16 Simple Comfort Food Recipes To Ease You Into Fall (2025)

Sorry to break it to you, but summer is over.

Jesse SzewczykPublished on August 21, 2019

We are only a few short weeks away from fall, which means it's just about time to start cooking with apples, squash, and all the warming spices.

So we rounded up 16 hearty comfort food recipes that are perfect for fall — from creamy butternut squash risotto to stuffed shells — so you can get a head start on your fall menu planning.

halfbakedharvest.com

This recipe swaps out classic marinara for a creamy pumpkin sauce with a subtle spicy kick.

Get the recipe: Spicy Pumpkin and Pesto Cheese-Stuffed Shells

2. Apple Pork Chops

16 Simple Comfort Food Recipes To Ease You Into Fall (2)

dinneratthezoo.com

Six ingredients is all it takes to make these comforting pork chops and apples that are flavored with fragrant sage.

Get the recipe: Apple Pork Chops

pinchofyum.com

Because nothing screams comfort food quite like a classic chicken and rice casserole.

Get the recipe: Chicken Wild Rice Casserole

5. Easy French Onion Soup Casserole

16 Simple Comfort Food Recipes To Ease You Into Fall (4)

thecookierookie.com

Caramelizing the onions in the oven takes a good bit of time (up to two hours!), so feel free to knock them out the day before and stash 'em in the fridge to get a head start.

Get the recipe: Easy French Onion Soup Casserole

gimmesomeoven.com

This hearty soup gets finished with a handful of chopped fresh kale, but feel free to substitute it with baby spinach or Swiss chard if kale isn't your thing.

Get the recipe: Cozy Autumn Wild Rice Soup

halfbakedharvest.com

Topping a soup with a cinnamon crumble might sound weird, but it's actually delicious. It provides a nice crunch and subtle sweetness that works perfectly with the savory cheese soup.

Get the recipe: Brie and Cheddar Apple Beer Soup With Cinnamon Pecan Oat Crumble

8. Crispy Garlic Butter Chicken and Brussels Sprouts

16 Simple Comfort Food Recipes To Ease You Into Fall (5)

theendlessmeal.com

This recipe uses bone-in chicken thighs to make sure they stay nice and juicy, but you can use boneless chicken breasts if that's more your style.

Get the recipe: Crispy Garlic Butter Chicken and Brussels Sprouts

9. Ravioli With Sage Brown Butter Sauce, Spinach, and Walnuts

16 Simple Comfort Food Recipes To Ease You Into Fall (6)

budgetbytes.com

All you need is frozen ravioli and six supporting ingredients to make this hearty fall dinner that'll impress anyone.

Get the recipe: Ravioli With Sage Brown Butter Sauce, Spinach, and Walnuts

pinchofyum.com

Just throw everything into your Instant Pot, let it cook, and garnish with whatever toppings your heart desires.

Get the recipe: Instant Pot Sweet Potato Tortilla Soup

11. Roasted Mushroom Kale Pizza

16 Simple Comfort Food Recipes To Ease You Into Fall (7)

halfbakedharvest.com

Hearty mushrooms and kale are the unexpected (and delicious!) pizza toppings you never knew you needed.

Get the recipe: Roasted Mushroom Kale Pizza

12. Slow Cooker Chicken Pot Pie Soup

16 Simple Comfort Food Recipes To Ease You Into Fall (8)

pinchofyum.com

This recipe swaps out standard pie crust for tiny puff pastry hearts to make this recipe both insanely adorable and super easy to make.

Get the recipe: Slow Cooker Chicken Pot Pie Soup

skinnytaste.com

This chili is made without beans, but you can add black or pinto beans to bulk it up if you'd like.

Get the recipe: Turkey and Sweet Potato Chili

14. Sausage and Potatoes Sheet Pan Dinner

16 Simple Comfort Food Recipes To Ease You Into Fall (9)

foxandbriar.com

Just throw everything onto a sheet pan, roast for 30 minutes, and dinner is done.

Get the recipe: Sausage and Potatoes Sheet Pan Dinner

familystylefood.com

Mushrooms take the place of ground beef in this vegetarian ragu that's the perfect thing to serve over creamy Parmesan polenta.

Get the recipe: Easy Mushroom Ragu With Parmesan Polenta

16. Creamy Garlic Chicken

16 Simple Comfort Food Recipes To Ease You Into Fall (10)

saltandlavender.com

Serve this creamy chicken over pasta, rice, or all by itself for the ultimate autumn dinner.

Get the recipe: Creamy Garlic Chicken

Looking for more recipe inspiration? Check out these posts:

16 Budget-Friendly Dinners You Can Make For Less Than $10

21 Wholesome, Easy Dinners To Get You Through Winter Nights

Here Are A Bunch Of Seasonal Recipes To Bookmark For Fall

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    16 Simple Comfort Food Recipes To Ease You Into Fall (2025)

    FAQs

    What's your go to comfort food best answer? ›

    It's the food you like having to feel good. Could be something like fish and chips, mac and cheese, spaghetti, a hot dog, some noodles, a dosa, or maybe Snickers or some good old paratha.

