Sweaters and pumpkins and comfort foods, oh how we love when October comes around! The catalyst for cool weather and the holidays, October calls for some of our favorite fall dinner recipes. From soup to pork to pasta, these hearty family dinner recipes are full of flavor and sure to be loved by all. In other words, you need these October dinner ideas in your recipe box.
Blistered Tomato Ricotta Pasta Recipe
“Blistered Tomato Ricotta Pasta Recipe is easy to make, has simple ingredients, has ridiculously amazing flavors, and takes minutes to make!” - Paula
True Old-Fashioned Swedish Meatballs
“This is my Nanny's handed-down family recipe. Her father was from Sweden. This recipe has been in my family for years.” - Megan
Lemon Chicken Romano
“A quick and easy chicken coated in a crispy golden brown breadcrumbs with lemon and romano cheese!” - Kevin
Chicken Noodle Soup
“Chicken noodle soup is always a welcome dish on a cold winter day or ideal for a sick friend or relative who needs a pick-me-up. There's nothing more comforting than a big bowl of chicken noodle soup. This is a delicious, basic recipe for your recipe box. It's savory and hearty with just the right amount of vegetables. The perfect soup everyone will enjoy.” - Kitchen Crew
Crispy Sweet and Sour Tofu
“Raise your hand if you like Chinese takeout tofu! My family loves it, but we all know how takeout food is loaded with extra salt, fats, and additives. This is my healthier take on a Chinese takeout classic -- the tofu is baked not fried, and the sauce has a tangy taste from fresh ginger and garlic along with rice wine and vinegar.” - Shikha
Just Plain Good Golden Fried Chicken Cutlets
“Good old Southern fried chicken is a favorite of my husband and me. This is an easy recipe to make and it's just plain good, especially when served with cream gravy and mashed potatoes.” - Elaine
Hamburger Vegetable Soup
“Hamburger Vegetable Soup is a quick and easy meal to throw together. This hearty soup is loaded with hamburger meat , vegetables and pasta. This budget friendly meal is perfect to make any day of the week and it also freezes beautifully to have a meal ready to go.” - Debbie
Ooey Gooey Mac and Cheese
“Hands down the tastiest and easiest Mac & Cheese I have ever made. Thank you so much for the recipe.. I will be making this over and over again! I used the left overs and made mac and cheese balls today.. it was great as well!” - Jannette
Seasoned Pork Loin
“The mix of spices for the rub is very simple. The flavor they bring out and the simplicity of this recipe are why I use it over and over. Once the meat is cooked, you can use it for pulled pork or just have it as it is for delicious dinner meat. I like to let the pork loin sit in the rub for a day. But if you only have a few hours, it's still great!” - Lisa
Roasted Butternut Squash in Brown Sugar
“Tiffany shares a bunch of options on how to use this roasted butternut squash, but we opted to roast it and cut it into cubes. We dipped it into the sweet, sugary sauce for a delicious side dish. The flavor is a mix of yellow squash and sweet potato. Yum!” - Kitchen Crew
Blackened Chicken Breast With Fettuccine Alfredo
“Slightly spicy with all the flavor you'd expect from a blackened chicken breast. The searing seals the juices inside the chicken and makes for a delicious dinner. A great compliment to the fettuccine Alfredo, since the Alfredo has a rich Parmesan taste.” - Aku
"World Famous" Slow Cooker Meatballs
“We're not sure if these slow cooker meatballs are world-famous, but they were very popular in our kitchen. First and foremost, they're super easy. Just mix the meatballs, place them in the slow cooker, and let the Crock Pot do its magic. The flavor of the meatballs is delicious with the combination of pork and ground beef. Perfectly seasoned, fresh onions, garlic, and parsley add tons of flavor and make these meatballs taste like something grandma made. These meatballs were delicious alongside a salad and are tasty on spaghetti. But, we loved making meatballs subs with them. Yum!” - Kitchen Crew
Chicken Tortilla Soup
“This is one of my favorite comfort foods on those cold days outside. It's so colorful and full of flavor. You can spice it up or down and make it thick or soupier. I never measure so don't have exact amounts to provide - just improvise until it suits your taste buds!” - Laurie
Hearty Meatloaf
“It's a large loaf and occasionally we even had leftovers! It's pretty basic, but feel free to spice it up according to your family's taste.” - Annalisa
Pork Loin Stuffed with Dried Figs and Apricots
“I love to stuff pork loin usually with spinach, garlic, and sun-dried tomatoes but had some dried figs and apricots so decided to try. Taking it to church for a potluck. I hope they like it!” - Jackie
My Favorite Lasagna
“This was oh so delicious. It was sad once it was all gone. Thanks for this awesome dish.” - Lynn
Chicken Fettuccini With Broccoli
“Oh, yum! This chicken fettuccini Alfredo is tasty. What's not to love? It has a cheesy, buttery garlic Alfredo sauce that's easy to make. Bits of crunchy broccoli add texture to the dish. Mixed with chicken breasts, it's a hearty restaurant-quality meal.” - Kitchen Crew
Easy and Delicious Stir-Fry
“Forget about take-out and make your own stir-fry with fresh veggies from your garden. This stir-fry recipe is so simple and tasty. The sauce is slightly thick, tangy and sweet, and goes great with the pork. It also perfectly compliments the zucchini, summer squash, and carrots. The hint of ginger is just enough to give the dish an Asian flair without being overpowering. We served ours over steamed jasmine rice and it was fabulous.” - Kitchen Crew
Traci's Famous New England Clam Chowdahhhh
“I hope you enjoy this as much as our family and friends have for years! The ‘chowdahhh’ is even better (if that is possible) the next day!!! However, it often does not last that long.” - Traci
Best Chicken Fried Steak Ever
“This version of chicken-fried steak is extremely user-friendly. Albeit a bit messy, the outcome is fantastic. I love to mix spices for various recipes, but this one is one I no longer try to alter. A true family favorite!” - Nancy
Acorn Squash Baked in Butter and Maple Syrup
“When acorn squash became plentiful in the fall, my Mom would fix this frequently, and no wonder, they are delicious but so easy to fix. Sometimes she would put brown sugar and butter in, or do like in the picture and use maple syrup and butter, either way, they are yummy.” - Jane