New month, new eats.
It's hard to believe it's already November.
The weather is changing, and so is the produce! So here's some recipe inspiration to help you take advantage of the best seasonal ingredients going into late fall and early winter — including easy dinners, festive co*cktails, and plenty of other great eats in the lead-up to Thanksgiving.
Platings and Pairings / Via platingsandpairings.com
Cold weather means it's officially whiskey season. Take advantage with this simple yet sophisticated bourbon smash. Just mix cranberry simple syrup, cranberry juice, and bourbon in a shaker and serve with frozen cranberries for garnish.
3. Cauliflower Sausage Kale Soup
Little Broken / Via littlebroken.com
When sausage and bacon are involved, you know you're in for a treat. This creamy, cozy soup tastes great as leftovers, so make a big batch and eat it throughout the week.
Recipe: Cauliflower Sausage Kale Soup
4. Maple Pecan Roasted Acorn Squash
Closet Cooking / Via closetcooking.com
Introducing your new favorite side dish, which is worthy of a special occasion. If you want to turn it into a meal, just stuff it with your favorite grain, like quinoa or couscous.
Recipe: Maple Pecan Roasted Acorn Squash
Wholesome Delicious / Via wholesomelicious.com
This Indian-inspired recipe is usually made with chicken, but this version subs in cauliflower. It's vegetarian but so creamy and delicious, you won't miss the meat.
Recipe: Indian Butter Cauliflower
How Sweet Eats / Via howsweeteats.com
Classic lasagna gets a twist thanks to pumpkin puree. Instead of layering the noodles, sauce, and ricotta filling, roll them into little packets and bake until golden brown and melty.
Nibble and Dine / Via nibbleanddine.com
When baked chicken and decadent spinach artichoke dip combine to form one bubbly, cheesy casserole, you know you're in for something delicious.
8. Spicy Parsnip and Sweet Potato Soup
Kitchen Sanctuary / Via kitchensanctuary.com
Topped with roasted parsnips, peanuts, a drizzle of coconut milk, and lime juice, this comforting soup is the perfect mixture of salty, savory, tangy, and sweet.
Lazy Cat Kitchen / Via lazycatkitchen.com
Despite the fact that all of these ingredients are simple, the final pasta tastes totally fancy. Brussels sprouts, bread crumbs, and roasted walnuts go a long way to upgrade your ordinary spaghetti.
Recipe: Roasted Brussels Sprout Pasta
Half Baked Harvest / Via halfbakedharvest.com
While you might think of burrata as a summer ingredient, here it's delightfully autumnal thanks to persimmon, cranberries, and a dressing made of roasted walnuts, maple syrup, and pumpkin seeds.
Tastes Better From Scratch / Via tastesbetterfromscratch.com
This sheet pan recipe is so simple, all you need are peppers, onion, chicken, tortillas, and seasoning. For the latter, you can use a blend of whatever spices you have — like chili powder, paprika, onion powder, and garlic powder.
Recipe: Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas
Bev Cooks / Via bevcooks.com
Pro tip: if you have an air fryer, use it to cook the breaded shrimp so that they get seriously crispy without any oil.
The Modern Proper / Via themodernproper.com
You might think pumpkin is an ingredient best left for dessert recipes, but this savory curry will change your mind. You can make it with pretty much whatever protein and veggies you have in your kitchen.
14. Fried Cabbage Sausage Skillet
Eat Well 101 / Via eatwell101.com
Imagine the taste of stuffed cabbage but cooked entirely in one skillet. This feel-good recipe can be paired with rice or your favorite grain to make it even more filling.
Recipe: Fried Cabbage Sausage Skillet
Wholefully / Via wholefully.com
Sweet potato spirals take the place of rice noodles in this Thai-inspired dish. Make it with chicken, swap in shrimp or tofu, or just use whatever veggies are in your fridge.
16. Spiced Pear Crumble Bars
Crazy For Crust / Via crazyforcrust.com
If you've already had enough apple pie, turnovers, and galettes to hold you over till next fall, switch things up with these crumbly pear bars. PSA: Pairing them with a scoop of vanilla ice cream is always a good idea.
Recipe: Spiced Pear Crumble Bars
Belle of the Kitchen / Via belleofthekitchen.com
Peppers are in season throughout fall, so take advantage with this easy, vegetarian-friendly recipe for bell peppers filled with a mixture of black beans, rice, shredded cheese, and salsa.
Recipe: Black Bean Stuffed Peppers
Coley Cooks / Via coleycooks.com
A delightful mix of savory and sweet, this galette makes for a perfect fall side dish. If you want to save time and effort, use store-bought piecrust.
19. Warm Apple and Almond Butter Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
Rainbow Plant Life / Via rainbowplantlife.com
Call it breakfast or dessert...or both. You can roast the sweet potatoes in the oven in advance, keep them in the fridge, and add the toppings when you're ready to eat.
Bowl of Delicious / Via bowlofdelicious.com
You can't have enough one-pan recipes on hand for easy weeknight meals with little cleanup. Swiss chard, salmon, lemon, garlic, and butter are really all that's required to whip it up.
Spache the Spatula / Via spachethespatula.com
Creamy mozzarella, sweet figs, salty prosciutto, and tangy balsamic vinegar make for a seriously delicious pizza combo.
22. Bahn Mi Shrimp Lettuce Cups
Campbell Comfort / Via campbellcomfort.com
For a low-carb dinner that will still leave you feeling satisfied, look no further than these Boston lettuce cups filled with marinated shrimp and quick pickled veggies. If you need a bit more substance, add rice noodles or white rice.
Recipe: Bahn Mi Shrimp Lettuce Cups
Dishing Out Health / Via dishingouthealth.com
It's peak cauliflower season, so take advantage and use the vegetable as a meat substitute often. These flavor-packed tacos are made with cauliflower marinated in adobo sauce, honey, spices, and lime. Then they're garnished with garlic aioli and your favorite taco toppings.
The Novice Chef Blog / Via thenovicechefblog.com
It's all about the cream cheese swirl, which makes these pumpkin muffins light and tangy and just a tiny bit savory.
25. Maple Roasted Carrots in Tahini Sauce With Pomegranate and Pistachios
Closet Cooking / Via closetcooking.com
Roasted in the oven, carrots naturally turn sweet and juicy. These whole-roasted veggies are topped with zesty pomegranate seeds, salty pistachios, and nutty tahini.
Recipe: Maple Roasted Carrots in Tahini Sauce With Pomegranate and Pistachios
26. Pork Chops With Apples and Butternut Squash
The Forked Spoon / Via theforkedspoon.com
Pork and apples are already a match made in heaven, but add some cubed butternut squash and you've got the ultimate fall skillet dinner.
27. Mini Apple Pies
The Kittchen / Via thekittchen.com
These individually portioned apple pies are made in ramekins, so they're easy to serve (and you don't have to share).
Recipe: Mini Apple Pies
Alexandra Cooks / Via alexandracooks.com
Cook your grains, protein, and veggies all in a single skillet with this one-pot meal.
29. Bacon Leek Pasta
Jo Cooks / Via jocooks.com
This rich and hearty dish calls for just five ingredients: your favorite type of pasta, bacon, leeks, heavy cream, and Parmesan, plus some salt and pepper.
Recipe: Bacon Leek Pasta
30. Harvest Apple Mule co*cktails
Inspired By Charm / Via inspiredbycharm.com
When life gives you apples, mix them with vodka, ginger beer, and lemon beer to make a crowd-pleasing co*cktail.
Recipe: Harvest Apple Mule co*cktails