These Cozy Seasonal Favorites are the Best Recipes to Make in November

September always feels like two seasons sharing the same kitchen. Some afternoons still feel like summer, but then you get that first cool morning and suddenly soup, pumpkin, apples, warm spices, and cozy pasta start sounding really good.

That's what I love about recipes to make in September. You don't have to choose between summer and fall quite yet. There's still plenty of zucchini, basil, broccoli, and fresh greens to enjoy, while apples, pumpkin, mushrooms, squash, and all those comforting fall flavors are starting to make their way back onto the table.

I've gathered everything from easy weeknight dinners and hearty soups to quick vegetable sides, fall breakfasts, cookies, and desserts. Whether you're navigating busy back-to-school nights or you're already itching to pull out the pumpkin puree, there's something here to make September taste especially good.

Basil Pesto Chicken

September is one of my favorite times for this basil pesto chicken because it still takes advantage of those fresh late-summer flavors. Juicy chicken breasts are covered with herby pesto, fresh mozzarella, and ripe tomatoes, then baked until the cheese is melted and everything gets wonderfully saucy.

It feels fresh enough for one of those surprisingly warm September evenings, but it's still an easy baked dinner that works beautifully once the back-to-school schedule gets busy. Add roasted vegetables, rice, pasta, or a piece of crusty bread to soak up all those pesto and tomato juices.

Get the Recipe: Basil Pesto Chicken

Mini Apple Crisps

Once apple season starts, these little individual apple crisps absolutely belong on the September dessert list. Tender apples bake underneath a sweet, buttery crisp topping, giving you all the cozy flavor of a traditional apple crisp in cute individual portions.

They're especially nice when you're having people over because everyone gets their own dessert, and there's no trying to scoop pretty portions out of a big baking dish. Serve them warm with vanilla ice cream and you have one of those simple fall desserts that always feels a little extra special.

Get the Recipe: Mini Apple Crisps

Apple Spiced Cookies

These apple spiced cookies are exactly the kind of treat I start craving when September mornings finally get a little cooler. They're filled with warm fall spices and apple flavor, making them a cozy change from all the pumpkin recipes that start showing up this time of year.

They're perfect with an afternoon cup of coffee, tucked into lunchboxes, or added to an early fall cookie tray. If you want something that says fall without immediately reaching for pumpkin spice, these are a really good place to start.

Get the Recipe: Apple Spiced Cookies

Slow Cooker Sausage Tortellini Soup

September is also when I start remembering why I love my slow cooker so much. This sausage tortellini soup gives you savory Italian sausage, tender cheese tortellini, and a cozy, flavorful broth while letting the slow cooker handle most of the work.

It's a great recipe for busy school nights because dinner can be cooking while you're dealing with everything else the afternoon decides to throw at you. Add some crusty bread or a simple salad and you've got an easy comfort-food dinner that's perfect for the first chilly evenings of fall.

Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Sausage Tortellini Soup

Creamy Pumpkin Feta Pasta

This is the kind of September dinner that lets you ease into pumpkin season without jumping straight to dessert. Pumpkin puree and feta create a creamy, savory sauce with red bell pepper, spinach, garlic, chili powder, and a touch of smoked paprika for extra depth.

It comes together in about 30 minutes, making it especially nice for those busy early-fall weeknights when you want comfort food but don't want dinner to become an entire evening project.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Pumpkin Feta Pasta

Easy Pumpkin Soup Recipe

Once the first cooler evening rolls around, I'm always ready for a bowl of creamy pumpkin soup. This version brings together pumpkin, coconut milk, vegetable broth, onions, curry powder, cinnamon, and a little maple sweetness for a soup that's rich without feeling overly heavy.

Serve it with crusty bread, biscuits, or a grilled cheese sandwich and you've got one of those simple September dinners that immediately makes the house feel a little cozier.
Get the Recipe: Easy Pumpkin Soup Recipe

Instant Pot Wild Rice and Mushroom Soup

Wild rice and mushrooms are such a good way to start moving dinner into fall territory. This Instant Pot soup has a creamy, hearty base loaded with mushrooms, wild rice, and seasonings, but the pressure cooker keeps it from becoming an all-afternoon cooking project.

It's especially good for meal prep because you can make a batch and enjoy those cozy leftovers later in the week. That's always helpful once September schedules start getting busy again.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Wild Rice and Mushroom Soup

Creamy Mushroom Pasta

If mushrooms are one of the things you look forward to when fall gets closer, put this pasta on your September list. A mixture of mushrooms gives the dish more flavor and texture, and browning them properly builds that deep savory flavor before everything comes together with the creamy pasta.

It's warm and comforting without feeling like a heavy winter meal, which makes it especially good for this in-between month.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Mushroom Pasta

Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal Recipe

Here's your excuse to start bringing pumpkin spice to the breakfast table. Rolled oats are baked with pumpkin-spice-latte-inspired flavors, including pumpkin and even a little instant espresso powder for a morning pick-me-up.

