Home Seasons Fall
Colleen LudoviceUpdated: Jan. 12, 2024
Autumn days call for comfort food. Fill your slow cooker with favorite fall ingredients to make soul-warming dinners, breakfasts and desserts.
Slow-Cooker Meatball Stew
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This recipe was a lifesaver when I worked full time and needed a dinner the kids would enjoy when we got home. It is perfect to let your young ones help prepare. They can chop, peel, mix and pour. It doesn’t matter if the veggies are all different sizes—your children will still devour this fun and tasty stew. —Kallee Krong-McCreery, Escondido, California
Fall Vegetable Sloppy Joes
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I make this dish in the fall and sneak grated vegetables into the sloppy joe mixture, which is especially good for children who don’t like to eat their vegetables! Just walk away and let the slow cooker do all the work. Top the filling with a little shredded cheese before serving. —Nancy Heishman, Las Vegas, Nevada
Cabbage Barley Soup
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My neighbor had an abundance of cabbage, so a group of us had a contest to see who could come up with the best cabbage dish. My cabbage vegetarian soup was the clear winner. —they ate the whole pot! —Lorraine Caland, Shuniah, Ontario
Slow-Cooker German Bratwurst
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I created this old-world favorite based on a dish I had during my travels. The flavorful entree is perfect for weeknights or special occasions. I like to serve this slow-cooker bratwurst with pasta. —Gerald Hetrick, Erie, Pennsylvania
Pumpkin Spice Custard
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Here's a traditional slow-cooker pumpkin spice custard with some espresso powder for a latte effect. —Shelly Bevington, Hermiston, Oregon
Chili Macaroni and Cheese
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What could be tastier on a cold winter day than chili or mac and cheese? Put them together and you have a terrific dish that warms you up and fills you up as well! —Nancy Foust, Stoneboro, Pennsylvania
Slow-Cooker Jambalaya Risotto
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I love risotto, but I don’t always love the time and stirring it takes to get the creamy goodness. I found a slow-cooker risotto recipe and thought it was too good to be true. I decided to adapt a jambalaya recipe for this dish. —Angela Westra, Cambridge, Massachusetts
Grampa's German-Style Pot Roast
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Grampa was of German heritage and loved the old-world German recipes given to him by his mother. I made a few changes to give this recipe an updated flavor and to use my slow cooker instead of the oven. —Nancy Heishman, Las Vegas, Nevada
Caramel Pecan Pumpkin Cake
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Think slow cooker as a cake-maker for some seriously yummy dessert that is easy enough for Sunday brunch and tasty enough for Thanksgiving Day—and frees up oven space on holidays, too. —Julie Peterson, Crofton, Maryland
Smoky Peanut Butter Chili
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I eliminated beans from my standard chili recipe and added peanut butter and peanuts just for fun. Wow, was it amazing! I tried it on my family and everyone loved it. —Nancy Heishman, Las Vegas, Nevada
Apple Pie Steel-Cut Oatmeal
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I absolutely love this slow-cooked oatmeal. The steel-cut oats have so much flavor and texture. My family sprinkles toasted pecans on top whenever possible. —Angela Lively, Conroe, Texas
Peppered Meat Loaf
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I came up with this easy dinner one day while experimenting in the kitchen. Everyone who tries it, loves it! —Laura Burgess, Mount Vernon, South Dakota
Sweet Potato Chili with Turkey
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My slow-cooker chili is packed with flavor. Swapping ground turkey for ground beef lightens it up, and sweet potato puree sneaks in a healthy dose of vitamin A. —Rachel Lewis, Danville, Virginia
Beef Roast Dinner
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Because this healthy dish is slow-cooked, you can use less expensive roasts with results as mouthwatering as the more costly cuts. Change up the veggies for variety, nutrition or to suit your tastes!—Sandra Dudley, Bemidji, Minnesota
Pumpkin Pie Pudding
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My husband loves anything pumpkin, and this creamy, comforting pumpkin pudding recipe is one of his favorites. We make our easy pudding all year long, but it’s especially nice in the fall. —Andrea Schaak, Bloomington, Minnesota
Slow-Cooker Loaded Mashed Potatoes
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Every year my Mom made cream cheese mashed potatoes for Thanksgiving. I tailored the recipe to my family's taste and carried on the tradition. I make them a day ahead and use my slow cooker to free up oven space for other dishes. —Ann Nolte, Tampa, Florida
Slow-Cooked Bread Pudding
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This warm and hearty dessert is perfect on any cold, blustery winter evening. And the slow cooker fills your kitchen with an amazing aroma. My stomach is growling just thinking about it! —Maiah Albi, Carlsbad, California
English Pub Split Pea Soup
