Recipes to Cook in November

Recipes to Cook in November 🍁🍂 – November is that beautiful bridge between fall and the holiday season: cooler mornings, cozy evenings, and the kitchen starts to feel like a gathering place once again. The focus is on warm, comforting meals that bring people together. Whether you’re prepping for a big holiday, feeding a hungry crowd, or just easing into cooler weather, November cooking is about layering flavors, slowing down, and enjoying the warmth of food and company.

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A bowl of spaghetti topped with braised beef and chunky tomato sauce; text reads “Cook in October: family favorites, twists on classics, and seasonal flavors.”.

What to Cook in November 🍁🍂

If you want to know what to cook for Thanksgiving, check out this post: Thanksgiving Dinner Menu, Recipes, Timeline, Checklist, and Tips. Also, check out these collections of recipes: 15 Thanksgiving Sides to Elevate your Feast, 18 UNIQUE THANKSGIVING SIDE DISHES, Kitchen Basics for the Holiday, Alternatives to Turkey for Thanksgiving, and BEST BRUSSELS SPROUTS FOR THANKSGIVING.

🧑‍🍳Hearty & Comforting Mains

Slow Cooker & Dutch Oven Classics: This is the time for dishes like beef stew, braised short ribs, and chicken pot pie lasagna soup. These are meals that simmer and fill your home with aroma.
Roasted Meats & Seasonal Veggies: Roast a turkey breast, pork loin, or opt for a sheet-pan chicken. Think sweet potatoes, carrots, and Brussels sprouts.
Casseroles & One-Dish Dinners: Perfect for simplicity and leftovers, try lasagna, cottage pie, or chicken-rice bake. One pot, less fuss, maximum comfort.
Vegetarian Mains That Satisfy: Use hearty produce like spaghetti squash, cauliflower, chickpeas, and lentils to build dishes that feel substantial and seasonal.

Bowl of spaghetti topped with braised beef in tomato sauce, garnished with herbs and grated cheese. A fork rests beside the pasta.

Bolognese Short Ribs

Tender, slow-cooked short ribs with a rich tomato-based sauce is the perfect for a cozy family dinner.

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Sweet and Tangy Meat Loaf

This is a classic meatloaf recipe that has a sweet and tangy glaze. It’s a family favorite recipe. Sweet and Tangy Meat Loaf is good for potlucks.

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A bowl of green chili stew with chicken, potatoes, avocado slices, lime wedges, sour cream, onion, and flour tortillas beside it.

Green Chili Chicken Corn Chowder

This is a cozy and comforting soup recipe bursting with flavor. It's easy to make for beginning or advanced cooks.

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Tipsy Italian Sausage Pasta

Flavorful and easy to make, Tipsy Italian Sausage Pasta is a terrific recipe to make on busy nights. It takes less than 30 minutes to make.

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3 Ingredient Slow Cooker Pot Roast

3 Ingredient Slow Cooker Pot Roast is moist, flavorful and very tender. Weekday dinners doesn’t get any easier!

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Best Cobb Salad with Buttermilk Garlic Dressing

Best Cobb Salad with Buttermilk Garlic Dressing is a hearty, satisfying main dish salad, with plenty of proteins, good fats, flavor, and a delicious dressing.

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Glass baking dish filled with creamy casserole topped with golden-brown breadcrumbs; a serving has been scooped out with a spoon.

Cheesy Million Dollar Chicken Casserole

Cheesy Million Dollar Chicken Casserole is creamy, cheesy, and easy to make with everyday ingredients. Great for busy nights.

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Close-up of a casserole dish containing a portion of cornmeal pudding mixed with beef and vegetables, topped with garnished parsley leaves. A wooden spoon is partially visible in the dish.

Cornbread Casserole with Ground Beef

Cornbread Casserole with Ground Beef and Cream of Mushroom Soup makes for a quick and easy one skillet meal any weeknight. Full of flavor and layers, this comfort food dish is going to be a new go-to in your dinner rotation.

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🥕Seasonal Sides & Veggies

Root Vegetables & Squashes: Think roasted carrots, parsnips, beets, butternut squash, acorn squash. Toss them with herbs, maple glaze, or a touch of citrus to brighten.
Greens & Cabbage Dishes: Kale, collards, Brussels sprouts, these can be sautéed or roasted with bacon, nuts, or a splash of vinegar to add brightness.
Warm Grains & Legumes: Farro, wild rice, barley, lentils, try mixing these with roasted veggies or tossed into a hearty salad to make sides that feel like mains.
Classic Holiday Sides With a Twist: Think green bean casserole, sweet potato souffle, cranberry-orange relish. They’re familiar but with a spin.

