ComScore

105 Easy Fall Dinner Ideas, Ranging from Sheet Pan Steak to Seasonal Soup

Months' worth of deliciousness

fall dinner recipes: balsamic cranberry skillet chicken, one-pan steak, beets and kale and spiralized winter gratin, side by side
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

Come sweater season, I'm hungry for all things autumnal—bring on the cranberry, pumpkin and apple everything. If you're anything like me, you need to try making one (or all) of these 105 fall dinner recipe ideas. They'll satisfy your cravings for seasonal produce (I'm talking Brussels sprouts, butternut squash and sweet potatoes, just to name a few) and cozy dishes that just taste better at this time of year, like comforting soups, casseroles, one-pot dinners and slow cooker recipes.

Whether you're whipping up a quick weeknight meal, like butternut squash carbonara, throwing a casual backyard hang starring balsamic cranberry chicken or serving pumpkin soup at an epic Halloween party (or Thanksgiving dinner), these easy fall dinner ideas are bound to impress.

30 Fall Dump Dinners That Will Feed a Crowd


1. 30-Minute Breakfast Hash with Kale and Sweet Potatoes

  • Time Commitment: 30 minutes
  • Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, one pan
  • Serves: 3 to 4

I'm always down to make breakfast for dinner. And luckily, this 30-minute hash is equal parts filling and nutritious. "I used a combination of sweet potatoes, kale and bell pepper here," writes former PureWow senior food editor Katherine Gillen, "but it should go without saying that you can swap vegetables in and out based on your own tastes. Any hearty green could replace the kale, and the spices are totally interchangeable."

2. Crispy Skillet Pizza with Fennel, Sausage and Garlic

  • Time Commitment: 30 minutes
  • Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients, special occasion-worthy
  • Serves: 4

It turns out your trusty cast iron skillet is the ultimate pizza stone, since it guarantees an impossibly crispy crust and pillowy interior. "Because this pie is cooked in a ten-inch skillet, it has a puffy, lofty crust akin to a pan pizza," Gillen explains. "You can use a larger skillet, but the crust will be thinner and you'll want to adjust the cooking time accordingly."

3. Skillet Roast Chicken with Shmaltzy Potatoes

  • Time Commitment: 5 hours and 45 minutes
  • Why I Love It: high protein, special occasion-worthy, crowd-pleaser
  • Serves: 4 to 6

This dish requires a bit of patience, since the recipe calls for brining the chicken in buttermilk for at least four hours. But once you sink your teeth into the browned, crackly skin, you'll feel it was worth the wait. "The potatoes aren't strictly necessary, but they complete the meal nicely and with little extra effort," Gillen writes. "And the way they soak up the chicken juices? Chef's kiss."

4. Sheet Pan Gnocchi with Sausage, Peppers and Onions

  • Time Commitment: 30 minutes
  • Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, sheet pan recipe
  • Serves: 4

Whether it comes in soup, mac and cheese or salad, I love gnocchi in all its forms. "I prefer fresh gnocchi from the refrigerated section, but this dish will also work with the shelf-stable kind—both get crispy on the outside and soft on the inside without any boiling," Gillen explains. Melt some provolone cheese on top for a cheesesteak-inspired twist.

5. Sheet Pan Lemon Butter Veggies and Sausage

  • Time Commitment: 40 minutes
  • Why I Love It: sheet pan recipe, beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser
  • Serves: 6

Two things I love: hands-off fall dinners and (practically) zero dishes. This recipe checks both boxes. Feel free to throw in any sad vegetables that you forgot about in the crisper drawer.

6. Balsamic Cranberry Roast Chicken

  • Time Commitment: 2 hours
  • Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, high protein, special occasion-worthy
  • Serves: 4

One bag of frozen cranberries goes a long way. Despite being so low-lift, this chicken recipe is pretty enough for any holiday spread, and it can be served straight from the skillet for maximum convenience.

7. Harissa Chickpea Stew with Eggplant and Millet

  • Time Commitment: 45 minutes
  • Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, vegetarian, high protein
  • Serves: 2

Rice? I don't know her. Millet is my preferred ancient grain for this wholesome recipe. Swap in quinoa or farro for more tasty iterations—just don't skimp on the harissa in the spicy, vibrant stew.

8. Cheater's Prosciutto Hawaiian Pizza

  • Time Commitment: 30 minutes
  • Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, kid-friendly
  • Serves: 6

Any excuse to fire up the barbecue one last time before its winter hibernation, right? This unconventional pizza starts with store-bought flatbread, so it's easier to make than it looks.

9. Vegetarian Quinoa Bake

  • Time Commitment: 45 minutes
  • Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, vegetarian, beginner-friendly
  • Serves: 6

Gaby Dalkin believes in the power of mozz, and so will you after one bite of this meatless gem. It's packed with black beans, charred corn, green chiles, your choice of salsa and plenty of cheese.

