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Sweet & Savoury Autumn Recipes to Try Right Now

Sweet & Savoury Autumn Recipes to Try Right Now

Autumn is the perfect season for cosy cooking, warming spices, roasted vegetables and comforting desserts. From creamy pasta and crispy sage potatoes to maple-glazed carrots and cinnamon apple crumble, these sweet and savoury autumn recipes make the most of seasonal fall flavours.

Whether you’re planning a cosy weekend dinner, looking for an easy autumn lunch or simply want something delicious to bake on a chilly afternoon, these easy autumn recipe ideas are perfect for celebrating the season.

 

1. Butternut Squash, Chicken & Bacon Pasta Bake

This butternut squash chicken pasta bake is creamy, comforting and perfect for colder evenings. Roasted squash, tender chicken and smoky bacon are baked with pasta in a cheesy sauce for an easy autumn family dinner.

Ingredients

  • 300g penne or fusilli

  • 2 chicken breasts, diced

  • 150g smoked bacon lardons

  • 1 small butternut squash, peeled and cubed

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

  • 1 small onion, finely chopped

  • 2 garlic cloves, minced

  • 200ml double cream

  • 150ml chicken stock

  • 100g grated mature cheddar

  • 30g grated Parmesan

  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme

  • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika

  • Salt and black pepper

Method

  1. Preheat the oven to 200°C.

  2. Toss the butternut squash with olive oil, salt and pepper and roast for 25 minutes until tender.

  3. Cook the pasta until just al dente, then drain.

  4. Fry the bacon in a large pan until crisp, then remove and set aside.

  5. Add the chicken to the same pan and cook until golden and cooked through.

  6. Add the onion and cook for 4-5 minutes until soft.

  7. Stir in the garlic, thyme and smoked paprika.

  8. Pour in the chicken stock and double cream and simmer for 3-4 minutes.

  9. Stir in half the cheddar and the Parmesan until melted.

  10. Add the cooked pasta, roasted butternut squash, chicken and bacon and mix well.

  11. Transfer to a baking dish and scatter over the remaining cheddar.

  12. Bake for 15-20 minutes until golden and bubbling.

Autumn tip: Add spinach, kale or mushrooms to make the pasta bake even heartier.

2. Maple & Thyme Roasted Carrots

These maple roasted carrots are sweet, savoury and slightly caramelised around the edges. They make an easy autumn side dish for Sunday lunch, roast dinners or seasonal entertaining.

Ingredients

  • 700g carrots

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil

  • 2 tablespoons maple syrup

  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

  • 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves

  • Salt and black pepper

  • 30g crumbled feta, optional

Method

  1. Preheat the oven to 200°C.

  2. Slice the carrots lengthways.

  3. Mix the olive oil, maple syrup, Dijon mustard and thyme together.

  4. Toss the carrots in the maple mixture.

  5. Arrange on a baking tray and season.

  6. Roast for 30-35 minutes, turning halfway through.

  7. Finish with feta and extra thyme if desired.

Serving suggestion: These work beautifully alongside roast chicken, baked salmon or a lentil salad.

3. Crispy Garlic & Sage Smashed Potatoes

For an autumn side dish everyone will reach for, try these golden crispy smashed potatoes with sage and garlic.

Ingredients

  • 800g baby potatoes

  • 3 tablespoons olive oil

  • 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped

  • 10 sage leaves

  • ½ teaspoon sea salt

  • Black pepper

  • 30g Parmesan

Method

  1. Boil the potatoes for around 15 minutes until tender.

  2. Drain and leave to steam-dry.

  3. Place on a lined baking tray.

  4. Gently squash each potato with the bottom of a glass.

  5. Drizzle with olive oil and scatter over the garlic and sage.

  6. Season well.

  7. Roast at 220°C for 25-30 minutes until crisp.

  8. Sprinkle with Parmesan for the final five minutes.

Serve immediately while the edges are deliciously crunchy.

4. Roasted Pumpkin, Feta & Hot Honey Salad

This colourful autumn pumpkin salad combines sweet roasted pumpkin, salty feta and spicy hot honey for an easy lunch or seasonal side dish.

Ingredients

  • 600g pumpkin or squash

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil

  • 100g feta

  • 100g rocket

  • 50g toasted pumpkin seeds

  • 2 tablespoons honey

  • ½ teaspoon chilli flakes

  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

  • Salt and pepper

Method

  1. Cut the pumpkin into bite-sized pieces.

  2. Toss with olive oil, salt and pepper.

  3. Roast at 200°C for 25-30 minutes.

  4. Warm the honey with the chilli flakes.

  5. Arrange the rocket on a serving plate.

  6. Add the roasted pumpkin and crumbled feta.

  7. Scatter over the pumpkin seeds.

  8. Drizzle with hot honey and apple cider vinegar before serving.

5. Mushroom, Garlic & Parmesan Orzo

This creamy mushroom orzo recipe is perfect for cold autumn evenings. Everything comes together in one pan, making it ideal for an easy weeknight dinner.

