15 Fall Recipes Grandma Used to Make

There's nothing cozier than an autumnal recipe from grandma's recipe book.

a 9x13-inch glass baking dish of a casserole topped with neat rows of Tater Tots
Photo:

MommaBean3

When the weather starts to cool, there's no better time to head into the kitchen where you can recreate some of your grandmother's best autumn-inspired dishes. From classic chicken noodle soup to regional specialties, like meat and potato hot dish, these nostalgic dishes are the perfect way to enjoy the fall season. They're sure to warm up both your belly and heart, too.

01 of 16

Grandma's Vegetable Soup

top-down view of a ladle in a pot of soup with green beans, carrots, corn, and ground beef

Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

Layering together both canned ingredients and fresh vegetables makes this soup taste like it was made from scratch, but it takes a fraction of the time. Serve with a slice of crusty bread for soaking up the extra broth.

02 of 16

Grandma Jeanette's Amazing German Red Cabbage

red cabbage in white and blue bowl
lutzflcat

In-season red cabbage and crisp green apples combine in this colorful side autumnal dish. A dash of apple cider vinegar and a sprinkling of sugar make for a balanced sweet and sour flavor.

03 of 16

Grandma's Hash Brown Casserole

serving of Grandma's Hash Brown Casserole on a white plate

Whether you're bringing it to a holiday gathering or just to the dinner table, this hash brown casserole is the epitome of comfort food. Besides cutting up the onion, all you need to do is mix everything together and bake it.

04 of 16

Grandma's Slow Cooker Vegetarian Chili

Grandma's Slow Cooker Vegetarian Chili

No meat? No problem. This vegetarian chili has a variety of flavors and textures thanks to the bounty of beans, including black beans, kidney beans, garbanzo beans, and vegetarian baked beans.

05 of 16

Grandma's Green Bean Casserole

Grandma's Green Bean Casserole in a bowl

You'll never settle for the casserole that uses canned soups again after eating a scoop of this grandma-approved dish. Sour cream helps create the rich sauce, while buttery crackers make a crunchy topping.

06 of 16

Nana's Mashed Turnip

Nana's Mashed Turnips on a blue plate
Melissa F.

Get a double dose of root vegetables in this hearty mash recipe, which uses both turnips and potatoes. DARIA K says, "This was my grandmother's famous dish that my whole family just loved. She never wrote it down for me, so after she passed away I recreated it perfectly. This one's for you, Bubby!"

07 of 16

Grandma's Chicken Noodle Soup

chicken noodle soup
ladywarrior0505

With just a handful of ingredients and less than an hour of cooking time, it's no wonder that this chicken noodle soup has over 1,000 five-star reviews.

08 of 16

Grandma's Meat and Tater Hotdish

glass casserole full of tater tot hot dish
MommaBean3

With layers of crispy tots, gooey cheese, seasoned ground beef, and creamy mushroom soup, this casserole is an all-in-one meal. Since it mostly relies on pantry staples, you can throw it together at a moment's notice.

09 of 16

Grandma Carol's Southern Sweet Potato Casserole

Grandma Carol's Southern Sweet Potato Casserole in a glass dish
Vicki Diane Downs

Skip the marshmallows and top your sweet potato casserole with a buttery blend of brown sugar, pecans, and coconut instead. "The best sweet potato casserole ever," says LARTRAINER. "This recipe was handed down to me by my mother-in-law. I get so many compliments on this dish and so many requests for this recipe."

10 of 16

Mamaw's Chicken and Rice Casserole

plate of chicken and rice casserole
Mamaw's Chicken and Rice Casserole. Melissa Goff

Using a trio of canned cream soups, this rich casserole is stick-to-your-ribs good. Katiefkenham shares, "I grew up on this recipe, my Grandmother got it from a lady from church at a potluck a long time ago! She passed it down to my mom and it's always been a family favorite."

11 of 16

Grandma's Polish Perogies

Grandma's Polish Perogies
RJT

"My grandfather is Polish, and his mother taught my grandmother how to make these delicious perogies," says STEPH577. "The recipe has been in the family for generations, with a few alterations of course!" Serve with a drizzling of butter or a dollop of sour cream.

12 of 16

Grandma's Cornbread Dressing

an oval ceramic baking dish of cornbread dressing
ade

An excellent dinner side or staple of your holiday meals, this cornbread dressing balances sweet and savory flavors beautifully. Use your favorite cornbread mix, then follow the recipe to dress it up with sage, celery, and onions.

13 of 16

Grandma's Southern Mac and Cheese

scoop of mac and cheese casserole
Rae

Nobody makes macaroni and cheese quite like your grandma. This baked version mixes the pasta with plenty of Cheddar, seasonings, and milk, before whisking in eggs as a decadent binder.

14 of 16

Grandma B's Bean Soup

Grandma B's Bean Soup in a white bowl
SunnyDaysNora

Veggies and beans are amped up with diced ham in this classic soup recipe. By cooking it for hours in the slow cooker, each bite is infused with rich ham flavor.

15 of 16

My Grandmother's Cabbage and Noodles

My Grandmother's Cabbage and Noodles
Cindy Capps Lepp

This recipe features the Eastern European grandmother trifecta of egg noodles, bacon, and cabbage. Low-cost and ready in about 30 minutes, it may become your new go-to dinner.

Was this page helpful?