Recipes Featured in this Article
If thoughts of holiday hosting are still on the back burner, November is the perfect time to bring them to the forefront. Whether you're in charge of planning the entire Thanksgiving meal or just need a few new recipes to add to your fall cooking repertoire, we've got you covered. As part of our Shop This List series, chef and cookbook author Laura Vitale stopped by TODAY to share seasonal favorites that are festive enough for entertaining guests but easy enough for family dinner tonight.
We trust that you have your turkey recipe down pat, but Vitale has two other protein-packed dishes you might consider adding to the table. First, an equal parts creamy and crispy pumpkin rigatoni with prosciutto, which she calls one of her "holiday standbys." And second, Salisbury steak meatballs that can be served over mashed potatoes or egg noodles — dealer's choice. Looking for a creative spin on a fall classic? Vitale's French onion pasta transforms a starter soup into a hearty main that comes together in less than an hour. And finally, for dessert, a melt-in-your-mouth pumpkin cobbler that's definitely delicious enough to make several times this season.
Ready to get started on meal prep? We've made it easier for you. Shop all the recipes — plus, a few tools you may need — below.
Laura Vitale's easy fall recipes
This pasta is such a great fall classic. The combination of creamy pasta with the salty and herby prosciutto and rosemary is a match made in food heaven. It’s one of my holiday standbys as a first pasta course, and it’s truly loved by all who sit around my table.
This pumpkin cobbler is a combination of a melt-in-your-mouth sponge cake with a luscious “caramel” all in one. It’s so delicious, especially around the holiday season.
This is one of my all-time favorite recipes. It’s meatballs, so it’s also a family favorite, but with all the cozy comfort vibes of a slow-cooked classic. This recipe strikes the right balance of flavors between the savory, herby meatballs and the smooth, oniony gravy. Serving these meatballs over buttery mashed potatoes or egg noodles really completes the meal and makes it a perfect cold-weather dinner.
This recipe encompasses one of my favorite soups in pasta form. It’s rich, savory and has a lovely sweetness to it from the caramelized onions. Caramelizing onions gets a bad rap for being difficult, but it’s actually a lot easier than it looks. It really just takes patience and a watchful eye, but it’s always worth the effort once they’re done! Even with the caramelizing, this recipe can be made pretty quickly, and can act as an unbelievably delicious weeknight meal or the standout dish on your holiday table.