10. Butternut Squash Carbonara

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour and 10 minutes
  • Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, kid-friendly, high protein
  • Serves: 4

Don’t tell the kids it’s packed with hidden veggies. All they care about is the pasta, pancetta and Parm anyway. Take your pick of bucatini, spaghetti or linguine for this comfort food staple.

11. Bulgur with Roasted Butternut Squash, Sage and Goat Cheese

  • Time Commitment: 50 minutes
  • Why I Love It: vegetarian, beginner-friendly, make ahead
  • Serves: 4

This is pretty much the only thing I love more than my warmest sweater. Roast the squash or prepare the honey-kissed dressing in advance to save time before dinner.

12. Spicy Turkey Enchiladas with Pumpkin Seeds

  • Time Commitment: 40 minutes
  • Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, high protein
  • Serves: 6

Swap in rotisserie chicken for roast turkey as you see fit, but this recipe is basically a Black Friday tradition at my place. You could also add leftover veggies (like shredded Brussels sprouts or roast pumpkin) to the filling if you'd like.

13. The Ultimate Chicken Potpie

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour and 30 minutes
  • Why I Love It: kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy
  • Serves: 6

Simple store-bought puff pastry to the rescue. Use a fork to crimp the edges and brush it with a simple egg wash to take the crust to the next level. It'll look rustic and homemade in a flash, promise.

14. Mexican Posole Soup

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour and 15 minutes
  • Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, one pot
  • Serves: 8

This chili-soup hybrid is loaded with chicken, chiles and hominy, a treated type of large-kernel corn. Feel free to use a store-bought shredded rotisserie chicken to save yourself some time in the kitchen.

15. One-Pot, 15-Minute Pasta Limone

  • Time Commitment: 15 minutes
  • Why I Love It: <30 minutes, one pot, beginner-friendly
  • Serves: 4

Dinner in 15? That's easy enough. Seriously, you don't even need to boil a separate pot of water for the pasta—it cooks alongside all the other ingredients to save time.

16. Cauliflower Steaks with Lemon-Herb Sauce

  • Time Commitment: 45 minutes
  • Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, vegan
  • Serves: 4

Garlic, lemon, cilantro, mint, lemon—these cauliflower steaks are positively loaded with flavor, thanks to the bright herb sauce that comes together in a blender or food processor. (The leftovers will keep for up to a week in the fridge, BTW.)

17. Oven-Roasted Buffalo Wings

  • Time Commitment: 45 minutes
  • Why I Love It: high protein, keto-friendly, <10 ingredients
  • Serves: 24 wings

Admit it: Chicken wings are what everyone wants. Serve them with plenty of ranch dressing and crudités, and bookmark this recipe to whip up for every football Sunday of the season.

18. Chrissy Teigen's Cheesy Chicken Milanese

  • Time Commitment: 40 minutes
  • Why I Love It: kid-friendly, high protein, beginner-friendly
  • Serves: 4

Your celeb crush doesn't bother with fussy dinners, and this 40-minute meal is proof. Tiegen's version is unique because she uses two types of breadcrumbs for extra-crispy results. “I stuff the insides of those cutlets with mozzarella so when you cut into them, they bleed cheese," she writes.

19. General Tso's Cauliflower

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour and 30 minutes
  • Why I Love It: vegetarian, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly
  • Serves: 4

Don't throw everything in the saucepan at once; mix the cornstarch with a small amount of the hot sauce before adding it to the entire batch, or else you'll end up with something more gloopy than glossy. It pairs extraordinarily well with a bottle of cabernet sauvignon...just sayin'.

20. Soba Noodles with Peanut Sauce

  • Time Commitment: 25 minutes
  • Why I Love It: <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser, vegetarian
  • Serves: 6

It's on the dinner table in less than 30 minutes (and loaded with plant-based protein to boot). Snap peas, scallions and two types of sesame seeds offer plenty of necessary crunch to this fall dinner.

21. Roasted Cauliflower Sliders

  • Time Commitment: 50 minutes
  • Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly
  • Serves: 12

This is what I call plain vegetarian brilliance. The cauliflower steaks can be grilled or roasted—whatever you feel like doing. Did I mention they're slathered in hummus *and* spicy yogurt spread?

22. Huevos Rancheros

  • Time Commitment: 25 minutes
  • Why I Love It: <30 minutes, beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients
  • Serves: 2

Yet another way to put an egg on it. Feel free to add ground chorizo if you'd like meat in the dish, or whatever leftover protein you have from last night's dinner TBH.