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This family favorite is the same recipe my grandmother used. Now with the magic of the slow cooker, I can spend 15 minutes putting it together, walk away for five hours, and come back to "soup's on." Finish it with more milk if you like your soup a bit thinner. —Judy Batson, Tampa, Florida
Corn and Broccoli in Cheese Sauce
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This veggie side dish is a solid standby. Because it’s made in a slow cooker, there’s more room in the oven for other dishes. My daughter likes to add leftover ham to hers. —Joyce Johnson, Uniontown, Ohio
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When we have family gatherings, we give the slow cooker kitchen duty. This yummy chicken with pumpkin and apricots has the warm flavors of Morocco. —Nancy Heishman, Las Vegas, Nevada
Cinnamon-Apple Brown Betty
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If I had to define the "Betty" of Apple Brown Betty, she'd be a smart and thrifty Southern gal with a knack for creating simple, soul-comforting desserts. In this sweet dish, spiced apples are slow-cooked between layers of cinnamon-raisin bread cubes for a wonderful twist on the traditional oven-baked classic. —Heather Demeritte, Scottsdale, Arizona
Spicy Seafood Stew
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The hardest part of this quick and easy recipe is peeling and dicing the potatoes—and you can even do that the night before. Just place the potatoes in water and store them in the refrigerator overnight to speed up assembly the next day. —Bonnie Marlow, Ottoville, Ohio
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Here’s a heartwarming meal that’s ideal for chilly days and hectic nights. Honey, beer and seasonings make the sauce different and oh-so-good. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Moist Corn Spoon Bread
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Enjoy this easy take on a southern specialty by using the convenient slow cooker. Here’s an excellent side dish for Thanksgiving, Easter or any special feast. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Slow-Cooker Chai Tea
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A wonderful sweet and spicy aroma wafts from the slow cooker as this fragrant and flavorful chai tea cooks. —Crystal Jo Burns, Iliff, Colorado
Slow-Cooker Butter Chicken
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I spent several years in Malaysia eating a variety of Middle Eastern and Southeast Asian food. This was one of my favorite dishes! There are many versions of butter chicken, but this is similar to the Middle Eastern version I had. —Shannon Copley, Upper Arlington, Ohio
Slow-Cooker Sweet Potato Soup
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I love that I can top this creamy soup with anything my heart desires, which means I can eat it several days in a row without ever having to have it the same way twice. You can substitute fresh onions and celery in this recipe if you prefer, but using the dried version makes it easy to throw together on a weekday morning. —Colleen Delawder, Herndon, Virginia
Potluck Candied Sweet Potatoes
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To make it easier to bring this traditional southern staple to a potluck or gathering, I updated it so that it can be cooked in a slow cooker. It's hard to go wrong with candied sweet potatoes when it comes to pleasing a crowd. —Deirdre Cox, Kansas City, Missouri
Hearty Slow-Cooker Breakfast Hash
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This sweet and savory hash certainly won't leave you hungry—the sausage, veggies and eggs will fill you up. The hint of maple syrup makes it all feel extra cozy. —Colleen Delawder, Herndon, Virginia
Slow-Cooker Pork and Apple Curry
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Here's a gentle curry dish that's sure to please American palates. For fun, try varying the garnish—add a few chopped peanuts or a little chutney. —Nancy Reck, Mill Valley, California
Slow-Cooker Cran-Apple Chutney
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My clan isn’t crazy for cranberries, but they can’t get enough of this delicious chutney. I recommend it for Thanksgiving as it tastes amazing paired with turkey, but it’s also good on its own. —Raquel Haggard, Edmond, Oklahoma
Greek Sausage and Peppers
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This Greek sausage and peppers recipe is an old family favorite. My grandmother, mother and I make this every year for Christmas Eve. Just toss all the ingredients in your slow cooker and let the meal cook all day on low. It makes the house smell amazing and is wonderful comfort food for a chilly holiday. You can double the recipe and freeze the other portion for a hot meal in a pinch. —Debbie Vair, Wake Forest, North Carolina
Slow-Roasted Root Vegetables
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When she was a little girl growing up in Italy, my Aunt Virginia learned to make a dish called “Noodles and Nuts.” I tried the topping on carrots and parsnips instead of noodles and haven't looked back. —Terri Collins, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Brazilian Feijoada
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A co-worker's mom used to make this feijoada recipe for him and it was his favorite. So I made him my own version. Instead of sausage you can use ham hocks, or substitute lean white meat for the red meat if you prefer. —Christiane Counts, Webster, Texas
Mushroom Marsala with Barley
