As the leaves turn and the air gets a bit more, let’s say, crisp—it’s time to bring out the cozy, comforting meals that warm both body and soul. I mean, who doesn’t love a good pumpkin soup or a hearty roasted veggie medley that feels like a culinary hug? With these 30 easy and healthy fall dinners, you’ll find a mix of tradition and surprise, ensuring your autumn nights are as flavorful as a walk through a forest of golden leaves.
Roasted Squash and Shrimp
Here’s a tasty idea: roasted butternut squash and shrimp with a side of tangy yogurt. Toss the squash with olive oil and your favorite spices. Roast it until tender. Cook the shrimp until they turn pink. Serve everything with a dollop of yogurt and a sprig of parsley for freshness. It’s a simple, hearty, and satisfying meal that comes together quickly.
Roasted Squash
Roasted butternut squash is a delicious and easy side dish. Just chop the squash, toss with olive oil, salt, and pepper, and roast until golden. Perfect for fall meals. Add a sprinkle of parsley for a fresh finish. It’s a great way to enjoy seasonal produce without much fuss.
Pumpkin Pasta Bowl
Ever tried a twist on your usual pasta dish? This bowl mixes up curly pasta with a creamy pumpkin sauce, topped with a sunny-side-up egg and savory meatballs. Add a sprinkle of fresh parsley for a pop of color and extra flavor. It’s a hearty and comforting meal perfect for cozy evenings. Give it a try next time you’re looking for something new and delicious.
Cooking Butternut Squash
Got some butternut squash and don’t know what to do with it? Here’s a simple tip. Cut it into chunks and simmer it in broth until tender. The broth adds flavor and makes it perfect for soups or purees. It’s a great base for many dishes, so get creative with your spices and blends.
Steps
- Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese: Cook butternut squash until tender. Blend with cheese to make a creamy sauce, then mix with your cooked pasta.
- Beet Salad with Goat Cheese: Roast beets until tender, slice them, and mix with goat cheese and candied walnuts. Drizzle with an orange and balsamic vinaigrette.
- Best Butternut Squash Soup Ever: Simmer butternut squash in chicken broth until soft. Puree until smooth and season to taste.
- Gourmet Mushroom Risotto: Slowly cook rice with broth, adding mushrooms and stirring occasionally. Finish with Parmesan cheese for a creamy texture.
- Cedar Planked Salmon: Soak cedar planks in water, then grill salmon on them for a smoky flavor. Serve with rice and asparagus.
- Easy Pasta Fagioli: Cook ditalini pasta and cannellini beans in a rich tomato broth. Serve with Parmesan cheese and crusty bread.
- Easy Chicken Marsala: Sauté chicken breasts and mushrooms, then braise with Marsala wine and cream. Garnish with green onions.
- Grilled Pork Loin Chops: Marinate pork chops with a tangy, sweet mixture, then grill until juicy. Consider making extras for leftovers.
- Fish Chowder: Combine fish with a creamy broth, and finish with bacon bits and hot sauce. Perfect for a quick family-friendly meal.
- Air Fryer Spaghetti Squash: Cut spaghetti squash in half and microwave for easy slicing. Cook in the air fryer and serve as desired.
- Shoyu Chicken: Marinate chicken in soy sauce and grill until cooked through. Serve with rice for a Hawaiian-inspired meal.
- Instant Pot Mushroom Risotto: Use an Instant Pot to cook a simple risotto with mushrooms and Parmesan. Quick and restaurant-quality.
- Sheet Pan Harissa Chicken Dinner: Coat chicken with harissa sauce and bake with veggies on a sheet pan. A quick and flavorful dinner.
- Creamy Corn Soup: Simmer corn with milk for a lower-fat soup option. Perfect for combating a cold or enjoying on a cozy day.
- Curry Red Lentil Soup: Cook red lentils with spices and your choice of vegetables. A comforting and adaptable dish.
- Easy 5-Ingredient Chili: Simmer ground beef with beans, tomatoes, and spices for a simple and hearty meal.
- Buffalo-Style Chicken Pizza: Top a pizza crust with Buffalo chicken and cheese for a quick meal. Use prepared crust for convenience.
- Roasted Fall Vegetable Salad: Toss seasonal squash and sprouts with pepitas and herbs. Roast for a warm salad.
- Mexican Casserole: Layer chicken, beans, and corn with cheese and tortilla chips. Bake until bubbly and golden.
- Sangria Ham: Marinate ham in wine and fruit juices, then bake. The combination keeps the meat tender and flavorful.
- Grilled Wild Duck Breast: Grill duck breasts simply, saving additional meat for other recipes. A hit for wild game lovers.
- Instant Pot Pork Chops: Cook pork chops in an Instant Pot for quick, tender meat. Perfect for busy nights.
- Bourbon Street Rib-Eye Steak: Marinate steak in a unique bourbon sauce before grilling. Enjoy a restaurant-quality dish at home.
- Kielbasa with Brussels Sprouts: Sauté kielbasa and Brussels sprouts with red onion. Serve with mac and cheese or French bread.
- A Simply Perfect Roast Turkey: Season turkey with salt and pepper, and roast with stock. Baste regularly for juicy meat.
- Maple-Roasted Chicken Thighs: Roast chicken thighs with maple syrup, sweet potatoes, and Brussels sprouts. Add cranberries and pecans for crunch.
- The Best Parmesan Chicken Bake: Layer chicken with Parmesan and sauce in a baking dish. Bake until golden and delicious.
