16 Easy Fall Dinner Ideas For a Lazy Weeknight Meal (2024)

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy for more information.

Aside from the cooler temperature, what I love about fall are warm sweaters, hot pumpkin spice lattes, and pies!

Not to mention, it’s the best time to give yourself the excuse to make the best fall dinner recipes with ingredients like butternut squash, pumpkins, and maple walnuts. I list out all the best fall dinner ideas below!

What I also love about the Fall season is dabbling with these easy to make Fall craft ideas for kids and adults.

Fall is the time when kids go back to school and with Halloween coming up, you won’t want to miss out on decorating your home with the spookiest Halloween decor or baking these easy Fall and Halloween desserts for your guests. It’s never too late to look for some inspiration now!

If you’re getting ready for the Fall season, then you’ll want to prepare some of the best and easy fall dinner recipes we gathered in this post.

From the perfect bite-size Thanksgiving appetizers to the full-size meal (YES, we can’t wait for Thanksgiving to come), these Autumn recipes are sure to please!

Pin this image and save it to your favorite Pinterest board for more easy Fall Dinner Recipes because I’ll always be making updates to this post!

The Best Fall Dinner Recipes and Ideas

There are plenty of Instant Pot and Crock-pot recipes for those chilly Fall nights that will satisfy your cravings for comfort food. You can’t afford to miss out on them, so I highly recommend checking out some of the most amazing recipes here:

• The Best Easy Crockpot Recipes That Make Great Comfort Foods
• Easy and Healthy Meal Prep Ideas Ready in Just Minutes
• The Best Instant Pot Recipes To Make Tonight

If you’re anything like me, then you probably love Fall for its Thanksgiving pie and desserts. It’s the perfect Goldilocks season – not too hot, not too cold – just right.

Unless it’s past the evening when it can get chilly at times, but needless to say, Fall is one of the best seasons to cook and bake the perfect Autumn dishes.

Anyways, I created a list of easy, simple, and quick fall meals so you can enjoy them with your family, friends, and guests. All of these easy fall dinner ideas are definite crowd pleasures and they will surely satisfy your cravings!

Before you dive into these fall dinner recipes, here are some commonly asked questions people have when preparing meals for weeknights or weekends during the fall.

What is a good fall dinner menu?

When I think of a cozy fall dinner, memories of family gatherings and the aroma of home-cooked meals come to mind. Here’s a menu inspired by my favorite autumn flavors:

• Starter: The famous butternut squash soup, always seasoned with love and sage.
• Main Course: Heavenly rosemary and garlic roasted chicken – a comforting family favorite, paired with my special creamy mashed sweet potatoes.
• Side: Crisp green beans almondine and a fresh cranberry walnut salad, sprinkled with tangy goat cheese.
• Dessert: My twist on the classic apple crumble, best enjoyed with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Seriously, the best dessert ever!

This menu brings warmth and comfort, just like a hug on a chilly fall evening.

What are the most common fall foods?

Fall is a special time of year marked by a shift in the air and a colorful transformation in the trees.

When it comes to food, pumpkin often stands out as the most common ingredient associated with the season. Its versatility makes it a popular choice in many recipes, from pies to soups.

Apples, butternut squash, and sweet potatoes also find their way into various dishes, offering a range of flavors and textures that are perfect for cooler evenings.

The use of spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves enhances these fall dishes, evoking a sense of warmth and coziness.

So, when you’re thinking of the different types of fall foods, pumpkin, with its rich taste and wide range of uses, often takes center stage.

What is the number one food for fall?

For me, fall screams pumpkin!

Whether it’s in a spicy soup or a sweet pie, there’s nothing that captures the cozy essence of autumn more.

Every time I taste it, I’m instantly transported to memories of crisp evenings and colorful leaves. It’s my go-to autumn treat!

What is the easiest thing to cook for dinner?

When you’re juggling a busy schedule, fast and easy healthy weeknight dinners become essential for maintaining balanced nutrition.

Many people turn to these delicious cheap freezer meals for convenience. These are not only economical but can also be packed with wholesome ingredients.