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This filling vegetarian recipe is a tasty mashup of chicken Marsala and mushroom barley soup. It’s great as a main dish, but can also be served, with or without the barley, as a side. —Arlene Erlbach, Morton Grove, Illinois
Black Bean 'n' Pumpkin Chili
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My family is crazy about this slow cooker chili because it uses ingredients you don't usually find in chili. Believe it or not, I discovered that pumpkin is what makes the dish so special. Cook up a big batch and freeze some for later; it tastes even better reheated. —Deborah Vliet, Holland, Michigan
Coconut-Pecan Sweet Potatoes
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These delicious sweet potatoes cook effortlessly in the slow cooker so you can tend to other things. Coconut gives the classic a fresh twist. —Raquel Haggard, Edmond, Oklahoma
Fall Garden Medley
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I like to make this recipe in the fall and winter for special occasions because it's very colorful, tasty and healthy. It's a hearty side that complements many different meat dishes. —Krystine Kercher, Lincoln, Nebraska
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This hearty and healthy stew will warm your family right down to their toes! Serve with cornbread or rolls to soak up every last morsel. —Jan Valdez, Chicago, Illinois
Sweet Potato Stuffing
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Mom likes to make sure there will be enough stuffing to satisfy our large family. For our holiday gatherings, she slow-cooks this tasty sweet potato dressing in addition to the traditional stuffing cooked inside the turkey. —Kelly Pollock, London, Ontario
Cranberry Stuffed Apples
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Cinnamon, nutmeg and walnuts add a homey autumn flavor to these stuffed apples, while the slow cooker does most of the work. —Graciela Sandvigen, Rochester, New York
Butternut Squash Soup with Cinnamon
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The golden color, smooth and creamy texture, and wonderful taste of this soup make it welcome on a chilly fall day. It has a slightly tangy flavor from the cream cheese, and the cinnamon really comes through. —Jackie Campbell, Stanhope, New Jersey
Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal
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There's nothing like a bowl of warm oatmeal in the morning, and my spiced version works in a slow cooker. Store leftovers in the fridge. —Jordan Mason, Brookville, Pennsylvania
Apple Butter
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I make several batches of this simple and delicious homemade apple butter recipe to freeze in jars. Depending on the sweetness of the apples used, you can adjust the sugar to taste. —Betty Ruenholl, Syracuse, Nebraska
Autumn Pumpkin Chili
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We have this turkey pumpkin chili often because everyone loves it, even the most finicky grandchildren. It’s a definite keeper in my book! —Kimberly Nagy, Port Hadlock, Washington
Cranberry BBQ Pulled Pork
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Cranberry sauce adds a yummy twist to pulled pork, and my family can't get enough of it! The pork cooks to tender perfection in the slow cooker, which also makes this dish conveniently portable. —Carrie Wiegand, Mount Pleasant, Iowa
Slow Cooker Caramel Apple Cider
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Spiced with cinnamon sticks, allspice and caramel, this warm-you-up sipper will chase away winter’s chill. Serve brimming mugs alongside a platter of festive holiday cookies at your next gathering. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Chicken with Apple-Chardonnay Gravy
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I create all my own recipes by experimenting with various ingredients in the kitchen. I love this savory slow cooker chicken dish because it's easy, affordable and fills the house with awesome aromas that make your mouth water.—Theresa Retelle, Appleton, Wisconsin
North African Chicken and Rice
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I’m always looking to try recipes from different cultures, and this one is a huge favorite. We love the spice combinations. This cooks equally well in a slow cooker or a pressure cooker. —Courtney Stultz, Weir, Kansas
Slow-Cooked Pumpkin Apple Cobbler
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This spiced cobbler with apples and cranberries is sure to please all of your holiday guests. It is perfect for fall but can be made year-round since it uses fresh or frozen cranberries. —Joan Hallford, North Richland Hills, Texas
Slow-Cooker Apple Cider
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There's no last-minute rush before the party when you simmer this slow-cooker apple cider. It has all the tantalizing flavors of fall. —Alpha Wilson, Roswell, New Mexico
Slow-Cooker Grits
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Since moving to the South, I have come to love grits! I also adore my slow cooker, and I worked to find a way to make perfect grits without stirring on the stovetop. I knew this slow-cooker grits recipe was a winner when my mother-in-law overheard someone at a church potluck say that it just wasn't right that a Midwesterner could make such good grits! —Tacy Fleury, Clinton, South Carolina
Originally Published: August 31, 2020