“What’s for dinner?”
It’s the constant question.
And sometimes it’s hard to answer.
Meals get boring. Preferences change, and prices are going up. It can be challenging to always come up with new ideas that fit our family’s needs and desires. Getting meals on the table can feel like a burden if we lack inspiration and don’t enjoy the food we make.
While I don’t believe we ALWAYS need new ideas and uncharted recipes – in some seasons we may need just the opposite – I do think we should enjoy our food and CAN try new recipes if we want to.
Being excited about the food we eat is a great way to enjoy our everyday life and “savor” (notice the pun) the small things.
I want to share with you a compilation of 20 recipes from across the web that I think would be delicious additions to our Fall menus. Some are similar to our family’s go-to’s, and some just sound delightful. Perhaps we can both find fresh inspiration.
1. Chicken Pot Pie with Biscuit Top
Easy Chicken Pot Pie Casserole with Biscuits – Tasty Home Journal
We love this meal at our house, and I make a version of this recipe often, especially in the cooler months. It’s basically stew and biscuits, but it feels way more fun serving it as a one-dish meal.
Some swaps you could try are ground beef instead of chicken (it works just as well), potato instead of corn, and fresh thyme instead of dried.
Mouthwatering and nutritious!
2. Carrot Ginger Soup
Creamy Carrot Ginger Soup | Sara’s Plate
This soup just screams Fall. The vibrant color and rich flavors make it a fun addition to your Fall dinner rotation! Thick, creamy and delightful and paired with some crusty toast and cheese, this soup makes a delicious Fall dinner option!
3. Sausage Stir-fry
Sausage Stir Fry (30 Minutes) – iFoodReal.com
Stir-fry is a great way to get in a lot of veggies. Packed with protein, sausage stir-fry is both filling and kid-friendly, as it can easily be disassembled for kids to eat the parts they enjoy. We love stir-fry on noodles or rice.
4. Sourdough Pizza
Easy Homemade Sourdough Pizza Dough Recipe – Farmhouse on Boone
I don’t know about your family, but we eat pizza EVERY Friday night! It’s a tradition that both my husband and I grew up with, and we are happy to keep it going.
This sourdough pizza dough is a great, healthy option for your crust, and it is actually simpler than you might think!
Topped with your favorite proteins, veggies and cheeses, this meal is a definite crowd pleaser.
5. Beef Lentil Spaghetti
Beef Lentil Spaghetti – Thankful Little Mama
Spaghetti is a classic for good reason, but adding lentils to it makes it even more nutritious and cost-effective. Like with the stir-fry, this meal is easy to disassemble for picky eaters and just packed with protein.
6. Split Pea Soup with Ham
Ham is a great choice of meat this time of year, and if you have leftovers from your Thanksgiving dinner, this soup is a great way to use them up! Paired with some creamy split peas, this soup is oh so yummy.
7. Scalloped Potatoes and Ham
Scalloped Potatoes and Ham – CookitYum
Another way to use that delicious ham is in scalloped potatoes. Scalloped potatoes don’t need to just be a side dish. They can be the MAIN DISH, and boy is it a delicious one!
This is also a great way to use fresh garden potatoes if that’s something you have on hand! Simple ingredients. Delectable result.
8. Tamale Pie
Who doesn’t love cornbread and Mexican food? This casserole is rich with meat, vegetables, and terrific spice.
An ode to summer and a welcome of Fall – tamale pie seems to be both.
9. Chicken Greek Bowls
Greek Chicken Bowls – Thankful Little Mama
Adding different flavor profiles and ethnic foods to your meal rotation is a great way to change things up and keep dinner time from becoming boring. I love Greek food. It feels special and satisfying. This is a fun recipe and can be served either on its own or in a pita or wrap.
10. Chicken Noodle Soup
Rotisserie Chicken Noodle Soup • Food Folks and Fun
I sometimes forget how good chicken noodle soup is. But it really is such an appetizing dish. It’s also a great option if sickness has hit your house. That chicken broth is so nourishing any time of year, but especially as the weather gets cooler.
