Autumn is a generous season that invites you to cook warm, fragrant, and comforting dishes. Squash, mushrooms, cabbage, leeks, carrots, apples, and chestnuts make it possible to prepare simple, economical, and tasty recipes. This guide brings together 30 easy, family-friendly autumn recipes, from soups and gratins to slow-cooked dishes and seasonal desserts. Also check out our autumn vegetable guide. Category Recipes 🎃 Soups Red kuri squash, Butternut, Mushrooms, Leeks, Parsnips 🧀 Gratins Butternut with Comté, Dauphinois, cauliflower, zucchini, leeks 🍲 Slow-cooked dishes Beef Bourguignon, veal blanquette, pot-au-feu, carbonnade, lamb stew 🍗 Poultry Chicken Basquaise, coq au vin, vol-au-vent, pheasant, roast chicken 🍄 Mushrooms Risotto, forest-style sautéed mushrooms, tagliatelle with porcini 🎃 Squash Stuffed squash, red kuri squash purée, roasted squash 🍎 Desserts Apple crumble, apple pie, walnut cake 🎃 The best autumn soups Autumn soups are the stars of the season. See our complete winter soup guide. 1. Red kuri squash soup A creamy recipe with a slightly sweet taste, ideal with a few toasted pumpkin seeds. 2. Butternut squash velouté Fragrant with nutmeg and served with a touch of cream. 3. Mushroom velouté Creamy and delicately seasoned with parsley. 4. Leek and potato soup A great family classic. 5. Parsnip velouté To be served with toasted hazelnuts. 👨🍳 Chef CuisinerTelUnChef Tip Serve soups with pumpkin seeds or a few toasted hazelnuts for added crunch. Use a chef's knife to cut the vegetables into uniform pieces. 🧀 Gourmet gratins 6. Butternut gratin with Comté Melting, golden-crusted, and very easy to prepare. 7. Gratin Dauphinois A must-have for autumn meals. 8. Cauliflower gratin A family recipe that appeals to both children and adults. 9. Zucchini gratin Simple and economical. 10. Leek gratin Perfect as a side dish for roast meat or fish. 🍲 Slow-cooked dishes Slow-cooked dishes are the kings of autumn. Prepare them the day before: they gain flavor. 11. Beef Bourguignon The great classic of French cuisine. 12. Veal Blanquette Tender meat in a creamy sauce. 13. Traditional Pot-au-feu A complete and convivial meal. 14. Flemish Carbonnade A beer-braised specialty, ideal for cool days. 15. Lamb Navarin A generous dish combining melt-in-the-mouth meat and seasonal vegetables. 👨🍳 Chef CuisinerTelUnChef Tip Prepare your slow-cooked dishes the day before: they often gain flavor after resting overnight. 🍗 Autumn poultry 16. Chicken Basquaise A family recipe rich in flavor. 17. Coq au vin A staple of French gastronomy. 18. Homemade Vol-au-vent Creamy chicken and mushroom filling. 19. Pheasant with chicory A traditional recipe ideal for autumn meals. 20. Roast chicken with autumn vegetables Carrots, parsnips, potatoes, and onions roasted in the pan juices. 🍄 Mushroom recipes See our complete mushroom guide. 21. Mushroom risotto Creamy and fragrant with Parmesan. Grate the Parmesan finely. 22. Forest-style sautéed mushrooms A mixture of mushrooms, garlic, and parsley. 23. Tagliatelle with porcini mushrooms A simple and elegant dish. 🎃 Squash recipes 24. Oven-stuffed squash A squash filled with ground meat, rice, or vegetables, then gratinated. 25. Red kuri squash purée Delicately flavored with nutmeg. 26. Herb-roasted squash Simple, colorful, and tasty. 🥬 Family dishes 27. Traditional stuffed cabbage A generous and comforting specialty. 28. Shepherd's Pie (Hachis Parmentier) Perfect for using up leftover meat. See our anti-waste guide. 29. Tartiflette Potatoes, bacon, onions, and melting cheese: another Savoyard classic. 🍎 Autumn desserts Nuts and hazelnuts pair well with apples, pears, and autumn desserts. 30. Apple and hazelnut crumble Melting apples under a crispy, hazelnut-scented crust. Other dessert ideas: apple pie, walnut cake, pear clafoutis, homemade applesauce, spiced poached pears. 🌿 The flavors of autumn Thyme, rosemary, sage, and parsley flavor autumn dishes. Category Ingredients Herbs Thyme, rosemary, sage, parsley Spices Nutmeg, cinnamon, cumin, smoked paprika, ginger Oils Olive oil, hazelnut oil — see our oils guide Nuts Walnuts, hazelnuts, chestnuts 👨🍳 Chef's secrets Roast vegetables in the oven to develop their natural sugars — see our cooking guide Prepare your slow-cooked dishes the day before: they gain flavor after resting overnight Add fresh herbs just before serving to preserve their aromas Cook in large quantities and freeze portions for later. Consider forgotten vegetables (Jerusalem artichokes, parsnips, rutabaga) to vary the flavors Use leftovers for quiches or savory tarts ❌ Mistakes to avoid ❌ Overcooking vegetables until they become mushy ❌ Oven not hot enough for roasted vegetables ❌ Neglecting the seasoning of soups ❌ Too much liquid in slow-cooked dishes from the start ❌ Not letting some preparations rest before serving ❓ Frequently Asked Questions What are the best vegetables to cook in autumn? Squash, mushrooms, leeks, cabbage, parsnips, carrots, beets, and potatoes. What dish should I prepare for an autumn family meal? Slow-cooked dishes, gratins, roast poultry, and soups are particularly popular. Which desserts are typical of autumn? Apple pies, crumbles, walnut cakes, and chestnut-based preparations. Can these recipes be prepared in advance? Yes. Soups, gratins, and slow-cooked dishes keep very well. Which nuts should be used in autumn? Walnuts, hazelnuts, and chestnuts. 🔗 Related recipes and guides 🇫🇷 French cuisine guide 🌿 Aromatic herbs guide 🌶️ Complete guide to spices in cooking 🍚 Guide to cooking rice perfectly 🛒 CuisinerTelUnChef utensils to succeed in your autumn recipes Our chef's knives — for cutting squash, carrots, and vegetables Our cutting boards — large stable surface Our mandolines — for finely slicing vegetables for gratins Our graters and zesters — for grating Parmesan and nutmeg