23. Spicy Chicken Stir Fry

  • Time Commitment: 25 minutes
  • Why I Love It: <30 minutes, beginner-friendly, high protein
  • Serves: 4

Throw everything into a skillet and bam—dinner is served faster than you can say, "for delivery, please." It's inspired by kung pao chicken, and pairs just as beautifully with white rice as it does lo mein or roasted potatoes.

24. Baking Sheet Quesadillas

  • Time Commitment: 30 minutes
  • Why I Love It: sheet pan recipe, kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser
  • Serves: 8

Why fold and cook a bunch of small tortillas when you can just bake one enormous one? You can likely find rectangular tortillas or wraps in your grocery store's deli section. Place the baking sheet on the table alongside all the essential toppings, like guacamole and sour cream.

25. Skillet Chicken Fajitas

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour
  • Why I Love It: high protein, one pan, beginner-friendly
  • Serves: 4

My love for my cast iron skillet runs deep. To partially make this ahead, toss the chicken and vegetables with the seasonings in the morning and refrigerate them in an airtight container. Then, all you have to do in the evening is preheat the oven, add the mixture to the skillet and cook.

26. Sheet Pan Pomegranate Chicken and Roasted Squash

  • Time Commitment: 35 minutes
  • Why I Love It: high protein, sheet pan recipe, beginner-friendly
  • Serves: 4

Full disclosure: I could eat this fall dinner every night for the rest of my life. It's equal parts sweet and spicy, thanks to pomegranate juice, Thai chili sauce and your pick of acorn or kabocha squash.

27. Polenta and Meatballs

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour and 5 minutes
  • Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, kid-friendly, special occasion-worthy
  • Serves: 4

Creamy, satisfying comfort food? Coming right up. Humdrum spaghetti is far less exciting than buttery, cozy polenta anyway, and I'm betting your picky eater will like it just as much.

28. Pork Scallopini with Lemon, Capers and Radicchio

  • Time Commitment: 20 minutes
  • Why I Love It: <30 minutes, high protein, beginner-friendly
  • Serves: 4

One pan, endless possibilities. You're only 20 minutes away from this crispy stunner, which comes to life with the help of zingy Dijon mustard, briny capers and fresh lemon juice.

29. Cauliflower Fried Rice

  • Time Commitment: 25 minutes
  • Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, vegetarian, <30 minutes
  • Serves: 4

Just as savory and satisfying as takeout, minus the carbs. Good looking out, cauliflower. Start with a bag of frozen, pre-riced cauliflower to save yourself some prep time. (Your guests won't know the difference.)

30. Vegetable Wellington with Mushrooms and Spinach

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour and 55 minutes
  • Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, vegetarian
  • Serves: 6

A hearty, holiday-worthy "meat" pie—minus the meat. I'd bookmark this fall dinner now to make on Thanksgiving for your vegetarian relatives if I were you.

31. Greek Turkey Burgers with Tzatziki Sauce

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour and 10 minutes
  • Why I Love It: high protein, beginner-friendly, make ahead
  • Serves: 4

Burger season is never over. Mix the tangy tzatziki and prep the burger toppings ahead to save time before dinner. Oh, and this lean handheld is best paired with dry white wine (or apple juice for the kiddos).

32. 15-Minute Cheater's Pad Thai

  • Time Commitment: 15 minutes
  • Why I Love It: <30 minutes, beginner-friendly, high protein
  • Serves: 4

Tempted to order in (um, again)? Try this dish that's loaded with rice noodles, peanuts and ground pork instead. It comes together in a flash *and* will keep you full (before dessert, anyway).

33. Spiralized Winter Vegetable Gratin

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour and 10 minutes
  • Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, vegetarian, special occasion-worthy
  • Serves: 6

I'd honestly take a nap under all that gooey cheesy on a pillow of parsnips, sweet potatoes and butternut squash if I could. Nothing against white potatoes, but this fall dinner puts a decidedly seasonal spin on the traditional side.

34. Flank Steak Tacos with Cucumber Salsa

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour and 50 minutes
  • Why I Love It: high protein, special occasion-worthy, beginner-friendly
  • Serves: 4

Don't let this seemingly tough-to-master protein intimidate you: Your grill pan has it covered. Cut the steak against the grain, meaning across the parallel muscle fibers, to eliminate their unpleasant toughness and make your steak as tender as possible.

35. Tortellini Soup with Italian Sausage

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour and 10 minutes
  • Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, kid-friendly
  • Serves: 8

Aka a deliciously savory vehicle for meat, cheese and pasta. The crumbled Italian sausage infuses every drop of broth with savory, fennel-laced flavor, as do the fresh basil and Parmesan cheese.

