Fall in 30 Minutes

15+ Best 30-Minute Dinner Recipes To Make This Fall

Fall Favorites: Quick and Delicious Dinner Ideas

As the weather cools down, it’s the perfect time to cook up some hearty and flavorful meals that’ll warm your belly and your home. In this article, we’ll explore 15+ best 30-minute dinner recipes that are perfect for a busy fall evening.

Gnocchi with Bacon & Creamy Pumpkin Sauce

Get into the fall spirit with this one-pan gnocchi with a creamy pumpkin sauce. Some pumpkin and other squash sauces can be cloyingly sweet, but not this one–it’s savory all the way, thanks to the bacon, garlic, and thyme. Serve with a simple green salad for an easy dinner that comes together in 30 minutes.

Apple-Cranberry Spinach Salad with Goat Cheese

The tangy-sweet dressing in this spinach salad beautifully amplifies the apples and cranberries—and the creamy goat cheese transforms it into the perfect salad.

Creamy White Chili with Cream Cheese

This rich, yet healthy, white chicken chili recipe comes together in a flash thanks to quick-cooking chicken thighs and canned white beans. Mashing some of the beans acts as a fast thickener when your soups don’t have a long time to simmer. Cream cheese adds the final bit of richness and a hint of sweet tang.

Italian Wedding Soup

Forget the marble-size meatballs you find in many versions of this Italian Wedding Soup. In this easy recipe, they’re full-size, full-flavored, and plenty filling.

Cheesy Spinach-&-Artichoke Stuffed Spaghetti Squash

This spaghetti-squash-for-pasta swap slashes both carbs and calories by 75% for a delicious, creamy casserole you can feel good about eating. It’s worth roasting the squash versus cooking it in the microwave if you have the time: the flavor gets sweeter and more intense.

Pork Paprikash with Cauliflower "Rice"

Here we use cauliflower "rice" instead of regular rice for a lower-carb meal in this 30-minute pork paprikash recipe.

Scallops with Radicchio-Apple Slaw

The secret to getting a nice golden-brown sear on your scallops is to buy ones that are labeled dry. That means they haven’t been treated with sodium tripolyphosphate (STP), a preservative that helps them retain water, which prevents them from browning well. Serve with roasted potatoes for a complete meal.

Stuffed Sweet Potato with Hummus Dressing

Hearty yet simple to prepare, this stuffed sweet potato with black beans, kale, and hummus dressing is a fantastic 5-ingredient meal for one!

Mixed Greens with Lentils & Sliced Apple

This salad with lentils, feta, and apple is a satisfying vegetarian entree to whip together. To save time, swap in drained canned lentils–just make sure to look for low-sodium and give them a rinse before adding them to the salad.

Tofu & Vegetable Scramble

Feel free to customize this speedy tofu and vegetable scramble with your favorite combination of vegetables and spice. Try to use veggies that will all cook at the same rate, like peppers, green beans, and sugar snap peas.

Chili-Topped Sweet Potatoes

Transform ordinary baked potatoes into a full dinner with these chili-topped spuds. In this healthy recipe, we use sweet potatoes for an added nutrient kick. Sprinkle on extra toppings as you see fit–sliced scallions, chopped fresh cilantro, diced avocado, and sliced jalapeños are all tasty choices.

Garlic Shrimp with Cilantro Spaghetti Squash

Garlicky shrimp are served on top of buttery, cilantro-flecked spaghetti squash in this quick, healthy dinner recipe inspired by shrimp scampi. Pair with a side of sautéed greens, such as kale, collards, or spinach.

Adobo Chicken & Kale Enchiladas

Put out your favorite toppings for these quick and healthy layered enchiladas. We like cilantro, sour cream, guacamole, and jalapeños.

Easy Butternut Squash Soup

Just a touch of brown sugar sweetens this simple soup that gets its creaminess from pureed squash and fat-free evaporated milk.

Honey-Mustard Pork with Spinach & Smashed White Beans

Drizzle the quick honey-mustard pan sauce over the pork and beans in this 30-minute dinner for a comforting, healthy weeknight meal.

Conclusion

These 15+ best 30-minute dinner recipes are sure to become your new fall favorites. With a focus on seasonal ingredients and creative twists on classic dishes, you’ll be cooking up a storm in no time. Whether you’re short on time or just want to try something new, these recipes are perfect for a busy fall evening.

FAQs

Q: What are some other fall ingredients I can use in my cooking?
A: Try incorporating apples, pears, butternut squash, and kale into your recipes for a taste of the season.

Q: How can I make these recipes healthier?
A: Look for lower-sodium options, such as canned beans and whole-grain pasta, and opt for lean protein sources like chicken and turkey.

Q: Can I customize these recipes to suit my dietary needs?
A: Absolutely! Feel free to swap out ingredients and adjust seasoning to suit your taste and dietary requirements.