Hello October! Hello and welcome to the changing seasons of cooking warm, hearty meals! October means we’re bringing in all things pumpkin, soup, and baking projects! We've compiled a list of October's seasonal recipes and delicious seasonal market finds. So, without further ado, here’s a seasonal list of things to cook in October!
October officially means fall; we don’t mean a month-long separation of summer foods from fall foods like September does; we mean all things fall! Fall to us means comfort baked goods, pumpkin and pumpkin spice, and warm and hearty stews! October is also a month where we see a bigger shift at our local farmers markets, we are now seeing more dark green leafy vegetables, root vegetables, apples, pears, squash and more. A shift is happening to fresh berries, melons and core summer vegetables.
I hope you found this roundup of recipes and seasonal markets helpful and inspiring. This is what we will be cooking in October!
Seasonal market discovery
- apple
- pear
- Fig
- beat
- dark green leafy vegetables
- Root vegetables (radish, turnip, kohlrabi, etc.)
- Green vegetables (spinach, kale, kale)
- beet
- Herbs (sage, rosemary, thyme, etc.)
- Chinese chives
- pumpkin
- Potato + sweet potato
- broccoli
- cauliflower
- Brussels sprouts
What to cook in October
Pumpkin Oatmeal Bake: This one-bowl breakfast baked treat is dairy-free, gluten-free, and contains no refined sugar. Keep the pumpkin flavor as is, or add chocolate chips, nuts, or dried cranberries for extra flavor.
Pumpkin Overnight Oats: These healthy overnight oats are the perfect make-ahead breakfast for fall! With a creamy texture and just the right amount of pumpkin spice, these oats are delicious and packed with fiber to keep you satisfied all morning long!
Easy Pumpkin Waffles: This gluten-free pumpkin waffle recipe will be the star of the breakfast or brunch table! Fluffy on the inside, crispy on the outside, and full of pumpkin flavor, these waffles are a breeze to make and always a hit.
Maple Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon: If you’re looking for a versatile side dish that can serve as a weeknight dinner or a decadent holiday dinner, look no further than this recipe for Maple Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon! Cooking Brussels sprouts with bacon and maple syrup is sure to make this side dish everyone’s favorite!
3-Ingredient Breakfast Skillet: Using just 3 common ingredients you probably have on hand, you can make yourself a unique weeknight breakfast that everyone will love! It’s also gluten-free, dairy-free, and Whole30-friendly!
Harvest Salad: This Harvest Salad has all the ingredients you need in a winter kale salad recipe! This healthy harvest salad recipe is filled with chopped kale, Roasted Kabocha Squashcolorful pomegranate seeds and toasted pecans. Tossed with a super delicious (and easy!) maple vinaigrette dressing, this is the perfect fall or winter salad. Filling and delicious, everyone loves this delicious salad.
pumpkin spice latte: This easy pumpkin spice coffee recipe can be made with your favorite regular coffee or made into a pumpkin spice latte. It's refined sugar-free and customizable, so you can make it dairy-free if you want!
Gluten Free Pumpkin Bread: This perfectly spiced bread is super moist and made with a nut-free coconut and tapioca flour blend. It's also dairy-free and refined sugar-free, making it the perfect weekend (or weeknight!) baking project.
Apple, Kale, Sweet Potato and Quinoa Salad: This kale and quinoa salad is the ultimate fall salad! Loaded with massaged kale, cooked quinoa, diced apples, roasted sweet potatoes, pistachios, and the perfect maple vinaigrette dressing; this is a fall salad everyone will love!
Healthy Buffalo Chicken Sauce: Everyone will love this healthy Buffalo Chicken Sauce – especially on game day! It's creamy, has just the right amount of spice, and is so easy to make! With the addition of shredded chicken, cheese, and even a little spinach, this could almost be a weeknight dinner main dish.
Healthy Burger Helper: Classic childhood favorites illuminated. This is a must-make easy and hearty dinner this fall that everyone will love. Bonus points, it’s all made in the pot!
Easy Pumpkin Soup: This easy pumpkin soup is a fall lover’s dream come true! It features roasted squash mixed with sautéed onions, garlic, cinnamon, nutmeg and maple syrup, then drizzled with spicy chili-garlic oil. This soup is sweet, delicious, and easy to make!
Jalapeño Popper Sauce: This Jalapeño Popper Sauce is the perfect game day appetizer and can easily be prepped ahead and baked before serving! It has all the classic flavor of jalapeño popper without having to make it separately.
Healthy Turkey Chili: This easy-to-make healthy turkey chili is perfect for large gatherings, Sunday football celebrations, or as a weekly meal prep option with plenty of leftovers! Served with ground turkey, beans, and tomatoes, this is hearty comfort food. It's easily made in a slow cooker or Instant Pot and can be easily customized by adding all your favorite toppings. It's gluten-free, dairy-free, and paleo.
Creamy Pumpkin Casserole: I know most people think of sweet when they think of sweet. pumpkinbut the savory pumpkin dish is so delicious! This hearty fall dinner is packed with pumpkin flavor, both in the sauce and the casserole itself. Plus, since it uses spaghetti squash as its base, this product is paleo-friendly and low in carbs!
Chickpea and Cauliflower Curry: Using just a few kitchen staples, this Indian-style curry is a meal everyone will love. This vegetarian dish is dairy-free and gluten-free, perfect for when you need a quick dinner solution! It's delicious and comforting.
Sea Salt Chocolate Pumpkin Cups: Homemade Chocolate Pumpkin Cups are the easiest and most delicious DIY Halloween candy for fall. And these are healthy! Made with a variety of wholesome ingredients including pumpkin puree, chocolate, and nut butter, these chocolate cups are paleo and don't contain any refined sugar.
Instant Pot Applesauce: Naturally sweet (no added sugar) and so delicious, this Instant Pot applesauce recipe is a must-have when you come back this fall loaded with apples from the orchard. Once you make applesauce in the Instant Pot, you'll never go back!
Pumpkin Smash Cocktail: This pumpkin cocktail combines all the best flavors of fall in one delicious cocktail. It's spiced to perfection, made with vodka and homemade vanilla bean pumpkin syrup, then garnished with candied pumpkin seeds and a cinnamon sugar rim.
Pin it later:
