31 Healthy Seasonal Recipes to Make in October

Looking for healthy recipes for October? These 31 seasonal recipes celebrate the best of fall, from sweet apples and winter squash to hearty greens and cozy dinners. Inspired by what’s growing in my garden and filling farmers’ markets in the Northeast, here’s what to cook this month.

Yesterday, I spent the day putting most of our garden to sleep for the winter. I dug up the potatoes and gathered the last green beans, tomatoes, basil, and one lonely eggplant. There’s still a big bunch of Swiss chard going strong, but that’s the extent of my cool-weather garden this year—unless we’re counting my completely unhinged pumpkin patch. A story for another day.

My apple and pear trees, however? They are GIVING.

And while my garden is saying goodnight for the season, farmers far more skilled than I am will keep our local markets overflowing for weeks to come.

What’s in Season in October?

Here’s what’s in season in my neck of the woods: the Western Catskills of New York, in the Northeastern USA, growing zone 6A.

• Fruit: Apples and pears.
• Winter squash: Honeynut, delicata, butternut, acorn squash, and pumpkins.
• Potatoes and roots: Potatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots, beets, parsnips, and turnips.
• Greens: Kale, Swiss chard, and arugula.
• More market favorites: Broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, and leeks.
• A little summer encore: Bell peppers—and those last tomatoes and eggplants—until the first frost.

October is also my birthday month. Pumpkin chocolate chip is my preferred birthday cake, and cooking this time of year is pretty much my favorite.

I. Am. An Autumn.

Here are 31 healthy recipes I cannot wait to make this October!

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Cozy Dinner Recipes to Make this October

These healthy dinner recipes for October put seasonal favorites like pumpkin, butternut squash, and apples at the center of the table. From creamy pumpkin risotto to pork with apples and butternut squash mac and cheese, these are the cozy meals I look forward to cooking when the evenings turn chilly.

Warming Soups, Stews, and Chilis

October is soup season in my kitchen, and there’s plenty of pumpkin and winter squash going into the pot. These fall soups, stews, and chilis include pumpkin turkey chili, ground lamb stew with butternut squash, and vegetable-packed soups for warming lunches and satisfying dinners.

Fall Salads and Vegetable Sides

Fall salads deserve just as much attention as summer salads—especially when roasted squash, chewy farro, and pumpkin vinaigrette are involved. Alongside those seasonal salads, you’ll find October vegetable side dishes featuring honeynut squash, parsnips, and cauliflower to round out your favorite fall meals.

Healthy Fall Baking

My idea of October baking involves apples, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, and a generous handful of chocolate chips. These healthier fall baking recipes include apple muffins, pumpkin scones, sweet potato bread, and cookies to enjoy with an afternoon cup of tea. And yes, pumpkin chocolate chip bread absolutely counts as birthday cake in my house.

A Little More Pumpkin: Sips & Sweet Treats

For those of us who aren’t quite ready to stop at pumpkin bread, here are a few more ways to enjoy pumpkin this October. Blend a pumpkin cookie smoothie, make a homemade pumpkin spice latte, or try pumpkin date bark for a sweet bite. The pumpkin caramel sauce is also begging to be drizzled over apple crisp.

If you need me this October, I’ll probably be roasting squash, stirring a pot of soup, or finding another excuse to put pumpkin and chocolate chips together. I hope these recipes give you a few delicious reasons to spend more time in your kitchen this month.

What are you excited to cook first? Tell me in the comments—and if you make a recipe, I’d love for you to leave a rating and review on its recipe page!