September Produce Guide: Your Ultimate List for Seasonal Eating & Fall Recipes
As summer’s warmth gently fades, September ushers in a magnificent bounty of fresh, seasonal produce. This transitional month offers the best of both worlds: the tail end of summer’s harvest and the exciting first flavors of autumn. Imagine biting into a crisp apple, savoring the sweet juiciness of a ripe pear, or cooking with the comforting earthiness of butternut squash and Brussels sprouts. Our comprehensive September produce guide is your essential companion for navigating the season’s offerings, helping you make the most of nature’s freshest ingredients. Get ready to fill your kitchen with the vibrant colors and rich flavors of early fall, complete with practical tips and inspiring recipes to elevate your cooking.
September truly is a magical time for food lovers. The air begins to carry a hint of crispness, leaves on the trees start to hint at their autumn transformation, and the produce section at your local market bursts with a diverse array of ingredients. This shift in seasons brings forth a whole new palette of flavors and textures, encouraging us to embrace heartier dishes while still enjoying lighter, refreshing options. From vibrant greens to robust root vegetables, and from sweet orchard fruits to tart berries, September’s harvest is simply abundant. Our guide will help you identify the freshest produce, ensuring your meals are packed with peak flavor and nutrition. Whether you’re a seasoned chef or a home cook looking for inspiration, this guide will empower you to create truly unforgettable seasonal dishes.
Throughout this guide, we invite you to celebrate the rich variety of autumn seasonal produce. We’ll not only list what’s in season but also delve into how to incorporate these ingredients into your everyday cooking. Picture yourself simmering aromatic soups, baking delicious pies, or simply enjoying a perfectly ripe apple on a beautiful, sunny afternoon. Eating seasonally means enjoying food at its best—when it’s most flavorful, most nutritious, and often most affordable. It also connects you to the natural rhythms of the earth and supports local agriculture. Let’s dive into September’s incredible edible landscape!
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Vegetables in Season in September
September is a prime month for a wide variety of vegetables, showcasing the transition from summer’s light fare to autumn’s hearty roots and gourds. You’ll find a delightful overlap, with late-season summer staples still going strong alongside the first appearances of classic fall ingredients. This guide serves as your go-to resource for smart shopping at your local farmers’ market or grocery store, ensuring you pick the freshest and most flavorful options for your meals.
Look out for vibrant leafy greens like kale and spinach, perfect for nourishing salads or sautéed side dishes. Root vegetables such as carrots, beets, and sweet potatoes are at their peak, offering natural sweetness and versatility for roasting, mashing, or adding to stews. Gourds like butternut squash and pumpkins become widely available, ready to be transformed into comforting soups, rich curries, or delicious baked goods. And don’t forget the crisp texture and tangy flavor of Brussels sprouts, which roast beautifully to a caramelized perfection. Here’s a comprehensive list of what to find:
Artichokes
Beetroot
Bok choy
Bell peppers
Broccoli
Butternut squash
Brussels sprouts
Cabbage
Carrots
Cauliflower
Celeriac
Celery
Chilies
Chicory
Chard
Collard greens
Corn
Cucumbers
Eggplant
Endive
Fennel
Garlic
Green beans
Horseradish
Kale
Leek
Lettuce
Mushrooms
Okra
Peas
Potatoes
Pumpkins
Radishes
Scallions
Spinach
Summer squash
Sweet potatoes
Tomatillos
Tomatoes
Turnips
Zucchini
Fruits in Season in September
September is a dream for fruit lovers, marking the peak season for many orchard fruits and the last sweet notes of summer berries. The trees are laden with crisp, juicy apples and tender, sweet pears, ready for snacking, baking, or transforming into ciders and sauces. You’ll also find the final batches of succulent stone fruits like peaches and plums, perfect for jams, cobblers, or simply eating out of hand.
Grapes are abundant and sweet, ideal for fresh eating, cheese boards, or even roasting. And while summer berries like blackberries and raspberries might be nearing their end, their concentrated sweetness is still a highlight. This month also sees the beginning of the cranberry harvest, adding a tart zing to both sweet and savory dishes. Embrace the vibrant flavors of September’s fruits to create delightful desserts, refreshing drinks, and wholesome snacks. Here is the full list of all fruits that are in season this month:
Apples
Blackberries
Cantaloupe
Cranberries
Figs
Grapes
Melons
Nectarines
Peaches
Pears
Plums
Raspberries
Red currants
Everyday Seasonal Cookbook
Elevate your cooking experience with our Everyday Seasonal Cookbook! This invaluable resource is packed with detailed seasonal produce guides, mouth-watering recipes, and expert tips to help you savor the best of every season. From vibrant spring dishes to comforting winter meals, this cookbook provides delicious, seasonal food for every occasion, ensuring you always have fresh inspiration at your fingertips. Discover how easy and rewarding it is to cook with ingredients at their peak!
