35 Fall Dinner Ideas: Cozy Dinner Recipes
As the days get shorter and the nights turn cooler, fall is the perfect season to slow down and savor hearty, flavorful meals that bring comfort to the table.
🍁 Cozy & Satisfying: A Roundup of Fall Dinner Ideas
It’s the time of year when kitchens fill with the aromas of roasting vegetables, simmering stews, and spices that feel like a warm hug.
From one-pan wonders and family-friendly casseroles to elegant roasts and seasonal pasta dishes, fall dinners strike the perfect balance between cozy and satisfying.
This roundup brings together some of the best fall dinner ideas to inspire your weekly menu and make the most of the season’s harvest.
Whether you’re cooking for a busy weeknight, planning a special weekend meal, or just craving something warm and filling, these recipes are designed to nourish both body and soul.
Beef and Barley Stew
If you’re looking for a big ‘n hearty stew that warms the family on a chilly night, you’ve hit the jackpot. This Beef and Barley Stew is made in the slow cooker for a tender, flavorful, and super easy dinner. Go to recipe.
Turkey Sweet Potato Chili
The proud winner of multiple chili cook-offs, this Turkey Sweet Potato Chili is your new go-to for a hearty and incredibly flavorful meal. With lean ground turkey, sweet potatoes, and black beans, it’s packed with protein, fiber, and vitamins, making it both nutritious and delicious. Go to recipe.
Slow Cooker Turkey Stew
Slow Cooker Turkey Stew has ground turkey, sweet potato, red bell pepper, soy sauce, garlic, ginger, chili garlic sauce and coconut milk! And this recipe with Thai-inspired flavors is high in protein! Go to recipe.
Chili Con Carne Recipe
This rich and authentic chili con carne recipe is a spicy stew of tender beef slowly simmered in a mouth-watering chili sauce, irresistible, and easy! Make it with or without beans. You can also make it with tomatoes, if desired. It’s very simple to customize to your own preferred spice level. Go to recipe.
Butternut Squash Curry
This butternut squash curry will become your new favorite quick and easy weeknight meal! It’s cozy, delicious plant-based and super fast to make (especially if you use frozen cubed butternut squash). Go to recipe.
Best Chanterelle Mushroom Stew
Chanterelle mushroom stew is one of my all-time favorite fall and winter dinners. This vegetarian stew has deep, rich and delicious flavor from caramelized onions and a variety of chanterelle and wild mushrooms and is guaranteed to satisfy. Go to recipe.
Romanian Pork And Potato Stew
This Romanian pork and potato stew is easy to make, hearty and full of tastiness. I’m cooking it all year long and you can easily make it vegetarian leaving the meat out. Go to recipe.
Green Beans And Pork Stew
This green beans and pork stew is another favorite of mine. Hearty, tasteful and comforting, this bean recipe is full of flavor and nutritious. Go to recipe.
Eggplant Pork & Tomato Stew
Delicious fried eggplant slices cooked in tomato garlic sauce and tasteful pork coming together in a fabulous recipe. Go to recipe.
Stewed Cabbage And Sausage
Stewed cabbage and sausage – tender sautéed cabbage in sweet tomato sauce flavored with sausages and lots of fresh dill for complete deliciousness. Go to recipe.
Beer Marinated Chicken Legs
Creamy Cider Chicken with Apples Cranberries and Bacon
Tender chicken simmered in a rich cider cream sauce with sweet apples, tart cranberries, and crispy bacon — cozy, flavorful, and perfect for a fall dinner that feels special but is simple to make. Go to recipe.
Skillet Apple Cider Chicken Thighs
These skillet chicken thighs are seasoned and seared for crispy skin, then finished with the most delicious pan sauce. Go to recipe.
Oven Baked Chicken Legs
These beer marinated oven baked chicken legs are so easy to make and offer a interesting alternative to your usual simple chicken baked recipe. Go to recipe.
Easy Creamy Chicken Tortellini with Broccoli
Savory Italian flavors make this easy one-pan recipe for Creamy Chicken Tortellini with Broccoli a standout dinner any night of the week. Quick to prep and fast to get on the table with a flavor that tastes like “more” — you’re gonna love it! Go to recipe.
Chicken Alfredo Spaghetti Squash
Rich, creamy, and oh so delicious, chicken Alfredo spaghetti squash is the perfect healthy meal! The flavorful, cheesy sauce is served over pan-seared chicken and roasted spaghetti squash for an easy dish you’ll make again and again. Go to recipe.
Vegan Pumpkin Pasta with Spinach and Mushrooms
Vegan Pumpkin Pasta with Spinach and Mushrooms is a delicious and healthy fall-inspired dinner ready in 30 minutes. Everyone will enjoy this flavorful pumpkin pasta sauce tossed with savory vegetables and whole grain noodles. Go to recipe.
Black Trumpet Risotto
Black trumpets are pure forest magic – like little delicate treasures brimming with an irresistible umami flavor that feels almost otherworldly. What better way to showcase their enchanting aroma than fusing them into a creamy, buttery black trumpet risotto? Go to recipe.
Scalloped Potatoes
Looking for a tasty side dish for your next family dinner? Look no further than this simple and delicious Scalloped Potatoes Recipe. Perfectly creamy and flavorful, your loved ones will be begging for seconds. Go to recipe.