    What is the best comfort food of all time? ›

    Our 20 all-time favorite comfort foods
    • 1 of 20. Chicken noodle soup. Joshua Resnick / shutterstock.com. ...
    • 2 of 20. Chicken pot pie. Charles Brutlag / shutterstock.com. ...
    • 3 of 20. Chicken tenders. ...
    • 4 of 20. Chili. ...
    • 5 of 20. Chocolate chip cookies. ...
    • 6 of 20. Cinnamon buns. ...
    • 7 of 20. Cornbread. ...
    • 8 of 20. Fries.
    Aug 9, 2024

    What are comfort foods when feeling down? ›

    High-fiber whole grains like whole wheat pasta and bread, oatmeal and sweet potatoes help your body release serotonin. 5. Low-fat dairy. Not only are low-fat cheese, milk and yogurt good for your bones, the calcium and vitamin D found in these foods contain peptides which promote feelings of well-being and relaxation.

    What are comfort foods for loss? ›

    Funeral potatoes, crocks of macaroni and cheese, cakes, pies, cookies, and the ubiquitous casserole exist for a reason, she says. These foods, it turns out, do more than satiate an empty stomach. They bring us solace during a time of need.

    What is a good go to comfort food? ›

    What Are the Top 10 Comfort Foods?
    • Burgers & French fries.
    • Cake and cheesecake.
    • Candy.
    • Chicken soup.
    • Grilled cheese.
    • Grits.
    • Ice cream.
    • Mac 'n' cheese.
    Apr 11, 2023

    What makes comfort food so comforting? ›

    The Role of Texture and Flavor

    Beyond emotional connections, the texture and flavor of comfort foods also play a crucial role in satisfying our cravings. Creamy, indulgent textures and rich, savory flavors can provide a sensory experience that transcends mere nourishment, transporting us to a state of culinary bliss.

    What is the number 1 most loved food? ›

    pizza! Whether it's piled high with pepperoni, cheese, or other toppings, many people around the world reach for this marinara-covered pie come dinnertime. Of course, pizza has several delicious competitors. The second most popular food in the world is sushi, and burgers are third.

    What is the No 1 most delicious food in the world? ›

    Rendang, Indonesia

    Source Often called "the world's most delicious dish," Rendang is prepared by simmering beef with coconut milk with a mixture of the best of spices including turmeric, garlic, lemongrass, ginger, chillies, and galangal.

    What is men's favorite comfort food? ›

    It is not surprising that males prefer warm, hearty, comfort foods (such as casseroles, chili and soup); while females prefer comfort foods that are more snack related, such as chocolate and ice cream, which brings instant relief.

    What foods are good for calming down? ›

    Turkey, bananas, and oats: These are good sources of the amino acid tryptophan, which is converted to serotonin in the body and may promote relaxation and anxiety relief ( 64 , 65 ).

    What food calms your mood? ›

    Here is a list of foods that contain mood-boosting serotonin and dopamine:
    • Fruits and vegetables.
    • Whole grains.
    • Lean meats.
    • Fish.
    • Nuts and legumes.
    • Low-fat dairy.
    • Olive oil.
    Jan 12, 2023

    What food eases sorrow? ›

    Regional and Cultural Sympathy Food Favorites

    In the American south, it's common to bring grieving families fried chicken, a hot chicken salad casserole, or a plate of deviled eggs and sandwiches with the crusts cut off. If you live in a northern state, you might bring a hearty lamb stew, eggplant parmesan, or chili.

    What is the most comforting food in the world? ›

    10 Comfort Foods from Around the World
    • Italy: Risotto Milanese. Begin your gastronomic adventure in Italy with the iconic Risotto Milanese. ...
    • Japan: Hot Pot (Nabe) ...
    • India: Butter Chicken. ...
    • France: Cassoulet. ...
    • Morocco: Harira Soup. ...
    • South Korea: Kimchi Stew (Kimchi Jjigae) ...
    • Mexico: Pozole. ...
    • Greece: Moussaka.

    What is the best comfort food when feeling lonely? ›

    Comfort foods, the study found, actually do make us feel less sad. So what were the top seven items on my poll? Mac and cheese hit the No. 1 spot, followed by beef stew, apple pie and ice cream, chicken and dumplings/chicken pot pie, meatloaf with mashed potatoes, bread pudding and fried chicken.

    What does your go to comfort food mean? ›

    uncountable noun. If you call something comfort food, you mean it is enjoyable to eat and makes you feel happier, although it may not be very good for your health. For me, spaghetti bolognese is the ultimate comfort food.

    What is your go to food meaning? ›

    Defined as food that gives emotional comfort to the one eating it, these tend to be favorite foods of childhood, or linked to a person, place or time with which the food has a positive association.

    How would you describe comfort food? ›

    Food that makes you remember good times with family. The food you crave. Food that you splurge on. Whatever you want to call it, comfort food is food that makes you feel good.

    What does it mean to go to comfort? ›

    To comfort is to lessen the sadness or sorrow of someone and to strengthen by inspiring with hope and restoring a cheerful outlook: to comfort a despairing person. console, a more formal word, means to make grief or distress seem lighter, by means of kindness and thoughtful attentions: to console a bereaved parent.

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