Sunset’s Autumn Harvest Favorites
As the air turns crisp, our kitchens turn to the comforting flavors of fall. From hearty chilis and cozy soups to apple crisps and pumpkin pies, we have the season covered. This year, we're celebrating an incredible harvest, including local pumpkins and squash from Von Bergen's Family Farm and a fantastic selection of sweet Michigan apples. Here are 12 of our favorite autumn recipes—perfect for easy weeknight dinners, cozy weekends, and game day gatherings.
Perfectly Pumpkin
Pumpkin Mac and Cheese
Elevate a classic comfort food with the subtle sweetness of pumpkin. This savory pumpkin dinner recipe is a creamy, cheesy, and satisfying dish the whole family will love.
Pro-Tip: Our Fresh Cut Cheese department has a vast selection of cheddars & gruyere. Ask one of our skilled cheesemongers for the best cheese selections for your dishes!
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Perfect Pumpkin Pie
No autumn celebration is complete without pumpkin pie. This classic recipe is silky, spiced, and foolproof!
Pro-Tip: To avoid a cracked surface, cool your pie slowly and gradually. Turn off the oven, crack the door, and let it sit for an hour before moving it to a wire rack to cool completely.
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Homemade Pumpkin Spice Latte
Why wait in line? This DIY pumpkin spice latte recipe uses real pumpkin puree and a blend of warm spices to create a coffee shop-quality favorite in the comfort of your kitchen.
Pro-Tip: Make a batch of the pumpkin spice base and store it in the fridge. For the perfect brew, shop our coffee aisle for a selection of local Chicago Coffee Roasters including Intelligentsia, Metropolis, Sputnik, and Ffeine.
Get the RecipeSweet & Simple Apple Desserts
Old-Fashioned Easy Apple Crisp
The quintessential fall dessert. Sunset's Produce Department has a large selection of conventional and organic apples perfect for this simple, heartwarming recipe that fills your home with the scent of cinnamon.
Pro-Tip: For the perfect texture, use a mix of apples. We recommend Honeycrisp for their crisp sweetness and Granny Smith for a tart counterpoint. This creates a more complex and delicious filling.
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Caramel Apple Turnovers
Flaky pastry filled with warm, gooey caramel and tender apples. This caramel apple turnovers recipe is a delightful treat that feels gourmet but is surprisingly easy to make.
Pro-Tip: Stop by our frozen department for Dufour puff pastry. It's an all-butter, high-quality pastry that delivers bakery-level results and is ready for your whole baking season.
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Baked Apple Dessert with Ricotta & Honey
Looking for a lighter apple dessert recipe? These baked apples are elegant, simple, and delicious, combining the creaminess of ricotta with the natural sweetness of honey and apples.
Pro-Tip: Choose a firm baking apple like a Braeburn or Gala from Sunset's produce department. To elevate this dish, try making your own homemade ricotta—it only takes 35 minutes!
Get the RecipeGame Day Chili Champions
The Best Chili on Earth
A bold claim, but this award-winning chili recipe delivers. Packed with flavor, it's the ultimate comfort food for Chicago Bears games or a chilly evening.
A Pro-Tip From Our Master Meat Cutters: We carry Coarse Ground Certified Angus Beef throughout chili season. Its larger texture holds up beautifully in chili, browning better and creating a much heartier, more satisfying bite.
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Spicy Hatch Green Chili
Did you stock up on Hatch Chiles in August? Here’s your chance to use them! This authentic stew balances the unique smoky heat of Hatch peppers with tender pork.
Pro-Tip: Control the heat by adjusting the number of seeds you leave in your Hatch chiles. For a milder flavor, remove all seeds and membranes. For a spicier kick, leave some in!
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Spicy Quinoa Chili (Vegan)
This vegan quinoa chili is so hearty and flavorful, you won't miss the meat. It's a perfect, easy weeknight meal that's packed with plant-based protein and bold spices.
Pro-Tip: Rinse your quinoa thoroughly before cooking to remove its natural coating, called saponin, which can taste bitter. This simple step ensures a clean, nutty flavor in your chili.
Get the RecipeHearty Soups & Stews
Butternut Squash Soup
A velvety, savory soup that embodies the essence of fall, featuring locally grown squash from our partners at Von Bergen's Family Farm. This recipe is a cozy idea that's perfect for a simple weeknight meal.
Pro-Tip: Roasting the butternut squash deepens its flavor. For an even faster method that still delivers great results, try roasting the pieces in an air fryer!
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Easy Chicken Tortilla Soup
A hearty, flavorful soup that comes together in no time. This easy weeknight soup recipe is a crowd-pleaser, especially when you set up a toppings bar with avocado, cheese, and sour cream.
Pro-Tip: Use a Sunset's Deli rotisserie chicken to save time, or stop by our meat department for Miller Amish Air-Chilled Chicken for incredible from-scratch flavor.
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Fall Harvest Vegetable Soup
A celebration of the season's produce in one bowl. Pick up Sunset's Market Cuts from the produce department—our staff does the cutting for you to make soup-making even easier!
Pro-Tip: For a deeper, savory flavor, add a rind of Sunset's Parmesano Reggiano, imported directly from Italy exclusively for us. Find it in our Fresh Cut Cheese department.
Get the RecipeFor more meal inspiration, visit Sunset's Recipe Rack at recipes.sunsetfoods.com. And for those busy weeknights when you can't make it to the store, use Sunset eGrocer, now offering same-day delivery at egrocer.sunsetfoods.com.
