Food Recipe Collections & Favorites Seasonal Meals 22 Fall Dinner Ideas to Make All Season Long Light up your favorite fall candle and get cooking! By Ariel Klein Ariel Klein Ariel Klein is a freelance writer specializing in lifestyle, fashion, beauty, technology, home, cooking, and gardening topics. Her work has appeared in Real Simple, Well+Good, Travel+Leisure, Better Homes and Gardens, and Food & Wine magazine. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Updated on May 16, 2024 Now that summer is coming to an end, it’s time to say "hello" to all our favorite autumn produce. There’s no moment more exciting than when markets and cafes start breaking out the pumpkin-spiced lattes and apple cider donuts. If you’re planning a trip to your local farm to go pumpkin or apple picking, you’re going to need some inspiration for what to make with all your fresh bounty. Instead of making countless pies, crumbles, and baked goods, consider using some of your produce for mouth-watering fall dinner ideas like Butternut Squash Carbonara, Roasted Chicken With Apples and Leeks, and Sausage and Mushroom Cassoulet. Whether you’re looking for weeknight meals or something more adventurous for the weekend, we’ve got you covered. VICTOR PROTASIO 12 Healthy Fall Recipes Packed With Key Nutrients 01 of 22 Sun-Dried Tomato Romesco Chicken Enhance your ordinary chicken and pasta dish with a homemade Romesco sauce, consisting of simple ingredients like red bell peppers, onion, garlic, almonds, and olive oil. GET THE RECIPE 02 of 22 Pork and Kabocha Squash Curry CHRISTOPHER TESTANI Pork shoulder simmers in a Dutch oven until mouthwateringly tender. Curry powder, ginger, garlic, and onion cook with the pork, adding intense flavor to each bite. Serve curry on top of a bed of white rice. GET THE RECIPE 03 of 22 Spaghetti Squash Alfredo Christopher Testani Ready in just an hour, this alfredo-infused spaghetti squash is ideal for a busy fall weeknight dinner. The alfredo sauce is low maintenance: Simply stir the cream in a pot and then transfer it to the squash, adding cheese and mixing it all together. Not a fan of Alfredo? Try our red sauce alternative to this vegetarian dish. GET THE RECIPE 04 of 22 Butternut Enchilada Casserole Jennifer Causey You can only use sweet and tender butternut squash for so long—and what better way than in this rich enchilada casserole? A mix of veggies is seasoned with chipotle chile powder, roasted, then stuffed between cheesy layers of corn tortillas and enchilada sauce. Top it all off with fresh cilantro, avocado, and jalapeño and you've got a mouthwatering hearty casserole dish the whole family will devour. GET THE RECIPE 05 of 22 Ricotta Roll-Ups in Creamy Pumpkin Sauce Victor Protasio Consider this a fun, fall take on typical lasagna. If you’re looking for something delicious but different, you will absolutely love this freshly crafted lasagna, filled with herby ricotta, and cooked in a creamy pumpkin sauce. GET THE RECIPE 06 of 22 Butternut Carbonara Antonis Achilleos Even the most anti-vegetable people will love this classic carbonara that’s loaded with butternut squash. Not only will you get a good serving of vegetables, but the butternut squash adds such a lovely golden hue to the pasta sauce. GET THE RECIPE 07 of 22 Turkey-Pumpkin Chili Caitlin Bensel Light and lean but full of flavor, this chili will warm your heart and tummy with every spoonful. Whether you’re enjoying it for lunch or dinner, you’ll certainly be satisfied thanks to the ground turkey, pumpkin, and white beans. GET THE RECIPE 08 of 22 Sheet Pan Pierogies With Roasted Brussels Sprouts, Shallots, And Mustard Dressing Want to know the secret to this Polish-inspired meal? Buy a bag of frozen pierogies and cook them on a sheet pan with your favorite autumn veggies, like Brussels sprouts and shallots. The mustard dressing is an absolute-must, and can be whipped up with just two ingredients. GET THE RECIPE 09 of 22 Butternut Squash Bake With Wild Rice Victor Protasio This creamy vegetarian dish is giving the coziest dinner vibes. The combination of butternut squash, mushrooms, and hearty wild rice baked in a decadent sauce are truly what cozy fall dreams are made of. GET THE RECIPE 10 of 22 Four Cheese Lasagna Natasia Hanratty