For meat lovers, ground beef freezer meals are particularly popular; they offer versatility, from beef-stuffed bell peppers to lean beef stir-fries.

Having these on hand ensures you’re always a step away from a tasty meal.

For those evenings when you’re up for a quick cook, cheap healthy meals that are quick come to the rescue. Dishes like grilled chicken salads or vegetable-packed pastas take little time, yet deliver flavor and nutrition.

With these options, dinner dilemmas are easily solved!

1. Healthy Fall Chicken Pot Pie

Pot pie is one of the best comfort food for fall and winter.

They smell and taste amazing! The fillings are made with a variety of vegetables and healthy proteins that are baked to perfection.

This dish is creamy, but you definitely won’t find any butter or heavy cream in the ingredients.

As an alternative to heavy cream, it uses almond milk, which is light in calories and diary-free.

2. Fall Butternut Squash Quiche

Got some leftover squash in your fridge?

Well, then it’s time to be creative and whip out this butternut squash quiche! Filled with some healthy kale, rosemary, and goat cheese, this savory quiche will please any guest.

Whether you want to enjoy this as a light Thanksgiving breakfast, brunch, or even dinner treat, we guarantee you’ll fall in love with it too!

3. Southwestern Stuffed Bell Peppers

If you’re looking for easy fall dinner ideas that are warm and healthy, then these stuffed peppers will make the perfect fall dish!

Not only are they very healthy and full of essential vitamins, but they are also not at all complicated to make.

Go ahead and shop for a variety of different peppers, from red, green, and yellow to a mix of them in between, when making this recipe.

Classic Southwestern flavors, corn, rice, and lean ground beef packed with protein will make this rainbow of colors filled with awesomeness for you and your family!

4. Butternut Squash Fettuccine Alfredo

Squash is one of the best veggies to have especially during the Fall time.

It’s packed with vitamin C which will help you fight colds during the wintertime. One way to include squash in your pasta is to turn that into a rich and creamy decadent sauce that’s hard to resist.

Fall wouldn’t be packed without autumn-ness without a fresh plate of traditional Fettuccine Alfred packed with smooth and creamy butternut squash like this one!

Yep, there you’ve got a tasty fall recipe ready at your dinner table – Butternut Squash Alfredo!

5. Sweet Potato, Squash and Kale Buddha Bowl

It doesn’t matter what season it is, you can always enjoy those healthy salads and tasty burrito bowls!

This healthy sweet potato filled with delicious squash and kale will make the perfect side dish, healthy lunch, or even dinner!

I guarantee they’ll enjoy the taste of Fall with these roasted vegetables topped with chickpeas and cilantro.

6. Crockpot Beef Stew

When you have things to do around the house, you don’t have the luxury of being in the kitchen.

If you have a busy day ahead of you, let your handy slow cooker do all the work for you!

There are plenty of easy crockpot recipes, like this delicious beef stew, that you can prepare ahead of time with very little prep time.

The beauty of slow cooking is that dinner is slowly cooking away while you’re going on about your day.

7. Maple Walnut Crushed Salmon

According to Healthline, salmon is one of the healthiest and most nutritious foods.

It’s packed with essential nutrients including protein that protects bone health and maintains muscle mass and may slow down the aging process.

So, why not include a delicious Fall salmon recipe at least once a week in your meal planning schedule?

This Maple Walnut Crusted Salmon makes a perfect family dish during the Autumn season and it’s topped with Walnuts which are also filled with protein that will keep your belly full throughout the day.

8. Autumn Squash Soup

Hunting down some vegetarian freezer recipes for busy weeknights?

Whenever there’s butternut squash in the ingredients, you’ll know that it’ll taste amazing even before you make it.

This Panera copycat recipe is made using a slow cooker so you can put in all your ingredients in the pot and let your slow cooker do all the cooking.

Did we also mention these make the perfect vegetarian freezer meals?

9. Fall Shepherd’s Pie

The good ol’ classic Shepherd’s Pie is the perfect one-dish family meal for a chilly Fall night.

