Fall is here! The air is getting cooler. Leaves are changing colors. It’s time for warm, cozy dinners.
Fall foods make us feel good. They warm our hearts and fill our bellies. Pumpkins, apples, and spices smell amazing. These flavors make perfect fall meals.
Cooking at home brings families together. Hot meals after cold days feel special. These 20 Best Fall Dinner Recipes are easy to make. Even beginners can cook them well.
1. Pumpkin Soup
This soup tastes like fall in a bowl. It’s creamy and warm. Kids and adults both love it.
Ingredients: 1 can pumpkin, 2 cups broth, 1 cup cream, salt, pepper
Instructions: Mix pumpkin and broth in pot. Heat for 10 minutes. Add cream. Season with salt and pepper.
2. Apple Pork Chops
Sweet apples make pork chops taste better. This dish is simple but fancy. Perfect for family dinner.
Ingredients: 4 pork chops, 2 apples, 1 onion, butter, brown sugar
Instructions: Cook pork chops in pan. Add sliced apples and onion. Cook 15 minutes with butter and sugar.
3. Butternut Squash Risotto
Creamy rice with sweet squash tastes amazing. This recipe feels fancy but isn’t hard. Great for cold nights.
Ingredients: 1 cup rice, 2 cups squash, 4 cups broth, cheese, butter
Instructions: Cook rice slowly with broth. Add cooked squash. Stir in cheese and butter.
4. Beef Stew
Nothing beats warm beef stew in fall. It cooks all day in slow cooker. Your house will smell wonderful.
Ingredients: 2 lbs beef, 4 carrots, 4 potatoes, 2 onions, broth
Instructions: Put everything in slow cooker. Cook on low 8 hours. Season with salt and pepper.
5. Chicken and Dumplings
This comfort food makes everyone happy. Fluffy dumplings in warm chicken broth. Perfect rainy day meal.
Ingredients: 1 whole chicken, 2 cups flour, 1 cup milk, vegetables
Instructions: Cook chicken in pot with water. Make dumpling dough with flour and milk. Drop in pot.
6. Stuffed Bell Peppers
Colorful peppers filled with good stuff. Rice, meat, and cheese make perfect filling. Kids think they’re fun.
Ingredients: 6 bell peppers, 1 lb ground beef, 1 cup rice, cheese
Instructions: Cut tops off peppers. Mix beef and rice. Stuff peppers. Bake 30 minutes at 350°F.
7. Sweet Potato Casserole
Sweet potatoes taste like candy when baked. This side dish steals the show. Everyone asks for seconds.
Ingredients: 3 sweet potatoes, butter, brown sugar, marshmallows, cinnamon
Instructions: Bake potatoes until soft. Mash with butter and sugar. Top with marshmallows. Bake again.
8. Turkey Chili
Warm chili perfect for football games. Turkey makes it lighter than beef. Top with cheese and sour cream.
Ingredients: 1 lb ground turkey, beans, tomatoes, chili powder, onions
Instructions: Cook turkey in pot. Add beans and tomatoes. Season with chili powder. Simmer 30 minutes.
9. Acorn Squash Rings
These rings look pretty on the plate. Sweet squash with brown sugar glaze. Easy side dish everyone loves.
Ingredients: 2 acorn squash, brown sugar, butter, cinnamon, salt
Instructions: Slice squash into rings. Remove seeds. Brush with butter and sugar. Bake 25 minutes.
10. Pot Roast
Sunday dinner classic that never gets old. Meat falls apart when done right. Vegetables cook with the roast.
Ingredients: 3 lb roast, carrots, potatoes, onions, beef broth
Instructions: Brown roast in pot. Add vegetables and broth. Cook 3 hours on low heat.
11. Apple Stuffing
Traditional stuffing with sweet apple pieces. Perfect with turkey or chicken. Makes any meal feel special.
Ingredients: Bread cubes, apples, celery, onions, chicken broth, sage
Instructions: Mix bread with diced apples and vegetables. Add broth slowly. Bake 30 minutes.
12. Pumpkin Pasta
Creamy pasta with real pumpkin flavor. Kids don’t know they’re eating vegetables. Adults love the rich taste.
Ingredients: Pasta, pumpkin puree, cream, parmesan cheese, garlic, sage
Instructions: Cook pasta. Make sauce with pumpkin and cream. Mix together with cheese.
13. Maple Glazed Salmon
Fish gets fancy with sweet maple glaze. Quick dinner that looks impressive. Healthy and delicious too.
Ingredients: 4 salmon fillets, maple syrup, soy sauce, garlic
Instructions: Mix maple syrup with soy sauce. Brush on salmon. Bake 15 minutes at 400°F.
14. Cornbread Casserole
Not quite bread, not quite cake. This side dish goes with everything. Sweet corn makes it special.
Ingredients: Cornbread mix, corn, sour cream, butter, cheese
Instructions: Mix all ingredients except cheese. Pour in pan. Top with cheese. Bake 45 minutes.
15. Chicken Pot Pie
Flaky crust with creamy chicken inside. This meal feeds the whole family. Makes great leftovers too.
Ingredients: Chicken, mixed vegetables, pie crust, chicken broth, flour
Instructions: Cook chicken with vegetables. Make gravy with broth. Put in crust and bake.
16. Baked Ziti
Cheesy pasta that bakes in oven. Everyone loves this Italian comfort food. Great for busy weeknights.
Ingredients: Ziti pasta, marinara sauce, ricotta cheese, mozzarella cheese
Instructions: Cook pasta halfway. Mix with sauce and ricotta. Top with mozzarella. Bake 30 minutes.
17. Meatloaf
Classic dinner that brings back memories. Ground beef shaped into loaf. Ketchup glaze makes it shine.
Ingredients: Ground beef, breadcrumbs, egg, onion, ketchup, brown sugar
Instructions: Mix beef with breadcrumbs and egg. Shape into loaf. Top with ketchup glaze.
18. Shepherd’s Pie
Ground meat with vegetables under mashed potatoes. This one-dish meal satisfies everyone. Kids love the potato topping.
Ingredients: Ground beef, mixed vegetables, mashed potatoes, gravy, cheese
Instructions: Cook beef with vegetables. Put in pan. Top with potatoes and cheese.
19. Butternut Squash Soup
Smooth, creamy soup perfect for cold days. Orange color looks like autumn. Bread dippers make it complete.
Ingredients: Butternut squash, onion, chicken broth, cream, nutmeg
Instructions: Roast squash until soft. Blend with broth. Add cream and spices.
20. Apple Crisp Chicken
Sweet and savory chicken with apple topping. Crispy coating keeps chicken juicy inside. Family dinner winner.
Ingredients: Chicken breasts, apples, oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, butter
Instructions: Top chicken with sliced apples. Mix oats with sugar. Sprinkle on top and bake.
Conclusion
Fall cooking brings families together around the table. These 20 recipes use simple ingredients. Most take less than one hour to make.
Try one new recipe each week. Soon you’ll have favorite fall meals. Your family will love these warm, cozy dinners.