20 Perfect-for-Fall Pear Recipes You'll Want to Eat All Year Round

By Betty Gold
Updated October 16, 2019
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Pears are a delicious addition to endless sweet and savory recipes; they're best served with breakfast, lunch, dinner, or dessert (or all of the above). Their mild, sweet flavor pairs well with everything from prosciutto and potatoes to camembert, cranberries, cinnamon, and more. 

Pears' peak season begins in late summer and goes through January, though they're widely available in grocery stores year-round. When shopping for pears, look for firmer fruits without soft spots, bruises, or blemishes. The ideal color will depend on which variety you're looking for: Green Anjous, Bartletts, and Bosc pears all come in varying shades of green, pinkish-red, and brown (and there are over 3,000 types of pear across the world). Keep in mind that pears are best when picked unripe and then allowed to ripen off the tree.

Pears are also super nutritious: they're packed with antioxidants, flavonoids, vitamin C, and dietary fiber. Here are 20 delicious pear recipes you can make this fall—and winter, spring, and summer. 
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Maple, Pear, and Pecan Steel-Cut Oats

Credit: Brie Passano

In which we redefine the term 'overnight oats' to mean tossing steel cut oats in the slow cooker and letting them cook overnight. The result is a deliciously spiced, creamy oatmeal that you'll top with plenty of fresh-cut pears and toasted pecans.

Get the Recipe: Maple, Pear, and Pecan Slow Cooker Steel-Cut Oats

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Buttermilk Pancakes With Pan-Roasted Pears and Blackberries

Credit: Christopher Testani

Here, classic buttermilk pancakes get a delicious upgrade when you pile them with butter-roasted pears and a brown sugar and blackberry topping. Kids and adults alike will love having this for brunch.

Get the Recipe: Buttermilk Pancakes With Pan-Roasted Pears and Blackberries

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Pressed-Crust Pear Tart

Credit: Beatriz da Costa

Arrange the pears facing alternate ways for the prettiest presentation.

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Pear, Prosciutto, and Fontina Quesadillas

Credit: Antonis Achilleos

This gourmet, grown-up version of traditional quesadillas has slices of sweet pear, salty prosciutto, spicy arugula, and melty fontina cheese. They'll work just as well as an appetizer at your next dinner party as they will on an overbooked weeknight main—they only take 20 minutes, after all.

Get the recipe: Pear, Prosciutto, and Fontina Quesadillas

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Pears With Blue Cheese and Prosciutto

Credit: Mikkel Vang

These elegant party appetizers take just 10 minutes to prepare.

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Arugula and Pear Salad With Maple Vinaigrette

Credit: Sang An

Peppery arugula pairs well with tangy blue cheese and juicy pears.

Get the recipe.

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Frisée Salad With Pears and Manchego

Credit: Con Poulos

Thinly sliced pears add a sweetness that contrasts with the piquant mustard dressing.

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Pear and Rosemary Sangria

Credit: Greg DuPree

Other than all the delicious fresh pear in this summer-to-fall sangria recipe, the best part about it is that you can make it up to two days in advance (read: it's perfect for party planners who like to prep in advance).

Get the recipe: Pear and Rosemary Sangria

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Prosciutto-Wrapped Pork With Sweet Potatoes and Pears

Credit: Quentin Bacon

Tender caramelized sweet potatoes and pears add warm fall flavors.

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Pear, Oat, and Maple Smoothie

Credit: Sarah Karnasiewicz

In case you thought pears weren't the perfect smoothie fruit, this recipe is here to prove you wrong. They blend up beautifully, especially when combined with creamy Greek yogurt.

Get the Recipe: Pear, Oat, and Maple Smoothie

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Pear and Bacon Grilled Cheese

Credit: James Wojcik

Perk up ordinary grilled cheese with salty bacon, sliced pears, and a dollop of jam.

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Orange-Glazed Chicken With Pears

Credit: David Prince

Simmer soy sauce, white vinegar, sugar, and ginger until slightly thickened to create an easy sauce for the sautéed chicken and cooked pears.

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Fennel-Crusted Pork Loin With Roasted Potatoes and Pears

Credit: Beatriz da Costa

A fennel-garlic rub gives the pork an aromatic boost balanced out by the roasted vegetables and fruit.

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Peanut Noodles With Chicken and Pears

Credit: Elizabeth Zeschin

Crisp, juicy pears offset the creamy, nutty noodles.

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Poached Pears

Credit: Marcus Nilsson

Simmer whole pears in a mixture of red wine, lemon juice, orange juice, sugar, and spices until they become tender and absorb all the delicious flavors.

Get the recipe.

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Oven Pear Pancake

Credit: David Prince

More of a dessert than a breakfast, this non-traditional pancake features a custard-like center with a browned cinnamon-sugar topping.

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Gingersnap-Pear Cheesecake

Credit: Sang An

Ginger-spiked pear slices enhance the flavor of the buttery gingersnap crust.

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Pear and Apricot Tart

Credit: José Picayo

Impress guests with this beautiful fruit tart that’s much easier to make than it looks.

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Apple-Pear Galette

Credit: Miha Matei

The freeform crust is easy to shape and gives the dessert a rustic, homey appeal.

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Pear Bread Pudding

Credit: David Prince

Add cut-up pears to a classic dessert for a delicious fall variation.

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By Betty Gold