Don’t miss out on the very best fall dinner ideas featuring seasonal produce! Try healthy dinner recipes from cozy pot pie to chili.
Once fall starts, it’s all we can do to hold back on our fall food traditions. There’s the first chili of the season. Then pumpkin cookies and pumpkin bread. And of course, all the squash: risotto, soup, stuffed squash, you name it! Here we’ve compiled a list of all the best cozy fall dinner ideas that embody the coziness and produce of the season. You won’t want to let the season go by without making every single one of these tasty and healthy fall dinner recipes.
And now, our top fall dinner ideas and recipes!
The number 1 must make in our fall dinner recipes: pot pie! This vegan pot pie is a stunner. Earthy carrots, potatoes and onions are slathered in a savory, creamy gravy, along with fried shallots and white beans. And on top, a flaky pastry crust that you won't be able to stop sneaking.
Eat vegan? Try our Vegan Pot Pie with Sage Crust.
What's a fall without wild rice soup? This healthy fall recipe has perfectly tender while rice, surrounded by aromatic veggies in the creamiest sauce possible. It's impossibly creamy yet 100% plant based! This one always gets rave reviews: last time we served it, it was deemed "the best wild rice soup ever"
Try either: Best Wild Rice Soup or Instant Pot Wild Rice Soup.
Take it over the top: Serve with Beet Salad & Fall Sangria!
Here's a classic fall dinner idea: and the smell alone of this butternut squash risotto bubbling away is reason to make it! The tender, caramelized roasted squash makes sweet pockets in the creamy Parmesan rice dotted with sage. And that smell of shallots sauteing in butter, with a splash of white wine? DIVINE.
Here’s an incredible fall dinner recipe that’s impressive every time: these Sweet Potato and Black Bean Enchiladas! It’s stood the test of time and has been a fan favorite for years. Tender sweet potatoes are the perfect contrast to savory black beans and tangy salsa verde. Top it off with Colby cheese, it’s the best gooey comfort food around. This one will please everyone: we guarantee it.
Once it's squash season, you've got to take the chance to make this spaghetti squash spaghetti! Instead of noodles, this fall dinner recipe uses everyone's favorite squash, which when roasted can be scraped out into "noodles". Top with marinara sauce and Parmesan cheese (or vegan Parm) and you've got an incredibly flavorful healthy fall recipe! Serve with goat cheese crumbles, meatballs, or beet salad to make it a meal.
Also try: Best Spaghetti Squash Pad Thai
To cook the squash: Roasted Spaghetti Squash or Instant Pot Spaghetti Squash
People who make this swear it has meat in it, but surprise! It's full of rice, nuts, herbs, and cheese that all together work to make the flavor and texture of meat. You've got to taste it to believe it! It's one of our most popular fall dinner recipes for good reason: it's 100% cozy. Serve with roasted Parmesan Potato Wedges or Roasted Brussels Sprouts.
Here’s a healthy fall recipe you’ll immediately add to your regular rotation…because it’s just that good. Try this White Bean Soup recipe, full of humble ingredients and huge flavor! It’s a new favorite over here, especially now that soup season has arrived. Tender white beans float in the cozy broth with soft potatoes and leafy kale. Lemon zest lends brightness and tarragon brings an herby nuance. It’s made of 100% vegetables and tastes like a dream.
It's not fall if you haven't make pumpkin pasta sauce! Pumpkin puree turns into a creamy, savory sauce when mixed with garlic, spices, and a bit of Greek yogurt. This fall dinner recipe pairs it with doughy gnocchi pillows and gooey goat cheese. It’s probably one of the coziest comfort foods we’ve baked up, and it consistently gets rave reviews! Every time we serve it, it very quickly disappears.
Also try: Pumpkin Pasta Sauce with Penne and Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese
Of course, you've got to have chili as part of your fall dinner idea repertoire! This vegetarian chili is all things cozy, starring beans, corn, bulgur wheat for a little texture, mild green chilis, and a lot of chili powder. Together with our Easy Vegan Cornbread makes for the perfect fall meal (or see any of our 10 Best Sides to Go with Chili).
Other great chilis: 3-Bean Healthy Chili Recipe or Instant Pot Vegetarian Chili
This oblong delicata squash is one of our favorite varieties for fall recipes. A farmer at our farmer’s market convinced us to try it by assuring us it tasted sweet, almost like a sweet potato. Turned out he was right! Here it's turned into filling main dish: it's stuffed with rice, salsa, and black beans, and painted with a chipotle glaze. Yes, you’re going to want to try this ASAP.
Also fun: Roasted Delicata Squash Fries
Ready for the best ever soup? Yes, we’re pulling out the expletives because this one is so delicious, you won’t even remember that you’re doing your body and the planet good. You’ll just feel like you’re wrapped in a cozy hug. Did we mention it’s a totally plant based dinner recipe, too? This healthy fall recipe is ready to amaze you.
Got an Instant Pot? Here's a pressure cooker version: Instant Pot Lentil Soup
Here's the fall-est of the fall dinner recipes: stuffed acorn squash! The squash is roasted until tender, then draped in a toasted pecan rice stuffing that makes your kitchen smell like a fall paradise! You know that scent of onions, celery and leeks cooking in butter? Well, this recipe delivers it in spades. Everyone we’ve served it to becomes a believer…and then immediately asks for the recipe.
Got an Instant Pot? Try Instant Pot Acorn Squash
Why not add cozy mac and cheese into the hall of fame of fall dinner recipes? This mac and cheese is just as gooey as it looks. This is one of our best pasta recipes because everyone who tastes it becomes a believer. The way that the cheese melts in makes the creamiest sauce. Try it with a fancy pasta noodle to mix it up.
