There’s a moment each fall when dinner starts to sound better with a little more warmth. The slow cooker comes out, the oven goes on, and apples and pumpkin find their way into more than dessert. It’s a season for familiar comforts, but also for recipes that make the most of hearty greens, pumpkin, and warming spices. My personal favorite: sweet potatoes. You can use them in soups, salads, muffins, and more.

Whether you’re planning a quiet weeknight dinner, inviting friends over, or want a little taste of the season in your breakfast, these recipes from People Inc. brands offer plenty of reasons to get into the kitchen.

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Start the Day with Apple and Pumpkin

Fall mornings call for a breakfast worth getting out of bed for. Real Simple’s Apple-Pumpkin Baked Oatmeal brings together oats, pumpkin purée, grated apple, pumpkin pie spice, and walnuts in one pan. The apple adds a little tartness, while the pumpkin makes every slice tender and creamy. Serve it warm with a spoonful of yogurt, or bake it ahead for a breakfast that’s ready to reheat on a busy morning. It’s the kind of recipe that makes an ordinary weekday feel a bit more like a slow Saturday.

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Let the Slow Cooker Handle Dinner

As the days get shorter, a meal that’s waiting for you at dinnertime sounds especially good. EatingWell’s Slow-Cooker Mediterranean Diet Stew is filled with chickpeas, kale, carrots, and fire-roasted tomatoes. Garlic, oregano, and a touch of crushed red pepper give it depth without requiring much hands-on cooking. Set it up earlier in the day, then add the chickpeas and kale near the end. Ladle it into bowls with crusty bread for a cozy dinner that also makes welcome leftovers.

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Give Mac and Cheese a Fall Twist

There’s room for pumpkin on the dinner table, too. Better Homes & Gardens’ Pumpkin Mac and Cheese folds pumpkin purée and fresh sage into a creamy Fontina cheese sauce, then finishes the pasta with a Parmesan, breadcrumb, and walnut topping. It comes out of the oven golden and bubbly, ready for a family dinner or a place alongside other dishes at a fall gathering. If you’re hosting, it’s a fun way to bring a seasonal ingredient to the table without asking anyone to give up a favorite comfort food.

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Make Sweet Potatoes the Star of the Salad

A fall salad can be every bit as satisfying as something served in a bowl or casserole dish. EatingWell’s Massaged Kale Salad with Roasted Sweet Potato & Black Beans pairs roasted sweet potatoes and shallots with black beans, quinoa, feta, and pepitas. Massaging the kale with its lemon-garlic dressing softens the leaves and brings the whole dish together. Serve it as a meatless lunch or dinner when you want something hearty and fresh at the same time.

For another take, try EatingWell’s Anti-Inflammatory Sweet Potato Salad. This version layers spiced, roasted sweet potatoes with kale, cherries, avocado, mint, and pepitas. Its orange marmalade and tahini dressing add a sweet-tart finish. It’s colorful enough for a gathering, but easy to picture as the bright spot in an everyday lunch.

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Pour Something Warm

A mug of cider can make even a casual afternoon feel like an occasion. Southern Living’s Cranberry-Apple Cider combines apple cider and cranberry juice with cinnamon, cloves, star anise, and nutmeg. Orange slices, cranberries, and two kinds of apples go in toward the end, giving each serving plenty of color. Make a batch before guests arrive and let the spices fill the kitchen. The recipe also offers the option to add brandy or bourbon just before serving, or to keep the cider alcohol-free for everyone to enjoy.

From a make-ahead breakfast to a warm drink at the end of the day, these recipes capture what makes fall cooking so inviting: ingredients that suit the season, meals made for sharing, and the pleasure of coming inside to something good.

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