10 Fall Recipes From a Mom Who Hates Cooking

Fall is here ladies and gentlemen (if there are any hanging around this moms’ blog). If you are as basic as I am, you have been patiently waiting for the first leaf to fall, Starbucks to release their obnoxiously early pumpkin spice latte, and following the macro barista on Instagram to figure out a way to make it as keto-friendly as possible. 

I’ve busted out the crockpot (literally cooking dinner as I type) and decided to share my favorite fall recipes. This isn’t youcr usual fall recipe round-up full of extensive lists of ingredients and three hours of prep time. I don’t particularly enjoy cooking and my goal is to make something good as quickly as possible and with the least amount of dishes.

Here are 10 of my fall go-to recipes. Feel free to make them your own. 

1. Lazy Mom Vegetarian Chili 

This is literally so easy. I throw four cans of Hormel Vegetarian Chili into the crockpot with some sauteed peppers and onions, and occasionally a can of stewed tomatoes. If my meat-loving husband complains, I may brown some ground beef to toss in. I set that to low so the house smells like I’m doing something great, then top with hot sauce, sour cream, and shredded cheese at serving time. Can’t mess it up and my kids love it too! 

2. Buffalo Chicken & Cheese Dip

A little more effort than I usually put in, but definitely worth it. The key is to use a good rotisserie chicken and I use Hooter’s buffalo sauce. This recipe from The Wholesome Dish,  is exactly how I do it; I just recommend swapping the buffalo sauce. I get asked for the recipe every time I bring it to an event.

3. Deviled Eggs

My kids love boiled eggs, so I actually get a few meals out of a batch. They will peel and eat them for a snack or for lunch, and then I have them help make the deviled eggs for later. I assume you know how to make deviled eggs, but if not, check out this simple recipe from Food Network (I skip the vinegar).

4. Morning Oatmeal Bar

I make this recipe when it’s one of the few mornings my husband insists he isn’t cooking our usual eggs and sausage. I use plain instant oatmeal and display some toppings so the kids feel like they are making their own food and are more likely to eat it that way. I usually offer various fruits, nuts, plain or vanilla yogurt, granola, brown sugar, and occasionally some syrup. 

5. Dump Cake Cobbler

Grab two cans of your choice pie filling and spread it into your 9×13 pan, cover it with dry yellow cake mix, and then pour a stick of melted butter all over the mix. Pop it in the oven around 350F for an hour and you’ve got yourself a warm treat to top with ice cream. It’s literally so good. 

6. Granny’s Chicken and Dumps

This was taught to me by my husband’s Granny and it pretty much earns me a few brownie points every time I make it. Sometimes I cheat and use pulled rotisserie chicken and store-bought broth, but usually, I boil some boneless chicken for a while and kill two birds with one stone. After it comes to a boil, I shred the chicken (or add the rotisserie chicken, drop in two cans of Pillsbury Buttermilk Refrigerated Biscuits pulled into small pieces, a splash of milk (or you could do a can of cream of chicken), some pepper, and then bring it to a simmer for around 15 minutes. You can see a similar recipe here from Southern Kissed. 

7. Fall Charcuterie Board

This does take a little more preparation, but it is the number one thing I bring to holiday gatherings. It is also a hit with my kids. They love being able to graze on their favorites, and charcuterie boards are so pretty! I have a dedicated Pinterest board for inspiration, but just pick your favorite meats, cheeses, jams, fruit, and crackers, and use them to create a beautiful display. I think of this as decorating with food. You can get creative with some extras too. Check out this fall board from number-2-pencil.com or the queen of charcuterie on Pinterest at The Big Board.

8. Two-Ingredient Pumpkin Muffins

I love these with my coffee in the morning! One box of spice cake and one can of pumpkin. It may be more difficult to find the canned pumpkin this year, but if you’re one of the lucky ones, check out the full recipe from The Seasoned Mom. Basically, it’s mix and bake. Voilà!

9. Warm Me Up Cider

This is great for holiday parties if any of us find ourselves at one this year. Just grab a gallon or two of a good apple cider and throw it in the crockpot with your choice of adult beverage. We’ve used a good bourbon or whisky and if I’m feeling especially fancy, I will throw in some cinnamon sticks and orange peels. You can even hold the liquor and serve to the whole family. 

10. Sausage and Veggies

Easy peasy lemon squeezy. Line the pan with sliced kielbasa sausage, chopped broccoli, cut bell peppers, cubed red potatoes, and any other veggie you think your family would eat. Top it with some olive oil and seasoning (we use Goya Adobo), give it a good mix, and then roast in the oven at 400F for 30 minutes, turning them half way through. 

Some of these recipes are no-brainers, but I swear I forget the simplest things when I am floundering for something to make. Let me know if you try any of these out and don’t forget to share with your mom tribe!