55 Easy Fall Recipes
Fall is a busy season for families, filled with school activities, sports, and preparing for the holidays. But even on the most hectic weeknights, you shouldn’t have to compromise on a good meal. Our roundup of 55 Easy Fall Recipes for Busy Weeknights has you covered. You’ll find everything from comforting Beef Stew to Creamy Chicken Thighs, cozy casseroles, and no-fuss one-pot dinners.
Cajun Chicken Pasta
Our easy one-pan Cajun Chicken Pasta is a surefire crowd-pleaser and delivers both spicy and creamy flavors in one simple pasta dish. Made with seasoned cajun chicken, satisfying penne pasta, and smooth cream cheese, this meal is simple to make yet absolutely delicious.
Get the Recipe: Cajun Chicken Pasta
Shrimp Lo Mein
Cast Iron Chicken Thighs is a rich, creamy, flavorful dish that’s simple to prepare, making it a perfect choice for busy weeknights.
Get the Recipe: Shrimp Lo Mein
Dirty Rice With Sausage
Dirty Rice with Sausage is a one-pot wonder that’ll satisfy even the hungriest of crowds. Ground beef, sausage, and a touch of Cajun seasoning come together in one pot for an easy, flavor-packed meal!
Get the Recipe: Dirty Rice With Sausage
Creamy Chicken Thighs
Cast Iron Chicken Thighs is a rich, creamy, flavorful dish that’s simple to prepare, making it a perfect choice for busy weeknights.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Chicken Thighs
Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta
Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole is the ultimate comfort food and is perfect for midweek dinners. Chunks of juicy chicken, crispy bacon, and tender pasta combined with Ranch dressing and Alfredo sauce and topped with freshly shredded Mozzarella and Cheddar cheese.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta
Tortellini Soup
Our Tortellini Soup is a delicious, hearty soup recipe that’s simple to whip up and perfect for busy weeknights. It’s packed with veggies, a savory broth, and rich cheese tortellini. We’ve also snuck in some fresh spinach for a little boost of protein.
Get the Recipe: Tortellini Soup
Easy Pumpkin Soup Made With Canned Pumpkin
This creamy Pumpkin Soup recipe is savory, gently spiced, and takes less than 30 minutes to make. It’s a last-minute delicious soup you’ll want to make again and again.
Get the Recipe: Easy Pumpkin Soup
Chicken Parmesan
If you are looking for a delicious and easy-to-make dinner the whole family will love, our Chicken Parmesan recipe is for you! Juicy, tender, and crispy breaded chicken is baked to perfection in flavorful tomato sauce and topped with mozzarella and parmesan cheese! What could be better than breaded chicken? It’s got great texture and flavor and is topped with gooey melted cheese! Simple, homemade, and delicious!
Get the Recipe: Chicken Parmesan
Chicken And Rice Casserole
Chicken and Rice Casserole is the perfect comfort food that is both delicious and easy to make. Juicy rotisserie chicken, fluffy rice, and veggies are baked to perfection with bubbly, golden cheese on top.
Get the Recipe: Chicken And Rice Casserole
Pizza Casserole
Pizza Casserole has all the deliciousness of a pizza combined with the comfort of a hearty casserole. It’s a blend of meat, cheese, and pasta. We’ve added an extra twist and turned it into a Meatlover’s Pizza Casserole, combining sweet Italian sausage, beef, bacon, and pepperoni with gooey cheese and tender pasta.
Get the Recipe: Pizza Casserole
Goulash
If you’re looking for an easy-to-make, delicious comfort food recipe, you will love American Goulash. Perfectly cooked ground beef cooked in a deliciously spiced tomato sauce, with tender pasta, and topped with Cheddar cheese.
Get the Recipe: Goulash
Easy Shepherd’s Pie
Our easy Shepherd’s Pie is comfort food at its finest, perfect for feeding the whole family. Its hearty layers of ground beef, peas and carrots, and fluffy mashed potatoes make it a crowd-pleaser.
Get the Recipe: Easy Shepherd’s Pie
Hamburger Soup
Juicy ground beef and a medley of fresh veggies are perfectly seasoned and simmer in a flavorful tomato beef broth and then combined with pasta shells. Juicy ground beef and a medley of fresh veggies are perfectly seasoned and simmered in a flavorful tomato beef broth, and they are combined with pasta shells.
Get the Recipe: Hamburger Soup
Sausage And Hash Brown Casserole
This Sausage and Hash Brown Casserole is the ultimate crowd-pleaser, offering a mouthwatering mix of flavors. Think sausage, creamy cheese, and crispy hash browns—all baked to perfection.