The best part is that prep takes only about 5 minutes before the oven takes over. Make it on a Sunday and you've got a warm, cozy breakfast that feels perfect for busy September mornings.
Get the Recipe: Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal Recipe

Instant Pot Pumpkin Chili

Pumpkin doesn't have to be sweet, and this hearty Instant Pot chili proves it. The pumpkin helps create a thick, rich base while mellowing the spices and blending right in with all those classic chili flavors.

It's an especially good choice when the evenings start cooling down but you still need something easy enough for a weeknight. You can even use canned pumpkin to keep the prep nice and simple.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Pumpkin Chili

Air Fryer Broccolini

Not every September recipe needs pumpkin or apples. Fresh broccolini gets tossed with oil, lemon, garlic, and seasonings before heading into the air fryer, where it becomes tender-crisp in about 5 minutes.

The entire side dish is ready in roughly 10 minutes, making it perfect alongside chicken, beef, fish, or just about any easy weeknight dinner you're already making.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Broccolini

Spinach Stuffed Mushrooms

These stuffed mushrooms are one of those appetizers that somehow work for everything from family snacking to football season gatherings. Tender mushroom caps are filled with a creamy, garlicky spinach mixture and baked until warm and savory.

They take only a few minutes to assemble, but they look like you put in considerably more effort. I'll always take that kind of recipe when people are coming over.
Get the Recipe: Spinach Stuffed Mushrooms

The Best Banana and Pumpkin Muffins

If September mornings are already starting to feel rushed, muffins are always a good idea. These combine ripe bananas with pumpkin and warm fall spices for a soft muffin that works just as well for breakfast as it does for an afternoon snack.

You can add chocolate chips or a little cinnamon sugar on top, and they freeze well too. Make extras now and future-you will be very happy on a busy morning.
Get the Recipe: The Best Banana and Pumpkin Muffins

Apple Crostata

September is when I start getting really excited about apple desserts again, and a crostata is such an easy place to begin. Think of it as a rustic, free-form apple pie with a buttery crust and toasted pecans, only without all the fuss of shaping a traditional pie.

Add vanilla ice cream and a drizzle of caramel while it's still a little warm and nobody is going to complain that you skipped the pie plate.
Get the Recipe: Apple Crostata

Instant Pot Lentil Soup

A big bowl of lentil soup is perfect when September gives you one of those unexpectedly chilly days. Lentils, carrots, celery, and other simple ingredients cook together into a hearty, satisfying soup with very little hands-on work.

Because the Instant Pot handles most of the cooking, this is also an easy dinner to keep in mind when school, work, and everything else suddenly seem to land on the same night.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Lentil Soup

Grilled Butternut Squash with Chimichurri

This might be one of the most September-perfect recipes in the whole collection because it brings fall squash to the summer grill. Butternut squash gets beautifully cooked outside, then bright, herby chimichurri keeps the whole dish fresh rather than overly sweet or heavy.

Serve it as a side or turn it into a vegetarian main dish. It's exactly the kind of recipe that makes sense when the calendar says fall is coming but grilling season isn't finished yet.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Butternut Squash with Chimichurri

Zucchini Ravioli Recipe

Don't put away those zucchini recipes yet. September is a great time to use up the last of that late-summer zucchini, and this ravioli-inspired dinner turns thin zucchini strips into little parcels filled with ricotta, mozzarella, dried tomatoes, and herbs.

It's cheesy and satisfying but still fresh and lighter than traditional pasta ravioli. Even better, you can have the whole thing on the table in about 30 minutes.
Get the Recipe: Zucchini Ravioli Recipe

Cinnamon Oatmeal Cookies with Streusel

These are basically what happens when an oatmeal cookie and a piece of coffee cake become best friends. The cookies are soft and chewy with plenty of cinnamon, while a buttery streusel topping bakes into crisp little crumbles on top.

There's no chilling time involved either, so you can go from craving a warm cinnamon cookie to actually eating one without spending half the day waiting on cookie dough.
Get the Recipe: Cinnamon Oatmeal Cookies with Streusel

Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies

Soft pumpkin cookies are already good, but adding chewy oats and a sweet maple glaze takes them exactly where I want a September cookie to go.

These have that warm pumpkin flavor we're all starting to crave by early fall, but the oatmeal gives them enough texture that they work just as nicely for an afternoon snack as they do on a dessert tray.
Get the Recipe: Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies

Mini Pumpkin Bundt Cakes

Individual desserts always make a table feel a little more special, and these mini pumpkin Bundt cakes are made for fall gatherings. The cakes are soft and moist with pumpkin puree and warm spices, then finished with a sweet maple glaze and coarse sugar.

They'd be beautiful for an early fall brunch, September birthday, shower, or just because you decided regular-sized cake wasn't cute enough that day.
Get the Recipe: Mini Pumpkin Bundt Cakes

Italian Sausage And Broccoli Pasta

This is the kind of weeknight pasta I want once September schedules get busy. Orecchiette catches the creamy mascarpone sauce while savory Italian sausage and tender-crisp broccoli make the dish hearty enough to stand on its own.

