Autumn seems to be the most popular time of year to bake – but if you’re spending all that extra time channelling your inner Paul Hollywood, you might not want to spend hours cooking dinner too.
This is why slow-cooker dinners are ideal for autumn: you can pop your ingredients in the pot and get on with making some delicious desserts. And, as a bonus, your whole house will be flooded with mouthwatering aromas.
For something super creamy and indulgent, why not try making this crock-pot chicken casserole and dumplings recipe from Delish, which makes things even quicker and easier by using tinned cream of chicken soup? Or, if you’re happy to put a bit more time in and make it all from scratch, why not try this chicken casserole recipe from The Kitchen Sanctuary?
If you don’t eat meat but want to make a creamy casserole, you could have a go at this cheesy potato and broccoli casserole from I Love Vegan.
If none of these recipes appeal to you, the video below will teach you how to whip up your own chicken casserole. Our article, 10 of the best slow cooker recipes, also has more inspiration for ways to use your slow cooker if casserole isn’t tickling your fancy.
7. Maple, pecan, and pear tart
Another dessert that’s an autumn favourite – particularly in the US, where it’s a Thanksgiving staple – is maple and pecan tart. Sweet, sticky, gooey, nutty, and wrapped in a moreish buttery pastry, maple and pecan pie is incredibly delicious. The only thing that could possibly make it tastier is the addition of pears, which, in the UK, are at their best during the autumn months.
Why not try this decadent maple, pecan, and pear pie recipe from The Guardian, which is best served with double cream or custard? Or, if you’d like to make a classic maple pecan pie without pears, you could try this recipe from Sally’s Baking Recipes.
If you’re vegan or gluten-free, you don’t have to miss out on this fabulous dessert – just try this recipe from Making Thyme For Health!
To find out more, have a watch of Jamie Oliver’s video below.
8. Tuscan white bean stew
Stews are another autumn classic and, just like soups, they’re a great way to use old vegetables you have in the fridge and tins of beans in the back of your cupboard.
On a chilly autumn evening, the only thing better than tucking into a thick bowl of stew is one that has chunks of bread in it – and crunchy croutons on top. And that’s why ribollita (a white bean stew from the hilltops of Tuscany) might just be the ultimate stew for this season.
Ribollita originated in the Middle Ages when hungry peasants would take home their landowner’s stale bread to add to their stews. Packed with kale, tomatoes, celery, and onions, ribollita is thickened with cannellini beans and bread, then drizzled with olive oil and a dusting of parmesan. It’s comforting, filling, tasty, and – because it’s packed with vitamins and fibre – incredibly nourishing.
This simple ribollita recipe from Bon Appétit looks delicious. To make it vegan, just swap the parmesan for a plant-based alternative or, for maximum health points, nutritional yeast.
Watch the video below to see a step-by-step guide to making ribollita.
9. Butternut squash, cranberry, and quinoa salad
Just because it’s autumn, it doesn’t mean we should turn our backs on salads. With the right ingredients, an autumnal salad will go down a treat – and it’s the perfect meal if you’ve overindulged in pumpkin pie or maple and pecan tart!
An autumn salad should be filling, wholesome, and packed with seasonal ingredients – and this butternut squash salad ticks all three boxes. Not only is it stuffed with seasonal staples like squash, cranberries, and pumpkin seeds, but it also contains quinoa, an ancient, highly nutritional grain that gives the salad a lovely nutty flavour.
Plus, this butternut squash salad recipe from Well Plated injects even more seasonal flavour by tossing the salad in a maple and dijon dressing.
If you love the idea of adding Brussels sprouts to your squash salad, check out the video below.
10. Pear and blackberry crumble
If you’re looking for an autumn dessert with a quicker prep time than a pie, but that’s equally delicious, why not try a crumble? Crumbles are fruity desserts with a crispy, buttery topping. Just like pies, they’re perfect served with cream, ice cream, or a rich and creamy custard.
While summer crumbles usually contain fruits like strawberries, rhubarb, raspberries, or blueberries, autumn crumbles are far better suited to seasonal fruits like pears and blackberries. This pear and blackberry crumble from BBC Good Food has a crunchy oat and nut topping and is smothered in bay-infused custard for a sophisticated twist.
If you’d like to make a low-fat vegan crumble, have a watch of the video below.
Final thoughts…
Though it can seem a bit bleak when the days start drawing in and the temperature drops, one of the best ways to keep your spirits up is to get creative in the kitchen. From warming soups and slow-cooked casseroles to wholesome salads and heavenly desserts, there’s an autumn recipe out there for everyone.
For more cooking inspiration, head over to the food and drink section of our website. Here, you’ll find everything from money-saving recipes to meal ideas from around the world.
Are you tempted by any of these autumn recipes? Or do you have any of your own favourite autumn recipes you’d like to share with our readers? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below.