The humidity in Indiana is dropping, there is a breeze in the air, and football is back. Fall is beginning to show its beautiful self in the Midwest. It marks the beginning of arguably the best season, featuring the best flavors. Fall always invigorates my cooking spirit to try new recipes and bring back some comfort foods of years past.
I have pulled together 5 of my favorite, tried-and-true Fall recipes to share, along with some quick tips and variations to make them achievable on even the busiest weeknights.
Creamy Parmesan Italian Sausage Soup
This Creamy Parmesan Italian Soup is a quick, cozy one-pot meal that can be made in half an hour. The flavors are rich but also light, and the perfect weeknight soup complemented with crusty bread. There are many variation suggestions on the creator’s website, but one addition we often make to this soup is to add some spinach. This pairs lovely with fresh, or store bought bread if you are not on the sourdough baking train.
Nothing says fall more than a pot of chili simmering on the stove. There are so many varieties of chili and opinions, to add beans or not, or whether noodles are acceptable or sacrilegious. But one of my ultimate favorites is White Chicken Chili. This recipe is easy because I always have all the ingredients on hand; canned beans, corn, chicken broth, green chiles, and onions are pantry staples in my house. Since we are more spice-adverse in our house, I omit the jalapeños in the cooking process and leave them as an optional topping. This recipe is great for cooking the chicken in the soup, whether you use the slow cooker or a rotisserie chicken for a weeknight meal.
Oven Baked Sliders, Cheeseburger Sliders
Hawaiian Rolls are the best rolls to have on hand all year long. They make the best mini sandwiches, and in the fall, they make the best baked sandwiches. One of my favorite sandwiches to make during football season for gamedays are these over baked sliders. You can make the burger sauce from scratch, or you can use Thousand Island or a store-bought burger sauce of your preference. Another delicious variation is Roast Beef Sliders with French Fried Onions.
Honestly, you can’t go wrong with any meat, cheese, and sauce combination, baked until melty. I challenge you to get creative.
Mississippi Pot Roast is a classic that makes for a great crockpot set-and-forget dish. The best thing about this dish is that you can easily swap out the chuck roast for another protein if you would like. Chicken breasts or pork tenderloin are great alternatives to swap out for an easy variation. Pop this in the crockpot in the morning, and after 8 hours on low, it is ready for shredding, sides, and serving. If you are short on time, microwavable mashed potatoes are a great complement to this roast and roasted or steamed veggies to round out this cozy meal.
It wouldn’t be fall without a warm dessert to use those apples from the apple orchard. These quick and easy Country Apple Dumplings are the perfect sweet treat. The ingredients are super simple, and the ideal recipe for little hands to help. Serve warm with ice cream drizzled with caramel sauce for extra decadence. The Mountain Dew might be a surprise, but it helps make the most delicious sauce. Do not swap for diet soda; sugar is key. If you do not have Mountain Dew, other lemon lime sodas could be substituted. However, in our home, Mountain Dew is always on hand for my obsessed husband.
There’s nothing better than gathering around the table with comforting dishes that bring warmth to your home. Whether you’re stirring a pot of soup, layering sliders for game day, or pulling apple dumplings out of the oven, these recipes are simple enough for busy weeknights but special enough to make memories around.
Fall is such a fleeting season. I hope these cozy fall favorites inspire you to slow down, savor the flavors, and enjoy the little moments, one comforting bite at a time.