- Caramel Apple Pork Chops: Spice pork chops with cinnamon and nutmeg, then bake with apples. Ideal for a sweet and savory dish.
- Shakshuka: Poach eggs in a spicy tomato sauce with peppers and onions. Serve with bread to soak up the sauce.
- Slow Cooker Ham: Cook ham in a slow cooker with brown sugar for a fuss-free, juicy dish. Perfect for holiday gatherings.
Ingredients
- Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese
- Butternut squash
- Pasta
- Cheese
- Beet Salad with Goat Cheese
- Beets
- Goat cheese
- Maple-candied walnuts
- Orange and balsamic vinaigrette
- Best Butternut Squash Soup Ever
- Butternut squash
- Chicken broth
- Gourmet Mushroom Risotto
- Mushrooms
- Risotto rice
- Parmesan cheese
- Cedar Planked Salmon
- Salmon
- Cedar plank
- Easy Pasta Fagioli
- Cannellini beans
- Ditalini pasta
- Parmesan cheese
- Crusty bread
- Easy Chicken Marsala
- Chicken breasts
- Marsala wine
- Cream
- Mushrooms
- Green onion
- Grilled Pork Loin Chops
- Pork loin chops
- Fish Chowder
- Fish
- Bacon bits
- Hot sauce
- Air Fryer Spaghetti Squash
- – Spaghetti squash
- Shoyu Chicken
- – Chicken
- – Soy sauce (shoyu)
- Instant Pot Mushroom Risotto
- – Mushrooms
- – Risotto rice
- – Parmesan cheese
- Sheet Pan Harissa Chicken Dinner
- – Chicken
- – Harissa sauce
- Creamy Corn Soup
- – Corn
- Curry Red Lentil Soup
- – Red lentils
- – Cauliflower
- – Carrots
- – Kale
- Easy 5-Ingredient Chili
- – Ingredients not specified
- Buffalo-Style Chicken Pizza
- – Buffalo chicken
- – Pizza crust
- Roasted Fall Vegetable Salad
- – In-season squash
- – Brussels sprouts
- – Toasted pepitas
- – Fresh herbs
- Mexican Casserole
- – Chicken breast
- – Black beans
- – Corn
- – Cheese
- – Tortilla chip crumbs
- Sangria Ham
- – Ham
- – Sangria or Burgundy wine
- – Pineapple juice
- Grilled Wild Duck Breast
- – Duck breast
- Instant Pot Pork Chops
- – Pork chops
- Bourbon Street Rib-Eye Steak
- – Rib-eye steak
- – Bourbon
- Kielbasa with Brussels Sprouts
- – Kielbasa
- – Baby Brussels sprouts
- – Red onion
- – Macaroni and cheese
- – French bread
- A Simply Perfect Roast Turkey
- – Turkey
- – Salt
- – Pepper
- – Turkey stock
- Maple-Roasted Chicken Thighs
- – Chicken thighs
- – Maple syrup
- – Sweet potato wedges
- – Brussels sprouts
- – Dried cranberries
- – Pecans
- The Best Parmesan Chicken Bake
- – Chicken
- – Parmesan cheese
- Caramel Apple Pork Chops
- – Pork chops
- – Apples
- – Cinnamon
- – Nutmeg
- Shakshuka
- – Eggs
- – Tomato sauce
- – Onions
- – Bell pepper
- – Garlic
- Slow Cooker Ham
- – Ham
- – Brown sugar
FAQ
- What makes the Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese a fall favorite?
- The Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese combines the creamy texture of traditional mac and cheese with the seasonal flavor of cooked butternut squash, making it a cozy and delicious dish perfect for fall.
- How can I make the Beet Salad with Goat Cheese extra special?
- This beet salad stands out with its combination of creamy goat cheese, maple-candied walnuts, and a tangy orange and balsamic vinaigrette, offering a beautiful presentation and flavor profile that’s received over 400 five-star reviews.
- What is unique about the Cedar Planked Salmon?
- The Cedar Planked Salmon is praised for its moist and smoky flavor, achieved by cooking on a cedar plank. It’s often served with Asian-style rice and asparagus, making it a standout dish.
- How easy is it to prepare the Easy Chicken Marsala?
- The Easy Chicken Marsala simplifies the classic dish by sautéing chicken breasts and then braising them in Marsala wine and cream with mushrooms and green onions, offering a flavorful meal with minimal effort.
- Why is the Instant Pot Mushroom Risotto a great option for lazy cooking?
- The Instant Pot Mushroom Risotto allows you to enjoy the rich flavors of risotto without the constant attention typically required. It’s a fuss-free recipe that delivers a restaurant-quality dish with minimal effort.
Tips
- For easy air fryer spaghetti squash, try using a microwave hack to make cutting the squash less intimidating and prep faster.
- When preparing shoyu chicken, marinate the chicken for at least an hour to enhance the flavor; the longer it marinates, the better the taste.
- For a simple roast turkey, let the oven do most of the work, and season with just salt, pepper, and turkey stock to highlight the natural flavors of the turkey.
- To make an effortless instant pot mushroom risotto, use a pressure cooker to achieve a restaurant-quality dish with minimal effort.
Equipment
- Cedar Planks – for Cedar Planked Salmon.
- Instant Pot – for Instant Pot Mushroom Risotto and Instant Pot Pork Chops.
- Air Fryer – for Air Fryer Spaghetti Squash.
- Sheet Pan – for Sheet Pan Harissa Chicken Dinner and Maple-Roasted Chicken Thighs.
- Slow Cooker – for Slow Cooker Ham.
