Cozy Dinner Ideas For Fall (or all year long, really)

The trees are changing colors for my favorite time of year. Let’s snuggle up by the camp fire and channel all those comfort food vibes! Cozy dinner ideas… here we come!

During the summer-to-fall transition month of September, I just love busting out those recipes that make you feel all warm and fuzzy. Simply click on the title to be taken to the full blog post + recipe (and videos!). Below we have 30ish-minute dinners + meals that make your house smell amazing. Happy fall, ya’ll.

WATCH OUR ROUNDUP ON THE GRAM!

30-ish Minute Dinners:

ITALIAN SAUSAGE PASTA WITH BROWN BUTTER AND HERBS:

When it comes to a hearty dish that will truly satisfy the masses, there’s nothing tastier than Italian Sausage Pasta made from scratch. I absolutely adore easy pasta recipes during the fall and winter months. With busy weeknights, there’s nothing like getting dinner on the table in a flash.

BETTER THAN TAKEOUT BUFFALO CHICKEN FRIED RICE:

Upgrade chicken fried rice with all the flavors of buffalo goodness. A super delicious, and unexpected, weeknight meal your family will love. We devour anything “buffalo” here at our house. I’m not kidding.

INDIVIDUAL GEMS OF BACON CHEESEBURGER MEATLOAF:

This cheeseburger meatloaf is a twist on the classic meatloaf. It combines two of my favorite comfort foods and is totally crave-worthy. I primarily work from home, as I need a full kitchen to do my work on a daily basis. Once a week or so I will go to my co-working space for an “admin” day, but most of the time I take over our downstairs while I cook, photograph / video in my studio, and write (Do you know of a co-working space that has a full kitchen? Whew, that would be fun! Let me know!).

SUPER COMFORTING POTATO AND LEEK SOUP:

My husband’s family owned a French restaurant for 30 years. His favorite dish was their potato and leek soup, so here’s my homemade version. I absolutely heart making soup from scratch. There’s something particularly special about gathering ingredients in my kitchen and making something so cozy and delicious. Served here with my Cheddar and Chive Sausage Biscuits.

EASY WEEKNIGHT CHICKEN BACON RANCH PASTA:

Need to feed the kiddos in 30 minutes? Look no further than this Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta. Easy to make, super filling, and extremely tasty! What else could you want? With classes back in session, after-school sports, along with the hustle and bustle of busy schedules… dinner often gets put on the back burner. This recipe utilizes ingredients you most likely have on hand, and comes together in a jiffy. It’s been kid tested (and adult tastebuds approved)… so I know your whole family is gonna love it!

GROUND BEEF BULGOGI BOWLS WITH PICKLED VEGGIES:

Ditch the takeout and make these Beef Bulgogi Bowls at home! With a few shortcuts, these come together in less than 30 minutes. Umm.. yes, please! IYKYK… I heart me some fusion cooking. While I’m not claiming this is a traditional bulgogi recipe, I promise you it’s going to be nothing short of delicious.

QUICK & EASY RECIPE FOR ITALIAN WEDDING SOUP:

My family (along with my neighbors) absolutely swoon over this recipe for Italian Wedding Soup. It’s so flavorful and perfect for fall. This classic soup is hearty, but feels light because of the flavorful broth base. Prepared with veggies, beefy meatballs, and baby pasta pearls (aka Acini de Pepe)… this will certainly satisfy all your comfort-in-a-bowl cravings.

INCREDIBLY YUMMY BUFFALO CHICKEN MEATBALLS:

Next time you’re questioning what’s for dinner, bake up a batch of buffalo chicken meatballs. Don’t forget to top ’em with some creamy buffalo sauce and a sprinkle of savory blue cheese. Serve in a hoagie roll to make the meal complete! Oh, and serve them with a side of my Parm Rosemary Baby Dutch Oven Potatoes!

HIGH PROTEIN HOMEMADE MAC AND CHEESE:

We’re in full-mode evening soccer practice season, so make this High Protein Homemade Mac and Cheese to fuel your child’s energy! Whew, back-to-school has been a big change this year… as BOTH our boys are now in elementary school. From waking up a bit earlier to catch the bus and after-school programs, it’s been a hustle and bustle for sure.

CHEESY HAMBURGER AND RICE CASSEROLE:

A growing-up classic! Hamburger and Rice Casserole is filled with all your comfort food favs: beefy, creamy, cheesy, and super satisfying. I absolutely heart a good, hearty, warm-your-soul casserole this time of year. Don’t you? It’s totally a fall staple! There’s something extra special when the oven is on and those cozy smells of caramelization and savory notes are drifting through the air.