Also try: Pesto Mac and Cheese, Gouda Mac and Cheese, White Cheddar Mac and Cheese, or Mac and Cheese with Greek Yogurt
Another in our fall dinner ideas: ready for the coziest, most comforting soup? This curried butternut squash soup tastes like a bowl of sunshine. It’s chock full of beautiful, colorful healthy ingredients, and because it's pureed with chickpeas, it's heartier than most butternut squash soups. The Thai flavors of coconut, ginger and curry are the perfect match to this lightly sweet orange squash! Pair with grilled cheese or fancy quesadilla to make it a meal.
Also try: Instant Pot Butternut Squash Soup, Butternut Squash Lentil Soup, or Easy Pumpkin Soup!
Last up in our fall dinner recipes: these Sweet Potato Black Bean Tacos! Throw almost any seasonal veggies onto a sheet pan, season them up, and they work as a delicious taco filling! The best part: you can add the black beans right on the roasting pan. It comes out zingy and delicious: top with pico de gallo, cheese crumbles, and a dollop of sour cream. Our family couldn’t get enough!
Seasonal fall ingredients
What foods are seasonal in the autumn? Some of the seasonal fall ingredients you’ll see in recipes this time of year (click to see recipes for each):
- Butternut squash, acorn squash, and spaghetti squash
- Pumpkin
- Sweet potatoes
- Brussels sprouts
- Beets
- Cauliflower
- Apples
- Pears
For more: Head to Fall Appetizers, Fall Cocktails, Top Fall Recipes and Fall Desserts to accessorize with these meals. Or try Fall Drinks, Fall Bourbon Cocktails or Fall Vodka Cocktails.
More fall dinner recipes!
In case you’re in need of more inspiration outside of these healthy fall recipes, here are some more favorites:
- 15 Fall Soup Recipes or 12 Hearty Soup Recipes
- Farro & Brussels Sprouts Soup
- Vegetarian Meatballs
- Pumpkin Stuffed Shells
- Quinoa Stuffed Acorn Squash
- Quinoa Vegan Chili
- Roasted Vegetable Lasagna
- Golden Cauliflower Soup Recipe
- Roasted Acorn Squash with Wild Rice Stuffing
Fall Dinner Ideas: Cozy Pot Pie & More!
- Prep Time: 45 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Yield: 8 1x
Description
This cozy fall pot pie recipe is crazy delicious, with a flaky pot pie crust and a savory filling of veggies and Parmesan.
Ingredients
For the crust
- 1 ⅓ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- 2 teaspoons dried sage
- ½ cup cold unsalted butter
- 7 tablespoons ice water, more as needed
For the vegetarian pot pie filling
- 1 large shallot
- 1 15-ounce can cannellini beans
- 5 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- 1 large Yukon gold potato
- 2 medium carrots
- 1 medium yellow onion
- 1 red bell pepper
- ½ tablespoon dried oregano
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 ¾ cups vegetable broth
- ½ cup frozen peas
- ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ cup pesto
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese, large grated
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 450°F.
- Make the crust: In a medium bowl, mix the all-purpose flour, kosher salt, baking powder, and sage. Cut the butter into pieces and drop it into the flour mixture. Use a pastry blender to cut it into the flour mixture until a coarse meal texture is obtained.
- Sprinkle the ice water over the flour, mixing gradually with fork until the dough sticks together. Add additional water by the tablespoon until the dough comes together with your hands, but is not sticky (add a bit more water or flour if necessary). Form the dough into a ball and refrigerate in a covered container until the filling is ready, or at least 30 minutes.
- Make the filling: Slice the shallot into rings. Drain and rinse the cannellini beans in a strainer, shaking them dry. Place a large skillet over medium low heat and add 2 tablespoons olive oil. Add the shallot and beans to the skillet in a single layer. Add a pinch of kosher salt and cook without stirring for 3 to 4 minutes until the bottoms are browned and crispy; the beans will pop a bit so you may want to use a splash screen if you have one. Stir and then cook without stirring for another 3 to 5 minutes until the beans and shallots crispy and fully browned (some may fall apart). Remove from heat and remove the beans to a bowl.
- Meanwhile, dice the potato and carrots into 1/2-inch cubes. Dice the onion and dice the bell pepper into ½ inch cubes.
- In the warm skillet over medium-high heat, add 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Add the potatoes, onion, pepper, and carrots. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the potatoes are tender and may be lightly browned, about 10 minutes. When the potatoes are tender, reduce the heat to low. Add the oregano and flour and stir until the vegetables are coated. Add the vegetable broth, peas, and kosher salt. Stir for about 4 minutes until the broth thickens into a sauce. Remove from the heat and stir in the pesto, Parmesan cheese, and the crispy beans and shallots. Taste and adjust seasoning as desired.
- Pour the filling into a deep dish 9” pie pan or small baking dish, or into several smaller baking dishes. Fill it only up to the top so the filling doesn’t spill out: there might be a small amount of filling left depending on your pie dish and size of vegetables.
- Remove the dough from the refrigerator and roll it out on a floured surface until it is large enough to cover the pan. Work quickly as the dough is easiest to work with while it’s just come to room temperature. Drape the dough over the pan and remove excess dough. Lightly crimp the edges (it’s a rustic pie, so it doesn’t have to be perfect!). Cut 4 small slits to vent for steam in the center of the crust. In a small bowl, mix a few drops of water with 1 tablespoon of olive oil and lightly brush it over the dough.
- Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until the crust is golden and crispy. Place a tray on the rack underneath to catch any spills. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for 5 minutes before serving.
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Fall Dinner Recipes, Pot Pie, Pot Pie Recipe, Fall Pot Pie
A few sweets
OK, we couldn’t resist adding a few fall desserts to accessorize with your meal:
