51 Cheap and Easy Fall Recipes

Easy and Cheap Fall Recipes

RamilF/istockphoto

Cheapism is editorially independent. We may earn a commission if you buy through links on our site.
Easy and Cheap Fall Recipes
RamilF/istockphoto

Delicious Autumn

Between apples, pumpkin, squash, and cranberries, autumn brings not only crisp days but countless options for thrifty and delicious dishes that capitalize on seasonal fare. Whether you're gathering the family for Sunday dinner or headed off to an autumn potluck, these easy recipes will satisfy the palate — and the pocketbook.

Sausage Rolls
Foodio/shutterstock

Sausage Rolls

Switch up the tailgate-favorite pigs in a blanket with this recipe that features breakfast sausage, frozen puff pastry, and a few spices. Forego the fresh spices for dried to make it even easier.


Recipe: MyRecipes

Hot Beer Cheese Dip
Africa Studio/shutterstock

Hot Beer Cheese Dip

Summer crudités pale in comparison to the creamy richness of this dip that's as easy as it is crowd-pleasing. Pass the crusty bread.


Recipe: Cook the Story

Original Brat Quesadillas
Slawomir Fajer/shutterstock

Original Brat Quesadillas

Quick and easy, this taste treat uses a package of bratwurst and just a few simple ingredients such as German-style mustard, Muenster cheese, and pickles to offer a singular twist on the traditional all-ages fave. Slice up to serve a crowd.


Recipe: Johnsonville

Closeup of Four Rows of Sixteen Stuffed Mushrooms on a White Wax Paper
Eduardo Ramirez Sanchez/shutterstock

Easy Stuffed Mushrooms

Warm finger foods rich with hearty flavors are a sure-fire way to kick off a dinner party. Pillsbury's take on stuffed mushrooms had one reviewer commenting, "Why have I never thought of this before?!"


Recipe: Pillsbury

Bacon-Wrapped Stuffed Dates
Brent Hofacker/shutterstock

Bacon-Wrapped Stuffed Dates

Yes, bacon is a year-round favorite, but the flavors of this recipe take things up another level. Bagged nuts are often on sale this time of year, and while the creator suggests you mix and match, we're loving the suggested blue cheese, Brazil nut, and cashew option.


Recipe: The Healthy Foodie

Hot Bean Dip
CaseyMartin/shutterstock

Hot Bean Dip

Refried beans, taco seasoning, green onions, and two cheeses combine for a flavorful south-of-the-border kick. Don't expect leftovers.


Recipe: Allrecipes

The Perfect Fall Cheese Ball
Igor Dutina/shutterstock

The Perfect Fall Cheese Ball

A cheese ball seems to be the never-fail dish to bring to ... well, most any event where you have to bring a dish. This version is not only flavorful but catches the eye with its pumpkin-themed presentation.


Recipe: Family Fresh Meals

Butternut Squash Apple Soup
Bochkarev Photography/shutterstock

Butternut Squash Apple Soup

Recreate a bistro experience in your own kitchen with this comforting dish from Simply Recipes founder Elise Bauer that gets a little kick from a tart apple. Shop for pre-cut veggies on sale — or do the work yourself. It's worth the effort.


Recipe: Simply Recipes

Quick and Easy Vegetable Soup
mphillips007/istockphoto

Quick and Easy Vegetable Soup

A few kernels of the last of summer's fresh sweet corn add a crunch to this soup that's a breeze thanks to cost-effective ingredients including canned chicken broth, juice, and diced tomatoes.


Recipe: Allrecipes

Classic Easy Pumpkin Soup
Anna_Pustynnikova/shutterstock

Classic Easy Pumpkin Soup

This fall classic pleases palates around the world — we're loving the recipe from Australian food blogger Nagi who graciously provides options for fresh or canned pumpkin as well as vegan substitutions.


Recipe: RecipeTin Eats

Quick and Easy Turkey Noodle Soup
Vezzani Photography/shutterstock

Quick and Easy Turkey Noodle Soup

Save this one for a post-Thanksgiving, tummy-warming treat. In a pinch, substitute store-bought stock for homemade.


