As the crisp fall air settles in and the leaves begin to change, there’s nothing more satisfying than a hearty, comforting meal to warm you up. At Gartner’s Meat Market, we have plenty of ingredients for your perfect fall comfort meal. Here are seven fall comfort foods to try out!
1. Classic Beef Stew
Nothing says fall like a steaming bowl of beef stew.
Ingredients:
- 2 lbs Gartner’s stew meat
- 4 carrots, sliced
- 4 potatoes, diced
- 1 onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 cups beef broth
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Fresh thyme and bay leaves
Instructions:
- Brown the stew beef in a large pot over medium heat
- Add the onion and garlic, cooking until softened
- Stir in the tomato paste, then add the carrots, potatoes, and beef broth
- Season with Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, thyme, and bay leaves
- Simmer on low heat for 2-3 hours until the meat is tender and the flavors have melded together
- Serve hot with an artisan bread
2. Sausage and Butternut Squash Risotto
Creamy risotto paired with savory sausage and sweet butternut squash makes for a delicious fall dish.
Ingredients:
- 1 lb Gartner’s Italian sausage
- 1 butternut squash, peeled and cubed
- 1 onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 1/2 cups Arborio rice (risotto)
- 4 cups chicken broth, warmed
- 1 cup dry white wine
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tbsp butter
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Fresh sage, chopped
Instructions:
- Cook the sausage in a large pan until browned – remove and set aside
- In the same pan, sauté the onion, garlic, and butternut squash until softened
- Add the Arborio rice, stirring for a few minutes until lightly toasted
- Pour in the white wine and cook until it’s mostly absorbed
- Gradually add the warm chicken broth, one ladle at a time, stirring continuously until absorbed
- Stir in the cooked sausage, Parmesan cheese, and butter – season with salt, pepper, and fresh sage
- Serve immediately, garnished with additional Parmesan and sage
3. Braised Short Ribs
These tender, fall-off-the-bone short ribs are the ultimate comfort food.
Ingredients:
- 4 lbs Gartner’s short ribs
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 carrots, chopped
- 2 celery stalks, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cups red wine
- 4 cups beef broth
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- Fresh rosemary and thyme
Instructions:
- Season the short ribs with salt and pepper, then sear in a hot pan until browned on all sides – remove and set aside
- In the same pan, sauté the onion, carrots, celery, and garlic until softened
- Stir in the tomato paste, then deglaze with red wine, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan
- Return the short ribs to the pan, add the beef broth, rosemary, and thyme
- Cover and braise in a 325°F oven for 3 hours until the meat is tender
- Serve with mashed potatoes or polenta
4. Pork and Apple Cider Casserole
This sweet and savory casserole captures the flavors of fall with tender pork and tangy apple cider.
Ingredients:
- 2 lbs Gartner’s boneless pork shoulder, cubed
- 2 apples, sliced
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 cups apple cider
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp dried sage
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
- Brown the pork in a large casserole dish over medium heat – remove and set aside
- Sauté the onion in the same dish until softened
- Stir in the apple slices, then return the pork to the dish
- Pour in the apple cider and chicken broth, then stir in the Dijon mustard, sage, salt, and pepper
- Cover and bake in a 350°F oven for 2 hours until the pork is tender
- Serve with mashed potatoes or roasted vegetables
5. Chicken and Wild Rice Soup
This hearty soup combines chicken, wild rice, and savory vegetables for a warming fall meal.
Ingredients:
- 1 lb Gartner’s chicken thighs, boneless and skinless, cut into pieces
- 1 onion, diced
- 2 carrots, sliced
- 2 celery stalks, sliced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup wild rice
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 tbsp butter
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Fresh thyme
Instructions:
- In a large pot, melt the butter and sauté the onion, carrots, celery, and garlic until softened
- Add the chicken pieces and cook until lightly browned
- Stir in the wild rice and chicken broth, then bring to a boil
- Reduce the heat and simmer for 45 minutes until the rice is tender
- Stir in the heavy cream and fresh thyme, then season with salt and pepper
- Serve hot with a side of crusty bread
6. Shepherd’s Pie
A classic comfort dish featuring a savory meat filling topped with creamy mashed potatoes.
Ingredients:
- 1 lb Gartner’s ground beef
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 carrots, diced
- 1 cup peas
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 cup beef broth
- 4 cups mashed potatoes
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions:
- Brown the ground beef in a large pan, then remove and set aside
- In the same pan, sauté the onion, carrots, garlic, and peas until softened
- Stir in the tomato paste and beef broth, then return the meat to the pan – simmer until thickened
- Transfer the meat mixture to a baking dish, then spread the mashed potatoes over the top
- Bake in a 375°F oven for 25-30 minutes until the top is golden brown
- Garnish with fresh parsley and serve
7. Slow-Cooked Pot Roast
A tender, flavorful pot roast that’s perfect for Sunday dinners or special occasions.
Ingredients:
- 3 lbs Gartner’s chuck roast
- 4 carrots, sliced
- 4 potatoes, diced
- 1 onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 cups beef broth
- 1 cup red wine
- 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- Fresh rosemary and thyme
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
- Season the chuck roast with salt and pepper, then sear in a hot pan until browned on all sides- remove and set aside
- In the same pan, sauté the onion and garlic until softened
- Add the carrots and potatoes, then return the roast to the pan
- Pour in the beef broth, red wine, and Worcestershire sauce, then add the rosemary and thyme
- Cover and cook in a 300°F oven for 4-5 hours until the meat is tender and falls apart
- Serve with the vegetables and a rich gravy made from the cooking juices
Visit Gartner’s Meat Market today to pick up everything you need to create these comforting dishes and more!