Foodwise, fall is one of the most festive seasons of the year. With popular flavors like apple and pumpkin, the options for cozy comfort food are almost endless- and many of them incorporate canned and/or boxed ingredients. Our Client Choice Food Pantry serves hundreds of people monthly, many of whom are feeding families on a budget. The good news is that these types of hearty, seasonal meals don’t have to be expensive or complicated, and feed many.

This season, use any one of these meal ideas for inspiration on making preparing dishes that will leave the entire family feeling cozy and satisfied.

Breakfast – Breakfast Hash

One of the great things about this dish is that there are many different options for customization – including a dinner version.

For a hash of any kind, you’ll need:

Potato (regular or sweet)

Meat (of your choice)

Vegetables (peppers, squash, onions recommended)

Seasoning (salt, pepper, garlic powder recommended)

Eggs (for breakfast version)

Toppings (cheese, guacamole, optional)

Lunch – Chicken Salad

Chicken Salad is a popular lunch favorite that doesn’t require much and can also be endlessly tailored to suit your tastes. For extra heartiness, spread it on your favorite type of bread and eat as a sandwich.

For a basic chicken salad, you’ll need:

Cooked, chopped chicken

Mayonnaise

Celery

Black Pepper (or other seasoning of your choice)  

Chopped almond slivers (optional)  

Dinner – White Chicken Chili

Filling, yet simple to make, a hot bowl of chili is the perfect complement to a crisp fall day. Cook up a batch of chili to serve the family throughout the week.  

For a chicken chili dinner, you’ll need:

Chicken broth or stock

Shredded cooked chicken

Beans (your choice, Great Northern recommended)

Salsa Verde

Cumin (your choice of additional spices & seasoning)

Dessert – Warm Cinnamon Apples

Although this sweet treat only requires a few ingredients to make, it’s full of festive fall flavor.

For a warm cinnamon apple dessert, you’ll need:

Apples

Brown sugar

Cinnamon (your choice of additional spices, ex. nutmeg, allspice, star anise)

Butter

Ice Cream (optional)

When it comes to cooking, creativity is certainly allowed. Remember that recipes are just a guide- don’t be afraid to put your own spin on them to make the dish your own.