Secret Ingredient Creamy Mac and Cheese recipe

This ever-popular classic comfort food recipe is creamy and flavorful!

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Cream Corn Bisquick Casserole

Cream Corn Bisquick Casserole. This easy casserole recipe can be stirred together in less than 5 minutes with items you already have in your pantry. It’s easy, cheesy and versatile.

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Sautéed Cauliflower and bacon oven baked in a cheesy creamy garlic sauce topped with bubbling mozzarella and parmesan cheese!

Creamy Parmesan Cauliflower with Bacon

Creamy Parmesan Cauliflower with Bacon is an unfussy and healthy side dish recipe that’s loaded with flavor from a creamy cheese sauce and salty, crunchy bacon bits.

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Gnocchi with peas and parmesan in a skillet.

Garlic Herb Butter Gnocchi

Pillowy soft nuggets of gnocchi are cooked in browned butter with garlic, shallots, and seasonings for a meatless main.

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Unbundled Green Beans

Easy and quick green bean side dish made with canned green beans

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Caramelized Shaved Brussels Sprouts

An easy, delicious, nutritious, and quick side dish!

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🍬Desserts & Sweet Endings

Apple, Pear & Cranberry Desserts: Apple crisp, pear galette, pecan cobbler. They are warm, fragrant, and cozy with cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla.
Pumpkin & Spice Everything: Muffins, pies, breads, cakes. Oumpkin purée is perfectly at home now. Add pecans, caramel, or ginger for extra depth.
Pecan & Caramel Treats: Pecan pie, caramel apple bars, praline brownies. Nuts + caramel = magic for fall.
Simple & No-Bake Favorites: When you don’t want to fire up the oven, go for chilled puddings, parfaits with caramelized pears, or skillet cookies topped with ice cream.

Fresh Apple Cake

Moist, tender and full of warm fall spices, this Fresh Apple Cake is a delicious classic. To take it over the top, I smothered it with my all-time favorite cream cheese glaze.

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Upside Down Pear Skillet Cake

Upside Down Maple Pear Walnut Skillet Cake has a deep, rich flavor. It’s a very moist cake packed with brown sugar and maple syrup.

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A slice of sweet potato pound cake rests on a white plate, topped with white icing and garnished with mint leaves. A glass bottle is blurred in the background, adding a touch of mystery to this delightful scene.

Best Sweet Potato Pound Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

A moist Best Sweet Potato Pound Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting is highlighted by cinnamon, cloves, and topped with cream cheese glaze.

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Praline Glazed Pumpkin Pound Cake

I love this Praline Glazed Pumpkin Pound Cake. It’s soft, springy, moist and fluffy. Smothered in a pecan praline sauce makes it even more rich and decadent.

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✨November Cooking Tips

Plan for Leftovers: When roasting meat or making a big pot of soup, cook extra to repurpose into sandwiches, wraps, or lunches later in the week.
Utilize Your Oven: The weather’s cooler, so let the oven work for you with roasted veggies and casseroles.
Layer Flavors & Textures: Combine something creamy (mashed potatoes, gratin) with something crisp (roasted vegetables, toasted nuts) and something tangy (vinegar, citrus) for balanced comfort.
Prep Ahead for Holidays: If you have a big gathering coming up, start prepping sides, desserts, or even ingredients now to ease the week of.
Embrace the Aroma: Add warming spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, sage, and rosemary to recipes. They make dishes smell like the season and feel instantly comforting.

🍂🍁Cook in November Conclusion

November is about gathering, slowing down, and filling your home with warmth and flavor. It’s not about complicated. It’s about meaningful memories. Whether you’re prepping for the big day or just cooking for your household, keep things simple, seasonal, and satisfying.🧡

👕👖👟Shop in November

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Paula Jones is the founder, creator, and cook at CallMePMc.com, where she provides simple recipes & time-saving strategies for nutritious & delicious meals for your family. Born and raised in the South, Paula, or PMc as her friends call her, understands that many life events happen around the dinner table, & she wants you to enjoy that time in the kitchen & around the table stress-free with your family and friends. You’ll enjoy a variety of recipes at CallMePMc.com, from updated Southern classics, to practical, healthy, and indulgent. Learn more about Paula. Shop Paula’s favorites link on her Amazon storefront.