31 Quick and Easy Fall Meals Ready in 20 Minutes

Apple-Pecan Pork Chops

This easy fall dinner recipe will help you forget about dry pork chops. Searing them in a skillet keeps them juicy, plus we smothered them with saucy apples and pecans. Make this delicious savory recipe for apples right after you get back from a visit to the orchard.

Turkey Steaks with Spinach, Pears, and Blue Cheese

Instead of spending all day in the kitchen, you can be transported straight to Thanksgiving dinner in just 20 minutes. If you're looking for easy fall dinner ideas, try this tasty turkey dish that combines sweet seasonal pears with tart blue cheese and fresh spinach. Everyone will want to snap a photo of this pretty dish before digging in.

Broccoli-Potato Soup with Greens

A cheesy potato soup that is ready in less than 15 minutes? You betcha! Gouda cheese lends a bit of smokiness to this quick, hearty soup that is packed with greens (such as curly endive, chicory, romaine, escarole, or spinach). Serve with whole-grain crackers or a slice of crusty bread.

• Our Best-Loved Soup and Stew Recipes

Ham and Pea Tortellini

Make sure to save some leftover ham from your holiday dinners for this quick and easy fall dinner idea. That cooked ham gets tossed with cheese tortellini and peas in a buttery and cheesy sauce. Reserve a bit of your cooking liquid from boiling the tortellini to add to your dish if it needs a little more moisture.

Turkey Spinach Toss

In this bright, heart-healthy dish, oranges add a light citrusy touch while seasoned turkey tenderloins, ham, and spinach add protein for a quick dinner (or lunch) that takes just minutes to assemble. To round things out, serve your turkey spinach toss alongside a loaf of crusty whole grain bread or whip up a batch of our Whole Grain Sunflower Bread.

Tuscan Bean Soup

Soup is one of the best fall dinners to warm up from the chilly weather. Try our Tuscan take on bean soup, complete with fresh veggies and Italian seasonings. This simple fall recipe also freezes well. Transfer your soup to a freezer-safe container (leaving a little space at the top) and freeze up to three months.

Pineapple-Chicken Meatball Stir-Fry

When we think of easy fall dinner recipes, it's a plus if the entire meal is made in just one pot or skillet. That's where this delicious fall recipe comes in. A few shortcut supermarket ingredients (canned pineapple and chicken meatballs) make this super-fast stir-fry an appetizing option for any night of the week. Add some red pepper flakes to the recipe if you like some spice and serve with your favorite rice.

Chunky Bean and Chicken Chili

Nothing says fall quite like a steaming bowl of chili. While many chili recipes take a couple of hours to simmer, this one's ready to go in just 20 minutes. When you dive spoon-first into your bowl of chicken and cannellini beans topped with crispy tortilla chips, this will quickly become one of your favorite easy fall dinners.

Pan-Seared Five-Spice Scallops

If you've never had Chinese five-spice powder before, you're in for a real treat. It's delicious any time of the year, but the blend of pepper, cinnamon, cloves, fennel, and star anise seems especially fitting for fall. This quick and easy fall recipe uses those aromatic spices to season mouthwatering scallops. Serve with some hot cooked brown rice or quinoa to complete your fall dinner.

Cheesy Tilapia Panini with Apple-Carrot Slaw

Want to know the best way to eat these cheesy fish sandwiches? Top this fall recipe with a forkful of our fresh four-ingredient slaw. Though a sandwich might be simpler to prepare than some other easy fall dinners, it will for sure hit the spot on busy weeknights.

Minestrone

Brisk fall nights call for cozy, comforting dinners. This quick and easy soup recipe fills the bill. It's filled to the brim with chickpeas, bell peppers, spinach, and pasta. When the season turns, make sure you have this soup saved on your list of healthy fall dinners. For a different take, try swapping the chickpeas in the recipe for cooked chicken or browned Italian sausage.

Wilted Cabbage and Brats

We usually think of summer when we're cooking bratwurst, but fresh apples help lend a touch of fall flavor to napa cabbage and smoked bratwurst. A sour cream, sage, and Dijon-style mustard dressing adds zest to this 20-minute dinner that's great for early fall when you're not quite ready to let go of summer.

Caliente Pot Roast

Adding a bit of heat to your dinner is a great way to warm up fast on chilly fall evenings. And spice just happens to be the secret to this Mexican-inspired meal. We've doctored up some pre-cooked pot roast with Picante, a pureed sauce made from veggies and spices for an extra-special kick. Not a fan of spice? Use mild salsa or pico de gallo instead. Make sure you start boiling your broth for couscous while the pot roast simmers so your fall dinner will be ready in 20 minutes.

Buy It: Anolon Nonstick 2-Quart Hard-Anodized Aluminum Saucepan ($50, Bed Bath & Beyond)

Chicken Sausage, Veggie, and Ravioli Soup

Cooked chicken sausage and refrigerated ravioli make this fall dinner recipe a breeze. Add some quick-cooking veggies (asparagus, peppers, and onions) to the pot, and you've got a complete meal ready in no time. No sausage on hand? Try using shredded rotisserie chicken instead.

Buy It: Lodge 6-Quart Dutch Oven ($80, Target)

Chorizo Quesadillas

Five minutes in the oven, and these cheesy quesadillas are ready to go. Instead of shredded chicken or beef, we use smoked chorizo sausage to make this recipe a 20-minute meal. This easy, comforting recipe was made for a chilly night in.