Recipe: Farm Flavor

Cream of Zucchini Soup
Victority/shutterstock

Cream of Zucchini Soup

We can't say enough about the powers of a steaming bowl of soup. At just 60 calories per serving, this virtuous spin gets its richness from reduced-fat sour cream. So clever!


Recipe: Skinnytaste

Waffle Fry Pot Pie
Africa Studio/shutterstock

Waffle Fry Pot Pie

Fall and comfort food just go together, and this twist on the classic pot pie turns basic chicken breasts (buy in bulk and freeze the rest, as you will make it again) into a hearty dish thanks to canned veggies, canned soup, frozen pie crust, and the signature waffle fries.


Recipe: Delish

Basic Chili
Brent Hofacker/shutterstock

Basic Chili

Entertaining a crowd or heading to a potluck? This recipe for chili is a stick-to-the-ribs dish that will leave your diners happy and your wallet unhurt.


Recipe: Budget Bytes

Apple Cider Sangria
sarsmis/shutterstock

Apple Cider Sangria

Transition from summer to fall with an autumnal take on sangria. This one from Jessica Merchant of How Sweet It Is comes to life with apple cider, apples, and pears. Stick with bargain white wine — and no one will be the wiser.


Recipe: How Sweet It Is

Fall Chicken Salad with Apples, Cranberries & Pecans
Marie C Fields/shutterstock

Fall Chicken Salad With Apples, Cranberries & Pecans

The name of this recipe pretty much says it all. We love the autumnal spin on this lunchtime favorite, and we're not opposed to using the meat from an on-sale rotisserie chicken instead of cooking your own cutlets.


Recipe: Tastes Lovely!

Quick & Easy Beef Stew
Lisovskaya Natalia/shutterstock

Quick & Easy Beef Stew

That first cold day will have you wanting to stay indoors and cook up this classic family favorite, which is a thrifty spin thanks to pre-mixed spice packets — and a package of frozen vegetables.


Recipe: McCormick

Catalina-Cranberry Chicken
Catalina-Cranberry Chicken by yochance (None)

Catalina-Cranberry Chicken

Chicken is one of those dishes that can be routine — or with a little imagination become something memorable. This recipe falls into the latter category thanks to simple, thrifty ingredients that include canned cranberry sauce and bottled salad dressing.


Recipe: Kraft Recipes

Slow Cooker Roast Beef
Brent Hofacker/shutterstock

Slow Cooker Roast Beef

Billed as costing "less than 72 cents per person," this dish relies on staples such as chuck roast, potatoes, carrots, onion, and spices with the slow cooker doing its magic.


Recipe: Grocery Budget 101

Dusky Rusky
Alex Flint/shutterstock

Dusky Rusky

Real Simple has a list of "8 Celebration-Worthy Cinnamon Cocktails" that all start with a simple cinnamon-infused syrup — basically sugar, water, and cinnamon sticks. Our favorite offering features vodka and Kahlua. Yum!


Recipe: Real Simple

Shepherd's Pie
hlphoto/shutterstock

Shepherd's Pie

Just a Pinch Recipes makes no bones about its thrifty approach. And that's found in this twist on the dish that has been keeping stomachs warm and happy for ages — one that features instant mashed potatoes, canned soup, and mixed vegetables.


Recipe: Just a Pinch Recipes

Easy Lentil Stew
Wiktory/shutterstock

Easy Lentil Stew

Pantry staples form the heart of this dish, which can easily become a vegetarian entrée by substituting vegetable broth for chicken broth. This recipe comes together in an hour.


Recipe: Genius Kitchen

Sparkling Apple Tea
Stolyevych Yuliya/shutterstock

Sparkling Apple Tea

For those who want their autumn sips without alcohol, this recipe amps up store-bought sparkling apple cider — often a steal in the grocery store — and adds just lemon juice, black tea and cinnamon for a memorable seasonal sip.


Recipe: Serious Eats

Brussels Sprouts and Turkey Rice Casserole
Nataliya Arzamasova/shutterstock

Brussels Sprouts and Turkey Rice Casserole

Brussels sprouts have that rich, savory appeal — add ground turkey and pantry staples for a dish that looks elegant and will leave your guests asking for the recipe. Love Brussels sprouts (or hate them)? Check out our guide for "How To Roast Brussels Sprouts," which includes tips, hacks, and delicious recipes.


