21 Easy Dinner Ideas for the Shorter Days Ahead
Whip these up as soon as the sun goes down.
Fall is all fun and (football) games until daylight saving time hits. And then bam! The days are suddenly so much shorter and colder. Sigh. But the good news is that you can dive head first into cozy comfort food season! That doesn't mean you have to spend hours doing it, though. Shorter days call for the kind of fast fall dinners you'd make on busy weeknights. Because as soon as that sun goes down, everyone will crave dinner no matter what time it actually is.
With that in mind, try these dinner ideas for the shorter days ahead! You'll find plenty of 30-minute meals and one-pot meals that save on prep time and cleanup. You'll also find easy air fryer recipes that whip up in a flash and slow cooker ideas that you can just set and forget until it's ready to eat. (Because why do the work when your appliance can do it for you?) Try assembling some fall casseroles in advance or making big ol' vat of fall soup recipes that you can eat all week or freeze for a future (even shorter) day.
And don't forget that you can still enjoy those fall harvest flavors. Enjoy savory pumpkin recipes, butternut squash recipes, and even some savory apple recipes. They'll provide a lot of extra vitamins and be the kind of energizing foods you need to get through the daylight savings slump. These easy dinner recipes will fill everyone up faster than the sun goes down! Then cozy up and enjoy the long evenings ahead. They'll be around for awhile.
French Onion French Bread Pizza
Combine two comfort foods―French onion soup and pizza―into one easy-t0-make dinner. French bread holds a lot of toppings and makes assembly way faster than pizza dough.
Get Ree's French Onion French Bread Pizza recipe.
Pumpkin Penne alla Vodka
Creamy pasta with a fall twist, coming right up! Adding pumpkin not only adds flavor and nutrients, but extra creaminess, too. It helps the sauce cling to every noodle.
Get Ree's Pumpkin Penne alla Vodka recipe.
Sheet Pan Pork Chops
Throw everything you need for dinner right on a sheet pan: boneless pork chops, Brussels sprouts, plus thinly sliced apples and onions. They all cook together to cut down on prep time.
Get Ree's Sheet Pan Pork Chops recipe.
Minestrone Soup
The easiest and most flavorful way to get your serving of veggies (and then some!) is with classic minestrone soup. It also has beans for added protein, making it perfect for dinner tonight and lunch tomorrow.
Get Ree's Minestrone Soup recipe.
Chicken Carbonara
If you can spare 25 minutes, you can make creamy, dreamy bacon-studded carbonara with chicken for more protein. It’s simple, comforting, and always a crowd-pleaser.
Get Ree's Chicken Carbonara recipe.
Apple Cider-Glazed Salmon
Salmon is one of the easiest types of fish to cook because the fillets won't fall apart on you. Apple cider helps make a sweet and savory glaze that pairs perfectly with potatoes and green beans.
Get Ree's Apple Cider-Glazed Salmon recipe.
Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes
No one will argue with a classic. And if you let the slow cooker do most of the work, you only need 20 minutes of prep time. The low and slow cook method helps develop the sauce's flavor, too.
Get Ree's Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes recipe.
Buffalo Chicken Pasta
It's still football season, so get a taste of tailgating right at home. You can easily adjust the sauce if you want more or less spice. And don't forget the blue cheese and celery toppings!
Get Ree's Buffalo Chicken Pasta recipe.
Pork, Apple, and Sage Meatballs
Savory pork, sweet-tart apples, and herby sage are a perfect flavor match. Serve these easy meatballs on a bed of creamy mashed sweet potatoes for a cozy fall dinner.
Get Ree's Pork, Apple, and Sage Meatballs recipe.
Creamy Butternut Squash Pasta
Fall pasta night is calling! Do yourself a favor and buy butternut squash that's already been cut up for you at the store. It saves so much prep time, especially on a night when everyone is starving.
Get the Creamy Butternut Squash Pasta recipe.
Chicken and Veggie Fall Skillet
Amp up the flavor of chicken thighs, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, and butternut squash with warm spices. Then add a drizzle of balsamic glaze and a sprinkle of pomegranate seeds for a sweet contrast.
Get Ree's Chicken and Veggie Fall Skillet recipe.
Pumpkin Chili
Another idea where adding pumpkin adds creaminess, vitamins, and seasonal flavor? Chili! Plus, you'll have it on the dinner table in less than 30 minutes if you use canned puree.
Get the Pumpkin Chili recipe.
Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan
Two meal hacks ahead! Use store-bought marinara and your air fryer to make chicken parm in a flash. Seriously, it'll all be done in a half hour, and you can boil the pasta at the same time.
Get the Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan recipe.
Hamburger Soup
This soup is full of ground beef, potatoes, and lots of veggies for a soul-warming supper. Plus, it's one of those recipes that can use up what you have in the fridge.
Get Ree's Hamburger Soup recipe.
Chili Mac and Cheese
Why choose between chili and mac and cheese when you can have both with this one-skillet meal? You don't even have to boil the pasta separately, which makes cleanup even easier.
Get Ree's Chili Mac and Cheese recipe.
Orecchiette with Butternut Squash, Kale, and Sausage
Savory kale, sweet butternut squash, spicy sausage: You get all the flavors on one plate! You also get a well balanced meal of veggies, protein, and carbs all in one bite.
Get Ree's Orecchiette with Butternut Squash, Kale, and Sausage recipe.
Slow Cooker Chicken Alfredo
There's something so comforting about a big bowl of creamy pasta. Everything is thrown in your slow cooker earlier in the day, so you can come back for dinner and just dig in.
Get Ree's Slow Cooker Chicken Alfredo recipe.
Hamburger Casserole
You'll thank yourself of assembling this the night before. This casserole is all things saucy, beefy, and cheesy, and all you have to do the next day is top with crispy onions when you go to bake it.
Get Ree's Hamburger Casserole recipe.
Creamy One-Pot Sausage Gnocchi
You just found your new favorite one-pot dinner! With less than 15 minutes of prep work, this dish will be on the table in no time. Serve with garlic bread for an extra cozy meal.
Chicken Spaghetti
This is a Drummond family favorite for reason! It has chicken, cheese, pasta, and even a few sneaky vegetables. You can use store-bought rotisserie chicken to save time. Plus, you can assemble it in advance.
Get Ree's Chicken Spaghetti recipe.
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