Ingredients

  • 250g orzo

  • 300g chestnut mushrooms

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

  • 25g butter

  • 3 garlic cloves

  • 750ml vegetable stock

  • 75ml double cream

  • 50g Parmesan

  • 1 teaspoon thyme

  • Salt and black pepper

  • Fresh parsley

Method

  1. Slice the mushrooms.

  2. Heat the olive oil and butter in a large pan.

  3. Fry the mushrooms for 6-8 minutes until golden.

  4. Add the garlic and thyme and cook for one minute.

  5. Stir in the orzo.

  6. Gradually add the stock and simmer for around 10 minutes, stirring regularly.

  7. Once the orzo is tender, stir through the cream and Parmesan.

  8. Season and finish with fresh parsley.

For extra autumn flavour, add a handful of spinach or some crispy sage.

Sweet Autumn Recipes

6. Cinnamon Apple Crumble Bars

These buttery apple crumble bars combine soft cinnamon apples with a crisp oat topping. They’re perfect with coffee, packed lunches or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Ingredients

For the base

  • 180g plain flour

  • 100g butter

  • 70g caster sugar

For the apple filling

  • 4 apples

  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar

  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon

  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice

  • 1 teaspoon cornflour

For the crumble

  • 100g plain flour

  • 80g rolled oats

  • 80g brown sugar

  • 80g cold butter

Method

  1. Preheat the oven to 180°C.

  2. Rub the butter into the flour and sugar for the base.

  3. Press into a lined baking tin.

  4. Bake for 12 minutes.

  5. Peel and dice the apples.

  6. Mix them with brown sugar, cinnamon, lemon juice and cornflour.

  7. Spoon over the baked base.

  8. Mix the crumble ingredients together until crumbly.

  9. Scatter over the apples.

  10. Bake for 30-35 minutes until golden.

  11. Cool completely before slicing into bars.

7. Maple Pecan Banana Bread

Give classic banana bread an autumn twist with maple syrup, toasted pecans and warming cinnamon.

Ingredients

  • 3 ripe bananas

  • 100g melted butter

  • 80g brown sugar

  • 60ml maple syrup

  • 2 eggs

  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

  • 200g self-raising flour

  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon

  • 80g chopped pecans

  • Pinch of salt

Method

  1. Preheat the oven to 175°C.

  2. Mash the bananas in a large bowl.

  3. Stir in the butter, sugar and maple syrup.

  4. Add the eggs and vanilla.

  5. Fold in the flour, cinnamon and salt.

  6. Stir through most of the pecans.

  7. Transfer to a lined loaf tin.

  8. Sprinkle the remaining pecans on top.

  9. Bake for 50-60 minutes.

Drizzle with a little extra maple syrup before serving.

8. Caramel Apple Baked Oats

These caramel apple baked oats make a cosy autumn breakfast that tastes almost like dessert.

Ingredients

  • 100g rolled oats

  • 1 apple, diced

  • 1 banana

  • 150ml milk

  • 1 egg

  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon

  • ½ teaspoon baking powder

  • 1 tablespoon maple syrup

  • 1 tablespoon caramel sauce

  • Chopped walnuts, optional

Method

  1. Preheat the oven to 180°C.

  2. Mash the banana.

  3. Mix with the oats, milk, egg, cinnamon, baking powder and maple syrup.

  4. Fold through most of the apple.

  5. Transfer to a small baking dish.

  6. Scatter the remaining apple on top.

  7. Bake for 25 minutes.

  8. Drizzle with caramel sauce and add walnuts before serving.

9. Pumpkin Spice Chocolate Chip Cookies

Soft in the middle with crisp edges, these pumpkin spice cookies combine chocolate, cinnamon and warm autumn spices.

Ingredients

  • 120g butter

  • 100g brown sugar

  • 70g caster sugar

  • 80g pumpkin purée

  • 1 teaspoon vanilla

  • 200g plain flour

  • ½ teaspoon baking soda

  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon

  • ¼ teaspoon ginger

  • ¼ teaspoon nutmeg

  • 120g dark chocolate chips

Method

  1. Melt the butter and leave it to cool slightly.

  2. Mix with both sugars.

  3. Stir in the pumpkin purée and vanilla.

  4. Add the flour, baking soda and spices.

  5. Fold through the chocolate chips.

  6. Chill for 30 minutes.

  7. Scoop onto a lined baking tray.

  8. Bake at 180°C for 10-12 minutes.

  9. Leave to cool slightly before transferring to a rack.

10. Pear, Cinnamon & Almond Cake

This simple autumn pear cake is soft, lightly spiced and topped with slices of juicy seasonal pear.

Ingredients

  • 150g softened butter

  • 150g caster sugar

  • 3 eggs

  • 120g self-raising flour

  • 80g ground almonds

  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon

  • 2 ripe pears

  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

  • 2 tablespoons flaked almonds

Method

  1. Preheat the oven to 180°C.

  2. Beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.

  3. Beat in the eggs one at a time.

  4. Fold in the flour, ground almonds and cinnamon.

  5. Add the vanilla.

  6. Spoon into a lined cake tin.

  7. Slice the pears and arrange them across the top.

  8. Scatter with flaked almonds.

  9. Bake for 35-40 minutes.

  10. Cool slightly before serving.

Serve warm with crème fraîche, custard or vanilla ice cream.

Easy Autumn Recipes for Cosy Days

You don’t need complicated recipes to make autumn food feel comforting. Roasting seasonal vegetables, making a creamy one-pot pasta or baking a simple apple dessert can bring plenty of autumn flavour to your kitchen.

These sweet and savoury autumn recipes offer a little bit of everything: cosy pasta, colourful seasonal vegetables, easy side dishes, autumn baking and warming desserts.

Save your favourites and enjoy cooking your way through the season.