When in doubt, cook up something classic like this four-cheese lasagna with beef. Not into meat? No problem, just omit it from the recipe altogether. Throw together a quick salad and some garlic bread for the ultimate Italian dinner. GET THE RECIPE 11 of 22 Pumpkin-Leek Soup Francesco Lagnese This veggie-loaded pumpkin-leek soup is so fragrant and divine on a chilly fall evening. Pair it with Parmesan toast or a leafy green salad for a perfect, light dinner. GET THE RECIPE 30 Cast Iron Skillet Recipes to Make All Year Round 12 of 22 Red Lentil Curry José Picayo If you love curry, there’s a good chance you’ll be adding this dish to your weekly dinner rotation. Say goodbye to Indian takeout and simmer your own pot of red lentils, warm spices, and root vegetables such as carrots, potatoes, and ginger. GET THE RECIPE 13 of 22 Cheesy Potato Casserole Alison Miksch When cheese and potatoes get together, you just know it’s gonna be good. If you’re craving something warm and comforting, make this immediately. It’s perfect as a side with a simple protein, or you can just enjoy it on its own. GET THE RECIPE 14 of 22 Slow Cooker Vegetarian Chili With Sweet Potatoes Con Poulos The fall season is the official kickoff of slow cooker meals. Not only is this dish filled with healthy veggies and beans, but it might just be the easiest meal you’ll ever make. GET THE RECIPE 15 of 22 Maple-Glazed Salmon With Roasted Brussels Sprouts Jonny Valiant We adore this recipe because it’s flavorful, full of nutrient-dense ingredients, and can be on the table in less than 30 minutes! Plus, the combination of maple syrup and grainy mustard is one for the books. GET THE RECIPE 16 of 22 Roasted Chicken With Apples and Leeks Miha Matei If you’re going apple picking this season, here’s a great recipe to make (aside from apple pie, of course). Once you combine everything in a roasting pan, the apples will begin to caramelize and give a sweet yet tart flavor to the chicken. GET THE RECIPE 17 of 22 Raspberry-Maple-Glazed Pork Tenderloin Greg DuPree Sweet, savory, and mildly tart, these grilled pork tenderloins are anything but boring. The sweetness from raspberry jam and maple syrup married with the acidity of apple cider vinegar and Worcestershire sauce creates the most epic glaze. GET THE RECIPE 18 of 22 Beef and Beer Potpie Greg DuPree This is the perfect dish to cook up on a chilly evening, because it will warm your belly with the first spoonful. The filling calls for tons of root veggies and rich stout beer, and the flaky pastry dough is the ideal topping. GET THE RECIPE 19 of 22 Classic Chicken and Dumplings Abi Gunasekaran This chicken and dumpling soup may be a labor of love, but for good reason. Whether you’re feeling a tad under the weather or you’re looking to boost your immune system before cold season ramps up, you’ll want to keep this recipe handy. GET THE RECIPE 20 of 22 Turkish-Style Beef and Eggplant Stew Victor Protasio This warming, Turkish stew combines beef and eggplant, which simmer in a tangy and spicy tomato-based sauce. The meat becomes fork-tender and the eggplant is almost creamy in texture. It's a comfort-food dish that's sophisticated enough for company and could be served atop various grains (think quinoa or brown rice). GET THE RECIPE 21 of 22 Sausage and Mushroom Cassoulet Jennifer Causey Kick autumn off right with this hearty cassoulet that'll have everyone coming back for seconds. Flavorful kielbasa, hearty cannellini beans, and your choice of mushroom meld together with carrots, onions, and thyme in this classic meal. Topped with crispy panko and creamy Parmesan, this is one recipe you'll come back to again and again through the colder months of the year. GET THE RECIPE 22 of 22 Apricot-Fresno Glazed Chicken Greg DuPree; Food Stylist: Emily Hall Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen Warm up a chilly fall evening with this sweet and spicy chicken dish. Fresno chiles are in season just in time for autumn, and the apricot preserves that give this dish its sticky sweetness are available all year round. Use the glaze on chicken breasts, thighs, or wings, and swap in pineapple or orange preserves if apricot isn't your jam. GET THE RECIPE Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit