Cozy and straightforward fall dinners that are entirely feasible for hectic weeknights. Soups, curries, casseroles, and beyond!
Fall is truly the most wonderful yet busy season! It’s the transition back to school, the start of evening activities, and a myriad of new routines. It often feels overwhelming, and yet dinner still has to be prepared!
These recipes serve as weeknight saviors that I rely on when life gets a bit wild: warm, easy, and highly manageable meals that require little effort but provide substantial satisfaction.
Here’s a list of the effortless fall dinners I find myself making repeatedly!
Simple Fall Dinner Recipes
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Instant Pot Spicy Short Rib Noodle Soup
Short ribs cooked in an Instant Pot or slow cooker, served in bowls with tender noodles and a hearty broth! This is a personal favorite for the chilly weather.
Ricotta Meatballs with the Crispy Topping
One of the most sought-after weeknight meals on the site! Homemade ricotta meatballs baked beneath a crispy topping. Pair it with garlic bread or pasta!
Chicken with Coconut Kale
An indulgent yet super simple one-skillet dish rich in protein! I enjoy serving this atop a mound of warm rice.
Sausage, Kale, and White Bean Soup
A wonderfully simple, tasty, and heartwarming soup! Italian sausage, kale, smoky paprika, creamy beans, and potatoes, with a hint of cream.
Steph’s Chickpea Curry with Spinach and Rice
Incredibly creamy chickpea curry served over rice with a splash of chili crisp and a side of cucumber salad. Ready in just 20 minutes!
Red Pepper Cashew Pasta with Roasted Cauliflower
A three-ingredient red pepper sauce, roasted crispy cauliflower, and heaps of noodles. Hearty and utterly delightful!
Butter Chicken Meatballs
Ready-made (or homemade) chicken meatballs enveloped in a luxurious mildly spiced tomato gravy enhanced with a touch of butter and cream. One of my family’s top picks!
Brandon’s Egg Roll Tacos
Egg rolls reinvented as tacos! I adore this! Easy to prepare and unbelievably tasty with classic egg roll stuffing, crunchy vegetables, soft tortillas, and a spicy gochujang sauce.
Shortcut Sesame Butter Noodles
One of my go-to recipes! Pre-packaged noodles for convenience, butter for richness, honey for a touch of sweetness, and sesame oil for depth. Just delightful wisps of joy!
Chicken Wontons in Spicy Chili Sauce
Bold, vibrant flavors! Shiitake mushrooms and chicken wontons in a spicy, flavorful broth finished with a drizzle of sesame oil and chili crisp on top.
The Best Detox Crockpot Lentil Soup
Such a staple dish, made countless times by many of you! Lentils, squash, kale, and a variety of nutritious and comforting ingredients. Prepared in the crockpot for an easy, hands-off experience!
Gnocchi with Creamy Mushroom Sauce
Deliciously soft gnocchi immersed in a silky, creamy sauce infused with thyme and filled with tender garlic butter-browned mushrooms! This truly screams fall!
Life Changing Instant Pot Beef Stew
Only six ingredients, 45 minutes, and SO SIMPLE. The ideal, cozy dish that’s fulfilling, hearty, and exceptionally easy to prepare.
Chipotle Tahini Bowls
The chipotle tahini in this recipe stands out as one of my all-time top 10 sauces. It’s perfectly smoky, luxuriously creamy, and pairs deliciously with roasted sweet potatoes.
Crockpot Chicken Gnocchi Soup
Another favorite for fall soups cooked in the crockpot! The chicken simmers all day to create a delicious soup base, followed by adding gnocchi for creaminess and carbohydrates. I love this dish!
Chicken Tortilla Soup
A straightforward and incredibly tasty chicken tortilla soup! I could enjoy this every week, and as a bonus, it makes great leftovers for lunch.
Three Cheese Baked Gnocchi with Spinach
This dish is incredibly cheesy, warm, and comforting, truly a showstopper all baked in a skillet. Pair with bread and salad!
Instant Pot Wild Rice Soup
This is truly the finest wild rice soup (and as a Minnesotan, I can attest to this!). You can even add chicken if you prefer, or keep it vegetarian with mushrooms alone. Either way, it’s not fall without it!
Instant Pot Minestrone Soup
This soup contains an incredible amount of vegetables! With cannelini beans and cheese, it achieves a perfect mix of nourishing and nutritious while also being filling and comforting. Prepared all in one pot!
Spicy Peanut Soup with Sweet Potato + Kale
One of the most loved soups on the site! There’s something enchanting about the blend of sweet potatoes, coconut milk, and peanut butter creating the creamiest (vegan!) bowl of delight.
Red Curry Chicken Stir Fry with Spicy Cashew Sauce
Caramelized red curry chicken is served alongside fluffy rice and steamed broccoli, all drenched in the BEST spicy cashew sauce. Oh man, this is just too good.
Chicken Enchilada Casserole
A layered enchilada casserole made with five ingredients including tortillas, beans, and chicken, topped with cheese and enchilada sauce. Simple, easy, filling, and incredibly delicious.
Small Tips to Simplify Fall Cooking
Here are a few favorite tricks and gadgets to help simplify dinner throughout the week. I recommend checking them out! (Note: Some links below are affiliate links!)
- Air Fryer: I use this several times a week, if not daily. My preferred method is for making Air Fryer Chicken – it’s the best chicken I’ve ever prepared and it cooks in under 15 minutes.
- Instant Pot: Ideal for soups, as well as a multitude of other dishes!
- Slow Cooker: The original tool for simplifying dinner. Numerous recipes above utilize it, plus many more to explore! The extra perk? It fills your home with wonderful scents on chilly evenings after work or school.
- Freezer Meals: This collection of freezer meals is a game changer. Preparing up to 22 meals, you can store them in the freezer and easily pull them out to have dinner ready (hands-off!) in no time.
Wishing you a delightful fall season! Here’s to making weeknight cooking even easier!
**22 Simple and Quick Fall Recipes for Busy Weeknights**
As the leaves change and the air turns brisk, fall offers an abundance of flavors and ingredients that are perfect for warm meals. For those busy weeknights, having a selection of swift and simple recipes is vital. Here are 22 fall-inspired dishes that are both easy to prepare and satisfyingly delicious.
1. **Pumpkin Alfredo Pasta**: Mix canned pumpkin with cream, Parmesan, and nutmeg to create a creamy sauce over fettuccine.
2. **Apple Cider Glazed Chicken**: Sauté chicken breasts and finish them off with a glaze of apple cider, Dijon mustard, and thyme.
3. **Butternut Squash Soup**: Puree roasted butternut squash with vegetable broth, onions, and a hint of cream for a rich soup.
4. **Maple Dijon Pork Chops**: Pan-sear pork chops and brush them with a glaze made from maple syrup and Dijon mustard.
5. **Sweet Potato and Black Bean Tacos**: Roast sweet potatoes and combine them with black beans, cumin, and lime juice for a filling taco mixture.
6. **Mushroom Risotto**: Mix Arborio rice with sautéed mushrooms, garlic, and chicken broth until creamy.
7. **Spaghetti Carbonara with Kale**: Incorporate sautéed kale into the traditional carbonara for a nutritious variation.
8. **Beef and Barley Stew**: Cook beef pieces with barley, carrots, and celery in beef broth for a hearty stew.
9. **Cranberry Walnut Salad**: Combine mixed greens with dried cranberries, walnuts, feta cheese, and a balsamic vinaigrette.
10. **Sausage and Apple Skillet**: Sauté sliced sausage with apples, onions, and a sprinkle of cinnamon.
11. **Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon**: Roast Brussels sprouts with crispy bacon bits and drizzle with balsamic glaze.
12. **Chicken Pot Pie Casserole**: Layer cooked chicken, mixed vegetables, and creamy sauce under a puff pastry topping.
13. **Pasta with Roasted Red Pepper Sauce**: Blend roasted red peppers with garlic and cream for a vibrant pasta sauce.
14. **Lentil and Spinach Soup**: Cook lentils with spinach, tomatoes, and cumin for a protein-rich soup.
15. **Acorn Squash Stuffed with Quinoa**: Fill roasted acorn squash halves with quinoa, cranberries, and pecans.
16. **Zucchini and Corn Fritters**: Combine grated zucchini and corn with flour and eggs, then pan-fry until golden.
17. **Chicken and Wild Rice Bake**: Mix chicken, wild rice, mushrooms, and cream of mushroom soup in a casserole.
18. **Pork Tenderloin with Apples and Onions**: Roast pork tenderloin with sliced apples and onions for a sweet-savory dish.
19. **Cheesy Broccoli and Cauliflower Bake**: Bake broccoli and cauliflower florets with a cheesy béchamel mixture.
20. **Pumpkin Chili**: Stir pumpkin puree into your favorite chili recipe for an autumnal twist.
21. **Spinach and Ricotta Stuffed Shells**: Fill pasta shells with a blend of spinach, ricotta, and Parmesan, then bake topped with marinara.
22. **Apple Crisp**: Sprinkle sliced apples with a combination of oats, brown sugar, and butter, then bake until bubbly.
These recipes are crafted to reduce kitchen time while enhancing flavor, making them ideal for busy weeknights. Savor the essence of fall with these easy-to-make meals spotlighting the season’s finest ingredients.