21 Dishes That'll Have You Freaking Out Over Fall

We don't know about you, but it takes us a long time to deal with the Summer to Fall transition. It's sad to let go of warm nights, succulent barbecue, and plump berries. However, it's important to remember that the chillier months have plenty of fabulous fun to offer as well! Think slow-cooked soups, hearty pasta dishes, and decadent desserts. Keep reading for those plus many more dishes that'll have you looking forward to the season ahead.

— Additional reporting by Lisette MejiaPhotos: Lauren Hendrickson, Nicole Perry, Cook's Country, and Girl Versus Dough

Apple Crisp Baked Apples

Apple Crisp Baked Apples

There's no better place to start than with some amazing apple crisp baked apples. Combine two American dessert classics for a treat that's guaranteed to be a Fall favorite. Photo: Nicole Perry

Slow-Cooker Vegetarian Chili

Slow-Cooker Vegetarian Chili

Kickback, relax, and let the slow cooker do all the heavy lifting for this hearty vegetarian chili. Photo: Anna Monette Roberts

Three-Cheese Spinach and Artichoke Dip

Three-Cheese Spinach and Artichoke Dip

Gear up for game day by cooking up a batch of the most irresistible take on spinach artichoke dip that we've ever tried. What makes it a winner? Three cheeses, generous chunks of smoky bacon, and fresh spinach. Photo: Nicole Perry

Fall Leaves Iced Cookies

Fall Leaves Iced Cookies

Salute the season with cookies made to mimic the changing color of Fall leaves. Photo: Anna Monette Roberts

Whiskey-Glazed Pork Chops

Whiskey-Glazed Pork Chops

Thick bone-in pork chops glisten with a Tennesee whiskey glaze. Source: Cook's Country

Roasted Figs with Goat Cheese

Roasted Figs with Goat Cheese

The next time you need a quick and easy appetizer, use this recipe: glaze figs with balsamic reduction, stuff them with goat cheese, and bake! Photo: Nicole Perry

Apple Pie Bars

Apple Pie Bars

If you're fanatical about crust and the crumbly tops of fruit crisps, you'll adore these apple pie bars. Photo: Nicole Perry

Spicy Tomato Soup With Grilled Cheese Croutons

Spicy Tomato Soup With Grilled Cheese Croutons

When the weather is cold, we can't get enough of soup. One we're looking forward to making time and time again this season is spicy tomato soup that's topped with — wait for it — grilled cheese croutons. Photo: Nicole Perry

Braised Red Cabbage

Braised Red Cabbage

Braised cabbage might not sound particularly exciting, but we strongly suggest you give it a shot anyway. Bacon, leeks, apples, and a trip to the oven to stew away give this Fall staple a major makeover. Photo: Nicole Perry

Tex-Mex Macaroni and Cheese

Tex-Mex Macaroni and Cheese

Combine seven-layer dip and macaroni and cheese and what you get is this fully loaded, game-day-ready dish. Photo: Anna Monette Roberts

Pumpkin Spice Latte

PSL. It's amazing how much joy those three little initials bring this season. You'd be surprised at just how simple it actually is to prepare at home. Watch the video to find out!

Guinness Beef Pot Pies

Guinness Beef Pot Pies

For a beefier (literally) spin on chicken pot pie, try this version that braises brisket in Guinness before capping it off with a layer of cheddar and a flaky pastry crust. Photo: Nicole Perry

Baked Potato Soup

Baked Potato Soup

Garnish a bowl of baked potato soup with your favorite fixings; our go-tos are bacon, sour cream, cheddar, and scallions. Photo: Lauren Hendrickson

Pumpkin Cake Pops

Pumpkin Cake Pops

Nothing says Fall more than pumpkin, and the smell of these utterly adorable cake pops baking is sure to warm the house. Cake pops not your thing? Here are nine more tempting pumpkin sweets. Photo: Anna Monette Roberts

Caramelized Apple, Bacon, and Blue Cheese Pan Pizza

Caramelized Apple, Bacon, and Blue Cheese Pan Pizza

One of the biggest boons of brisk temps: not worrying about cranking your oven up to full blast, a necessity for cooking pizza. Go hearty with a pie topped with caramelized onions, apples, bacon, and blue cheese. Source: Girl Versus Dough

Vegetarian Mushroom Lasagna

Vegetarian Mushroom Lasagna

Now that temperatures are dropping it's time to get excited for cozy baked pastas like this wild mushroom and leek lasagna. Photo: Nicole Perry

Roasted Butternut Squash

Roasted Butternut Squash

Another essential? Butternut squash. You'll use this basic roasted recipe over and over again. Photo: Nicole Perry

Pumpkin Hand Pies

Pumpkin Hand Pies

When it comes to game-day desserts, you can do no better than these adorable pumpkin hand pies shaped like footballs. Photo: POPSUGAR Studios

Slow-Cooker Bolognese Sauce

Slow-Cooker Bolognese Sauce

The secret to stellar bolognese and other meat sauces tends to lie in hours of simmering, which makes it a perfect candidate for a slow-cooker meal. As this recipe yields a large batch, it's the perfect dish for feeding a crowd or tucking into the freezer for leftovers. Photo: Nicole Perry

Tricked-Out Ramen

Tricked-Out Ramen

Tuck into a bowl of tricked-out pork-based ramen and let the day's troubles fade away. Photo: Anna Monette Roberts