16 Cozy 15-Minute Fall Dinners

Need a quick dinner idea to make this fall? Try these 16 cozy 15-minute fall dinners when you need dinner on the table fast.

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There is nothing like a cozy dinner on a chilly fall day. It warms you up and soothes your soul. Delicious and hearty casseroles, slow cooker meals, and one-pot recipes are my go-to dinners when the weather starts to cool down.

But, as much as I love these comforting fall dinners, many of them take at least 30 minutes to make. And, as you know this time of year can get crazy busy. Once November arrives, It’s time to start thinking of all the appetizers, side dishes, and desserts that we want to make for our Thanksgiving feast.

Combine all of that with fall activities, school functions, holiday parties, and normal day-to-day stuff that needs to be done, it can sometimes feel impossible trying to fit everything in. I know when I’m having those days the last thing I want to think about is what to have for dinner.

So, that is why I turn to my quick 10-minute and 20-minute meals when I need to get dinner on the table fast. And, although I love those dinners, I wanted to gather up some cozy recipes that would be perfect to enjoy on a cool autumn day that were super quick to throw together. Which is how this list of 16 cozy 15-minute fall dinners was created.

These quick and easy recipes consist of hearty soups, stews, and pasta recipes that are perfect for busy fall weeknights.

Note: Keep in mind to make these simple recipes as quickly as possible, some of them require shortcuts like rotisserie chicken (or already cooked chicken), canned soups, and sauces.

Looking for more quick and easy dinner recipes?

Find soups to warm you up, shortcut chicken recipes, our family’s favorite 15-minute meals, and comforting fall dinners like salisbury steak and pan-fried pork chops and noodles.

Soups/Stews

When it comes to cozy fall dinners, soup is always the first thing that comes to mind. These easy soup recipes only take 15 minutes to make for a quick dinner option.

Pumpkin Soup

Autumn is all about pumpkin and this 15-minute pumpkin soup from Recipe Tin Eats, is the perfect cozy weeknight dinner that your whole family will enjoy.

Tomato Macaroni with Ground Beef Soup

We can’t get enough of this tasty tomato macaroni soup. It’s not only delicious but super simple to throw together. To make this easy 15-minute soup recipe, start out by boiling 1 lb. of elbow macaroni. While the macaroni is boiling, brown a pound of ground beef in a skillet (drain the grease).

Combine the ground beef with 3 cans of tomato soup and 1 can of diced tomatoes (Italian style) in a pot and cook over medium heat. Once macaroni is cooked, rinse and drain, and then carefully add to soup.

Sprinkle some salt, pepper, and garlic powder ( we like to add a splash of soy sauce as well) and cook until heated through.

Ham and Bean Soup

This easy ham and bean soup recipe (Cafe Delites) is perfect for using up leftover ham. However, you can also buy precooked diced ham at the grocery store. A hearty and satisfying soup recipe to warm you up on those chilly fall nights.

Taco Soup

We never miss a taco Tuesday in our home and this taco soup recipe is the perfect addition to our monthly meal plan. This quick and easy 15-minute taco soup recipe from I Wash You Dry will have your kids begging for seconds.

Chili

What is better than a nice hot bowl of chili on a cold autumn day? Add these cheddar biscuits (Sally’s Baking Recipes) and you have an easy fall weeknight dinner option that your whole family will love.

To make this 15-minute chili recipe, start off by cooking 1lb. of ground beef and one onion (chopped) in a skillet. Once it’s cooked, drain the grease, and then add a jar of spaghetti sauce, a package of chili seasoning (we prefer low sodium), a can of kidney beans, and a can of diced tomatoes (chili style or with green chilis). Along with salt, pepper, and garlic powder.

If you find the sauce is too bitter, you can also add a teaspoon or two of sugar. Then, just bring it to a boil for about a minute and then let simmer for about 5 minutes and enjoy. We like to add sour cream and shredded cheddar cheese to the top.

15-Minute Recipes (Made with Rotisserie Chicken)

These recipes all use rotisserie chicken which is the perfect shortcut when making 15-minute dinners. You will find easy chicken and biscuits, chicken nachos, and tasty chicken burrito bowls (my favorite!)

Chicken and Biscuits

This easy chicken and biscuit recipe uses rotisserie chicken but if you have some cooked shredded chicken on hand, you can use that as well. Start by shredding your rotisserie chicken, and add it to a pot with two cans of cream of chicken soup, and a bag of frozen mixed vegetables. Then, season with salt, pepper, and garlic powder (we also like to add a tablespoon of sour cream for a little extra flavor).

While the soup mixture is simmering on the stovetop, bake your biscuits. You can use store-bought refrigerator biscuits or you can make homemade biscuits. (We love this drop biscuit recipe from The Salty Marshmallow.)

Once the soup, chicken, and vegetables are warmed pour over biscuits and enjoy.

Barbecue Chicken Nachos

If you’ve never tried barbecue chicken nachos you are missing out! They are so delicious and this recipe couldn’t be any easier. You can either cook them in an oven or in your air fryer. All it takes is shredded rotisserie chicken mixed with your favorite barbecue sauce added to a baking sheet of tortilla chips and then sprinkled with medium cheddar or Colby-Jack cheese. Then, just bake for about 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted.

Top with sour cream, jalapenos, chopped tomatoes, green onions, and queso sauce.