36. Kale Salad with Persimmons, Crispy Chickpeas and Fried Shallots

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour and 5 minutes
  • Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy, <10 ingredients, vegetarian
  • Serves: 4

Don't tell the turkey but this fall appetizer is hearty (and gorgeous) enough to steal the show at Thanksgiving—and play the main role at dinner. There are a tasty range of textures in every bite, thanks to the array of comforting toppings.

37. Pasta alla Norma

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour
  • Why I Love It: vegetarian, beginner-friendly, high protein
  • Serves: 4

Think of it as a healthier, five-ingredient eggplant Parm. The Sicilian dish traditionally stars eggplant, tomatoes, basil and ricotta salata, a type of pressed, aged ricotta cheese. The recipe calls for pecorino, which is more widely available, but either will taste delicious.

38. Cheater's Skillet Paella

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour
  • Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, one pan, special occasion-worthy
  • Serves: 6

Behold, my favorite way to wow the pants off a crowd. The recipe narrows down the seafood to shrimp and littleneck clams, so it'll only take you an hour from start to finish. Ta-da.

39. Rotisserie Chicken Ramen

  • Time Commitment: 35 minutes
  • Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, high protein
  • Serves: 6

Flavorful, filling and, most importantly, super simple. The microwave kind you lived on in college doesn't even come close, but that's not to say this fall dinner is fussy. (Thanks, rotisserie chicken.)

40. Skillet Gnocchi with Sausage and Broccoli Rabe

  • Time Commitment: 30 minutes
  • Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, one pan, beginner-friendly
  • Serves: 6

Broccoli rabe doesn't get the attention it deserves, but I love the chewy, slightly bitter veggie to bits. The Italian sausage does most of the heavy lifting in the flavor department, along with grated Parm and crushed red pepper flakes.

41. Shrimp with Cauliflower Grits and Arugula

  • Time Commitment: 30 minutes
  • Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, high protein, low carb
  • Serves: 4

Thirty-minute fall dinners for the win. Swapping in cauliflower for grits keeps the carbs low enough for any keto dieters at your table. (The tangy goat cheese and butter in the mix will keep them from missing the O.G.)

42. Baking Sheet Pizza with Olives and Sun-Dried Tomatoes

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour
  • Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, sheet pan recipe, beginner-friendly
  • Serves: 8 to 10

This pie tastes like it was made in an ancient stone pizza oven. (Spoiler: It wasn't.) It starts with store-bought pizza dough and ends with marinated olives from your grocer's salad bar for extra zing.

43. Ginger-Pineapple Shrimp Stir Fry

  • Time Commitment: 20 minutes
  • Why I Love It: <30 minutes, beginner-friendly, one pan
  • Serves: 1

This dinner is like a ray of warm sunshine on a crisp fall day. Oh, and before you ask, you don't need to peel the ginger before mincing it. You can thank me later.

44. Skillet Steak with Asparagus and Potatoes

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour
  • Why I Love It: high protein, beginner-friendly, special occasion-worthy
  • Serves: 2

You love ordering sirloin at restaurants—why not make it at home? The chimichurri-like sauce that pairs with it makes the main feel totally gourmet without too much extra effort.

45. Baked Sesame-Ginger Salmon in Parchment

  • Time Commitment: 30 minutes
  • Why I Love It: high protein, beginner-friendly, dairy-free
  • Serves: 4

Love cooking but hate doing dishes? Join the club. This beauty bakes in parchment, so you can throw the mess away as soon as the salmon is cooked.

46. 15-Minute Mezze Plate with Toasted Za'atar Pita

  • Time Commitment: 15 minutes
  • Why I Love It: <30 minutes, beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients
  • Serves: 4

I officially give you permission to eat a plate of fancy snacks for dinner. The only "cooking" it requires is toasting the pita in a skillet until warm and golden brown.

47. One-Pan Steak with Beets and Crispy Kale

  • Time Commitment: 40 minutes
  • Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, high protein, sheet pan recipe
  • Serves: 4

No fuss, no mess, all the bragging rights. You're only six ingredients and a trusty sheet pan away from a filling, foolproof fall dinner that's sure to impress.

48. Baked Chicken and Mushroom Risotto

  • Time Commitment: 45 minutes
  • Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, special occasion-worthy
  • Serves: 6

Who has time to stand over a hot stove and stir (and stir and stir)? With this shortcut, you don't have to. It cooks in the oven instead—and turns out just as decadent as the standard.

49. Cacio e Pepe

  • Time Commitment: 20 minutes
  • Why I Love It: <30 minutes, kid-friendly, <10 ingredients
  • Serves: 4

It's ready in 20 minutes and you likely have all the ingredients in your kitchen right now. Need I say more? Pecorino Romano, a sheep's milk cheese, is traditional, but if you only have Parmesan, don't sweat it.

