Fall foods are a big deal around here. From pumpkins to squash to Fall spices, the season of Fall excites us all!

Whether you’re looking for dinner ideas or just need Fall food inspiration, here’s our staff top picks of Fall seasonal

food from the staff at Octane.

Vico’s Pick: Pumpkin Soup

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• 1/4 cup chopped carrots
• 1/4 cup chopped celery
• 1/4 cup chopped onions I used white onions.
• 3 garlic cloves Minced
• 4 cups broth You can use any broth. I used chicken.
• 2/ 15 oz cans 100% pureed pumpkin
• 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice See notes for how to make your own.
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream

Directions:

1. Place a soup pot or Dutch oven on medium-high heat.
2. Add olive oil, onions, carrots, and celery. Saute for 3-4 minutes.
3. Add in garlic. Stir.
4. Add in chicken broth, puréed pumpkin, pumpkin pie spice, salt and pepper to taste.
5. Simmer.
6. Use an immersion blender to smooth.
7. Add in heavy cream and stir.

Agnes’ Pick: Butternut Squash Lasagna

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup Basil
• 1 Basil or fresh sage, Fresh
• 1 Butternut squash, large
• 5 cloves Garlic
• 3 Zucchini
• 10 sheets No-boil lasagna noodles
• 1/4 tsp Nutmeg
• 1 Pepper
• 3/4 tsp Salt
• 1 tbsp Olive oil
• 1/2 cups Milk
• 3 cup Mozzarella
• 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
• 3 cups Ricotta
• 48 oz Spinach (thawed and squeezed of all extra water), frozen

Directions

• Roast Cubed Butternut Squash
• Mix Spinach and Ricotta
• Layer Your Lasagna
• Bake at 375 degrees for 25 to 35 minutes

Tavia’s Pick: White Bean Chicken Chili

Ingredients 

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 jalapeno, minced
• 30 ounces white beans, rinsed and drained
• 4 ounces diced green chiles
• 3 to 4 cups chicken broth (depending on how thick you want your chili)
• Juice of 1 lime
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
• 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
• 2 cups shredded rotisserie chicken (or shredded cooked chicken)
• 1/3 cup chopped cilantro
• Salt and black pepper, to taste
• Optional toppings: avocado slices, shredded cheese, sour cream, cilantro

Instructions 

• In a large pot, heat the olive oil over medium high heat. Cook the onion until translucent, about 3-4 minutes. Add in the garlic and jalapeno and cook for 2 more minutes.
• Add the white beans, green chiles, chicken broth, lime juice, cumin, chili powder, oregano, chicken, cilantro, salt, and pepper. Stir and let simmer on low heat for 15 minutes.
• Ladle chili into bowls and serve with desired toppings.

Danielle’s Picks: Cozy Autumn Wild Rice Soup

INGREDIENTS

• 6 cups vegetable stock (or chicken stock)
• 1 cup uncooked wild rice*
• 8 ounces baby bella mushrooms, sliced
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 medium carrots, diced
• 2 ribs celery, diced
• 1 large (about 1 pound) sweet potato, peeled and diced
• 1 small white onion, peeled and diced
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 1/2 tablespoon Old Bay seasoning
• 1 (14-ounce) can unsweetened coconut milk (or see cream sauce option below*)
• 2 large handfuls of kale, roughly chopped with thick stems removed
• fine sea salt and freshly-cracked black pepper

STOVETOP METHOD:

1. Sauté the veggies. Heat (an extra) 1 tablespoon butter or olive oil in a large stockpot over medium-high heat.  Add onion and sauté for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until soft and translucent.  Stir in the garlic and cook for an additional 1-2 minutes, stirring occasionally, until fragrant.
2. Add base ingredients. Add in the vegetable stock, wild rice, mushrooms, carrots, celery, sweet potato, bay leaf and Old Bay seasoning.  Stir to combine.
3. Simmer. Continue cooking until the soup reaches a simmer.  Then reduce heat to medium-low, cover and simmer for 30 to 40 minutes until the rice is tender, stirring occasionally.
4. Add final ingredients. Add the coconut milk and kale to the soup, and stir gently until combined. Taste and season with salt and pepper (plus any extra Old Bay seasoning, if you would like) as needed.
5. Serve. Serve warm and enjoy!

Danielle’s Second Pick: One Pot Chili Mac & Cheese

Ingredients

• 1 lb Ground beef
• 1 tbsp Flat-leaf parsley
• 3 cloves Garlic
• 1 15-oz can Kidney beans
• 1 Onion, medium
• 1 14.5-oz can Tomatoes, fire-roasted
• 32 oz Chicken broth or stock, low-sodium
• 1 10-oz package Elbow macaroni
• 1/8 tsp Black pepper, freshly ground
• 3 tsp Chili powder
• 1/2 tsp Salt, coarse
• 1 tbsp Olive oil, extra-virgin
• 2 tsp Cumin, ground
• 1 cup Cheddar cheese

Directions

1. Preheat a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the oil and, when it’s shimmering, add the onion. Cook for 3-4 minutes until it’s starting to soften. Add the garlic and cook one minute more. Add the ground beef, breaking it up as much as possible, and cook until there’s no pink remaining, about 5 minutes. Drain the fat from the pan.
2. Add the chili powder and cumin to the pan and stir well to incorporate.
3. Stir in the tomatoes, beans, and the chicken broth. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil and stir in pasta. Cover the pan and simmer until the pasta is cooked through, about 12-15 minutes (reduce the heat if necessary; the mixture should remain at a very strong simmer or very gentle boil.
4. Add the salt and pepper, then taste and add more if necessary.
5. Turn the heat off and sprinkle the shredded cheese over the top. Add the cover back to the pan and allow the cheese to melt for a few minutes..
6. Sprinkle with the chopped parsley and serve.