As the summer sun sets for the year and you settle back into routine, it’s easy to fall into the habit of making the same cold-weather staples for dinner. But autumn brings a bounty of delicious, nutrient-rich produce that can transform classic dinners into something truly special. By incorporating seasonal ingredients and warming spices into your meals, you can bring fresh excitement and flavor to your fall cooking. We’ve rounded up delicious fall dinner recipes that feature six of our favorite fall produce ingredients that will make you look forward to cooking every night.
Fall Dinner Recipes Featuring Butternut Squash
Butternut Squash Chicken Parmesan
Explore a new, autumn-inspired twist on a traditional chicken parm–and it’s a real showstopper. Stuff a halved butternut squash with breaded chicken coated in marinara sauce and top it all with a generous helping of cheese. After a quick trip to the oven, you’re left with an ooey-gooey fall favorite that adds just the right amount of experimentation to a tried-and-true classic. Bonus: It’s just five ingredients.
Get the recipe: Butternut Squash Chicken Parmesan
Easy Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese
This mac and cheese recipe is the perfect way to sneak some produce into a meal for your little ones. Microwaved butternut squash is pureed and combined with gooey American cheese to make a rich and delicious sauce. Once the pasta is coated in this golden goodness, your family will have no idea they are getting some extra nutrients while enjoying this rich fall favorite. It’s sure to become an autumn dinner staple!
Get the recipe: Easy Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese
Butternut Squash and Chorizo Tacos
Discover a new sweet-and-spicy duo with this five-ingredient taco recipe. Meaty, spiced chorizo pairs with the natural sweetness of seasonal butternut squash and hearty black beans for a filling, flavorful bite. A creamy avocado topping helps mellow the heat, making this quick, affordable dinner one you’ll want on repeat.
Get the recipe: Butternut Squash and Chorizo Tacos
Fall Dinner Recipes Featuring Brussels Sprouts
Gnocchi with Brussels Sprouts and Bacon
This simple yet satisfying dinner comes together in just 25 minutes with the help of a freezer aisle favorite: frozen gnocchi. Once cooked, the pasta is combined with in-season Brussels sprouts, crispy bacon pieces, and tossed in a maple syrup butter combo. Each forkful offers a satisfying, sweet bite that delivers some of the best flavors of the season.
Get the recipe: Gnocchi with Brussels Sprouts and Bacon
Sheet Pan Chicken with Squash and Brussels Sprouts
This sheet pan recipe will steal the show this autumn. With just one bowl, one pan, and a handful of fall favorites, dinner comes together with minimal effort and cleanup. Brussels sprouts get ultra-crispy in the oven and are paired with another fall favorite, butternut squash, and seasoned chicken. Finished off with a drizzle of tangy balsamic vinegar, this recipe delivers the ultimate balance of cozy and bold flavors.
Get the recipe: Sheet Pan Chicken with Squash and Brussels Sprouts
Pecan-Crusted Chicken with Brussels Sprouts and Grapes
Elevate a traditional chicken breast by coating it in toasted pecans and breadcrumbs–a fall classic flavor. It gives it a deep, nutty undertone with the perfect hint of crunch. Serve alongside roasted seasonal Brussels sprouts and fresh red grapes coated in a balsamic glaze. The unique flavors come together to create a seasonal dinner loved by kids and adults alike.
Get the recipe: Pecan-Crusted Chicken with Brussels Sprouts and Grapes
Fall Dinner Recipes Featuring Acorn Squash
Chicken Enchilada-Stuffed Acorn Squash
Add a bit of warming spice to your fall menu with this cozy recipe. Acorn squash is halved and stuffed with a mixture of chicken, beans, and cheese. With a hint of heat from the addition of store-bought enchilada sauce, these stuffed squashes are great for when you want to mix up your dinner menu!
Get the recipe: Chicken Enchilada Stuffed Acorn Squash
Slow Cooker Red Curry Chickpeas and Squash
Pantry staples get transformed into a cozy dinner with this simple slow cooker recipe. Canned chickpeas, acorn squash, and red onion are cooked in a rich coconut curry base until tender and flavorful. Finished off with fresh basil leaves, this fall-friendly stew is best served over cooked jasmine rice for a well-rounded, filling meal. Perfect for busy nights, your slow cooker does all the work, so you can enjoy the seasonal flavors without all the fuss!
Get the recipe: Slow Cooker Red Curry Chickpeas and Squash
Lentil-Stuffed Acorn Squash
Who doesn’t love stuffed squash in the autumn? Microwavable brown rice speeds up this stuffed acorn squash dinner to under an hour. The vegetarian main leans on hearty lentils, zucchini, and Parmesan cheese to create a super savory, filling fall dinner everyone will love.