50. Butternut Squash, Sausage and Kale Gnocchi

  • Time Commitment: 50 minutes
  • Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, high protein
  • Serves: 4

Between the seasonal produce and the pillowy gnocchi, this fall dinner recipe is guaranteed to delight the whole fam. Good looking out, Maria Lichty. Now, pass the Parm.

51. Pesto Quinoa Bowls with Roasted Veggies and Labneh

  • Time Commitment: 50 minutes
  • Why I Love It: vegetarian, beginner-friendly, gluten free
  • Serves: 4

Everything roasts together on a single sheet tray, leaving you with minimal dirty dishes to clean. Swap in any less-than-perfect veggies that you have on hand, like broccoli or carrots.

52. Skillet Eggs and Chorizo

  • Time Commitment: 30 minutes
  • Why I Love It: one pan, beginner-friendly, high protein
  • Serves: 4

This decadent one-pan egg dish takes just 30 minutes to whip up. Crumbled chorizo makes it super rich and spicy, but you could substitute ground beef, breakfast sausage or even turkey if you'd prefer.

53. Spicy White Chili with Pulled Chicken and Beer

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour
  • Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, high protein, special occasion-worthy
  • Serves: 8 to 10

Crack open your favorite light beer for this soul-soothing fall dinner. Jess Larson gives you permission to toss back a cold one while you're whipping it up, too.

54. 10-Minute Pad See Ew

  • Time Commitment: 10 minutes
  • Why I Love It: <30 minutes, beginner-friendly, one pan
  • Serves: 2

Is it cool if I eat this for dinner every single night? You only need ten minutes for this takeout copycat. Feel free to add ground pork or marinated tofu to the mix for a protein boost.

55. 15-Minute Skillet Pepper Steak

  • Time Commitment: 15 minutes
  • Why I Love It: <30 minutes, one pan, high protein
  • Serves: 4

Eat the rainbow (and peanut oil-slicked top round). A handful of tasty pantry staples, like soy sauce and rice wine vinegar, make this weeknight masterpiece possible.

56. 20-Minute Shrimp Scampi Zoodles

  • Time Commitment: 20 minutes
  • Why I Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly
  • Serves: 4

I mean it this time: I'm never going back to angel hair again. Spiralize your own zucchini noodles if you're feeling ambitious, or opt for the store-bought kind for maximum ease. Your secret is safe with me.

57. Buffalo Chicken Wraps with Blue Cheese and Celery

  • Time Commitment: 20 minutes
  • Why I Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly
  • Serves: 4

Pack the leftovers for lunch to take care of two meals at once. (The key is starting with store-bought rotisserie chicken, so you won't need to cook the filling at all.) Sub crumbled blue cheese for blue cheese dressing for a punchier flavor.

58. Spicy Maple Roasted Butternut Squash and Brussels Sprouts with Crispy Bacon

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour
  • Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, special occasion-worthy
  • Serves: 6

Warm spices and maple syrup? Monique Volz knows the way to my heart. Salty bacon, sweet-tart dried cranberries and your choice of cheese (I'm partial to gorgonzola) take these veggies someplace revelatory.

59. Grilled Lemon-Herb Chicken and Avocado Salad

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour and 35 minutes
  • Why I Love It: high protein, beginner-friendly, make ahead
  • Serves: 4

Refreshing, filling and doused in a zingy, herb-spiked lemon marinade. Make the barley ahead of time or use store-bought chicken to make this fall dinner even easier to pull off.

60. Perfect Meatballs with Cherry Tomato Sauce

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour and 10 minutes
  • Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, high protein, kid-friendly
  • Serves: 8 to 10

Few things in life are truly flawless, but this dish makes the cut. The key is using a combination of beef and pork with panko for the perfect texture and a balanced flavor. They freeze like a charm, so make a big batch and reheat whenever a craving strikes.

61. Greek Chicken and Rice Skillet

  • Time Commitment: 40 minutes
  • Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, one pan, beginner-friendly
  • Serves: 4 to 6

The chicken turns golden-brown while the rice becomes magically crispy, thanks to your magical cast iron skillet. Just trust me on this one—it's an easy home run.

62. Cheater’s Italian Wedding Soup

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour
  • Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, beginner-friendly
  • Serves: 6 to 8

In every bite, you'll get Parmesan cheese, beans, pasta, kale and juicy, bite-size meatballs. Most importantly, it only takes an hour to make, and just 15 minutes of active prep. No one will know you cut corners by using canned beans.

63. Vegan Butternut Mac and ‘Cheese’ with Smoky Shiitake ‘Bacon’

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour and 45 minutes
  • Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, vegan, special occasion-worthy
  • Serves: 6

Forget cheddar: I'm all about rich, creamy puréed squash. Not to worry, though. This plant-based fall dinner has plenty of cashew cream for a cheese-like texture, not to mention mushroom bacon.

