It’s time, Seafoodies!
Every September, pumpkin spice pops back into the spotlight and claims the entire season for itself. Lattes, candles, cereal—if it can be pumpkin-spiced, it will be. Don’t get us wrong, we love a good PSL— but here’s what the latte crowd is missing: the best fall flavors were never meant to stay in your coffee cup. Hear us out! Maple, pumpkin, butternut squash, sweet potato—these seasonal stars truly shine on the savory side of the kitchen and seafood just might be their greatest partner of all.
Think about it. Maple’s warm sweetness caramelizes beautifully against rich salmon and mild cod. Pumpkin adds a velvety body to chowders and curries that a summer soup could only dream of. Butternut squash and sweet potatoes bring a mellow, earthy sweetness that effortlessly complements crab, scallops and shrimp in the best way possible. These are flavor combinations that really get to shine for a few glorious months each year—so we say make the most of every single week!
Speaking of making the most of every meal—we would never forget about nutritional benefits when it comes to seasonal cooking. Seafood delivers protein, B vitamins, selenium and those all-important omega-3 fatty acids that help support your immune system right as sniffle season approaches. Add fiber-rich fall produce to the plate and you’ve built genuinely nourishing meals that just happen to also taste like autumn at its finest.
This roundup gathers our favorite ways to put fall flavors to work. Maple fans have plenty to celebrate, from Air Fryer Maple-Glazed Salmon with Brussels Sprouts to Maple Mustard Glazed Cod and our Sheet Pan Scallops & Vegetables with Maple-Bacon Butter. Pumpkin finally gets to show off how savory it can get in a cozy Pumpkin Seafood Chowder and a fragrant Thai Yellow Pumpkin and Seafood Curry. Squash and sweet potatoes are put to work in our Crab & Sweet Potato Cauliflower Gnocchi, Spinach & Artichoke Spaghetti Squash Boats and don’t forget the Easy Tuna Bake with Butternut Squash, Spinach and Feta.
When you’re craving pure, cool weather comfort—the classics always know how to deliver: Mini Seafood Pot Pies, Instant Pot Lobster Bisque, Creamy Clam Chowder and an Instant Pot Seafood Risotto that practically stirs itself while you light the good candle and relax. From weeknight-fast Mustard Glazed Salmon to a date-night-worthy Marry Me Salmon, there’s a fall flavor moment here for every occasion on your calendar.
Go ahead and enjoy that pumpkin spice latte—no judgment here. Just save some of your seasonal flavor enthusiasm for the dinner table—trust us, you won’t regret it!
Let’s savor the season together, Seafoodies!
Individual pot pies have a way of making everyone at the table feel like they got the VIP treatment. Flaky pastry tops a creamy, seafood-filled base for handheld comfort that tastes like fall wrapped up in a golden crust.
Air Fryer Maple-Glazed Salmon with Brussels Sprouts
Maple and Brussels sprouts were made for each other and adding salmon to the equation turns this classic fall duo into a complete dinner. The air fryer caramelizes the glaze while crisping the sprouts—all in a fraction of the usual roasting time.
Grilled Halibut with Walnut Pesto
Swapping walnuts for pine nuts gives traditional pesto a toasty, autumnal depth that pairs wonderfully with mild, meaty halibut. The fact that it can also be on the table in about 20 minutes is not a bad perk either!
Mustard-Glazed Salmon with Cauliflower Mash and Spinach
Creamy cauliflower mash stands in for potatoes here, and honestly? You won’t miss them. Tangy mustard-glazed salmon and wilted spinach round out a plate that delivers steakhouse-dinner energy on a weeknight schedule.
Sheet Pan Scallops & Vegetables with Maple-Bacon Butter
We tested a lot of ways to dress up roasted vegetables and maple-bacon butter won by a landslide. It drapes over plump scallops, sweet potatoes and broccoli for the kind of dinner that gets the table quiet—everyone’s too busy eating to talk!
Legend has it this dish is so good it could inspire a proposal right at the dinner table—and one taste of our creamy sundried tomato-and-garlic sauce might just make a believer out of you. It all happens in one skillet in about 30 minutes, wedding bells optional.
Chowder purists, prepare to add a new favorite to the rotation. Cod’s mild, flaky texture soaks up all that creamy broth while sweet corn adds little pops of brightness in every spoonful.
Crab & Sweet Potato Cauliflower Gnocchi
Our little “less stress, big effect” secret? We use canned crab meat and store-bought gnocchi. Add in a handful of hearty kale, the seasonal flavor of sweet potatoes, some spices, a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese—and, in just 15 minutes, it will be time to tell your kiddos to set the table.
Crab & Sweet Potato Cauliflower Gnocchi
Our little “less stress, big effect” secret? We use canned crab meat and store-bought gnocchi. Add in a handful of hearty kale, the seasonal flavor of sweet potatoes, some spices, a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese—and, in just 15 minutes, it will be time to tell your kiddos to set the table.
Soups on! A mere 3-ounce serving of clams delivers a hefty amount of brain-boosting vitamin B-12 and 22g of protein while still celebrating some of the best nostalgic flavors autumn has to offer.
We used frozen lobster to bring the prep time down to 10 minutes—then just set and forget for about an hour in the IP! We recommend using that time to cozy up with a good pre-dinner book instead.
Traditional risotto demands 30 minutes of constant stirring, but why worry when the Instant Pot can handle all that work for you. Tender scallops seared to a golden brown are amazing on their own, but that’s only the start of this indulgent meal.
Instant Pot Fish Tortilla Soup
Cozy soup season and taco night collide in this brothy, satisfying bowl. Set out the toppings and let everyone customize—the more crunch, the better, if you ask us. Don’t be surprised when it becomes a weekly request all fall long!
Roasted Chilean Sea Bass with Ginger Citrus Soy Sauce
Chilean sea bass has that buttery, melt-in-your-mouth texture that makes it feel elevated even when you’re just roasting it in your regular oven on a random fall night. The ginger citrus soy sauce adds brightness and umami—no complicated techniques required.
Easy Tuna Bake with Butternut Squash, Spinach and Feta
Just when you think you’ve seen everything canned tuna can do—sandwiches, salads, pastas, quesadillas—along comes a baked dish that finds it a whole new home. Butternut squash brings its mellow sweetness into the mix, while salty feta and that hearty tuna keep every bite interesting.
Creamy Shrimp, Spinach & Artichoke Spaghetti Squash Boats
Everyone’s favorite party dip just became dinner! Creamy spinach-artichoke goodness gets loaded with shrimp and served right inside roasted spaghetti squash halves. Edible bowls that make cleanup almost nonexistent? Sign us up!
There’s something satisfying about a recipe you can memorize on the first read. Maple syrup plus olive oil, mustard and some spices, brushed over cod and baked. The payoff punches way above its ingredient count!
Here’s a trick every home cook should have on standby: reduce balsamic vinegar mixed with a little honey and red pepper flakes and brush it on salmon. That’s the whole move; the final product reduces down and easily turns an ordinary fillet into the most fall-flavored thing on the table.
Pumpkin has spent enough autumns trapped in dessert form! Here it finally gets a savory starring role, lending this chowder a silky body and subtle sweetness that makes every seafood-filled spoonful taste unmistakably sensational and seasonal.
Thai Yellow Pumpkin and Seafood Curry
Nigella Lawson knew what she was doing with this one. Fragrant yellow curry, creamy pumpkin, salmon and shrimp come together in a bowl that’s warming, aromatic and unlike anything else on your table right now.
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