Recipe: Delish

One Pot Chili Mac and Cheese
kookai402/shutterstock

One Pot Chili Mac and Cheese

Canned beans, canned diced tomatoes, and elbow macaroni — we all know these are budget-stretching ingredients. This dish takes those basic ingredients and whips up a tasty meal in 30 minutes.


Recipe: Damn Delicious

Maple Bourbon Old-Fashioned
Jeff Wasserman/shutterstock

Maple Bourbon Old-Fashioned

A well-stocked bar will need only to add a wonderfully seasonal ingredient — maple syrup — to create this twist on a cocktail stalwart.


Recipe: Delish

Extra-Easy Lasagna
Bernd Juergens/shutterstock

Extra-Easy Lasagna

No one wants to dig into a bubbling tray of lasagna when the temperature's topping 90. Come October, it's quite a different story. This Southern Living recipe offers the easiest of approaches to this all-time Italian favorite.


Recipe: Southern Living

Pork Chops and Apples
Aimee M Lee/shutterstock

Pork Chops and Apples

For a no-fuss take on a classic taste pairing, this Betty Crocker recipe offers an easy — four-ingredient — interpretation that is done in less than an hour.


Recipe: Betty Crocker

The Best Sloppy Joes
Brent Hofacker/shutterstock

The Best Sloppy Joes

What's not to love? Easy on the wallet, a classic retro taste, and a simple recipe from a blog dedicated to spotlighting "modern home cooking with a Midwestern heart." It tastes even better if it's made the night before and heated up the next day.


Recipe: Culinary Hill

Spaghetti and Meat Sauce
Shebeko/shutterstock

Spaghetti and Meat Sauce

You want to give your family a satisfying hot dinner on a weeknight, but gourmet fare's not your style. This five-ingredient recipe doctors up prepared pasta sauce and keeps things simple — and satisfying.


Recipe: Ready Set Eat

Fall Vegetable Egg Casserole
Oleksandra Usenko/shutterstock

Fall Vegetable Egg Casserole

Breakfast for dinner doesn't have to mean a whole pancake, bacon, and egg production. This recipe from Oats & Sesame features Brussels sprouts and butternut squash with additional — and optional — seasonings. Easy and elegant.


Recipe: Oat & Sesame

Squash Casserole
MSPhotographic/shutterstock

Squash Casserole

Claire Robinson's recipe relies on just five ingredients — yes, she's the one behind "Five Ingredient Fix" — with yellow squash taking center stage. Joined by a bit of cheese and a cracker topping, this is one side dish that won't get pushed to the side.


Recipe: Food Network

Warm Spaghetti-Squash Salad
Elena Veselova/shutterstock

Warm Spaghetti-Squash Salad

This dish ups the profile of spaghetti squash with an easy recipe that puts the nutrient-rich vegetable front and center — with zippy accents including almonds, olives and feta cheese.


Recipe: Delish

Mashed Potato Casserole
poonpipat singtothong/shutterstock

Mashed Potato Casserole

Potatoes, sour cream, cheddar cheese, and bacon are featured in this dish. It's a cool-weather offering that will have you wanting to just sneak away with the whole dish and a big spoon.


Recipe: House of Yumm

Easy Cheesy Zucchini Gratin
sasaken/shutterstock

Easy Cheesy Zucchini Gratin

Warm, gooey cheese ... an ingredient that's got us loving so many of these cool-weather dishes, and this one's no exception. Here, zucchini and onion team up with cheese and heavy whipping cream for a low-carb, gluten-free dish.


Recipe: I Breathe, I'm Hungry

Sweet Potatoes Roasted in Coconut Oil
Tatiana Bralnina/shutterstock

Sweet Potatoes Roasted in Coconut Oil

Signature flavor and easy prep are key to this offering. Sometimes, it's good to go simple. This dish also cooks up in less an hour. Want more ideas for using roasted sweet potatoes? Check out "52 Best Sweet Potato Recipes To Try All Year Long."


Recipe: Food52

Impressionist Waldorf Salad
AS Food studio/shutterstock

Impressionist Waldorf Salad

TV chef Robert Irvine served this up during a "Dinner: Impossible" segment — apples, celery, walnuts, and red onion with a quick-in-a-blender dressing that's on the table in 15 minutes.