Chicken Burrito Bowl

Lately, I’ve been obsessed with burrito bowls. I love that they are so customizable and quick to make especially on busy weeknights. It’s become our go-to meal on Taco Tuesdays in our home (we love our theme night dinners!)

To make this easy 15-minute recipe, start by adding cooked white rice to a bowl. I like cooking rice in my Instant Pot so I usually have some on hand but if you don’t have any, Minute Rice cooks up in 5 minutes. Then, I just add black beans, and rotisserie chicken on top along with some lettuce, diced tomatoes, salsa, sour cream, and guacamole. So simple and delicious!

15-Minute Family Favorite Dinners

These delicious family-favorite dinners are hearty and satisfying weeknight dinner ideas. The best part (besides being so delicious) is that they only take 15 minutes to make. Easy kid-friendly recipes that are perfect for picky eaters.

French Bread Pizza

We are a pizza-loving family and have it for dinner at least once a week. However, as easy as homemade pizza is to make, trying to get it done in 15 minutes isn’t really possible.

So, if you want a hearty family-friendly meal and everyone has their heart set on pizza, but you only have a few minutes to get dinner on the table, then try making French bread pizzas. Trust me your family will love them!

You can get all the delicious flavors without the work of making the crust. Just grab a loaf of French bread and slice it in half lengthwise. Spread on your favorite pizza sauce, mozzarella cheese, and pepperoni, and then bake at 450° for 10-12 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Alternatively, you can make homemade garlic bread first before adding your pizza toppings if you would like your French Bread Pizza to be crispier.

Loaded Baked Potato

A loaded baked potato is the perfect quick and easy fall dinner. We like to use precooked bacon to make it even quicker but if you don’t have any on hand, you can cook a few slices of bacon in the microwave for a couple of minutes before you start cooking your potatoes. (It usually takes about 10 minutes to cook the potatoes).

Once the potatoes, come out of the microwave, we immediately cut them open and top with shredded cheddar cheese so the cheese will melt and then we add crumbled bacon, butter, sour cream, and chives. Serve with a side salad or combine with one of the soup recipes above.

Ramen Noodle Stir-Fry

Stir Fry is one of our go-to dinners and when I found this easy ramen noodle stir fry recipe from Averie Cooks, I knew we needed to give it a try. A super flavorful dish that’s quick and easy to make and it has been the perfect meal for busy weeknights this fall.

Breakfast for Dinner

Honestly, breakfast can take as little as 5 minutes and is one of the best ways to get dinner on the table fast. But, if you want to make a big breakfast that consists of eggs, sausage, bacon, and pancakes or waffles (my favorite) then, it takes closer to 15 minutes which is why I’ve included it in this list.

So, if your family loves big hearty breakfasts (like my family) but you never have the time in the mornings or on weekends to make it, then adding it to your dinner rotation is the perfect solution.

Comforting 15-Minute Dinners

When you are looking for something hearty, and satisfying but also comforting that takes only 15 minutes to make, these dinners are it. Find deliciously easy salisbury steak, pasta carbonara, honey garlic chicken and pan-fried pork chops, and buttered garlic noodles.

Salisbury Steak

Salisbury steak is a favorite in our home and since we make it so often, I wanted to come up with a recipe that was not only easy to make but quick to throw together for busy weeknights. So, I decided to use my meatball recipe that you can find in my 35 quick and easy ground beef dinner ideas (I omit the parmesan cheese but everything else stays the same).

Then, I just form the meat mixture into patties and brown the patties in a skillet. While the patties are browning, I sauté some sliced mushrooms in another skillet (you can also cook them in the air fryer if you have one). In a bowl, whisk together two packets of mushroom gravy and then add to beef patties along with the mushrooms and cook until gravy is thickened. Serve with baked potatoes (they can be cooked in the microwave for 10 minutes) or over egg noodles that take 7-8 minutes to boil and a vegetable.

Pasta Carbonara

There is nothing more comforting than a plate full of pasta. When the weather starts to get chilly, it’s one of the first things I add to my meal plan.

This easy 15-minute pasta carbonara recipe (The Busy Baker) is such a simple but tasty recipe that can be made up with ingredients you probably have on hand in your pantry.

Pork Chops and Buttered Garlic Noodles

Pan-fried pork chops are so easy to make and combined with buttered garlic noodles, it’s the perfect hearty and cozy dinner option to make this fall. As you may already know, we like to keep things super simple in our home, So, I usually just season the pork chops with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika (sometimes I will do a splash of soy sauce as well)

Then just cook them for about 4 minutes on each side (if your pork chops are thinner it may only take 3 minutes). While the pork chops are cooking, boil your egg noodles. They should only take about 8 minutes to cook after the water comes to a boil. Drain the pasta, and add 1/4 cup of butter, 1/4 cup of parmesan cheese, and garlic powder to taste. Serve pork chops, and noodles with broccoli, carrots, or a side salad.

Honey Garlic Chicken

This delicious honey garlic chicken (Family Food on the Table) not only takes 15 minutes to cook, but it just needs 5 simple ingredients for a delicious cozy fall dinner your whole family is sure to enjoy.

There you go, 16 quick 15-minute fall dinner ideas for busy weeknights at home. I hope you’ve been inspired to try one of these easy recipes. Enjoy!

Looking for easy dessert recipes to enjoy after dinner?

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