This dish is packed with lean meat, comforting fillings, and delicious creamy mashed potatoes and it’s guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser.

Try this Classic Fall Shepherd’s Pie this week to satisfy your cravings – I bet you’ll be tempted to go back for seconds and thirds!

10. Spaghetti Squash Lasagna

If you’re looking for an easy Fall recipe that’s lasagna, then you’re going to absolutely LOVE this healthy turkey spaghetti squash lasagna. You definitely don’t want to miss out on this dish!

It’s loaded with protein (because of the lean ground turkey, which is another must-have during the Fall season), and is a delicious low-carb alternative to traditional lasagna that’s filled with red meat beef.

Having that said, this recipe makes healthy eating easy during the fall season.

If you’re planning a party this season, I guarantee that this Spaghetti Squash Lasagna with Turkey Meat will be a hit and it will be your new favorite healthy dinner recipe for fall.

11. Spicy Pumpkin and Pesto Cheese Stuffed Shells

Looking for comforting Fall dinner recipes for the family is made easy with this one-of-aking Pumpkin and Pesto Cheese Stuffed Shells.

If you’re craving Italian cuisine packed with fall flavors, then these Jumbo pasta shells filled with basil pesto sauce and ricotta cheese mixture will make the perfect fall dinner idea for tonight.

Check out the recipe to read more about how this is baked in a spicy pumpkin vodka sauce making it smooth, creamy, and satisfying!

Perfect for a couple of two, a family of 5 and more, or a small dinner party gathering with friends.

12. Autumn Lentil Quinoa Bowl

We all know that lentils are an excellent source of vitamin B, iron, magnesium, potassium, and zinc.

They are also a great source of plant-based protein and fiber according to Healthline.

If you’re looking for a plant-based and gluten-free Fall recipe packed with wholesome and healthiness, then you’re going to enjoy this Autumn Lentil Quinoa Bowl.

These vegan red lentil quinoa bowls are full of essential vitamins that will satisfy your hunt for healthy eating meals. Not just that, but they are perfect for meal prep or meal planning to help you save time and money.

This tasty Fall dish includes red lentils, quinoa, roasted squash and carrots, broccoli, and lemon tahini sauce for a filling, buddha bowl-style meal.

13. Creamy Potato Soup

As the days get shorter and the temperature starts to drop, it’s the ideal time to cook up a beautiful bowl of creamy potato soup.

This recipe teaches you how to make a classic pot of potato soup, with heavy cream, sour cream, and lots of cheese, all in one pot.

It’s definitely worth using a cheat day for this meal as the flavors will blow your tastebuds away!

14. Baked Ziti

Baked ziti is a classic comfort dish that’s easy to make and super delicious! It’s guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser if you’re planning for a Halloween or Thanksgiving dinner this Fall!

You should seriously try this big pan of Baked Ziti filled with tender pasta, and sausage, and smothered in marinara sauce with a mouth-watering cheesy blend that will totally satisfy even the pickiest eater.

To complete this warm meal, serve it with some delicious buttery garlic bread on the side. This baked pasta is bound to become a family favorite for the season!

15. One Pan Autumn Chicken Dinner

Feeding the family can be challenging when work, appointments, and errands eat up most of your time.

Rather than turning to order takeout food in the evening, why not make a quick and easy pan of chicken and fresh vegetables? Roasting vegetables requires very little effort and they taste great!

We can all take a break from the kitchen and relax on the couch from time to time.

16. Cabbage, Sausage and Potato Soup

This hearty soup is what you need when it’s freezing outside. It’s packed with healthy vegetables and full of flavor.

Feel free to substitute the sausage for chicken breast if you want a healthier version of this soup.

Serve the soup along with buns and dip away! Nothing warms the body and soul more than a nourishing bowl of soup.

Wrap up on Easy Fall Dinner Recipes and Ideas

Did you enjoy this list of easy fall dinner recipes? No matter which dinner recipe you choose to prepare and cook, I guarantee that everyone will enjoy these easy to make recipes for Fall.

Let us know which fall dinner recipes are your favorite by leaving a comment below!