Get the Recipe: Sausage And Hash Brown Casserole
TikTok Spaghetti
It’s the ultimate comfort food – spaghetti, meat, and cheese – transformed into a viral sensation. There’s a reason this recipe keeps going viral. It’s delicious, easy, and takes minutes to prep!
Get the Recipe: TikTok Spaghetti
Lasagna Roll-Ups
Lasagna Roll-Ups are a fun, creative, and delicious twist on traditional lasagna. A lasagna noodle is rolled around a mouth-watering cheese and meat sauce filling.
Get the Recipe: Lasagna Roll-Ups
Crack Chicken Noodle Soup
Our Crack Chicken Noodle Soup is an easy and delicious dinner your whole family will love. We combine tender chicken, velvety cheese, a blend of veggies, a hint of Ranch, and crispy bacon, creating a delicious creamy chicken soup that gives a classic chicken noodle soup a run for its money. It’s a warming, filling meal perfect for busy weeknights.
Get the Recipe: Crack Chicken Noodle Soup
Sausage Lentil Soup
Spice up your winter nights with a steaming bowl of Sausage Lentil Soup! Lentils simmer in a rich beef broth with bacon, onions, and carrots, are seasoned and are finished with beef sausages. Just add thick slices of crusty bread on the side and indulge in this ultimate deliciousness!
Get the Recipe: Sausage Lentil Soup
Lasagna Soup
Dig into a bowl of Lasagna Soup for a cozy, comforting meal that brings all classic lasagna flavors. This hearty soup features Italian sausage, pasta, and a blend of cheeses—ricotta, mozzarella, and parmesan.
Get the Recipe: Lasagna Soup
Krautfleckerl
Krautfleckerl is a rich, hearty fried cabbage and bacon noodle dish with ham and bacon. Experience the warmth and comfort of a traditional German dish with this delicious fried cabbage and noodle recipe: crispy bacon, savory ham, caramelized cabbage and onions, tender pasta, and a hint of nutty Parmesan cheese.
Get the Recipe: Krautfleckerl
Taco Casserole
Who doesn’t love a good taco? This Taco Casserole puts all your favorite taco flavors in one easy-to-make dish. With savory beef, crunchy tortilla chips, and a creamy layer of sour cream, this dish has all the flavors you love.
Get the Recipe: Taco Casserole
Ham And Noodle Casserole
Our family loves this quick and easy, hearty Ham and Noodle Casserole (German: Nudelauflauf mit Schincken). Creamy homemade sauce, chunks of savory ham, and velvety egg noodles unite under a layer of melt-in-your-mouth Swiss cheese.
Get the Recipe: Ham And Noodle Casserole
Chicken Pot Pie Casserole
Welcome to a new spin on a classic! This Chicken Pot Pie Casserole combines the familiar taste of your favorite comfort meal with the ease of a casserole. With a handful of simple ingredients like chicken, vegetables, and biscuits, this recipe promises a satisfying and delectable dish.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Pot Pie Casserole
Meatball Casserole
This Cheesy Meatball Casserole is a hit at any dinner table, full of rich, hearty flavors that will make everyone come back for seconds. It’s made with juicy meatballs, a savory marinara sauce, and topped off with a layer of gooey, melted cheese.
Get the Recipe: Meatball Casserole
Big Mac Salad
Dive into this irresistible Big Mac Salad that puts a fun twist on a classic fast-food favorite right at your own home. This hearty recipe features ground beef, crisp lettuce, melty cheese, and our copycat Big Mac Sauce, bringing you all the flavors of a Big Mac without the bun!
Get the Recipe: Big Mac Salad
Baked Feta Pasta
This Baked Feta Pasta recipe has gone viral on TikTok. Let’s find out why! It’s an amazing, easy pasta dinner with just a few simple ingredients but is full of big flavors. Roasted ripe cherry tomatoes and salty cheese turn into this wonderfully creamy sauce that makes a delicious pasta dish.
Get the Recipe: Baked Feta Pasta
Chicken Chili
This Chicken Chili recipe is a lighter version of the classic comfort food – Chili con Carne. Perfect comfort food that will make you crave for seconds. Juicy chicken and tender white beans are simmered to perfection in a rich and flavorful broth!
Get the Recipe: Chicken Chili
Chicken Meatloaf
Chicken Meatloaf is a great alternative to a traditional beef meatloaf. We combine moist ground chicken with a rich barbecue sauce topping. The added blend of spices and panko bread crumbs ensures a texture and flavor that’s downright irresistible.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Meatloaf
Old Fashioned Potato Soup
This Old-Fashioned Potato Soup delivers a bowl full of hearty satisfaction, perfect for any meal. With russet potatoes, cheddar cheese, and bacon all working together, you’ll wonder why you didn’t make this soup sooner. Like our Loaded Sweet Potato Soup, it’s topped with crispy bacon and cheese.
Get the Recipe: Old Fashioned Potato Soup
Mushroom Pie
This Mushroom Pie is a delicious, surprisingly easy dinner option to pull together. A hearty, vegetable-filled pastry dish ready to serve in less than an hour. A pie lover’s dream come true! It has a buttery, flaky crust and a creamy filling loaded with savory mushrooms and sweet, tender onions.
Get the Recipe: Mushroom Pie
Onion Pie
There’s something supremely comforting about a warm, savory German Onion Pie fresh out of the oven. Imagine a flaky, homemade crust filled with a scrumptious blend of caramelized onions, crispy bacon, and Swiss cheese.
Get the Recipe: Onion Pie
Cheese Spaetzle
You can think of Cheese Spaetzle (Käsespätzle recipe) as German Mac and Cheese. Tender homemade egg noodles are perfectly cooked in a deliciously cheesy cream sauce.
Get the Recipe: Cheese Spaetzle
Lazy Lasagna
Your family will love this delicious, rich, and cheesy Lazy Lasagna recipe. You’ll love this recipe because all you need are four simple ingredients.
Get the Recipe: Lazy Lasagna
Beef Stew
This melt-in-your-mouth Beef Stew is bursting with flavor and texture. Tender beef is simmered to perfection in a roasted garlic red wine beef broth. A medley of root vegetables is cooked with potatoes to create an incredibly hearty dish that is also filling!
Get the Recipe: Beef Stew
Hunter’s Schnitzel
Hunter’s Schnitzel (German: Jägerschnitzel) is the comfort food you’ve been craving, featuring crispy pork cutlets smothered in a creamy mushroom sauce. This dish showcases breaded and fried pork loin cutlets and a decadent mushroom cream sauce with mushrooms, cream, and bacon.
Get the Recipe: Hunter’s Schnitzel
Beef And Bean Casserole
This quick and easy Cheesy Beef and Bean Casserole is a delicious recipe the whole family will love. Tender beef and beans are baked in a delicious tomato-based sauce and finished with gooey melted Cheddar cheese.
Get the Recipe: Beef And Bean Casserole
Paprika Chicken
This Paprika Chicken recipe is a weeknight dinner winner. Tender and juicy chicken smothered in a rich and creamy paprika sauce served over tender egg noodles! Every bite is loaded with sweet, peppery, and zesty flavors.
Get the Recipe: Paprika Chicken
Butternut Squash Soup
Get cozy with a warm bowl of creamy Butternut Squash Soup. This sweet, savory, and earthy soup is irresistible. Butternut squash, sweet apples, bacon, and onion are simmered in a creamy broth until tender and blended to smooth perfection.
Get the Recipe: Butternut Squash Soup
Shrimp And Mushroom Pasta
You won’t believe how delicious this Shrimp and Mushroom Pasta dish is. This recipe is a hit with jumbo shrimp, creamy mushroom sauce, and a splash of red wine!
Get the Recipe: Shrimp And Mushroom Pasta
Corn Casserole
In this recipe, we give a beloved traditional dish a spicy, smoky twist as our Corn Casserole marries old-fashioned comfort with an irresistible, contemporary spin. We create a delightful blend of familiar ingredients like the Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix, sour cream, and cheddar cheese, adding a playful kick with jalapenos and adding warmth with a dash of smoked paprika.
Get the Recipe: Corn Casserole
Potato Pancakes
Classic German Potato Pancakes (German: Kartoffelpuffer) are made from freshly grated potatoes fried to golden brown perfection. Crispy on the outside, tender and juicy on the inside.
Get the Recipe: Potato Pancakes
Shrimp and Mushroom Pasta
You won’t believe how delicious this Shrimp and Mushroom Pasta dish is. This recipe is a hit with quickly sautéed shrimp, a rich mushroom cream sauce all tossed tossed with your favorite pasta.
