Food & Cooking Recipes Seasonal Recipes Fall Recipes 21 Fall Dinners to Make on Weeknights That Are Reliably Delicious These fall dinner recipes keep the flavor-to-work ratio high. By Anna Kovel Anna Kovel Anna is a freelance writer for MarthaStewart.com. Editorial Guidelines Published on September 6, 2023 Trending Videos Photo: Nico Schinco Just in time for back-to-school season, we're sharing a full roster of fall dinner ideas. These recipes are especially curated for weeknights when there's less time for cooking. Fall is full of reminders and routines—there's a lot going on, and dinner shouldn't add to the stress. Some of these recipes are made in one pot or one pan, and others can be made in a slow cooker or prepared in advance, helping you to pull dinner together when you don't have a whole lot of time. We have hearty pastas for meat-lovers and vegetarians alike; roasts, soups and braises; a variety of proteins, and as always, plenty of vegetables. No matter what, when fall is in full swing, we're all looking for ways to keep the kitchen warm and our spirits high, and these fall dinners do that deliciously. 15 Fall Pasta Recipes That Make Perfect Weeknight Dinners 01 of 21 Turkey and Mushroom Bolognese Chris Simpson If you think ragu Bolognese takes hours to cook, think again. You can make this lighter version with ground turkey and mushrooms and have heart-warming bowls of pasta on the table in about an hour. View Recipe 02 of 21 Pork Chops With Apples and Onions Brie Goldman Approach this classic, tasty combination with a sense of versatility: use the type of chops that work for your budget and choose apples and the braising liquid—apple cider, beer, or stock—by flavor. View Recipe 03 of 21 Braised Chicken With Artichokes, Olives, and Lemon GEORGE BARBERIS This rich stovetop braise will brighten your weeknight. The sunny flavors of fresh lemon and green olives just might transport you to the Mediterranean. View Recipe 04 of 21 Slow-Cooker White Bean Soup Lennart Weibull You can look forward to gathering over bowls of this nourishing soup after a long day at work or school. This recipe features an Italian grandmother's trick-up-the sleeve: add a saved rind of parmesan to the pot as it simmers, and the flavor of your soup will be that much deeper. View Recipe 05 of 21 Spaghetti With Shrimp, Kale and Burst Tomatoes Chris Simpson Store a bag of shrimp in your freezer—it will come in handy on those nights when you want to toss together a restaurant-worthy pasta dish at the last minute. This one uses the best of early fall produce, for a meal in a bowl. View Recipe 06 of 21 Roast Chicken With Vegetables and Potatoes Nothing says homey like a roast chicken dinner. Follow the technique outlined in this recipe, and our top-notch version is sure to become your go to. View Recipe 07 of 21 Hearty Turkey Chili Con Poulos On those weeknights when we need something robust for dinner, even when we all walk in the door at different times, a pot of chili is just the thing. Toppings can be ready to go for gussying up each bowl at the last minute. View Recipe 08 of 21 Test Kitchen's Favorite Spaghetti and Meatballs Alpha Smoot Spaghetti and meatballs are always a favorite. These meatballs have a little surprise: half of the beef is replaced by mushrooms, making them healthier and more economical. Consider this fall dinner a definite home run. View Recipe 09 of 21 Slow-Cooker Ropa Viejo Stephen Kent Johnson Slowly cooked beef falls into shreds in this Cuban-style tomato and pepper braise. It makes a filling dinner served with cooked rice. Store-bought plantain chips are an easy alternative to the traditional smashed, fried plantains. View Recipe 10 of 21 Shrimp With Zucchini and Spicy Couscous Johnny Miller Delightfully pretty and eager to please, this one-pot dinner will be your new best friend. Any leftovers could be a lunchbox solution, reheated or enjoyed at room temperature the next day. View Recipe 11 of 21 Beer-Braised Sausages With Warm Potato Salad Your favorite style of sausages can be adapted to this classic—and exceptionally simple—preparation. The whole thing cooks in one pot, and we've lightened up the potatoes by tossing them with parsley. View Recipe 12 of 21 Baked-Eggplant Parmesan Grant Webster A classic casserole like this parmigiana is perfect for fall days when everyone is on the go. Follow our step-by-step instructions to make this, and if you want, you can prep the whole dish in advance–just bring to room temperature and bake it in time for dinner. View Recipe 13 of 21 Skillet-Cod With Bulgur, Zucchini, and Tomatoes Justin Walker After you try this recipe, you might wonder why you haven't always cooked this way: cooking fresh ingredients sequentially in one pan until they create their own magic. Work smarter, not harder. View Recipe 14 of 21 Instant-Pot Chicken Curry Bryan Gardner With flavors of fresh ginger and spices, this curry makes use of the Instant Pot—and gives you an easy Indian-inspired dish to warm up with on a blustery night. View Recipe 15 of 21 Whole-Wheat Tagliatelle With Creamy White-Bean Sauce Ryan Liebe Creamy, and verdant, this satisfying pasta dish is meat-free. White beans and toasted almonds provide flavor and plenty of protein. Skip the Parmesan for serving and it's vegan. View Recipe 16 of 21 Herby Broiled Swordfish With Roasted Cherry Tomatoes Johnny Miller When you want to hang on to summer a little bit longer, try a broiled seafood dinner. Swordfish, and other meaty fillets of fish, pair perfectly with the last of the summer tomatoes. View Recipe 17 of 21 Easy Slow-Cooker Pulled Pork Christina Holmes If you have 10 minutes to set up this slow-cooker entrée early in the day, you'll come home to a fast and fun pulled-pork dinner. A bowl of coleslaw can be made ahead; serve rolls on the side for classic sandwiches. View Recipe 18 of 21 Crispy Salmon With Coconut-Ginger Collards Nico Schinco Freshen up your weeknight dinner plan with this zesty salmon bowl. Spice-rubbed salmon cooks in minutes, while a stovetop vegetable stew comes together quickly, thanks to canned chickpeas and coconut milk. View Recipe 19 of 21 Smoky Black-Bean Soup With Sausage Nico Schinco How can a soup this simple, and quick be so hearty and satisfying? The answer is in the smoked andouille sausage, and a Cajun-inflected mirepoix. Serve with rice, and a pile of cooked greens or a salad to make it a meal. View Recipe 20 of 21 Creamy Chicken and Mushroom Egg Noodles Johnny Miller Here's a clever way to make a bistro meal in one large pan. The noodles don't have to be cooked separately; simmer them in the same pan you've cooked the chicken and shallots in, season with Dijon mustard, and finish the dish with a swirl of cream cheese. View Recipe 21 of 21 Ginger-Peanut Turkey Stir-Fry Justin Walker This savory, South-Asian inspired meal uses a smart array of pantry items. After you've tried it once, you'll think nothing of whipping it up again and again. You may choose to adapt the recipe to suit your tastes by varying the protein, using ground pork or chicken in place of the turkey, or crumbled extra-firm tofu. View Recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit