Break out your fall cozies and blankets then make and enjoy any of these 15 gluten-free irresistible fall comfort foods!
Happy Monday, everyone, I hope you had a lovely fall weekend! We finally crossed a big item off our fall bucket list and went to the orchard…then ended up leaving without any apples or pumpkins. ?
My Mom’s birthday was in late September and to celebrate she wanted to take the whole family to a semi-local orchard with a ton of kid-friendly activities. We were too late for U-pick apples this year, and the kids started melting down before we had a chance to hit the pumpkin patch, but what we did cover was a lot of fun. (Hello, first (I think?) preggo shot for baby #2 on the blog?! I have been horrible at taking bump shots this time around!)
Ben, Lincoln, myself and my parents went super early (my brother and sister-in-law + the kids came later since their youngest still takes a morning nap,) and I’m so glad we did because despite an already packed parking lot when we arrived, we had a ton of activities virtually to ourselves (it was a ZOO two hours later!) Lincoln hopped ’til he could hop no more on the “jumping bean”.
Then he and Nana geronimo’d their little hearts out in the corn pit. Do these things exist where you live?
I’d never heard of them until this year, though I suppose this is the first year we’ve paid to participate in kid’s activities at orchards, and Lincoln is so obsessed. Nothing says “Iowa” like a bottomless corn pit!
Lincoln and my Mom slid ’til they could slide no more…
Then we ended the afternoon by watching baby goat races because makes sense, right? ? It was actually sooooo adorable!
Anyway, we still need to get our pumpkins somewhere, and luckily Hy-Vee’s got me covered with $.99 Honeycrisps at the moment, but the weekend’s festivities reminded me that we are firmly into fall and I have yet to share my favorite recipe roundup of the year – 15 Irresistible Fall Comfort Foods!
I’ve already gotten you started in the fall recipe department with Easy Pumpkin Spice Lattes, Baked Apple Chips, and Wild Rice Harvest Bowls over the past couple of weeks, but today I want to share the most irresistible, autumn-themed recipes on IGE that you’ve got to make before the white stuff starts to fly.
SHUDDER.
From cozy soups to homemade noodles, decadent desserts and savory salads, grab your black fleece (?)Â and fuzzy slippers, and let’s get to cooking these delicious fall comfort foods!
Caramel Apple Crisp with Easy Homemade Caramel Sauce
Juuuuust going to leave this one right here…because what says “irresistible” more than warm caramel apples buried under a double layer of sweet, cinnamony crisp?! If you like Apple Crisp than Caramel Apple Crisp with Easy Homemade Caramel Sauce is going to knock your fuzzy socks off. (Psst: I’m LOVING these GF Harvest Organic Oats which are produced under a purity protocol vs crop rotation + mechanical sorting methods. If you have no idea what I’m talking about, click here!)
Fall Shredded Brussels Sprouts Salad
I know what you might be thinking – salad = comfort food? Trust me, Fall Shredded Brussels Sprouts Salad is packed with satisfying, savory flavors like cheese, fried shallots, and pears then drizzled with an easy homemade Maple-Dijon Vinaigrette. Totally irresistible – you’re going to want to get after this ASAP.
Apple Orchard Panini
Let’s see here – gooey cheese: check. Sweet and luscious apple butter: check. Crispy, buttery bread: check. Yep, this kicked up grilled cheese, aka Apple Orchard Panini, is killing it in the comfort food department. (I recommend Canyon Bakehouse Mountain White gluten-free bread, btw!)
Loaded Potato Soup
Thick and creamy with allll the fixins’, Loaded Potato Soup screams comfort food but is made entirely with milk – no heavy cream needed! There’s still plenty of bacon for decadence though.
Smoked Sausage, Kale and Cider Quinoa Skillet
Maybe it’s the eastern European in me, but any dish calling for smoked sausage automatically belongs in the comfort food category. Smoked Sausage, Kale and Cider Quinoa Skillet is further fall-ified by the addition of kale and apple cider – so delicious, and definitely not sweet-tasting.
Brown Butter and Crispy Sage Popcorn
I feel like Brown Butter and Crispy Sage Popcorn never got the love it deserved after I posted it a couple years ago. There is nothing more comforting than sitting down with a huge bowl of buttery popcorn and this irresistible fall-themed version is OFF THE CHAIN. You can make it with vegetable, extra virgin, or coconut oil, too.
Gluten-Free Homestyle Chicken and Noodles
Once the temperatures start to cool down, I make Gluten-Free Homestyle Chicken and Noodles pretty much every week. Rolling then cutting fat and chewy homemade gluten-free noodles is not as intense as you think it is, and the payoff is completely worth it anyway. All three of us are obsessed with this ultra comforting dish!
Crock Pot Sausage and Peppers
Crock Pot Sausage and Peppers is perfect to have bubbling away for college (or pro if that’s how you roll,) game day on crisp, fall weekends. Like, I legit can’t imagine a more perfect football-watching dish (<– whoops, forgot to include them in here!) Break out the crusty rolls if you’re not gluten-free, and if you are, cook up some pasta or honestly they’re so delicious all by themselves. Big bowl o’ comfort food, right here.
Maple Sweet Potato Hash
Speaking of fall weekends, enjoy a big plate of Maple Sweet Potato Hash and eggs in your PJs sometime soon. Drizzled with a touch of maple syrup, which pairs beautifully with savory breakfast sausage, this fall-flavored hash is quick-cooking and oh so irresistible.
