When fall rolls around, it’s easy to over-indulge in comfort foods like salty stews, carb-loaded pasta, and sugary pies.
It doesn’t have to be this way—swapping beef for turkey or heavy whipping cream for coconut milk lightens things up, making it easier to eat a satisfying meal that doesn’t wreck your diet.
These healthy fall recipes that are just as cozy without the added guilt:
Roasted Carrot Soup
A bowl of warm roasted carrot soup is perfect on a chilly autumn day. This recipe combines carrots, coconut milk, garlic, ginger, and chili flakes into one yummy soup.
The chili flakes’ spicy kick perfectly balances the carrots’ natural sweetness. Serve the soup with some sliced baguette or sourdough for dipping.
Autumn Harvest Honeycrisp Apple and Feta Salad
An autumn harvest honeycrisp apple and feta salad is the perfect side to enjoy this season. The guilt-free dish has a spicy arugula base topped with sliced apples, pomegranate seeds, crumbled feta, and candied nuts.
Everything is tossed in a light but flavorful apple cider vinaigrette, tying all the cozy flavors together. Add grilled chicken or salmon for extra protein to make the salad a standalone meal.
Autumn Harvest Honeycrisp Apple and Feta Salad Recipe
Pumpkin Quinoa Breakfast
This delicious and satisfying pumpkin quinoa breakfast starts your day off on the right foot. Quinoa is high in protein and packed with essential amino acids, keeping you full until your next meal.
The pumpkin and spices make every bite taste like fall, while maple syrup adds a hint of sweetness. It’ll become your go-to autumnal breakfast.
Pumpkin Quinoa Breakfast Recipe
Vegetarian Stuffed Acorn Squash
Go meat-free for a meal with this vegetarian stuffed acorn squash. You start by roasting the squash until it’s soft and slightly caramelized.
Then, you make a savory filling of quinoa, dried cranberries, raw pumpkin seeds, and a refreshing citrus dressing. Serve this at your next dinner party to impress everyone with the beautiful presentation and mouthwatering flavors.
Vegetarian Stuffed Acorn Squash Recipe
Instant Pot Baked Apples
Are you craving an easy weeknight dessert without all the added sugar? Try baking apples in a pressure cooker this fall.
This healthy, sweet treat couldn’t be easier—it’s ready in less than ten minutes. Instead of using sugar or maple syrup, the recipe relies on the natural sweetness of the apples and raisins.
Instant Pot Baked Apples with Cinnamon and Raisins Recipe
Easy Coconut Curry
Savor the flavors of the season with this easy coconut curry recipe. It’s filling, packed with fresh vegetables, and vegetarian-friendly.
Butternut squash gives the curry a delicious autumnal twist, though you could also use sweet potatoes or pumpkin. The aromatic blend of ginger, cumin, cardamom, and other spices is irresistible, adding to the fall flavor profile.
Roasted Delicata Squash
If you’ve never tried delicata squash, you’re missing out. It’s a fall favorite that’s delicious when lightly roasted to enhance its subtle sweet taste. Top it with sage and a sprinkle of parmesan for a mouthwatering savory side that your entire family will love.
Roasted Delicata Squash Recipe
Pumpkin Granola
Regardless of the season, granola is always a great snack to have on hand. Skip the artificially sweetened store-bought options and make this pumpkin granola at home.
It features a healthy mix of pistachios and almonds—you can also add other nuts, like cashews and walnuts. Enjoy the granola alone, or serve it with milk, yogurt, or oatmeal.
Cauliflower Stuffing
You don’t have to wait for Turkey Day to break out the stuffing. This recipe uses cauliflower instead of carb-heavy bread as the base.
It incorporates classic fall spices like thyme and sage to remind you of your favorite Thanksgiving flavors. Enjoy a hearty serving of this autumnal dish without the guilt of processed carbs and extra salt.
Healthy Turkey Chili
Make a big batch of healthy turkey chili on Sunday, and you won’t have to worry about lunch the rest of the week. Traditional chili can be heavy on fat and salt, so this recipe lightens things up with ground turkey and fresh vegetables.
The chili recipe is simple—after cooking the meat and vegetables, add the canned ingredients and let everything simmer until thick. It tastes fantastic straight out of the pot, but the flavors will be even better the next day.
Butternut Squash and Cauliflower Mac and Cheese
While this butternut squash and cauliflower mac and cheese tastes indulgent, it’s surprisingly good for you. The recipe is dairy-free, though you’d never be able to tell by tasting it.
Pureed butternut squash is the star of the creamy cheese-like sauce, giving the pasta an earthy autumn flavor. Add your favorite vegetables, like broccoli or peas, for extra nutrients and a pop of color.
The Best Butternut Squash and Cauliflower Mac and Cheese Recipe
Sweet and Smoky Cedar-Planked Salmon
With only six ingredients, this sweet and smoky salmon is ideal for busy weeknights in the fall. Salmon is protein-packed and full of healthy fats, making it an excellent entree alongside roasted autumn vegetables.
The seasoning is a simple but flavorful combination of brown sugar, cayenne, and lemon zest, which is tangy and slightly sweet. Cooking the salmon on a cedar plank locks in the moisture while adding a deep, smoky flavor.
Sweet and Smoky Cedar-Planked Salmon Recipe
Naturally Sweetened Pecan Pie
Most fall desserts are full of sugar and fat, but a naturally sweet pecan pie is a tasty alternative for those watching what they eat. This pecan pie recipe will become your new favorite sweet treat.
Maple syrup is the only sweetener you need, letting the pecan’s nutty, slightly buttery flavor take center stage. Every bite of this pie is pure heaven between the creamy pecan filling and the crisp crust.
Naturally Sweetened Pecan Pie Recipe
Butternut Squash and Black Bean Enchiladas
These butternut squash and black bean enchiladas add a hint of fall to the classic Mexican dish. Each corn tortilla contains a mix of butternut squash, black beans, and poblano peppers.
You layer cheese and enchilada sauce atop the tortillas to moisten them and enhance the flavors. A refreshing cabbage slaw is the perfect garnish to contrast against the warm, creamy enchiladas.
Butternut Squash and Black Bean Enchiladas Recipe
Farro Bowl with Pomegranate Vinaigrette
Celebrate the season with a pomegranate vinaigrette-topped farro bowl. Farro is a naturally earthy grain that anchors this dish’s fresh flavors.
The bowls are incredibly satisfying, thanks to the caramelized sweet potato, spinach, and feta. Finish them with a tangy, slightly sweet pomegranate vinaigrette for a refreshing touch.
Farro Bowl with Pomegranate Vinaigrette Recipe
You only need one pot to make these tasty dinners
After a long day of work, school, friends, and family, the last thing you want is to spend hours in the kitchen. Simplify your weeknight dinner rotation with these tasty one-pot meals.
14 Surprisingly Easy One-Pot Recipes for When Cooking Feels Like a Chore
Find the perfect recipe for your next holiday gathering
With the holidays approaching, it’s time to start planning crowd-friendly meals. These mouthwatering, shareable dishes will delight everyone.
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Elise Armitage is an entrepreneur and founder of What The Fab, a travel + lifestyle blog based in California. At the beginning of 2019, Elise left her corporate job at Google to chase her dreams: being an entrepreneur and helping women find fabulous in the everyday. Since then, she’s launched her SEO course Six-Figure SEO, where she teaches bloggers how to create a passive revenue stream from their website using SEO. Featured in publications like Forbes, Elle, HerMoney, and Real Simple, Elise is a firm believer that you can be of both substance and style.