64. Firecracker Chicken with Rice

  • Time Commitment: 35 minutes
  • Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, high protein, kid-friendly
  • Serves: 4

Shocker: It's low-maintenance. The chicken is coated in cornstarch and egg before a quick pan fry, which is less messy than deep-frying. Serve it with plenty of steamed white rice and sliced scallions.

65. 30-Minute Cheater’s Beef Stroganoff

  • Time Commitment: 30 minutes
  • Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, high protein, beginner-friendly
  • Serves: 6

Comforting like Mom's cooking...but honestly, better. (Just don't tell her.) Buttery egg noodles are a perfect base for tender beef tenderloin and a dill-spiked sour cream sauce.

66. Slow Cooker Whole Chicken with Potatoes

  • Time Commitment: 8 hours and 15 minutes
  • Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, slow cooker recipe, high protein
  • Serves: 8

Throw the whole damn bird in and leave the rest of the work to your Crockpot. In addition to the chicken and spuds, the ingredients are as simple as a flurry of fresh herbs and pantry staples.

67. Loaded Baked Potato and Cauliflower Soup

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour
  • Why I Love It: kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser, make ahead
  • Serves: 4 to 6

Tasty and comforting enough to turn any gloomy day around. A blend of potato and cauliflower makes for a creamier, lighter soup, so feel free to pile your bowl high with all the classic baked potato toppings (like bacon, for starters).

68. 20-Minute Paleo Egg Roll Bowls

  • Time Commitment: 20 minutes
  • Why I Love It: low carb, high protein, <30 minutes
  • Serves: 4

Get the savory pork-and-veggie filling you crave without having to fuss with egg roll wrappers. You could easily substitute ground turkey or chicken, or make the bowls gluten-free by using tamari instead of soy sauce.

69. Cheater’s White Wine Coq au Vin

  • Time Commitment: 55 minutes
  • Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy, crowd-pleaser, high protein
  • Serves: 6

Look out, Julia Child. This fall dinner recipe is an update on a French classic that comes together in under an hour. It'll taste divine with roasted potatoes, couscous or white rice.

70. Pumpkin Polenta

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour
  • Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy
  • Serves: 6

Try it once and it'll become a weekly cold-weather staple in no time. You can use fresh or canned pumpkin, depending on how fancy you want to get; the flavor will be delightfully autumnal either way.

71. Beet Salad with Carrot, Quinoa and Spinach

  • Time Commitment: 45 minutes
  • Why I Love It: vegan, beginner-friendly, make ahead
  • Serves: 2 to 4

You won't find any lettuce in this colorful salad. Add grilled chicken to make it more filling, and cook the quinoa or edamame ahead to save time before dinner.

72. Butternut Squash Pizza

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour and 10 minutes
  • Why I Love It: vegetarian, kid-friendly, special occasion-worthy
  • Serves: 4

Move over, marinara: You're so last season. Here, fresh rosemary and thyme unite with garlic and butternut squash for a creamy, sweet sauce that makes the perfect pairing for ricotta and mozzarella cheeses.

73. Cheesy Roasted Mushroom Melt

  • Time Commitment: 40 minutes
  • Why I Love It: vegetarian, beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients
  • Serves: 4

Never underestimate the power of a grilled cheese sandwich. Cream cheese, ricotta and mozzarella are the ultimate trifecta for savory Portobello mushroom caps.

74. The Best Damn Pumpkin Soup

  • Time Commitment: 2 hours and 30 minutes
  • Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, beginner-friendly
  • Serves: 4 to 6

Regular bowls? Yawn. Serve the soup in hulled-out gourds (and bake the pumpkin seeds for a garnish) to wow your guests. Best of all, you'll only need seven ingredients for this treat.

75. Herb-Crusted Pork Cutlets

  • Time Commitment: 45 minutes
  • Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, high protein, beginner-friendly
  • Serves: 6

Ditch the chicken and try something new. This fall dinner recipe calls for a mixture of breadcrumbs, fresh herbs and Parmesan cheese on the cutlets. Then, they get sautéed until crispy on the outside and succulent on the inside.

76. Chicken with Creamy Mushroom Sauce

  • Time Commitment: 50 minutes
  • Why I Love It: high protein, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
  • Serves: 8

Real talk: I'd eat this sauce by the spoonful. (And I'm betting some self-proclaimed mushroom haters out there would, too.) Use heavy cream in place of half-and-half to make it even more decadent.

77. Crispy Cauliflower Tacos

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour and 10 minutes
  • Why I Love It: vegetarian, beginner-friendly, kid-friendly
  • Serves: 4

It’s officially cauliflower season. Let’s celebrate on taco Tuesday, shall we? The thick, gently spiced homemade queso is right up your kids' alley, promise.

