Ah, fall season. A time for cooler temperatures and heartier meals. Some of my favorite meals in the fall center around a warm, comforting dish usually while watching a football game. Unfortunately, everyone gets to celebrate the autumnal seasonal sooner than our portion of Texas does, but that doesn't mean we can't plan out our fall meals in advance. We've compiled ten stick-to-your-ribs recipes that you should definitely make when the cooler temperatures arrive.
When that time comes, grab a blanket and cozy up to any of these dishes for a relaxing, enjoyable meal.
Chili and Cornbread In Texas, football season plus cool weather means chili (no beans) with cornbread is a go-to meal. Let the chili cook all day in a slow-cooker allowing those scents of meat, such as chuck roast, sirloin, venison or bison, plus spices from cumin, chili powder and chiles in adobo to engulf your kitchen. Top it with a dollop of sour cream, jalapeno slices, diced onions, chives and shredded cheese. Of course, this meal wouldn't be complete without a slice of cornbread; make it in the skillet for the ultimate comforting side.
Pot Roast Just about everyone will slow-cook a pot roast this fall and they will enjoy every single component, from the tender beef and warm Yukon gold potatoes to the sweet onions and carrots, oh and that incredible savory broth. The best parts about making pot roast are that you don't have to tend to it while it cooks and your home will smell amazing as the beef, potatoes and vegetables slow-cook throughout the day. There's nothing like coming home to the smell of cooked chuck roast, carrots, onions and potatoes.
Butternut Squash Pasta As if pasta wasn't hearty enough, go ahead and throw in diced or pureed butternut squash. You can use any type of pasta you prefer -- large shells are great for scooping up the winter squash, but large thick noodles also do a great job gathering up all of the goodies. Enhance the flavors of fall by quickly frying sage leaves with olive oil in a large hot skillet. Toss the pasta with the sage, cooked butternut squash, a hefty seasoning of cracked black pepper and salt, and grated Parmesan cheese for a creamy component.