I recently made a version of this dish and photographed it below. Subbing ingredients for what I had on hand worked great!
11. Chili
Best Healthy Ground Beef Chili Recipe
Easy Slow Cooker Chili Recipe: 7 Surprising Reasons to Try
I love chili. It’s like a hearty soup packed with protein and flavor. Perfect for simmering on the stove or an easy crockpot meal, chili is especially great for these chilly nights (see what I did there?). We like to sub the beans for red lentils in our chili, but there are so many variations, you’re sure to find one you love! I’ve included recipes for both the stove-top and crockpot methods above.
12. Shepherd’s Pie
Shepherd’s Pie with Ground Beef Recipe – The recipe mingle
Topped with creamy mashed potatoes, this meal is homey in the best way. I personally love adding garlic and dill to the top layer and using peas and carrots for the veggies, but it really can be customized with what you have on hand.
13. Quiche
Quiche is a fun dinner choice, and it can be really easy too! While you can opt to make a crust, you can also buy a prepackaged one at the store for next to nothing! Throw some eggs, milk, veggies, and cheese in there. Maybe add a little bacon, ham or sausage. There are countless flavor combinations, and as long as you leave enough time for it to bake, quiche is a light, fun, and filling meal.
14. Meatloaf
America’s Most Craved: The Classic Meatloaf Recipe Taking Over Kitchens
What’s more “down-home” than meatloaf? Basically a brick of delicious protein, meatloaf will fill your belly and satisfy your palate at the same time!
Add a side of mashed potatoes, gravy, and veggies, and you’ve got a feast!
15. Cozy Beef Béchamel
Cozy Beef Béchamel – Thankful Little Mama
This recipe is cozy yet simple, made with only a few basic ingredients. There are also so many variations you could make. You might swap beef for chicken or fish, noodles for rice, or even add some lemon juice or parmesan cheese to take it a step further!
16. Lasagna
Classic Beef Lasagna: Clara’s 9 Amazing Layers – 911recipes.com
If you have a little time on your hands, lasagna is a great dinner choice! Cheesy, beefy, and pasta-rich, this is one of the most scrumptious foods in my books. Lasagna ticks the box for flavor, and you will be left satisfied after this one for sure!
17. Beef Stew
Autumn Harvest Beef Stew: An Incredible Essential Recipe for Fall – coookly.com
Easy Crock Pot Beef Stew Recipe for Comfort Meals – Spice & Bloom
I remember my Mom making beef stew in the crockpot (see both methods above). She would make it on days she worked. Putting it in the slow cooker early and letting it simmer all afternoon, she ensured we could have a hearty, easy supper that night.
Paired with some bread or biscuits, beef stew is simple and always a winner!
18. Chicken Broccoli Casserole
This is another classic from my childhood. Topped with toasted breadcrumbs, this creamy broccoli and chicken casserole is perfect for a bed of rice on a cold Autumn day. Fragrant curry and decadent cheese combine to make a scrumptious comfort food.
While this recipe calls for cream of chicken soup, I have also had success using Greek yogurt and/or mayonnaise. If using Greek yogurt, just make sure to add extra salt.
Bon Appetit!
19. Creamy Salmon Pasta
Salmon Pasta Creamy Garlic Sauce – Recipesinspired
It can be hard to eat enough fish. It may not be your favorite choice of meat or it may not seem as filling of a meal for your hungry family. But putting it into a cream sauce and layering it on top of pasta is a great way to substantiate your seafood and make it even more inviting!
20. Pumpkin Waffles
Guide to Perfectly Crispy & Fluffy Pumpkin Waffles – mommyplate
Who says waffles just have to be a breakfast item? Waffles for dinner on a relaxing Saturday sounds lovely. Better yet, pumpkin waffles.
Full of Autumn spices, these waffles are the perfect carrier for some maple syrup or an apple compote. Lather them in peanut butter or dress them in butter and cinnamon sugar, and you’ve got one rich dinner!
And there you have it! 20 Delicious Fall Dinner Ideas. I hope you can come away with at least a few recipes to try this season!
Happy cooking!
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