Garlic-Lime Pork with Farro and Kale

Impress the entire family with this zesty, healthy fall recipe. It's got chewy-nutty farro, so you can count on getting your whole-grain fix for the day. Once you master this easy dinner recipe, you'll always be 20 minutes away from a restaurant-quality meal.

Chicken with Capers

This lightly breaded chicken recipe may look complicated, but you really can make it in just 20 minutes. Not only does this easy fall dinner come together super fast, it also packs a whopping 42 grams of protein per serving. Fresh green beans make a vitamin-rich side for this quick chicken dish.

Greens, Beans, and Ham

This one-step dish is as simple as tossing five ingredients into a skillet. But even though this quick fall dinner is easy, it tastes just as good as any hour-long version. If you're using frozen spinach, make sure you thaw and drain it well so you don't end up with a watery dish.

Beef and Cabbage Wraps

This recipe is somewhere between a taco and a wrap. No matter what you want to call them, it's a sure winner for your easy fall dinner menu. For minimal fuss, season these five-ingredient wraps with bottled barbecue sauce. Allow your tortillas to get nice and warm in the oven, wrapping them with foil so they don't dry out.

20-Minute Ramen Noodle Bowls

Yes, you can quickly make ramen at home. We still use the noodles, but to avoid the salty flavor packets that come with the package, we've made our own broth base and added some bottled peanut sauce to amp up the flavor profile. Change it up even more with our eight variations to try, including Thai-inspired curry, tofu-sesame, and teriyaki.

Quick Mu Shu Pork

When you are craving takeout but need something faster (and cheaper), try this quick mu shu pork recipe. Ready in just 20 minutes, this Asian-inspired fall dinner recipe is full of fresh mushrooms, shredded cabbage, and green onions. Serve it with warm tortillas and some plum sauce (or sriracha if you're craving some spice).

Grilled Cheese and Fruit Sandwich

We're upgrading your grilled cheese game by topping it with fresh fall pears and some sweet fig jam. Add a little crunch with sliced almonds or chopped pecans for a standout sandwich that deserves a regular spot on your menu. It's an easy fall dinner that's perfect for those nights when you're craving a simple (but delicious) meal.

Beef and Blue Pizza

You can always order takeout, but it just doesn't compare to this homemade 20-minute recipe. Faster than you can call for delivery, you'll have a gourmet pizza complete with crumbly blue cheese and hearty slices of roast beef on a golden-brown crust. The combination of roast beef, red onions, and red peppers topping this pizza make it a great fall recipe.

Lemon-Ginger Fish

This simple, flavorful fish dish takes just 20 minutes to create; so it's perfect for a weeknight meal or as a quick dinner to impress guests. Cook the cod in a skillet with a lemony-ginger sauce and serve it over a bed of wilted spinach. You can also try a variation using oranges, red pepper flakes, and fresh or frozen fillets of salmon.

Mediterranean Lentils

Enjoy your best gluten- and meat-free Monday yet, courtesy of this hearty lentil salad. This 20-minute dinner is loaded with artichokes, cucumbers, and tiny tomatoes, making it the perfect veggie-filled fall meal. Use up the last of your fresh summer veggies and pair them with hearty lentils to welcome fall with this easy dinner.

Spicy Beef-Noodle Bowl

Running late? No problem! You can get this broccoli and beef Asian-inspired noodle dish on the table in a flash thanks to using purchased peanut sauce. Though you probably enjoy beef and broccoli year-round, there's something about this recipe that makes it especially satisfying in the fall.

Buy It: Thai Peanut Sauce ($4, Target)

Jamaican Pork Stir-Fry

Stir-fry might not come to mind when you think of autumn recipes, but this fall meal is perfect for a cold fall night. Juicy pork and seasoned veggies are tossed in a sweet plum sauce, then sprinkled with peanuts in this mouthwatering stir-fry recipe. No matter how chilly it is outside, this warm and cozy dish hits the spot.

Buy It: Cuisinart Pre-Seasoned Steel Wok ($45, Crate & Barrel)

Reuben Sandwiches

It's melty. It's cheesy. It's the quickest and best sandwich you'll have all week. Have a little extra time? Imagine how yummy this fall dinner would be alongside a warm bowl of soup! Grill your Reuben in a panini press or place your sandwiches in a hot skillet for 4 to 6 minutes for that ooey-gooey diner-style finish.

Turkey-Spinach Toss

When you're craving a simple and fast dinner, you'll want to have this recipe handy. Pepper-seasoned turkey breast, deli ham, and juicy oranges top fresh wilted spinach, and the cooking juices become a yummy dressing for this easy fall recipe. This quick fall dinner may remind you of a roasted turkey dinner that takes much less time to prepare.

Smoked Turkey Panini

Almost as good as Thanksgiving leftovers, this turkey panini has fresh spinach leaves, crunchy walnuts, and a zesty bruschetta topper. It is one fall dinner recipe that's sure to please everyone at your table.

Cobb-Style Hot Dogs

As the weather gets chilly, take advantage of nice days to get in some last-minute grilled fall dinner recipes (or make good use of your indoor grill). Whether you're tailgating at home or looking for a unique recipe for fall, this tasty dog topped with crispy bacon, juicy cherry tomatoes, crunchy iceberg lettuce, and a creamy yogurt and basil dressing is top notch.