Top 10 Autumnal recipes
Autumn has arrived here at Poppy Cooks
As much as I love a bit of sun, love that we can go outside with 74 layers on, I also love that transition to winter. Where everyone is dusting off their slow cookers, tucking into a customary pumpkin spiced latte and going full Autumnal mode. I basically have the Gilmore Girls playlist running round my head on repeat.
So to celebrate the cosy embrace of Autumn, I’m sharing with you my favourite recipes for the season:
CARAMELISED ONION AND FETA ROLLS
If you’re searching for easy vegetarian picnic recipes or meat-free savoury pastry ideas, look no further. These rolls tick every box. The filling features slowly caramelised onions infused with thyme, oregano, balsamic vinegar, and a good pinch of salt and pepper. Crumbled feta gives them a sharp, creamy edge, while ready-rolled puff pastry keeps things light, buttery, and easy to prepare.
BUTTERNUT SQUASH AND CHILLI PASTA
What makes this recipe stand out is how simple yet indulgent it feels. The base of the sauce is a blended mix of oven-roasted butternut squash with garlic, herbs (thyme and sage), and a touch of spice. It’s naturally creamy, without needing tons of cream, and incredibly versatile too. You could serve the sauce on its own as a luxurious autumn soup, stir it through gnocchi, or even use it as a topping for baked chicken or roasted veggies. It’s super versatile and great to freeze for future use (just leave out the cream cheese).
ROASTED CAULIFLOWER SOUP
This soup truly delivers on flavour. You get a beautiful umami hit from the white miso paste, wonderful sweet garlic and richness from the double cream. And obviously we can’t forget about the roasted cauliflower base! Roasted it gives an added depth of flavour and is an absolute must.
MARRY ME CHICKEN
If you’re looking for a creamy chicken recipe that practically guarantees a proposal, then my ‘marry me’ chicken might just be the one. Juicy chicken thighs slow-cooked in a rich, garlicky, sun-dried tomato and parmesan cream sauce? Irresistible. This dish is so good, I genuinely got engaged while writing it for my cookbook. Coincidence? I think not.
SAUSAGE STUFFING TACOS
The stuffing keeps the sausage meat beautifully moist while adding loads of flavour, and cooking it directly onto the tortilla creates the crispiest little base that somehow holds together surprisingly well. Then all that’s left to do is pile in your veggies and drown the whole thing in gravy.
It’s British comfort food with a Mexican twist and honestly, that’s possibly my favourite kind.
APPLE CRUMBLE CHEESECAKE
We’re talking ginger biscuits crushed with melted butter and a cheeky sprinkle of cinnamon for that beautiful base. Then, a crumble topping loaded with rolled oats, flour, brown sugar, butter and mixed spice — golden, crunchy, and the perfect textural contrast to the creamy base. And the cheesecake filling? Oh hun, it’s not just mascarpone, double cream and cream cheese (the holy trinity of cheesecake). We’re adding in a tin of apple pie filling. Yup. It’s a shortcut, it’s genius, and it makes this recipe taste like you’ve been slaving over it for hours when really, it’s the easiest thing in the world.
SLOW COOKER TURKEY BIRRIA TACOS
Tender turkey bursting with Mexican inspired flavours and guaranteed to be a new family fave. This recipe is so delicious I actually included it in my Slow Cooker cookbook and made it live on TV. That’s how much faith I have in this recipe, so I’m sharing far and wide!
You have to serve these tacos with some guacamole, salsa and hot sauce. Sometimes it’s best to keep things simple.
SLOW COOKER BEEF BOURGUIGNON
This dish has deep, rich, melt-in-your-mouth beef, sweet carrots, and a glossy wine sauce that just clings to your spoon. The kind of meal that makes you feel like you’ve put in hours in the kitchen, when really, your slow cooker’s done all the graft. Serve with velvety mashed potatoes and thick buttered bread for a proper hearty meal.
BUTTERSCOTCH APPLE CRUMBLE
Clearly I can’t get enough of apple-based desserts over Autumn…
Especially this butterscotch apple crumble. It’s everything you love about the classic, but with a rich, sticky, salty-sweet butterscotch running through that cuts the tartness of the apples and makes this crumble feel like it should come with a Michelin star. Basically, it’s crumble, but extra.
“SAUS-Y PAS” TOMATO SAUSAGE PASTA
It’s creamy, spicy, tangy and properly hearty, all the things you want from a comfort food pasta recipe. The base is your classic combo of chopped tomatoes, garlic, onions and herbs, but then we go a little extra. I throw in juicy sausages (the good kind – pop to your local butchers or grab a sausage with high meat content if you can), red peppers for sweetness, and fennel seeds to give that little Italian sausage vibe without having to fly to Naples. Then we level it up with double cream and a proper handful of parmesan. Those two ingredients alone turn a humble tomato pasta into something indulgent, silky and deeply satisfying.
