Fall is officially in high gear and, most likely, you and your family are, too. Managing busy schedules can be a tall order. Throw in the upcoming holidays and making time to get out and enjoy the season, getting a homemade meal on the table every night may seem beyond reach. Fortunately, fall is also packed with delicious, peak-season picks in the produce aisle. They’re the building blocks for these tasty fall dinner ideas designed with busy home cooks in mind. The cozy flavors and textures you crave in chilly weather, like stews, pasta dishes, and casseroles, come together in a snap with these clever recipes. Whether you’re winding down after a day of work or just back from peeping the autumn foliage, these belly-warming meals have got you covered until the first snowfall and beyond.
Creamy Vegetable Soup
Two shortcuts from the freezer aisle speed up this plant-powered soup that proves vegetables can be comfort food too. Frozen riced cauliflower and a splash of heavy cream gives this recipe a dreamy, spoon-hugging consistency, perfect for chilly fall nights. Pre-chopped frozen vegetables bypass some of the prep work to help get this main course soup on the table in 30 minutes.
Get the recipe: Creamy Vegetable Soup
Gnocchi with Brussels Sprouts and Bacon
If you don’t have a package of gnocchi in your kitchen right now, you’re missing out on a world of quick and easy fall dinner ideas. Here, the frozen version of this versatile staple (you can also find shelf-stable gnocchi in the pasta aisle) takes on big fall flavors tossed with peak-season Brussels sprouts and crispy bacon. A touch of sweetness from maple syrup, fresh lemon, and butter rounds out a dish that makes any night feel like a special occasion.
Get the recipe: Gnocchi with Brussels Sprouts and Bacon
Pecan-Crusted Chicken with Brussels Sprouts and Grapes
Turn up the flavor on this fall dinner idea with this family-friendly recipe that doesn’t skimp on crunch. Pecans and panko breadcrumbs make up the coating for quick-cooking, thinly sliced chicken breasts that have the texture of nuggets without frying. Another kid-approved ingredient, seedless red grapes, roast together with seasonal fall Brussels sprouts alongside the chicken for an exciting meal on a single sheet pan. A disposable parchment lining on the pan makes this dish a breeze from prep through cleanup.
Get the recipe: Pecan-Crusted Chicken with Brussels Sprouts and Grapes
Autumn Harvest Vegetarian Chili
The front porch isn’t the only place to enjoy pumpkins this fall. A can of pumpkin puree helps to thicken this plant-powered chili made with a bounty of autumn produce. Fresh carrots, parsnips, and butternut squash add vibrant color and nutrients to a hearty stew rounded out with pantry staples, like canned beans and tomatoes. Bonus: a rich medley of cinnamon, cumin, and other spices will make your kitchen smell wonderful before this comforting main course hits the table.
Get the recipe: Autumn Harvest Vegetarian Chili
Instant Pot® Beef and Barley Soup
Hearty, nutritious, and ready to cook with just a few minutes of simple prep, this beef and barley stew is a guaranteed winner on chilly fall weeknights. The Instant Pot® does most of the work, leaving you with a bowl full of tender beef, root vegetables, and barley that’s got enough protein and fiber to satisfy and warm you from the inside out.
Get the recipe: Instant Pot® Beef and Barley Soup
French Onion Meatballs
This meaty, midweek winner combines the best parts of French onion soup with a handy freezer standby. Sweet, umami-rich caramelized onions and melty Gruyere cheese upgrade frozen Italian-style meatballs to a wow-worthy meal that’s cozy enough for any fall night. Pile on hero rolls for next-level meatball subs or serve them on a bed of creamy polenta with a side of steamed veggies.
Get the recipe: French Onion Meatballs
Kielbasa and Sauerkraut Skillet
This five-ingredient recipe takes its flavor cues from Eastern Europe where they know a thing or two about staying cozy in cold weather. Whole grain mustard and tangy sauerkraut add layers of flavor to frozen potato and onion pierogies tossed with slices of gently browned turkey kielbasa.
Get the recipe: Kielbasa and Sauerkraut Skillet
Pork Chops with Carrot Puree
This take on a classic meat and potatoes fall dinner idea could be a game-changer for picky eaters who are reluctant to eat their veggies. A creamy puree of seasonal carrots and delectable fall sweet potatoes are paired with seasonal flavors like rosemary and garlic to replace mashed spuds as a simple, versatile side dish that goes with just about anything. This recipe pairs it with quick-cooking pork chops for an easy, seasonally inspired meal that’s ready in 35 minutes.
Get the recipe: Pork Chops with Carrot Puree
Polenta with Roasted Fall Veggies
Five minutes of prep is all you need to make the most of fall produce for this pretty, plant-powered dish that works as a side or vegetarian main course. The star ingredient is fresh fennel, which becomes tender and sweet when roasted, combined with pre-chopped butternut squash and cauliflower florets that go directly from the freezer to the oven. Goat cheese crumbles round out the flavors of this colorful veggie medley served on a bed of microwave-ready polenta.
Get the recipe: Polenta with Roasted Veggies
Sheet Pan Chicken with Squash and Brussels Sprouts
This versatile, one-pan wonder comes together easily on busy weeknights, or you can make it over the weekend to get a jump on meal prep (hint: use precut squash if you’re short on time). A combination of boneless chicken breast pieces along with fall favorite Brussels sprouts and butternut squash are tossed with garlic, balsamic, and thyme and then roasted together on a sheet pan. Bonus: you can repurpose the leftover components into salads, grain bowls, pasta dishes, and beyond.
Get the recipe: Sheet Pan Chicken with Squash and Brussels Sprouts
Instant Pot® Mushroom Stew
Treat the mushroom-lover in your life (or convert a hater) with this stick-to-your-ribs stew that’s vegetarian-friendly but hearty enough to tackle beefy appetites. Dark beer is the surprising ingredient that adds rich body and savoriness to a medley of mushrooms with onions and carrots—perfect to cozy up to on an autumn night. It cooks hands-free in the Instant Pot® with just five minutes of basic prep.
Get the recipe: Instant Pot® Mushroom Stew
One Pot French Onion Pasta
This reimagined take on French onion soup replaces broth with noodles for a fall pasta dish you will love. No tears here; this recipe relies on pre-chopped onions. Once caramelized, they become the base for a rustic, chunky sauce over orecchiette pasta. A topping of shredded Swiss cheese is the ooey-gooey finishing touch on this easy meal that tastes like it came from a Parisian bistro.
Get the recipe: One Pot French Onion Pasta
Slow Cooker Red Curry Chickpeas and Squash
The slow cooker is your passport to Southeast Asia with this aromatic, vegan-friendly stew. A delicious but sometimes overlooked autumn vegetable, acorn squash, stars along with red onion and budget-friendly canned chickpeas. A trio of authentic ingredients, red curry paste, fish sauce, and coconut milk, make this dish sing with bold, Thai flavors.
Get the recipe: Slow Cooker Red Curry Chickpeas and Squash
Tortellini with Sausage and Squash
This family-friendly pasta dinner has a sneaky secret: the sauce is actually a vegetable. A package of microwave-thawed, frozen butternut squash puree adds earthy sweetness and velvety texture to pillows of cheese tortellini. Spicy sausage, garlic, and fresh basil dial up the Italian flavors of this 20-minute weeknight winner that brings fall flavors to your kitchen.
Get the recipe: Tortellini with Sausage and Squash
Quick Beef and Veggie Chili
When the weather starts to get nippy, you can never have too many chili recipes up your sleeve. This one combines hearty beef with a handful of pantry standbys for a pot of comfort you can throw together with just 10 minutes of prep. Transform leftovers into a meaty, cheesy, one-pot pasta dinner by stirring in spaghetti, which cooks directly in the chili. Top with grated cheese and chopped onions for the full Cincinnati Chili experience.
Get the recipe: Quick Beef and Veggie Chili
Sheet Pan Pork, Apple, and Arugula Salad
You can leave the salad bowl in the cabinet for this meal-in-one salad bursting with fall flavors. Every step from cooking to assembly to serving happens on a parchment-lined sheet pan. Apples and pre-chopped butternut squash roast together with tender, boneless pork chops in a balsamic-Dijon glaze. A quick toss with peppery arugula (or substitute baby spinach) while the mixture is still warm helps to coat the greens with delicious pan juices and adds a pop of freshness.
Get the recipe: Sheet Pan Pork, Apple, and Arugula Salad
Skillet Chicken with Apples and Cider
Use up all your fall apples with this cozy skillet meal that captures the season’s essence. Slices of warmly spiced apples cooked in cider create an earthy, sweet sauce for pan-seared chicken breasts. Everything comes together in a single pan, so you can speed through cleanup.
Get the recipe: Skillet Chicken with Apples and Cider
Sheet Pan Sausage with Apples, Cranberries, and Greens
Cranberries are a fall favorite that deserves more time to shine than just during Thanksgiving. In this complete sheet pan meal, the tangy fruit roasts alongside the apple chicken sausage, collard greens, and apples for an ideal balance of tastes and textures. Mix it up by swapping in pears for apples or using other hearty greens, such as kale, cabbage, or Swiss chard.
Get the recipe: Sheet Pan Sausage with Apples, Cranberries, and Greens
Creamy Rotini with Sausage and Kale
When only serious comfort food will do, this creamy, hearty pasta is ready to satisfy with just five minutes of prep. Cream of mushroom soup is the shortcut to a luscious, noodle-hugging sauce studded with Italian sausage. A pop of green from frozen, chopped kale adds texture and nutrients to brighten up this cozy fall dish.
Get the recipe: Creamy Rotini with Sausage and Kale
Chicken, Butternut Squash, and Kale Gratin
This cozy fall dinner idea seems impressive, but a few shortcut ingredients make it weeknight-worthy. Grab a package of pre-chopped squash and rotisserie chicken and you’ll have an ooey, gooey, veggie-packed fall favorite on your table with just 10 minutes of prep.
Get the recipe: Chicken, Butternut Squash, and Kale Gratin
