Besides, you know, turkey.
Brooke Greenberg / BuzzFeed
And just like that, it's the best food month of the year. 🥧
While we've got plenty of Thanksgiving menu ideas for the big day, we also know there's tons of eating and drinking to be done during the rest of November. So here are some favorite fall recipes to round out your month, including hearty slow cooker and Instant Pot dinners, all-purpose vegetable sides and soups — and all of the desserts!
Here's what's in season this month:
Hannah Wong / BuzzFeed
1. Garlic Butter Chicken Thighs and Baby Potatoes Skillet
There's really no problem that paprika-spiced chicken, crispy potatoes, and buttery garlic sauce can't solve.
Recipe: Garlic Butter Chicken Thighs and Baby Potatoes Skillet
If you're looking to upgrade standard apple pie this fall, try this from-scratch version — studded with tart cranberries and topped with coarse sugar for texture.
Recipe: Cranberry Almond Apple Pie
3. Creamy Lemon Orzo With Chickpeas & Broccoli
This dish uses cashew cream to keep things vegan — but feel free to swap in regular cream if you'd like.
Keto-friendly, gluten-free, and loaded with all of your favorite vegetables.
Recipe: Hearty Vegetable Soup
5. Classic Crock Pot Baked Potatoes
In a season where oven space is prime, the slow cooker is a perfect alternative for something like loaded potatoes. Bonus points that it can double as a warming station, too.
6. Cranberry Margaritas
This version uses Chinese five-spice — a mixture that includes cinnamon and cloves — on the rim for a festive kick. (I've also tried this with a spicier rim. Just mix equal parts salt, sugar, and chili powder.)
Recipe: Cranberry Margarita
Pressure-cooked beef is super versatile. Go full Chipotle-style with rice bowls or burritos — or try it in loaded baked potatoes, hoagie sandwiches, or lettuce wraps.
8. Roasted Carrots in Honey Garlic Butter
Perfect as a catchall side on Thanksgiving — or any other day of the month.
Packed with protein and vitamin C, thanks to the beans and peppers.
Recipe: Slow Cooker Chicken Fajita Chili
10. Overnight Pecan Pie French Toast
The French toast soaks overnight in a vanilla mixture, then bakes in the oven the next morning with buttery pecans.
Recipe: Overnight Pecan Pie French Toast
11. Low-Carb Casserole With Cabbage, Ground Beef, and Cheddar
This Keto-friendly dish starts with lean ground beef — but you can also swap in ground turkey, chicken, or pork.
The key to getting these extra crispy? Sprinkling them with a bit of panko bread crumbs before popping them into the oven.
Recipe: Roasted Brussels Sprouts
13. Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookie Sticks With Sea Salt
You'll use a mix of chocolate chips and chunks — both semisweet and bittersweet — for the best blend of textures, shapes, and flavors.
This recipe uses the brine-brush-bake method (which, TBH, I swear by) to keep the oven-baked chicken breasts extra juicy.
Recipe: Paprika Chicken Pasta
15. Arugula Salad With Smoked Salmon, Pear, and Avocado
Salty, sweet, creamy, crunchy — or basically, everything you could want in a salad.
Meet your new favorite holiday party snack. (But fair warning: It probably won't last the entire party. 😋)
Recipe: Cranberry Cream Cheese Dip
Lentils are a great (and cheap!) source of protein and fiber — and this spicy, creamy Instant Pot version makes enough to serve six.
Recipe: Instant Pot Red Curry Lentils
These simple fritters are hot, crispy, salty — and the ideal snack or side for just about anything.
19. 3-Ingredient Maple Pear Galette
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For those times when you need a last-minute holiday dessert that tastes good and looks impressive — but is actually impossibly easy to make.
Recipe: Maple Pear Galette
Don't skip making an ultraflavorful sauce to serve alongside these — like a five-minute chimichurri or homemade pesto.
Recipe: Roasted Cauliflower Steaks
Can't decide between pumpkin pie and cheesecake? Go for this.
Recipe: Pumpkin Swirl Cheesecake
This quick dinner is one of the most delicious ways to upgrade packaged ramen. If you're not vegan, top everything with a poached egg!
Recipe: Vegan Creamy Mushroom Ramen
23. Meal Prep Chicken With Kale Tabbouleh and Hummus
The spice-crusted chicken is coated with a zesty glaze — and you'll end up with enough for five meals.
Craving donuts but don't want the mess of deep frying? This oven-baked version skips all of the stove-top hassle — but still delivers on flavor.
Recipe: Baked Pumpkin Donuts