Recipe: Food Network

Green beans  with almonds and cranberries
Green beans with almonds and cranberries by Michelle (None)

Green Beans With Cranberries

This is a dish as elegant as can be — and an easy way to mix up tired old green beans with some seasonal flair.


Recipe: Natasha's Kitchen

Curried Cauliflower, Apples, and Chickpeas
Elena Veselova/shutterstock

Curried Cauliflower, Apples, and Chickpeas

Take three standard — and yes, perhaps boring — ingredients but follow this recipe for an exotic taste treat that may just become your signature side.


Recipe: Midwest Living

Easy Apple Crisp
Denise Torres/shutterstock

Easy Apple Crisp

A half dozen apples, white cake mix (go store-brand) plus brown sugar, butter, and cinnamon. This recipe is easy to remember — with a taste that's hard to forget, a winning spin on a classic dish.


Recipe: Allrecipes

Lemon-Sugar Grilled Pineapple
Larisa Blinova/shutterstock

Lemon-Sugar Grilled Pineapple

A warm fruit dessert always hits the spot. Take advantage of fall grilling and whip up this three-ingredient tropical treat in moments.


Recipe: MyRecipes

Pumpkin Mousse Pie
Pumpkin Mousse Pie by Robyn Lee (None)

Frozen Pumpkin Mousse Pie

Canned pumpkin puree and a gingersnap cookie-crust add up to ease of production in this heart-healthy, low-sodium and vegetarian option.


Recipe: Eating Well

Easiest Ever Baked Stuffed Apples
Yulia Davidovich/shutterstock

Easiest Ever Baked Stuffed Apples

Leave it to Rachael Ray to offer up a quick, inexpensive and delicious spin on one of fall's most beloved apple-themed desserts.


Recipe: Food Network

Cranberry Lemonade
Liliya Kandrashevich/shutterstock

Cranberry Lemonade

Another way to transition from summer to fall is with this tart little drink that's as easy as it is tasty. Ideal for parties as you can make a few batches and chill in advance.


Recipe: Ocean Spray

Pumpkin-Apple Breakfast Smoothie
Teri Virbickis/shutterstock

Pumpkin-Apple Breakfast Smoothie

Everyone seems to have some pumpkin pie spice around this time of year. It adds a real zip to this recipe, which uses everyday fall staples such as canned pumpkin, an apple, and a few oats for a hearty fall-themed start to your day.


Recipe: Kristine's Kitchen

Pumpkin Muffins
Brent Hofacker/shutterstock

Pumpkin Muffins

Pure pumpkin and pumpkin pie spice — plus optional orange juice — create a moist muffin ideal for breakfast, lunch or dinner dessert.


Recipe: Very Best Baking

Cranberry Magic Bars
MShev/shutterstock

Cranberry Magic Bars

Those bags of fresh cranberries seem to go on sale once fall is in full swing — and they're not just for cranberry sauce. These bars, jam-packed with good-for-you ingredients, are destined to become a family favorite.


Recipe: My Kitchen Craze

Molasses Spice Cookies
Brent Hofacker/shutterstock

Molasses Spice Cookies

Anyone who bakes likely has all the ingredients on hand for these fragrant cookies. Elise Bauer's interpretation is chewy — and memorable.


Recipe: Simply Recipes

Triple Chocolate Pumpkin Bread
NoirChocolate/shutterstock

Triple Chocolate Pumpkin Bread

You have to smile when you think of this quick-bread recipe. It's dessert, it's chocolate ... but it's also made with pumpkin. And that adds moistness — and, we think, an air of health. Sneaky, right?


Recipe: Spend With Pennies

Pumpkin Spice Hot Cocoa
Brent Hofacker/shutterstock

Pumpkin Spice Hot Cocoa

Pumpkin and chocolate team up again in this warming sip that's billed as a "great treat for a fall day, quiet evening or to share with friends and family."


Recipe: Allrecipes

Cranberry St. Germain Cocktail
Evgeny Starkov/shutterstock

Cranberry St. Germain Cocktail

St. Germain, an elderflower liqueur, has become the ubiquitous ingredient in many a cocktail. If you've not yet invested, start with a small bottle — but one sip of this bright cocktail will likely convert you.


Recipe: Well Plated by Erin