78. One-Pan Sausage with Broccoli Rabe and White Beans

  • Time Commitment: 25 minutes
  • Why I Love It: <30 minute, sheet pan recipe, high protein
  • Serves: 4

Don't even think about dirtying a sink's worth of dishes just to make dinner. This gem cooks to perfection on a baking sheet for a supremely simple cleanup.

79. Butternut Squash Lasagna

  • Time Commitment: 2 hours
  • Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy
  • Serves: 6

I have a secret: You won't find any pasta in this lasagna…but I promise you won't miss it. Instead, it's mostly squash, spinach and cheese. Yum.

80. Maple Herb Roasted Turkey Legs

  • Time Commitment: 2 hours and 10 minutes
  • Why I Love It: high protein, special occasion-worthy, <10 ingredients
  • Serves: 4

Want to keep Thanksgiving low-key this year? Instead of roasting the whole bird, try just cooking the legs instead. (You'll only need eight ingredients, after all.)

81. Beet and Goat Cheese Tart

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour and 15 minutes
  • Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, vegetarian, beginner-friendly
  • Serves: 10

Pie for dinner? Don't mind if I do. You'll top the flaky, buttery puff pastry with sliced beets and crumbled goat cheese, then bake it until the tart is warm and golden and the cheese has melted. Serve it with a side salad if you'd like.

82. Gnocchi Mac and Cheese

  • Time Commitment: 45 minutes
  • Why I Love It: kid-friendly, beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients
  • Serves: 4

My two favorite pasta dishes just collided to create this mouthwatering masterpiece. It's picky eater-proof and a cinch to pull together (in a single pot, no less).

83. Kale Minestrone

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour
  • Why I Love It: make ahead, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
  • Serves: 2 quarts

One spoonful and you'll never looked at the canned kind the same way again. Use vegetable broth in place of chicken and boom: The fall soup is vegetarian.

84. Vegetable Potpies

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour and 30 minutes
  • Why I Love It: vegetarian, special occasion-worthy, beginner-friendly
  • Serves: 4

Whenever a comfort food craving strikes...you know what to do. You won't miss the chicken, thanks to carrots, parsnips, cremini mushrooms and peas swimming in herb butter.

85. Cornbread Tamale Pie

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour and 30 minutes
  • Why I Love It: kid-friendly, one pan, high protein
  • Serves: 4

Fact: I'll eat anything if it’s cooked in a skillet (especially if it's oozing with beef and cheese.) For the uninitiated, the tamale pie is a flavor-packed chili crowned with a cheesy, spicy cornbread topping. Need I say more?

86. One-Pot Autumn Herb Roasted Chicken

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour and 30 minutes
  • Why I Love It: one pot, high protein, crowd-pleaser
  • Serves: 6

All my favorite flavors of the season in one pot, finished with a drizzle of apple cider butter. I'm betting your relatives wouldn't mind seeing this fall dinner on the table instead of turkey on Thanksgiving.

87. Kale Caesar Salad

  • Time Commitment: 30 minutes
  • Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, no cook
  • Serves: 6

Some dinners never go out of style. Massage the kale with olive oil for a few minutes to tenderize it, or give it a quick sauté if the weather is particularly chilly.

88. Potato and Burrata Pizza

  • Time Commitment: 30 minutes
  • Why I Love It: kid-friendly, beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients
  • Serves: 4

Hey now, hey now, this is what dreamsssss are made of. In case you're looking for yet another meal to sprinkle everything bagel seasoning on, I've got you covered with this cozy number.

89. Sticky Orange Chicken with Caramelized Onions and Fennel

  • Time Commitment: 2 hours
  • Why I Love It: high protein, crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients
  • Serves: 6

The marinade works double duty as a sticky, citrusy sauce. Feel free to swap fennel out for bok choy, green beans or whatever veg your heart desires (or your full fridge demands).

90. Whole Roasted Chipotle Chicken

  • Time Commitment: 3 hours and 50 minutes
  • Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, high protein, special occasion-worthy
  • Serves: 4

A roast chicken is a surefire way to awe a crowd. Your guests will have no clue how little effort it took to make, thanks to the main ingredient in the marinade being canned chipotles in adobo.

91. Honey Mustard Sheet Pan Salmon

  • Time Commitment: 45 minutes
  • Why I Love It: sheet pan recipe, high protein, beginner-friendly
  • Serves: 5

Easy, delicious, healthy *and* lightning fast? I'm in love with this simple fall dinner. Prep the vegetables up to three days in advance for quicker cooking right before dinner.