And because it comes together in around 20 minutes, it feels much more realistic for a Tuesday night than a dinner that requires three pans and your complete attention.
Get the Recipe: Italian Sausage And Broccoli Pasta

Butternut Pumpkin Pasta Sauce without Cream

You can get a creamy fall pasta sauce without relying on a lot of heavy cream. This version starts with roasted butternut pumpkin and uses Greek yogurt to give the sauce that smooth, rich consistency while keeping things a little lighter.

Toss it with your favorite pasta for a comforting September dinner that's cozy enough for fall but still works well for meal prep during a busy week.
Get the Recipe: Butternut Pumpkin Pasta Sauce without Cream

Sheet Pan Pork Chops with Acorn Squash

Sheet pan dinners were basically made for September weeknights. These pork chops roast alongside acorn squash, onion, and tart cranberries, then everything gets finished with a honey-sage vinaigrette made with orange and apple cider vinegar.

You get savory pork, sweet squash, bright cranberries, and those unmistakable early-fall flavors without creating a sink full of dishes afterward.
Get the Recipe: Sheet Pan Pork Chops with Acorn Squash

Gluten-free Vegan Eggplant Lasagna

Eggplant is still wonderful in September, and this plant-based lasagna is a hearty way to use it as the weather begins cooling down. Slices of eggplant take the place of traditional noodles and are layered with a savory tempeh and marinara filling, vegan béchamel, and vegan Parmesan.

It's gluten-free, dairy-free, freezer-friendly, and substantial enough that even the meat eaters at the table aren't going to feel like dinner is missing something.
Get the Recipe: Gluten-free Vegan Eggplant Lasagna

Creamy Spinach Walnut Basil Pesto with Tofu

I especially like this one for September because it combines fresh, late-summer basil with the comfort of a creamy bowl of pasta. Spinach, basil, walnuts, lemon, Parmesan, and silken tofu blend into a smooth pesto sauce without heavy cream.

The pasta also gets extra-firm tofu, zucchini, cherry tomatoes, and sun-dried tomatoes, so there's plenty going on in every bowl. It's fresh enough for a warm evening but still feels like a proper cozy dinner.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Spinach Walnut Basil Pesto with Tofu

Arugula and Apple Salad with Apple Cider Dressing

Here's the salad I'd make when you want fall flavor without a heavy meal. Peppery arugula and greens are tossed with crisp apples, pecans, dried cranberries, and scallions, then everything gets coated in a sweet-tangy apple cider dressing with Dijon and honey.

It's fresh, crunchy, and colorful, making it a great September side dish for pork, chicken, soup, or one of the richer pasta recipes in this collection.
Get the Recipe: Arugula and Apple Salad with Apple Cider Dressing

Butternut Squash Alfredo

This is one of my favorite ways to sneak a little fall into a bowl of classic comfort food. Tender butternut squash gets pureed with cream, butter, Parmesan, and nutmeg to create a silky orange Alfredo sauce that's rich without being quite as heavy as traditional Alfredo.

Toss it with fettuccine and dinner is ready in about 35 minutes. It's creamy, warm, and exactly the sort of pasta I start craving once those September evenings cool off.

Get the Recipe: Butternut Squash Alfredo

FAQs: What Should I Cook in September?

What foods are in season in September?
September is a transition month, so you get a nice mix of late-summer and early-fall produce. Tomatoes, zucchini, basil, and peppers can still be going strong, while apples, pumpkin, squash, mushrooms, and heartier greens start feeling right at home on the menu.

What are good dinners to make in September?
I like dinners that aren't quite as heavy as full winter comfort food yet. Pasta with seasonal vegetables, slow cooker soups, sheet pan dinners, pesto chicken, squash dishes, and easy Instant Pot meals all work beautifully during September.

When should I start making fall recipes?
Whenever you're ready! September is actually one of my favorite months for mixing the seasons. You can make basil pesto chicken on a warm Monday and sausage tortellini soup when the temperature drops later in the week.

What are good September desserts?
Apples and pumpkin are the obvious stars, but you don't have to go all-in on pumpkin spice. Apple crisps, apple cookies, pumpkin oatmeal cookies, muffins, Bundt cakes, and simple fruit desserts all fit September really well.

September really does give us the best of both worlds. We still get fresh basil, tomatoes, zucchini, and those last tastes of summer, while apples, pumpkin, squash, mushrooms, warm spices, slow cooker dinners, and cozy soups start finding their way back onto the menu.

Pick a few easy dinners for the busy weeknights, make something apple-filled over the weekend, and don't feel like you have to rush straight into full-on fall. September is that sweet little stretch where pesto chicken and tortellini soup can both make perfect sense in the same week, and I kind of love it that way.