13 Seasonal Dishes for Your Next Fall Feast

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It's fall and that means delicious recipes in line with the season's harvest: apples, pumpkin, and squash. As the heat of the summer gives way to cooler fall temperatures, food becomes hearty and satisfying with a stick-to-your-ribs vibe that provides comfort and warmth through a spice palette spiked with cinnamon and cloves.

Here are 13 of my favorite fall recipes that are sizzling in my kitchen. All of them are fit for a crowd, so invite some friends over to celebrate the season with you.

1. Autumn Apple Punch

Punch is an easy beverage display to help guests serve themselves with minimal effort for the host. This apple punch is a snap to prepare with five simple ingredients and can be served at room temperature or over ice. Subtract the bourbon if you have little guests in attendance and place apple slices tossed in lemon juice on a serving plate (to stave off browning) and a mason jar of cinnamon sticks for guests to use as garnish.

2. Salted Caramel Hot Cocoa

Nothing warms us up on a chilly fall day like a toasty cup of hot cocoa. This easy hot cocoa recipe mimics the Starbucks version for a fraction of the price per cup by marrying bittersweet chocolate, creamy caramel sauce, and sea salt in frothy milk.

3. Spiced Wine

Give a bottle of wine a spicy kick. There are hundreds of variations for this drink, though I keep it simple with cinnamon, cloves, a bit of sugar, and lemon.

4. Vegan Pumpkin Spice Pancakes

Pancakes are a decadent way to make brunch a celebration. Fall pumpkins give us a way to make pancakes seasonal and healthy. Because the pumpkin serves as a binding agent and a source of moisture and sweetness, these pancakes don't need eggs and require only a minimal amount of sugar. As an added bonus, they fill your kitchen with a sensational aroma.

5. Autumn Arugula Salad

Salads live long after summer, and in the fall they can often be the main course. This one uses a bed of spicy arugula as the backdrop for roasted acorn squash, avocado, and pomegranate seeds. The dressing dons a fall flavor with apple cider vinegar, ginger, and cloves.

6. Savory Butternut Squash Soup

In the fall, soup is definitely on and it's so easy to make for a party of one or a large crowd. This paleo soup recipe is as healthy as it is delicious because it's loaded with a combination of fall root vegetables. Creamy soups like this one also freeze well, so make extra.

7. Slow Cooker Pulled Pork

Fire up the crock pot! This genius of a kitchen gadget was made with fall cooking in mind. Prep the ingredients, toss them in, and the crock pot does all the work while you enjoy playing in the crisp fall air. This pulled pork is delicious served on sandwiches or over rice, potatoes, or couscous.

8. Slow Cooker Turkey Chili

Don't put that crock pot away yet! Turkey chili is a crowd pleaser that lets guests doctor it up with fixings served as a buffet. Try shredded cheese, scallions, dollops of sour cream, and chopped olives. It also freezes well, so even if your crowd is small, make a big batch to eat later in the week.

9. Butternut Squash and Caramelized Onion Flatbread

Flatbreads are excellent canvases for roasted fall vegetables, rich and velvety cheeses, and seasoned meats. Make your flatbread simple or intricate or in between like this butternut and caramelized onion flatbread. Let guests personalize them, pop them in the oven, and you've got one happy crowd.

10. Roasted Brussels Sprouts With Apples and Bacon

Brussels sprouts are an underappreciated jewel of the fall harvest. I dice 'em, slice 'em, saute 'em, and roast 'em with any seasoning that sounds good to me in the moment. This version pairs salty bacon with sweet apples to concoct a completely satisfying side. Like other members of the cabbage family, Brussels sprouts are rich in vitamin C making them a natural immunity booster to fight off colds.

11. Parmesan-Roasted Cauliflower

Cauliflower is even more densely packed with vitamin C than Brussels sprouts. A single serving has almost five times the recommended daily dose and it couldn't be simpler to prepare. Toss with any herbs you like, olive oil, parmesan cheese, fresh cracked pepper, and sea salt. Place it in a single layer on a cookie sheet or roasting pan and let a very hot oven turn it into your next favorite comfort food.

12. Brown Sugar Cinnamon Apple Skillet Cake

No fall meal would be complete without some sweets and fall has no shortage of options in the dessert department. This rustic take on a traditional apple cake is baked and served in a cast iron skillet that provides a very fall motif to any table.

13. Spiced Pumpkin Mousse Trifle

Pumpkin pie is my all-time favorite dessert. However, it's tough to make it feed a crowd. This trifle has all of the pumpkin-y goodness and it goes a long way. The rum and gingersnaps provide a welcome punch of flavor and novelty to this traditional dessert.

Let these recipes inspire you to get to the market and then head to your kitchen to celebrate the bounty of this delicious season.

Do you have favorite fall feast recipes? Please share them in the comments below. Happy fall, y'all!