92. Mini Cranberry Potpies

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour and 5 minutes
  • Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, special occasion-worthy
  • Serves: 6 to 8

Move over, chicken—I'm in the mood for something unexpected and just sweet enough for dinner. Each potpie serves two (or one, if I'm being realistic).

93. Instant Pot Spicy Thai Butternut Squash Soup

  • Time Commitment: 30 minutes
  • Why I Love It: Instant Pot recipe, vegan, beginner-friendly
  • Serves: 4

Red curry paste? Check. Coconut milk? Check. Fresh lime, cilantro and tamari? You betcha. This fall dinner recipe is as gorgeous as it is scrumptious.

94. Pomegranate-Sumac Chicken with Roasted Carrots

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour and 20 minutes (plus marinating time)
  • Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, sheet pan recipe
  • Serves: 8

Buttermilk in the marinade keeps the chicken super tender, while pomegranate molasses offers a sweet-tart kick to the poultry. Pro tip: Save your carrot greens. They make for the prettiest finishing touch.

95. Kugel and Cheese

  • Time Commitment: 55 minutes
  • Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, vegetarian, beginner-friendly
  • Serves: 10 to 12

This take on mac and cheese shouldn't have to wait for Hanukkah to make its debut. It's creamy and decadent, thanks to sour cream and four types of cheese: cottage, mozzarella, Gruyère and sharp cheddar.

96. Broccoli Pesto Pasta

  • Time Commitment: 25 minutes
  • Why I Love It: <30 minutes, kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser
  • Serves: 4 to 6

Make the most of broccoli season by spending 20 minutes on this flavorful pasta dish. Green olives, fresh basil and grated Parm make the homemade pesto one for the books.

97. Baked Ginger and Lemon Chicken

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour
  • Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, high protein, special occasion-worthy
  • Serves: 4

Hello, gorgeous. Your guests won't believe their eyes when this one-hour wonder hits the table. (The fact that the ingredients are mostly pantry staples is just a bonus.)

98. Roasted Tomato Soup

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour and 45 minutes
  • Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, beginner-friendly
  • Serves: 10

Don't settle for the stuff in a can—you can do so much better. The recipe is ideally made with fresh tomatoes, but you can use the canned kind in the fall without missing a beat.

99. Zoodle Stir Fry

  • Time Commitment: 25 minutes
  • Why I Love It: <30 minutes, beginner-friendly, one pan
  • Serves: 4

Bye-bye carbs. This veggie-happy meal comes together in no time, and it'll be even easier to pull off if you start with store-bought zoodles.

100. 15-Minute Lemony Broccolini Pasta

  • Time Commitment: 15 minutes
  • Why I Love It: <30 minutes, beginner-friendly, vegetarian
  • Serves: 4

Eight billion times better than spaghetti and jarred sauce, no? You'd be surprised what powerful ingredients fresh lemon, heavy cream, pine nuts and Parmesan cheese are.

101. Tomato Soup in Grilled Cheese Bread Bowls

  • Time Commitment: 50 minutes
  • Why I Love It: kid-friendly, beginner-friendly, special occasion-worthy
  • Serves: 4

C'mon, the bread bowl topper is a grilled cheese sandwich. It's plain ingenious. Not only is the lid its own sammy that's perfect for dunking, but the inside of the bowl is lined with melted cheese to boot.

102. Pozole Verde

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour
  • Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, <500 calories
  • Serves: 8

This flavorful Mexican dish just might be my favorite vegetarian soup of all time. The chiles and aromatics are roasted in the oven before being blended to concentrate their flavor.

103. Miso-Tahini Glazed Roasted Eggplant with Farro

  • Time Commitment: 50 minutes
  • Why I Love It: vegan, beginner-friendly, gluten free
  • Serves: 2 to 4

Eggplant is in season through October, so I'm indulging every chance I get. Here, it's roasted until tender, then doused in an umami-rich glaze atop a bed of toothsome farro.

104. Sheet Pan Cashew Chicken

  • Time Commitment: 35 minutes
  • Why I Love It: sheet pan recipe, kid-friendly, high protein
  • Serves: 2 to 4

Sheet pan meals are lifesavers in terms of cleanup, but it can be tough to bake all the components to perfection when they have different cooking times. The key here is roasting the vegetables first until they're soft, then adding the chicken.

105. Easy One-Pan Ratatouille

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour and 30 minutes
  • Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, special occasion-worthy, vegetarian
  • Serves: 4

This French classic comes together in less than an hour, and it's an epic way to end tomato season with a bang. While the traditional version is slowly cooked on the stove, this one is delightfully hands-off and cooks in the oven instead.


taryn pire

Food Editor

  • Contributes to PureWow's food vertical
  • Spearheads PureWow's recipe vertical and newsletter
  • Studied English and writing at Ithaca College