The Timeless Simmer of Autumn

Soup, stew, and chili season is back.

Morning stroll on a cool fall morning to feed the animals

A chill in the air and fading daylight are our cues to pull out the stockpot or slow cooker. Autumn is the simmering season – a time to warm up, share what we have, and make something good out of what the garden’s still giving.

A good soup or stew doesn’t need much – just a little time and a few honest ingredients. Potatoes and carrots that add richness and soak up the flavors of the season. Cabbage that softens and sweetens as it cooks. Hearty greens, like kale, chard, or collards, that stay sturdy and add nutrition and bite. Maybe a handful of fresh herbs, like sage, oregano, or parsley, tossed in at the end to bring everything together.

And then there’s chili, that fall classic tied to game days and its own set of bragging rights. This is the time of year folks dust off their favorite recipes – the ones that fill the house with the scent of spices, tomatoes, peppers, and onions, and maybe a little friendly competition over whose batch has the best kick.

Check out some of our favorite seasonal soup & chili recipes below!

Soups and stews have been feeding people and gathering them together since ancient times, and autumn cooking reminds us that some of the best things truly are timeless. So let’s celebrate the season of letting the pot simmer, stirring it now and then, and sharing a meal that’s been serving us for generations.