Get the recipe: Lentil-Stuffed Acorn Squash
Fall Dinner Recipes Featuring Apple
Sheet Pan Pork, Apple, and Arugula Salad
Honeycrisp apples are the seasonal star in this dish bringing a sweetness to the dish and getting extra caramelized in the oven. Paired with other fall superstars, like peppery arugula and hearty sweet potatoes, they join forces with pork chops to create a well-rounded, satisfying meal. Topped with a sprinkle of cheese and tossed in a mustard and balsamic vinaigrette dressing, each flavor has a pop of fall flavor that will make you look forward to dinner time.
Get the recipe: Sheet Pan Pork Apple and Arugula Salad
Sheet Pan Chicken with Butternut Squash and Apples
Another fall sheet pan meal shines with the addition of apples. The rosemary-cinnamon-honey glaze helps the apples pop, as they soften and caramelize in the oven for the perfect texture. Roasted alongside fall-favorite butternut squash and chicken thighs, it’s a family-friendly dinner you can easily throw together on a weeknight.
Get the recipe: Sheet Pan Chicken with Butternut Squash and Apples
Harvest Salad with Apples, Turkey, and Cheddar
Fall flavors like dried cranberries, whole-grain mustard, apple cider vinegar, maple syrup, and turkey come together in this dinner-worthy salad. But the stars are the ultra-crisp and sweet Fuji apples. We love the way the fall fruit pairs with the creamy cheddar and other seasonal ingredients for the ultimate bite.
Get the recipe: Harvest Salad with Apples, Turkey, and Cheddar
Fall Dinner Recipes Featuring Spaghetti Squash
Instant Pot Spaghetti Squash Pad Thai with Chicken
Let your Instant Pot do the heavy lifting with this fall twist on a Thai classic. Cook spaghetti squash in the pot for 15 minutes, then quickly prepare the savory chicken and egg filling. Fork out the tender spaghetti squash strands, combine with the flavorful filling, and toss everything in a homemade sauce. The result? A light, autumn-inspired take on a favorite takeout dish.
Get the recipe: Instant Pot Spaghetti Squash Pad Thai with Chicken
Spaghetti Squash Chicken Alfredo Rings
This lightened-up twist on classic chicken alfredo is the ultimate autumn comfort food. Requiring just 10 minutes of prep time, tender spaghetti squash rings serve as a base and are filled with chicken and spinach coated in Alfredo sauce. Loved by kids and adults alike, it delivers all the rich, comforting flavor you expect with a fun, fall-friendly spin.
Get the recipe: Spaghetti Squash Chicken Alfredo Rings
Instant Pot Spaghetti Squash and Shrimp Scampi
Lemon and parsley lighten and brighten your favorite shrimp scampi, while spaghetti squash noodles turn the classic into a fall dream. We love to sub squash noodles in for traditional noodles to keep things fiber-packed, but also to lean into those amazing seasonal flavors and ingredients. It’s a family-friendly recipe that takes just 35 minutes to make thanks to the Instant Pot.
Get the recipe: Instant Pot Spaghetti Squash and Shrimp Scampi
Fall Dinner Recipes Featuring Kale
Chicken, Butternut Squash, and Kale Gratin
A fall menu isn’t complete without a hearty casserole. This gratin, made with the fall unsung here, kale, makes for a wonderful weeknight dinner. With tender chicken, creamy butternut squash, and melted cheese adding rich, comforting layers, it comes together in just 10 minutes of prep with minimal cleanup. It’s a simple meal that will allow you to enjoy eating with your family instead of working overtime in the kitchen.
Get the recipe: Chicken, Butternut Squash, and Kale Gratin
Spicy Butternut Squash and Kale Stew with Peanuts
This vegan stew is a fantastic fall dish for everyone, no matter their dietary preferences. Affordable and quick to prepare, this African-inspired recipe stars two seasonal superstars: kale and butternut squash. Seasoned with ginger and spicy cayenne, then topped with roasted peanuts for a satisfying crunch, it’ll be your new go-to comfort food.
Get the recipe: Spicy Butternut Squash and Kale Stew with Peanuts
Sheet Pan Fall Salad with Sweet Potatoes
Perfect for a warmer autumn day, this sheet pan salad packs in cozy fall flavors while still offering bright, fresh tastes reminiscent of summer. It starts with a marinated kale base, then gets a hearty mix of roasted sweet potatoes, chickpeas, and red onions. A sprinkle of goat cheese, walnuts, and pomegranate seeds adds an extra punch of flavor and texture. Coming together in about an hour, it’s the ultimate dinner for something light and bright.
Get the recipe: Sheet Pan Fall Salad with Sweet Potatoes
