36 Easy Fall Dinner Ideas, Ranging from Turkey Enchiladas to Marry Me Chicken Gnocchi Soup

• 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.

Pro tip: Buy frozen butternut squash to cut down on prep time (and the hassle of breaking down squash). You could roast it, as the recipe suggests, or steam it to save even more time.

• Time Commitment: 35 to 40 minutes
• Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, kid-friendly
• Serves: 4

These meatballs are beyond tender and loaded with garlicky flavor. Bieber's recipe calls for cottage cheese and ricotta, but if you want to save some money, you can substitute the ricotta for extra cottage cheese. The meatballs will be just as juicy and have a little more protein.

• 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."

• 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."

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

Marry Me Chicken officially became its own flavor profile after the Delish recipe went viral on TikTok, spawning endless riffs on the combination of sun-dried tomatoes, chicken and spinach in cream sauce. Half Baked Harvest's take feels just right for fall, turning it into a decadent soup studded with pillowy gnocchi.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• Time Commitment: 50 minutes
• Why I Love It: kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 4

Chicken pot pie is a fall (and winter) staple, but who has time to fuss with rolling out pie dough, particularly on a busy weeknight? This is where this shortcut recipe comes in. It's topped with store-bought biscuits, saving you serious time and effort but still providing the carb-y comfort you crave. (It also calls for a little bacon, which adds a nice smoky note to the soup.)

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 4

Inspired by the Sweetgreen staple, the Chicken Harvest Bowl combines wild rice, sweet potatoes, kale and Honeycrisp apples for a filling meal that captures all the flavors of fall in every forkful. (Okay, minus pumpkin spice—but I think we can all agree that not everything needs to be doused in that combo of cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, ginger and allspice, right?)

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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).

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.)

• 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).

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.