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31 Recipes to Cook in October
This collection is filled with my very favorite October recipes — everything from spooky (and seriously cute!) Halloween drinks and desserts to cozy fall dinners, hearty soups, creamy pastas, and plenty of pumpkin, apple, and chocolate treats. There’s even a little something for game day and easy entertaining. Basically, we’ve got a recipe for every single day this month! It was hard to narrow it down to just 31, but these are the ones I reach for most in October.
This year marks 13 years of Half Baked Harvest. My mom and I can hardly believe it! It’s wild to look back at how far we’ve come, how much we’ve grown, and all the ups and downs along the way. Every October, I love revisiting my very first post (a cozy butternut squash soup with ghostly grilled cheese — still one of my favorites). It’s so fun to see how this space has evolved.
October has always been a special month for me. The 9th is my Nonnie’s birthday — she loved Halloween and went all out with decor, candles, and cozy fall cooking. She’s the one who taught me to love candles and how to make a great pot roast. So much of what I love about fall comes from her. And the 11th is Oslo’s birthday!
Below you’ll find festive drinks, fun sweets, and the coziest dinners to make this month feel extra special. Pulling these recipes together reminded me just how many fall favorites I’ve shared over the years — some of these are truly tried and true!
I’d love to know which ones you’re most excited to try this October. Do you love the spooky cocktails? Should I bring back Cocktail Saturday? (I’m thinking yes — it’s tradition!).
Here’s to a cozy, festive, frightastically delicious October – Boo!
Spooky Drinks For October Nights
Ghostly Ginger Cocktail (with mocktail)
Smoky Black Pomegranate Cocktail (with mocktail)
Haunted Pumpkin Patch Margarita
Smoky Sanderson Sisters’ Smash
Smoky Harvest Apple Cider Margarita
Enchanted Graveyard Pomegranate Punch
Cozy Dinners
Creamy Homestyle Chicken Noodle Soup
Mini Spaghetti Squash Lasagnas
Crockpot Pumpkin Beer Braised Chicken
Crockpot Garlic Butter Chicken Meatballs and Creamy Orzo
Pull Apart Roasted Garlic Pizza Dip Sliders
Parmesan Popovers with Crispy Sage Garlic Butter
Sage Brown Butter Pumpkin Pasta Alfredo
Better For You Chicken and Spinach Ramen
Creamy Broccoli Cheddar Casserole
One Pot Stove-Top Pumpkin Mac and Cheese
Crockpot Herb Butter Chicken and Wild Rice
Healthier Slow Cooker Creamy Tortellini Vegetable Soup
Creamy French Onion and Mushroom Soup
Better Than Takeout Dan Dan Noodles
One Pot French Onion Pasta with Crispy Prosciutto
Cider Braised Short Ribs with Caramelized Onions
Creamy Pierogi Chicken Soup with Rosemary Bacon
Cider Braised Pot Roast with Crispy Sage Butter Potatoes
Smothered Chicken in Mushroom Wine Pan Sauce
Crockpot Buffalo Chicken and Broccoli
Coconut Sweet Potato Lentil Soup with Rice
Autumn Sweets
Cinnamon Swirl Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bars
Frosted Soft Pumpkin Sugar Cookies
Cinnamon Swirl Snickerdoodle Blondies
Cream Cheese Swirled Cinnamon Pumpkin Coffee Cake
Brown Butter Pumpkin Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
Vanilla Chai Pumpkin Latte Cupcakes with Cinnamon Brown Sugar Frosting
Cinnamon Swirl Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Butter Bread
Easy Swirled Cinnamon Sugar Croissant Loaf
Pumpkin Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
Cream Cheese Swirled Cinnamon Pumpkin Butter Bread
Salted Bourbon Apple Crumble Coffee Cake
BOO! Fun for Halloween
Milk Chocolate Stuffed Jack-O’-Lantern Cookies
BOO! Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars
Halloween Monster Mash Cookies
Lastly, if you make any of these 31 Recipes to Cook in October, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love hearing from you and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And, of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
This post was originally published on October 1, 2025
How do you find time to cook all these? But I really trust your recipes, so good!
Thanks so much, Rich! Let me know which recipes you try!
Appreciate this, but this format is so hard to navigate, the newer format you used last time is so so so much better! Also, you said you had a hard time narrowing it down to 31, but there are way more than 31 recipes in this post, it’s overwhelming! I feel like every post like this your followers make comments about the amount of recipes and format but you don’t listen.
Hi Laurie,
I appreciate you sharing this feedback. We are working on updates to the new format, I will try to post using that format moving forward. Thanks again!
Why did you go back to the old format? This is harder to read especially since there are over 50 recipes in this list.
Hey Rita! This is the format for this post because we are working on updates for the new layout. I do really appreciate your feedback and moving forward can work in the newer format.
Thank you!
My family and I absolutely love your recipes. I can always find something delicious to cook for them. And I don’t know who the photographer is for all of the recipes but these are hands down the most beautiful food pictures ever!!! Thank you for sharing them with us.
Hi Vickie,
Thanks so much for your kind message and trying so many recipes:) I love to hear your family has been enjoying them. I actually take all of the photos myself, so thank you! Have the best day!