Our Best October Recipes for 2023
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This new list of some of our most popular and beloved October recipes can only mean one thing: it’s officially, truly fall. Here and there, the leaves are changing color, and depending where you live, it’s likely that you need to grab a coat before you head out in the morning. Maybe you’re planning a trip to a pumpkin patch or an apple orchard. Or perhaps your head is still spinning from the chaos that is back-to-school schedules and meetings. We get it—there is a lot going on. Allow this list to help you maximize your free time on the weekdays, so you can spend fewer minutes making dinner and more time on homework help or sewing together a Halloween costume. Pull out the Dutch oven and scroll down for our most popular October recipes, plus a few staff favorites.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Judy Haubert1/27Potatoes au Gratin
Thinking about October recipes has us pumped for gratin season—and this classic potato number is high on our list. Serve it as a side to make any dinner feel more luxurious.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton3/27Basque-Style Sweet Potato Cheesecake
If you make just one cheesecake recipe this fall, let it be this one. Epi contributor Tara O’Brady starts with roasted sweet potatoes and bakes the cheesecake at high heat so it winds up velvety within and delicately caramelized on top.
Photo by Colin Price5/27Apple Cider Pork Pot Roast
This easy Dutch oven recipe is just the kind of cozy comfort food we want to eat this month. Serve with a crisp salad or green beans on the side.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Ali Nardi6/27Our Favorite Apple Pie
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell7/27Sheet-Pan Pasta Bake With Chicken and Kale
This sheet pan dinner comes together in just around 30 minutes, making it the perfect complete meal for a busy weeknight.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Susan Ottaviano9/27Simple Roast Chicken
We stayed away from our ovens for most of the summer, so we’re thrilled that it’s finally time to make this juicy, crispy-skinned, perfectly-seasoned roast chicken. Add lemon potatoes or roasted cauliflower to round out the meal.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Anna Billingskog11/27Apple Pie Cookies
Apple pie in the palm of your hand. And you won’t even have to bust out the pie pan.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Judy Haubert12/27Roasted Sweet Potatoes With Spiced Maple Glaze
Maple syrup encourages caramelization on this easy roasted autumnal side. Serve with pork tenderloin for a cozy fall dinner.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Pearl Jones14/27Marbled Pumpkin-Maple Cheesecake Bars
Here’s an easy fall dessert that’s guaranteed to please a crowd. The simple press-in crust cradles a luscious mix of pumpkin purée, maple syrup, cream cheese, sour cream, sugar, and spices.
Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton15/27Simple Turkey Chili With All the Toppings
Photo by Travis Rainey, Styling by Joseph De Leo16/27Simple Hot Cocoa for One
This easy hot cocoa recipe beats store-bought cocoa mix every time. Top with a marshmallow if you please.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Judy Haubert17/27Cheesy Hash Brown Casserole
We’ve got cozy comfort food on the brain, and this casserole recipe from Epi contributor Amethyst Ganaway fits right in. Feel free to experiment with add-ins like crumbled cooked bacon, sliced scallions or mushrooms, or fresh herbs.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Ali Nardi18/27Simple Classic Stuffing
Starting to plan for Canadian Thanksgiving? This easy stuffing is beloved by readers. But if you’re looking for more ideas, check out this tried-and-true vegetarian stuffing and our full collection of stuffing recipes.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Judy Haubert19/27Quick Vegetable Massaman Curry
Bump up the flavor of store-bought curry paste with a few extra spices, swap out the slow-cooked meat for hearty veg, and you’ve got a comforting curry that comes together in about an hour.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell20/27Dry Martini
Kick off your next fall dinner party with ice-cold martinis, plus your favorite fancy hors d’oeuvres.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Kat Boytsova22/27Salted-Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
What makes these cookies so dang good? Using salted butter and resting the dough.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton23/27Sweet Potato Gnocchi with Brown Butter and Sage
Photo by Shutterstock24/27Béchamel Sauce
Béchamel is foundational to so many cornerstone dishes of the fall and winter. Soufflé, lasagna, and croque monsieur all rely on béchamel, one of the five “mother sauces” of French cuisine. Practice making it a few times to get the technique down.
Photo by Justin Walker25/27Ovenly's Brooklyn Blackout Cake
What better way to celebrate Halloween than with a spooky Brooklyn blackout cake? The recipe for this iconic dessert comes from Ovenly bakery in New York. And when you want to treat, not trick, a faraway friend, they also ship nationwide.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Michelle Gatton27/27Old-Fashioned
Sure, a classic old-fashioned is season-less, but it does feel particularly special to include on this list of October recipes since the warm flavors of the whiskey work especially well to temper the chill of a cool fall day.