Perfect Broccoli Cheese Soup
Want Broccoli Cheese Soup like you’d get at a restaurant? Perfect Broccoli Cheese Soup is your recipe. It truly is the most perfect comfort food and it breaks my heart that I can’t serve it to Lincoln, who has a dairy allergy, because I know my soup-lovin’ little man would devour it!
Easy Bourbon Caramel Apples
If you’re having an adults-only Halloween bash this year, promise me you’ll serve a batch of Easy Bourbon Caramel Apples – the caramel apple with a little giggle power! These caramel apples are insanely tasty and have just a hint of warming bourbon – I am drooling (sorry for the visual,) at the thought of devouring one of these!
Chicken, Bacon, Date and Brussels Sprouts Quinoa Power Salad
Part stir fry, part salad, Chicken, Bacon, Date and Brussels Sprouts Quinoa Power Salad is filling and full of sweet and savory flavors. I love the fact that it’s not a cold leaf lettuce salad which makes it a perfect, healthier option for fall.
Soft Batch Apple Cider Ginger Cookies
Be still my soft batch cookie-loving heart!! Thank the LORD these gluten-free Soft Batch Apple Cider Ginger Cookies are freezer friendly because they are totally irresistible aka I have zero willpower around them. Tip: make sure you refrigerate the dough for a minimum for two hours before scooping (overnight is best!)
Roasted Tomato Soup
If you’re scarred from growing up with canned condensed tomato soup like I was, give it another shot with Roasted Tomato Soup. This soup recipe is so, so comforting, freezes beautifully and is great to use up sweet, late-season tomatoes. Cut grilled cheese into sticks or squares for fun and irresistible dippers!
Caramelized Sweet Potato and Kale Fried Wild Rice
If you’ve already tried and loved my Wild Rice Harvest Bowls, you have to make it’s kissing cousin, Caramelized Sweet Potato and Kale Fried Wild Rice. This is an awesome, healthy fall dinner option and although it tastes cozy and decadent, each bite is packed with nutrition.
I recognize that orchard!😉 Trying that broccoli cheese soup ASAP!!
Hahaha, yes! I hope you love the soup, Heather!!
Finally got around to making the Brussels sprout fall salad this week. The husband loves Brussels, but was hesitant about eating them raw.
Yes, I told him baby cabbages thing. To which he said, “There is a reason that I don’t eat coleslaw.” OH. Right.
So my little cheat was after slicing them up, I did a really quick saute in some bacon drippings (what? doesn’t everyone save their bacon drippings?) for about 3-5 minutes to tender-crisp. Still lovely color, but cooked out a bit of the rawness.
Put in a low bowl in the fridge to cool and did the rest of the meal. Threw the salad together when the rest of the meal was ready. Came together nicely and still had a bit of crunch. Delish. We may even see if my mom is willing to have it for our Thanksgiving menu.
So glad to hear it, Carma, and you’re right – who can say no to something sauteed in bacon fat?! :)
[…] The Recipe can be found HERE […]
My oldest (4) would live in the corn pit if he could. It’s his favorite at the pumpkin patch we go to!
Wow, you had wonderful weather, and that corn pit is fantastic, never saw anything like that!
So many delicious food recommendations, I have a hard time choosing what to make first. But I just can’t resist your Easy Bourbon Caramel Apples, they look so tempting! ;-)
Ok, great photographer: it’s SHUDDER, not shutter. Thanks for your great blog!
Oh. Dear. How. Embarrassing!! Thank you for the heads up!
I’ve got to add cheesy pepper jack potato chowder to the list. I can’t wait to make it again this fall and winter.
Ooo YES! Need to make that again ASAP!
Okay, so I have to add one to your list! I made your turkey, sweet potato and quinoa chili once already this season and it was gone in less than 24 hours (not even joking) so as I type this I have a DOUBLE batch (warning: barely fits in the crockpot!) bubbling away per my husband’s request. Soooo cozy and delicious. Can’t wait to try some of the others up yonder :) Thanks for helping make my kitchen a busy, happy place!
Ohhh I know, that was a hard one to not include!! I’m so glad you love it so much!!
That farm looks so fun!! Especially the corn pit. I’ve never seen that before, but would love to do all of those things with my family. Love your baby bump too :)
Yeah, it’s super cool!! Like a big sand pit without as much mess. :)
These all look amazing!! I can’t wait to try some of them!
What orchard is this? Looking for day trip ideas, thanks!!
It was Center Grove but I’d actually not recommend it – it was a ciiiiircus!! We really love Howell’s if you like kid’s activities, otherwise I could recommend some really low key orchards with u-pick options and no kids activities!
Cedar Grove is so fun! If you can ever manage to go on a weekday, you’d be loving life. Some school groups go, but nothing like the madness of the weekend! (1/4 to 1/3 of the people. My mom even said 1/10!) We went this past weekend, and we will for sure make it a weekday event if possible. It’s become a yearly family tradition for us!
I think you’re right. We went to Howell’s on a weekday a couple weeks ago and practically had the place to ourselves – it was bliss!
Just FYI, I think I’ve made that sage, browned butter popcorn approx. 700 times?
And I made the broccoli soup last week and it just made my soul SO happy!
Ok YAY!! This makes my heart happy. ;)