Get the Recipe: Shrimp and Mushroom Pasta
Instant Pot Cauliflower Soup
This quick homemade soup recipe is jam-packed and full of flavorful vegetables – the simplest of ingredients. Made in the Instant Pot, this cauliflower soup is the perfect meal for a cozy weeknight dinner – it’s made from scratch and is super comforting and flavorful.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Cauliflower Soup
Pumpkin Coconut Soup
This rich and Creamy Pumpkin Coconut Soup made with pumpkin purée and coconut milk is packed full of flavor and ready in 20 minutes.
Get the Recipe: Pumpkin Coconut Soup
Pork Loin with Apples
Roasting a Pork Loin with Apples is quintessential fall cooking. This easy pork loin roast is perfect for Sunday suppers, whether just the family or hosting guests. The great part is with all the apples and onions in the recipe.
Get the Recipe: Pork Loin with Apples
Pierogies And Kielbasa Skillet Recipe
This Pierogies and Kielbasa Skillet Recipe is a hearty, family-friendly meal that is easily prepared. The Polish sausage and pierogies is a 30-minute dinner prepared in one skillet and loaded with flavor.
Get the Recipe: Pierogies And Kielbasa Skillet Recipe
Slow Cooker Pulled Beef for Sandwiches or Tacos
Slow Cooker Pulled Beef is a savory, tender recipe for your shredded beef sandwiches or sliders, or to eat by itself! Includes an easy au jus dipping sauce recipe.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Pulled Beef for Sandwiches or Tacos
Chicken and Broccoli Lasagna
Layers of shredded chicken, chopped broccoli, and lasagna noodles are covered in a rich and savory Alfredo sauce and melty mozzarella cheese. This hearty Chicken and Broccoli Lasagna recipe is an indulgent dinner your entire family will devour in minutes!
Get the Recipe: Chicken and Broccoli Lasagna
Dutch Oven Beef Stew
Cozy comfort food at its best, this Dutch Oven Beef Stew cooks low and slow in your oven for meltingly tender results. It’s naturally gluten-free, high in protein, and packed with veggies. Try this recipe for your next family dinner with its classic flavors, it’s something the whole family will love. Fall-apart tender beef coated in a savory gravy with tender potatoes, carrots, and peas makes this a one-pot meal you can rely on.
Get the Recipe: Dutch Oven Beef Stew
Maple Mustard Glazed Chicken
Maple Mustard Glazed Chicken is an easy, sweet, and savory one-skillet chicken dinner recipe that’s perfect for fall dinners.
Get the Recipe: Maple Mustard Glazed Chicken
Crusted Chicken Romano with Lemon Butter
This Easy Crusted Chicken Romano Recipe is a tender, juicy chicken cutlet pounded, coated with Romano and Parmesan Cheese, and sauteed in lemon butter sauce. This simple, delicious recipe with a crispy coating is packed with flavor and tastes lovely! It’s a recipe you and your whole family will enjoy.
Get the Recipe: Easy Crusted Chicken Romano with Lemon Butter
Beef Rouladen
To make these mouthwatering German Rouladen, we fill a thinly sliced steak with mustard, bacon, onion, and pickles. Braise in a red wine sauce until they are tender and irresistibly delicious.
Get the Recipe: Beef Rouladen
Pork Tenderloin With Creamy Mushroom Sauce
My favorite kinds of dinners are the ones that are easy and affordable yet taste like a million bucks. Enter Pork Tenderloin with Creamy Mushroom Sauce. Quick enough for a weeknight yet fancy enough for date night this pork tenderloin is a meal fit for any occasion and is ready in under 30 minutes.
Get the Recipe: Pork Tenderloin With Creamy Mushroom Sauce
Beef Shank Stew
Are you looking for a comforting and nourishing meal on a chilly day? This delicious and easy-to-make Beef Shank Stew is packed with protein-rich beef, various vegetables, and flavorful seasonings. It’s a convenient and budget-friendly option for a cozy dinner at home.
Get the Recipe: Beef Shank Stew
Homemade Sourdough Bread Bowl
Are you looking for a fun and delicious way to enjoy your favorite soups? Look no further than this delicious homemade sourdough bread bowl recipe. These edible vessels are not only a delightful way to serve your creamy soups, clam chowder, french onion soup, roasted butternut squash soup, or any other warm comfort food but also a testament to your homesteading and homemaking skills.
Get the Recipe: Homemade Sourdough Bread Bowl
Maike Corbett is the founder and food blogger of Cheerful Cook, a popular recipe website featuring comfort food recipes from the US and Germany. She has been featured in numerous media outlets, including the AP Wire and MSN.