When someone says the word “cozy,” soup often comes to mind. It can be so comforting! But sometimes, you’re not in the mood for soup. Or maybe (gasp!), you aren’t particularly fond of soup. The good news is that plenty of cozy fall meals that aren’t soup are just as comforting. Hello, casseroles and fall pasta dishes for starters!
Take Ree Drummond’s hamburger casserole, for example. “If you've been craving good, no-fuss comfort food, give this one a try!” she says. Can you really go wrong with hearty beef and lots of gooey cheese? It really is the recipe for coziness. And so is basically anything you can put in a slow cooker, like juicy chicken things that simmer with baby potatoes and carrots.
If you want something that really screams “fall,” then it’s time to break out the harvest veggies like butternut squash. Not only does it make the ideal side dish, but it can even be a main course if you stuff the heck out of it with sausage, rice, and cheese. It (and all the other fall dinners listed here) are just as cozy as soup. But they have an added bonus of not sloshing all over you as you snuggle under the throw blanket to eat them!
Buffalo Chicken Pasta
You can get a taste of fall tailgating any night of the week. Feel free to add more of the sauce if you're into spice, but don't skip the blue cheese and celery toppings—they make the dish!
Get Ree's Buffalo Chicken Pasta recipe.
Pork, Apple, and Sage Meatballs
Apple really balances out savory pork with a nice sweet-tart twist. Serve these easy meatballs on a bed of creamy mashed sweet potatoes for an extra cozy taste of fall.
Get Ree's Pork, Apple, and Sage Meatballs recipe.
Sheet Pan Glazed Meatloaf
When the evenings get chilly, meatloaf just feels right. But you don’t have to spend a ton of time waiting for it to cook. This sheet pan version with broccoli is done in just 45 minutes.
Get Ree’s Sheet Pan Glazed Meatloaf recipe.
Stuffed Butternut Squash
Butternut squash can be a challenge to peel and cut, but here, all you have to do here is halve it. Then roast it and stuff with sausage, rice, and cheese, and you've got a tasty fall dinner with less dishes.
Get Ree's Stuffed Butternut Squash recipe.
Hamburger Casserole
“If saucy, beefy, cheesy pasta is your idea of comfort food, you’ve got to try this hamburger casserole,” Ree says. It can also be assembled ahead of time, so all you have to do is bake it when you're ready.
Get Ree's Hamburger Casserole recipe.
Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs
Busy fall schedules call meals that you can just sling in your slow cooker. Tender, juicy chicken cooks right alongside baby potatoes and carrots for a full meal all in one appliance.
Get Ree's Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs recipe.
Pumpkin Risotto
If you want to get a little fancy, make risotto! It’s a bit of a labor of love, but it’s so seasonal and creamy with the pumpkin. Top it with bacon, parmesan, and roasted pumpkin seeds to really impress everyone.
Get the Pumpkin Risotto recipe.
Baked Pasta with Sausage, Kale, and Sun-Dried Tomatoes
The answer to what makes something cozy usually includes lots of melty cheese. This baked pasta dish has lots of that, for sure, but also features hearty kale, Italian sausage, and sun-dried tomatoes.
Get Ree's Baked Pasta with Sausage recipe.
Chili Mac and Cheese
Chili isn’t a soup, but just to make sure, mix it with mac and cheese. This whole thing is made from scratch in just 30 minutes and only uses one pan. How comforting is that?
Get Ree's Chili Mac and Cheese recipe.
Spaghetti Squash and Meatballs
You don’t even have to eat pasta to get the warm, cozy feeling at dinner. You can replace it with spaghetti squash and still get all the meaty, saucy, cheesy goodness you crave.
Get Ree’s Spaghetti Squash and Meatballs recipe.
Sheet Pan Pork Chops
This sheet pan dinner has fall written all over it. Pork roasts with tender apples and onions and a tangy honey mustard topping. Then serve with roasted Brussels sprouts for a perfectly autumnal meal.
Get Ree’s Sheet Pan Pork Chops recipe.
Creamy Butternut Squash Pasta
If you’re intimidated to cut up a butternut squash, do yourself a favor and buy some that's already been cut up at the store. It helps you get this creamy, cozy pasta on the table in a fraction of the time.
Get the Creamy Butternut Squash Pasta recipe.
Chicken and Veggie Fall Skillet
Smoky spices like cumin and paprika really boost the flavor of chicken thighs, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, and butternut squash. A drizzle of balsamic glaze and a sprinkle of pomegranate seeds add a nice bit of sweetness.
Get Ree's Chicken and Veggie Fall Skillet recipe.
Enchilada Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
Looking for something a bit unexpected for dinner? Stuff baked sweet potatoes with an enchilada filling! It’s a blend of rotisserie chicken, green chiles, jalapeño, and a velvety, tangy sauce.
Apple Cider-Glazed Salmon
Yes, fish can be cozy, too! Ree makes a sweet and savory sauce for it with apple cider, brown sugar, soy sauce, garlic, and paprika, capturing all the flavors of fall. Serve with potatoes and green beans.
Get Ree’s Apple Cider-Glazed Salmon recipe.
Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan
Chicken parm is always cozy! But you don’t have to put a ton of hours into making it. Use store-bought marinara and your air fryer to get it on the table in just 30 minutes.
Get the Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan recipe.
Orecchiette with Butternut Squash, Kale, and Sausage
You can use either sweet or hot Italian sausage for this dish depending on what you like―or a mixture of both! Either way, it'll be balanced by the hearty kale and sweet butternut squash.
Get Ree's Orecchiette with Butternut Squash, Kale, and Sausage recipe.
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