Hasselback Turnips
Hasselback turnips are an easy and elegant side dish! Sliced thin, topped with seasoned butter and bacon and roasted until tender and golden, these delicious (yes!) turnips are irresistible and won’t disappoint! Go to recipe.
Turkey Pesto Meatballs
These Turkey Pesto Meatballs are stuffed with mozzarella cheese in the center! Then they are baked until golden brown then tossed in a homemade tomato sauce. These turkey meatballs make the perfect Sunday Dinner! Go to recipe.
Turkey, Spinach & Tomato Pasta Bake
While you’ll still get a tasty pasta bake, try to buy turkey thigh mince rather than turkey breast mince, which has much less fat or flavor which may be a little dryer. Don’t worry if you’re trying to be healthy – they’re both relatively lean options! Go to recipe.
Ground Turkey Stroganoff
If you’re looking for a cozy, comforting dinner that comes together quickly, this Ground Turkey Stroganoff is exactly what you need. It’s creamy, flavorful, and packed with lean ground turkey and mushrooms. The best part? It’s ready in just 25 minutes. Go to recipe.
Crispy Baked Turkey Wings
Are you a wing lover? Then you will LOVE these crispy baked turkey wings! Super crispy skin, easy to make in the oven and gigantic wings are just so much more fun! Serve them up as a party appetizer tossed or dipped in your favorite wing sauce or serve as a main dish alongside your favorite sides. This turkey wing recipe sure is versatile! Go to recipe.
Roasted Squash with Pickled Walnut Salsa Verde
This easy, make-ahead friendly recipe for Roasted Squash with Pickled Walnut Salsa Verde & White Bean Puree makes the perfect vegan centerpiece for a festive feast – it is also as delicious served at room temperature as it is hot or warm. Go to recipe.
Sauteed Kale and Potatoes Recipe
Easy sauteed kale and potatoes recipe using curly kale and seasoned with Old Bay Seasoning. This is an easy side dish for Thanksgiving or any meal. Go to recipe.
Stuffed Mini Pumpkins
Our most popular pumpkin recipe for a reason: these mini stuffed pumpkins are so easy to prep and deliciously versatile for an appetizer or side and easily made for vegetarians. Go to recipe.
Honey and Brown Sugar Glazed Carrots
These Honey and Brown Sugar Glazed Carrots are the perfect balance of sweet and savory, coated in a rich buttery glaze with hints of cinnamon. Roasted to tender perfection, these caramelized carrots make an easy yet elegant side dish for weeknight dinners, holiday feasts, or special occasions. Go to recipe.
Sautéed Green Beans with Shallots
These Sautéed Green Beans with shallots are tender-crisp, buttery and bursting with savory flavor. The combination of French green beans, shallots and garlic is simple yet elegant, perfect for holiday dinners or weeknight meals. This easy side dish comes together in under 20 minutes using one large skillet. Go to recipe.
Parmesan Mashed Potatoes With Olive Oil
These creamy mashed potatoes are lightened up with olive oil and Greek yogurt but still rich, fluffy, and oh-so-good. It’s Mediterranean-inspired take on Thanksgiving that everyone will love! Go to recipes.
Fondant Sweet Potatoes with Maple-Thyme Glaze
Golden and caramelized on the outside, tender on the inside — these sweet potatoes are finished with a buttery maple-thyme glaze that feels a little fancy but is totally doable for any fall meal. Go to recipe.
Potato Nibbles In Air Fryer
You won’t believe HOW EASY it is to cook potato nibbles in air fryer. These tiny potatoes with garlic butter are the best Thanksgiving side dish for any dinner. Go to recipe.
Scalloped Potatoes
Looking for a tasty side dish for your next family dinner? Look no further than this simple and delicious Scalloped Potatoes Recipe. Perfectly creamy and flavorful, your loved ones will be begging for seconds. Go to recipe.
Celeriac Puree
Creamy, garlicky, velvety, and so delicious, celeriac puree (or celery root puree) is an easy root vegetable side dish perfect for Sunday dinner or a special occasion meal.
It’s a low-carb root vegetable and a healthier alternative to mashed potatoes when craving something different! Go to recipe.
Roasted Balsamic Sweet Potatoes
Bring some extra flavor to your holiday meals with these Roasted Balsamic Sweet Potatoes! They’re a great side dish for Thanksgiving or even a regular weeknight dinner.
The sweet and tangy glaze turns golden and sticky in the oven, making the potatoes full of flavor and hard to resist. Best of all, they’re super easy to make! Go to recipe.
Sweet Potato Soufflé Recipe
This Sweet Potato Soufflé is baked to perfection and topped with a buttery pecan streusel topping. It’s a rich and delicious side dish that is sure to be the star of any holiday spread! Go to recipe.
There’s more to fall cooking if you’re interested:
Delicious Turkey recipes for your holiday meals
55 Fall desserts and baking ideas
🍂 Bringing Comfort Back to the Table
Fall dinners are more than just food—they’re a way to gather, reconnect, and enjoy the simple pleasures of the season. With recipes that highlight autumn’s best flavors, you’ll find inspiration to turn everyday meals into moments worth savoring.
Which of these fall dinner ideas will you be trying first? Share your favorites in the comments. And don’t forget to bookmark or share this roundup so you’ll have plenty of comforting inspiration to carry you through the season.
Here’s to hearty meals, crisp evenings, and fall flavors that make dinnertime unforgettable.
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