Effortless autumn meals that are warm, easy, and absolutely manageable during hectic weeknights. From soups and curries to casseroles and beyond!
Autumn feels like the most wonderful yet busiest season of the year! It marks the transition back to school, the start of evening activities, and many new schedules. It seems overwhelming at times, and yet dinner still needs to be prepared!?
These dishes are the lifesavers I rely on during chaotic weekdays: warm, straightforward, and truly achievable meals that require little effort but yield substantial satisfaction.
Here’s a collection of the uncomplicated fall dinners I keep making over and over!
Uncomplicated Fall Dinner Recipes
Instant Pot Spicy Short Rib Noodle Soup
Beef short ribs simmered in an Instant Pot or slow cooker, served in bowls with tender noodles and plenty of flavorful broth! This is a top favorite for cold weather.
Ricotta Meatballs with crispy topping
A hit for weeknight dinners on the blog! Homemade ricotta meatballs baked under a layer of crispiness. Pair with garlic bread or pasta!
Chicken with Coconut Kale
An extravagant yet incredibly simple one-skillet dish loaded with protein! I enjoy serving this over a generous heap of fluffy rice.
Sausage, Kale, and White Bean Soup
A wonderfully simple, tasty, and warming soup! Italian sausage with herbs, kale, smoky paprika, creamy beans and potatoes, finished with a dollop of cream.
Steph’s Chickpea Curry with Spinach and Rice
Rich and creamy chickpea curry served over rice topped with a spoonful of chili crisp and a side of cucumber salad. Ready in 20 minutes!
Red Pepper Cashew Pasta with Roasted Cauliflower
A three-ingredient red pepper cashew sauce, crispy roasted cauliflower, and generous amounts of noodles. Heartwarming and utterly delightful!
Butter Chicken Meatballs
Store-bought or homemade chicken meatballs enveloped in a rich yet mildly spiced tomato gravy, elevated with a dash of butter and cream. A family favorite!
Brandon’s Egg Roll Tacos
Tacos meet egg rolls! I love this mashup! Simple to prepare and wildly delicious, featuring classic egg roll filling, crunchy vegetables, fluffy tortillas, and a spicy gochujang sauce.
Shortcut Sesame Butter Noodles
One of my go-to recipes! Convenient noodles, rich butter, sweet honey, and sesame oil combine for a delightful treat. Just tangy slips of happiness!
Chicken Wontons in Spicy Chili Sauce
Bold and beautiful flavors! Shiitake mushrooms and chicken wontons float in a flavorful broth, finished with a drizzle of sesame oil and chili crisp.
The Best Detox Crockpot Lentil Soup
This recipe is a classic and has been made countless times by many of you! Lentils, squash, kale, and a variety of nourishing ingredients. Prepared effortlessly in the crockpot!
Gnocchi with Creamy Mushroom Sauce
Delicious, fluffy gnocchi in a silky mushroom sauce infused with thyme and packed with tender garlic butter-browned mushrooms! This truly embodies autumn!
Life Changing Instant Pot Beef Stew
Only six ingredients, ready in 45 minutes, impossibly EASY. The ultimate comforting dish that’s hearty and incredibly straightforward to prepare.
Chipotle Tahini Bowls
This chipotle tahini sauce is among my top 10 sauces ever. It’s irresistibly smoky, decadently creamy, and the ideal spicy match with a mound of roasted sweet potatoes.
Crockpot Chicken Gnocchi Soup
Another beloved crockpot recipe for autumn! Just let it cook all day with chicken to create a wonderful soup base, then add gnocchi for heartiness before serving. Love this dish!
Chicken Tortilla Soup
A simple yet immensely satisfying chicken tortilla soup! I could eat this weekly, and the added bonus is it makes fantastic leftovers for lunch.
Three Cheese Baked Gnocchi with Spinach
This dish is incredibly cheesy, warm, and comforting, and it truly shines when bubbly in a skillet. Perfect with bread and salad!
Instant Pot Wild Rice Soup
This truly is the ultimate wild rice soup (and as a Minnesotan, I can vouch for this!). You can even incorporate chicken if desired, or keep it vegetarian with mushrooms alone. Either way, it wouldn’t be fall without this!
Instant Pot Minestrone Soup
This soup is loaded with a surprising amount of vegetables! Plus, with cannellini beans and cheese, it strikes a wonderful balance between nourishing, nutritious, and satisfying. All made in one pot!
Spicy Peanut Soup with Sweet Potato + Kale
Another widely loved soup on the blog! The blend of sweet potatoes, coconut milk, and peanut butter creates an incredibly creamy (vegan!) bowl of deliciousness.
Red Curry Chicken Stir Fry with Spicy Cashew Sauce
Caramelized red curry chicken served alongside fluffy rice and steamed broccoli, all generously coated in the most amazing spicy cashew sauce. Oh, it’s so incredibly tasty.