MEALS THAT MAKE YOUR HOUSE SMELL COZY:

MINI CHICKEN POT PIES WITH MUSHROOM GRAVY:

These are incredibly delicious Mini Chicken Pot Pies. Filled to the brim with a hearty veggie gravy, topped with phyllo dough, and herbs. My fourteen-ounce ramekins get quite a bit of attention this time of year. There’s something extra cozy about having your own bowl of piping hot awesomeness.

BRAISED BEEF SHORT RIBS IN RED WINE AU JUS:

Cooked low and slow until they’re fall-off-the-bone fantastic, these beef short ribs turn out to be the coziest main dish. Serve them over parsnip puree (my personal favorite), Yukon Gold Mashed Potatoes, or cooked rice.

OH-SO-DELICIOUS SLOW COOKER BUTTER CHICKEN:

When it comes to the hustle & bustle of back to school, this slow cooker butter chicken saves the day! It’s easy to make and super flavorful. Serve over some rice, a side of my 15-minute Garlic Naan Tortillas, and you’re all set!

ROASTED PORK LOIN WITH APPLES AND FINGERLING POTATOES:

Roasted Pork Loin is an incredibly easy recipe that any home cook can master. Simple enough for weeknight dinner, yet fancy enough for social gatherings. We love serving this main dish with apples, onions and fingerling potatoes for the ultimate feast. Oh, and leftovers taste incredible in sandwiches with our Alabama White Sauce. Hello versatility!

SHREDDED BUFFALO CHICKEN STUFFED SWEET POTATOES:

I love making shredded buffalo chicken in a pressure cooker or slow cooker. The meat is tender, the right amount spicy, and tastes fantastic! Stuffing it into perfectly baked sweet potatoes will blow your tastebuds away, I promise you that!

CLASSIC LASAGNA RECIPE (3 GENERATION FAMILY RECIPE):

Some of my favorite childhood memories come from cooking with my Grandma June. This classic lasagna recipe is a true family staple. Seriously, it’s so grand. Of course, I’ve put my little spin on these recipes over the years… but whenever I bust out my old index card recipe box with her handwriting, it immediately puts a smile on my face.

GRANDMA JUNE’S HOME-STYLE CHICKEN MEATLOAF:

Speaking of my grandma, when it comes to comfort food… her Chicken Meatloaf always comes to mind. Easy to make, tastes delicious, and filled with memories. My grandparents lived in Florida most of my childhood. I’d go visit every other summer, and I always remember my sweet grandma in the kitchen. It was a special time for me, as I grew up with my brother and dad… which neither of them cooked (microwave burritos were a normal dinner offering). So when she moved to California after Hurricane Charlie, she got a place 30-minutes from my house! I was in my early 20’s then, and I’d go visit her almost every weekend. We’d go thrift shopping, we’d sit and have a champagne happy hour, and we’d cook some of her old school recipes from her hand written cookbook. Oh how much I wish I had that book. Now I make her recipes from memory.

SKILLET CHICKEN TAMALE PIE WITH CHEESY CORNBREAD:

When it comes to making the ultimate chicken tamale pie, you gotta add a cheesy cornbread topper! Comforting, savory, with crusty edges. YUM! Garnish with all your fiesta favs and you’ve got yourself a marvelous meal. Growing up in California, Mexican food was pretty much always on the table. Whether it be these Green and Red Enchiladas with my Homemade Spanish Rice, waking up to Chilaquiles for breakfast (my favorite!), or our take on Taco Bell’s Mexican Pizzas. They’re all so yummy.

CLASSIC DUTCH OVEN POT ROAST OVER WHITE CHEDDAR GRITS:

When it comes to a Dutch Oven Pot Roast, everyone needs a classic version in their recipe rolodex. Hearty, comforting, and totally satisfying. If you’ve visited my little slice of the internet before, you’re well aware that we love Pot Roast. I actually have one cooking as I’m writing this (it’s a variation of Mississippi’s greatest… stay tuned), but I’ve also made this Whole30 version, Chipotle braised for spicy lovers, and Pot Roast Sliders for entertaining.

PERUVIAN CHICKEN RECIPE WITH AJI VERDE SAUCE:

Let’s dive into the international flavors of this Peruvian Chicken recipe! This dish is savory, spicy, and so incredibly delicious. My mom was born and raised in South America. She used to make many addicting recipes, but this protein-packed meal was one of my favorites. Whole chicken is marinated, oven-roasted, and served with a homemade green-herby sauce. I usually serve mine with Traditional Peruvian Rice, but you can also plate it with these Air Fryer Potato Wedges, Fried Plantains, Authentic Spanish Rice, or this Low-Carb Cauliflower Peruvian Chimichurri Rice.