September Seasonal Recipes
With such an incredible array of fresh produce available in September, it’s easy to get excited about cooking! But where do you begin when faced with so many delicious options? This section provides a curated selection of my top picks for September’s seasonal recipes. These dishes are designed to be versatile and perfect for any occasion, whether you’re hosting an early autumn gathering, preparing a cozy weeknight dinner, or simply exploring new flavors for the upcoming season. Each recipe highlights the freshest ingredients of the month, bringing out their natural goodness. To make your seasonal cooking journey even simpler, be sure to check out the handy graphic at the bottom of this page for an easy-to-save guide on what’s in season!
Pumpkin Spice Simple Syrup
Pumpkin Spice Simple Syrup is the versatile recipe you’ll want to keep on hand throughout the entire fall season! Infused with real pumpkin and a blend of comforting warming spices, this syrup is incredibly easy to make in just 20 minutes. Use it to add a festive twist to your favorite cocktails, elevate your morning coffee, or drizzle over pancakes and desserts. It keeps well for up to one week in the refrigerator, ensuring you have fall flavor whenever you need it.
Pumpkin Spice Bourbon Old Fashioned
Kick off September in style with a Pumpkin Spice Bourbon Old Fashioned! This delightful cocktail takes a classic bourbon old fashioned and infuses it with the warm, inviting flavors of homemade pumpkin spice simple syrup. It’s the perfect blend of rich bourbon, sweet pumpkin, and aromatic spices, creating a comforting and sophisticated drink that embodies everything nice about fall. Ideal for unwinding after a long day or entertaining guests.
Fall Charcuterie Board
A fall charcuterie board is an effortless yet elegant way to elevate your seasonal gatherings. The art of crafting this stunning centerpiece is surprisingly simple, yet your guests will be thoroughly impressed by the rich flavors and vibrant autumn ingredients you present. Featuring an assortment of cheeses, cured meats, fresh seasonal fruits, nuts, and crackers, it’s ideal for entertaining, whether served as a delightful appetizer or a satisfying main meal. Perfect for showcasing September’s bounty.
BBQ Pulled Pork Sliders with Apple Coleslaw
These BBQ Pulled Pork Sliders with Apple Coleslaw are a warm, hearty, and flavor-packed dish perfect for early fall gatherings. The soft buns are brushed with a savory, buttery glaze and baked until golden, offering a delightful contrast to the tender, smoky pulled pork. Topped with a crunchy, tart apple coleslaw that perfectly complements the rich meat, these sliders are incredibly quick to assemble and make for an ideal party snack or a fun weeknight meal. The apples in the coleslaw bring a lovely seasonal touch.
Peach Plum Cobbler
Peach Plum Cobbler is a truly divine combination of late-season stone fruits, culminating in a simple, yet intensely flavorful dessert. Juicy peaches and ripe plums are gently simmered in a rich, subtly spiced white wine syrupy sauce, then crowned with fluffy, made-from-scratch biscuits. This cobbler is the ideal transition recipe from the sweetness of summer into the cozy embrace of fall, offering warmth and comfort with every spoonful. Serve it warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!
BBQ Apple Cider Ribs
BBQ Apple Cider Ribs are the ultimate juicy, meaty, and gloriously messy dinner, perfect for September’s cooler evenings. This classic recipe gets a fantastic fall twist with the addition of apple cider, which tenderizes the meat to perfection and infuses it with a subtle fruity sweetness. The result is fall-off-the-bone ribs coated in a rich, tangy BBQ sauce. Prepare to get your hands dirty – because if you don’t end up with a face full of sauce, you’re truly not enjoying your ribs the right way!
Crispy Brussels Sprouts with Balsamic and Lemon
These Crispy Brussels Sprouts with Balsamic and Lemon are truly a killer side dish that pairs perfectly with practically any main course. Forget those mushy, bland sprouts of the past; this recipe guarantees wonderfully crispy, caramelized edges and a tender interior. The bright tang of lemon and the sweet-tart reduction of balsamic vinegar bring out the best in these seasonal vegetables. Best of all, you can recreate this restaurant-quality dish at home in less than 30 minutes, making it a fantastic option for busy weeknights in September.
Instant Pot Pumpkin Chicken Curry
Instant Pot Pumpkin Chicken Curry is the ultimate fall comfort meal, delivering rich, aromatic flavors in a single pot. With a minimal cooking time of only 30 minutes, this vibrant and creamy curry is a must-make any night of the week, especially as pumpkin comes into season. Tender chicken pieces are simmered in a spiced pumpkin-coconut milk sauce, creating a deeply satisfying dish. Serve it generously over a bed of fluffy rice with warm naan bread and a sprinkle of fresh herbs for a truly delightful and easy autumn dinner.
Spiced Apple Cider Moscow Mule
A Spiced Apple Cider Moscow Mule is an absolutely incredible fall cocktail, perfect for welcoming the crisp air of September. This refreshing drink combines the zesty kick of a classic Moscow Mule with the warm, comforting flavors of spiced apple cider and an easy-to-make cinnamon simple syrup. You’ll love mixing up this festive cocktail throughout the entire season, whether for a cozy evening at home or a lively autumn gathering. It’s a delightful blend of sweet, tart, and spicy notes.
Bacon Butternut Squash Risotto
This Bacon Butternut Squash Risotto recipe is a truly comforting and cozy dish, designed to highlight the very best flavors of fall. Creamy arborio rice is slowly cooked to perfection, infused with the subtle sweetness of roasted butternut squash, the fragrant aroma of fresh sage, and the irresistible salty crunch of crispy bacon. This risotto makes for a lovely side dish alongside any protein, or it can stand alone as a rich and satisfying vegetarian-friendly main course (simply omit the bacon). It’s the quintessential autumn meal.
Steak Fajita Foil Packets
Steak Fajita Foil Packets offer a fantastic, all-in-one meal solution, especially for those lingering warm September evenings. This recipe makes dinner prep and cleanup incredibly easy. All you have to do is marinate tender strips of steak, wrap them up with colorful, sliced bell peppers and onions in sturdy foil, and then throw the packets directly on the grill (or bake them in the oven!). Each packet cooks to perfection, delivering juicy steak and tender-crisp vegetables infused with smoky flavor. Serve with your favorite toppings and warm flour tortillas for a customizable and delicious meal that everyone will love.
Pear Moscow Mule
The Pear Moscow Mule is THE fall ginger cocktail you absolutely need to be sipping right now. This delightful concoction perfectly marries the sweet, subtle flavor of seasonal pears with the spicy kick of ginger beer and a hint of lime. It’s a sophisticated yet refreshing drink that feels just right as the weather starts to cool off, offering a cozy warmth without being heavy. Serve it in traditional copper mugs for an authentic and visually appealing experience, making it ideal for September evenings.
Pumpkin Cream Cheese Streusel Muffins
Pumpkin Cream Cheese Streusel Muffins are the one recipe you absolutely must add to your fall baking list this September. These tender, moist pumpkin muffins are swirled with a creamy, tangy cream cheese filling and topped with a delightful streusel crunch. The combination is simply irresistible, making them perfect for a cozy breakfast, an afternoon treat, or a delightful addition to any brunch spread. Bake a batch for yourself to enjoy with a cup of coffee, or spread some kindness by sharing them with your family and friends!
Need more inspiration for autumn cooking and baking? Check out my fall recipes page for even more delicious ideas!
More Seasonal Tips for September
Beyond delicious recipes, September offers wonderful opportunities to dive deeper into seasonal cooking techniques and preparations. If you truly love all things pumpkin, this is the perfect year to learn how to make your own homemade pumpkin puree from scratch. It’s incredibly rewarding and far more flavorful than canned versions. Once you have a batch ready, you’ll discover there are so many creative and delicious ways to use pumpkin puree, from savory dishes to sweet treats. It’s truly the number one item I recommend having on hand throughout the entire fall season to infuse your cooking with authentic autumn goodness.
What’s in Season in September? (Graphic)
For a quick and easy reference, here’s a visual summary of all the fantastic fruits and vegetables that are in season during September. This graphic is perfect for saving to your phone or printing out to take with you on your next grocery trip. Happy seasonal shopping!
Looking for Next Month’s List and More Produce Guides?
Don’t let your seasonal cooking journey end here! As the year progresses, so does the incredible variety of fresh produce available. If you’re eager to plan your meals for the coming month or want to explore other seasonal ingredients, be sure to check out my full collection of produce guides. You’ll find everything you need to keep your kitchen inspired all year long. For a sneak peek into what’s coming next, check out my October produce guide!