Chicken Enchilada Casserole
A five-ingredient stacked enchilada casserole layered with tortillas, beans, chicken, and topped with cheese and enchilada sauce. Simple, satisfying, and utterly delicious.
Helpful Tips for Easy Fall Cooking
I have a few go-to tricks and tools that simplify dinner preparations during the week. Here’s what I recommend exploring! (Just a heads up: some links below are affiliate links!)
- Air Fryer: I rely on this several times each week, if not daily. My top use is for the Air Fryer Chicken – it’s the best chicken I’ve ever cooked and it’s quick enough to be added to a dinner plate in under 15 minutes.
- Instant Pot: Ideal for soups, among many other applications!
- Slow Cooker: The classic method for simplifying dinner. Numerous recipes above utilize it, along with many others to enjoy! Plus, it leaves your home smelling wonderful on chilly nights after school or work.
- Freezer Meals: This freezer meal kit is invaluable. You can assemble up to 22 meals, freeze them, and easily pull them out for a hassle-free dinner.
Wishing you and yours a wonderful fall! Cheers to simplifying weeknight cooking!
**22 Quick and Simple Fall Recipes for Busy Evenings**
As the leaves change and temperatures drop, autumn inspires a craving for hearty, comforting meals. However, hectic schedules can often hinder elaborate meal preparation. Here are 22 quick and simple fall recipes that are ideal for busy evenings, enabling you to savor seasonal flavors without spending hours in the kitchen.
1. **Butternut Squash Soup**: Puree roasted butternut squash with vegetable broth, onions, and a hint of cream for a smooth soup ready in just 30 minutes.
2. **One-Pan Sausage and Veggies**: Roast your preferred sausages alongside seasonal vegetables مثل Brussels sprouts and sweet potatoes for a filling meal.
3. **Pumpkin Alfredo Pasta**: Mix canned pumpkin with cream, Parmesan cheese, and garlic for a quick and creamy pasta sauce.
4. **Apple Grilled Cheese**: Enhance your classic grilled cheese by adding thin slices of apple and a dash of cinnamon for a delightful mix of sweet and savory.
5. **Chili Con Carne**: Combine canned beans and tomatoes with ground beef and spices for a quick chili ready in under an hour.
6. **Stuffed Acorn Squash**: Fill halved acorn squash with quinoa, cranberries, and pecans for a nutritious and hearty dish.
7. **Maple-Glazed Salmon**: Glaze salmon fillets with maple syrup and Dijon mustard, then bake for a sweet-savory entrée.
8. **Mushroom Risotto**: Quick-cook using instant rice and sliced mushrooms to save time while enjoying creamy risotto.
9. **Sweet Potato and Black Bean Tacos**: Sauté diced sweet potatoes and black beans with taco seasoning for a swift vegetarian taco filling.
10. **Cranberry Chicken Skillet**: Cook chicken breasts with cranberries and orange juice for a zesty, festive dish.
11. **Spinach and Ricotta Stuffed Shells**: Utilize pre-cooked pasta shells and a simple spinach-ricotta filling for a quick bake.
12. **Beef and Barley Stew**: Speed up the cooking of this hearty stew using a pressure cooker.
13. **Caramelized Onion and Goat Cheese Pizza**: Top a store-bought pizza crust with caramelized onions, goat cheese, and arugula for an easy gourmet pizza.
14. **Pork Chops with Apples and Onions**: Sauté pork chops with sliced apples and onions for a classic autumn combination.
15. **Roasted Cauliflower and Chickpea Salad**: Toss roasted cauliflower and chickpeas in a lemon-tahini dressing for a warm salad.
16. **Zucchini and Corn Fritters**: Mix grated zucchini and corn with eggs and flour for quick fritters suitable as a side or main course.
17. **Baked Gnocchi with Sage and Brown Butter**: Combine store-bought gnocchi with a simple sage-infused brown butter sauce for a cozy meal.
18. **Lentil and Sweet Potato Curry**: Cook lentils and sweet potatoes in coconut milk and curry paste for a quick and filling curry dish.
19. **Chicken and Wild Rice Soup**: Utilize rotisserie chicken and quick-cooking wild rice for a speedy version of this classic soup.
20. **Pear and Blue Cheese Salad**: Mix greens, sliced pears, blue cheese, and walnuts for a flavorful fall salad.
21. **Spaghetti Squash with Marinara**: Roast spaghetti squash and top it with your preferred marinara sauce for a low-carb pasta alternative.
22. **Baked Apples with Cinnamon**: Core apples and fill them with oats, brown sugar, and cinnamon for a straightforward dessert.
These recipes aim to enhance flavor while minimizing your time in the kitchen, allowing you to relish the best of fall’s bounty, even during the busiest evenings.