Slow Cooked and Air Fried: Falling for Autumn Flavors

Right now has always been one of our favorite times of the year. The air has a cool snap to it, with just a hint of harvest-fresh scent everywhere. Your favorite hoodie returns from the closet and greets you with a warm, welcoming hug. The trees in your neighborhood are putting on their annual fashion show. And rich, savory mealtime favorites take their sweet time cooking, filling your kitchen with irresistible aromas and making your mouth water.

Certain flavors just seem to go along perfectly with the change of seasons, bringing the spirit of the fall inside your home and providing a satisfying warmth inside your tummy. Read on for a few timely recipe ideas that harmonize well with each other, and with the season itself. We’ve taken the liberty of selecting dishes your family will love that won’t add significantly to your calorie count, your saturated fat intake.

Slow Cooked Chicken & White Bean Chili

This slow-cooker classic features zesty, spicy flavors, but relies on lean chicken breast meat to help keep the fat and calories under control. Bonus: like most chilis, soups and braises, this one tastes even better the next day!

Ingredients

• 1-1/2 to 2 lbs. lean chicken breast, cut into bite-size chunks
• 14 oz. can chopped tomatoes
• 4 oz. can diced green chilies
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 1 small onion, diced
• Kernels removed from 1 large corn cob
• 2-3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 red bell pepper, diced
• 2 tsp. chili powder
• 1 tsp. cumin
• ½ tsp. sea salt
• ¼ tsp. freshly ground black pepper
• 15 oz. can great northern or cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 small bunch of cilantro, long stems removed
• 2 green onions, sliced thin

Directions

In the slow cooker, combine all ingredients besides the beans and cilantro. Cook on low for 5 hours or high for 3 hours.

Add the white beans and stir to combine, then cook for 2 additional hours on low, or 1 hour on high. Top with fresh cilantro and green onions and serve hot.

Need a Good Slow Cooker?

A good, reliable slow cooker is the unsung MVP of the fall kitchen team. The lengthy cooking times involved with slow cooking enable better distribution and integration of flavors in many recipes. Many slow-cooker recipes can be assembled and left unattended in the cooker nearly all day long. Just set it, forget it, go to work, and come back to a delicious hot meal! And there’s no need to clean up multiple pots and pans afterwards… just wash out the crock and whatever prep utensils you’ve used.

The Kenmore 5-quart model uses minimal countertop space and when you’re finished, the removable ceramic insert and tempered glass lid are dishwasher-safe for effortless cleanup.

The Kenmore programmable 7-quart model gives you extra capacity for family-size meals, easy-touch digital controls and an LED display for easy programmability, plus a dipper/sauce warmer that can go straight to the table for serving.

Crispy Air-Fried Sweet Potato Fries

This hearty, savory side dish offers all of the benefits of sweet potatoes with just a fraction of the fat of regular fries. They’re high in fiber and antioxidants, which protect your body from free radical damage and promote a healthy gut and brain. They’re also super-rich in beta carotene, which is converted to vitamin A to support your immune system and vision. Makes an awesome snack, too!

Ingredients

• 2 large sweet potatoes (about 12 oz. each), cut into half-inch fries
• 2 tblsp. good-quality olive oil
• 1 tsp. coarse sea salt
• 1 tsp. ground coriander
• 1/2 tsp. dried oregano
• 1/2 tsp. smoked paprika

Directions

Toss the sliced sweet potato fries with the olive oil in a small bowl. Then sprinkle on the salt and seasonings, and toss again till each piece is evenly coated.

Follow the directions of your air-fryer and set the temperature and cooking time as directed for fries. For example: the Kenmore air fryer’s default setting for “Fries” is 400°F for 15 minutes, which is perfect if you like them nice and crispy.

Note: If using the “Air Fry” setting on a Kenmore freestanding range, be sure to use the included air-fry basket to allow the hot air to completely surround the cooking fries.

Serve the warm fries with your choice of dipping sauce, mustard or ketchup.

The Perfect Air Fryer for Cooking Convenience

The Kenmore 8-quart digital air fryer is designed with today’s busy families in mind. 12 digital preset controls provide one-touch convenience for cooking your favorites, including fries, wings, bacon, seafood, vegetables, and more. And the built-in viewing window makes it easy to see when the food is done and ready to serve.

This countertop dynamo not only cooks with way less added fat than traditional frying methods, but also saves time and effort by making far less mess. Cleanup time is a breeze!

Slow-Roasted Sheet Pan Salmon and Squash

If you’re feeling more like cooking in a traditional style (but with one-pan convenience!) in an oven or range, we’ve got you covered. Taking the time to slow-roast the salmon gives it a wonderfully juicy, buttery texture that complements the earthy and soulful flavor of fresh squash. This dish makes a great meal when you have guests, too. It’s the ideal combination of simplicity, elegance, and seasonal flavor!

Ingredients

• 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 lbs. wild salmon filets
• 2 tbsp. lemon juice
• 2 tbsp. Dijon mustard
• 2 tsp. fresh dill
• 1 tsp. oregano
• 2-3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1-1/2 lbs. squash, such as butternut, delicata, pattypan, yellow, or a combination, cut into 1.5-in. chunks
• 2 tbsp. olive oil
• Salt and pepper
• Lemon wedges for serving

Directions

Preheat the oven to 300°F. In a small prep bowl, mix the lemon juice, mustard, dill, oregano, and garlic.

Blot the salmon filets dry with a paper towel, then rub the mustard mixture onto each piece. Place each filet, skin-side down, onto a sheet pan lined with foil or parchment.

Toss the squash pieces with the olive oil, and season generously with the salt and pepper. Place the squash around the salmon on the lined sheet pan in an even layer. Bake on a center rack for 35 minutes. Serve warm, with a squeeze of lemon for the salmon.

The Ultimate Cooking Machine

Our fully featured Kenmore gas and electric ranges offer sensational cooking performance and value, plus sleek and updated styling that complements and elevates almost any kitchen décor.

Each offers a True Convection oven for pro-quality baking and roasting with super-fast preheating and even results on every rack. Turbo Boil® takes a full pot of water from zero to boiling in a snap. And our Air Fry mode and special airflow basket make it easy to enjoy crispy, delicious family favorites with far less oil, fat and mess than traditional frying.

Read up and learn more about their most important features here.

Embrace the Season!

Whether you’re cooking for yourself, your family, or for friends and neighbors as well, the taste of autumn is something to celebrate. It’s a great time to slow down, take your time, and let the rich flavors blend and develop. It’s also a great time to reimagine some of the hearty classics of the fall table, creating versions with enhanced flavor profiles but reduced calorie counts and fat content. And we’re more than happy to help!

From our family to yours… enjoy every moment of your fall season!