Recipes Everyday Cooking Quick and Easy Main Dishes 30 Lazy Fall Dinners You'll Never Get Tired Of These seasonal favorites are great all season long. By Keaton Larson Keaton Larson Keaton Larson is a SEO writer for Allrecipes. He has worked in the front and back of house of many restaurants, doing everything for serving and hospitality to cooking, preparing pizza dough, or pressing tortillas. Keaton graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles in 2021 with a bachelors degree in English and a minor in professional writing. Allrecipes' editorial guidelines Published on September 18, 2024 Close Photo: DOTDASH MEREDITH FOOD STUDIOS Fall can be a busy season—and once the holidays arrive, it can be tough to find the motivation to cook on the days we don't want to do anything. That's why we put together this collection of our 30 "laziest" recipes, from casseroles to soups and salads. Some just use one pan, others only a baking dish. Some take longer while others are done in a half hour. Either way, all these recipes are fall-focused, have simple steps, and take advantage of herbs, spices, and seasonal flavors. 01 of 30 Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese Dotdash Meredith Food Studios Here's a great rendition on an easy and cozy classic. "Butternut squash mac and cheese is a great way to incorporate cooked squash into a family favorite pasta dish. It's rich, cheesy, and absolutely delicious!" says recipe creator bwayfreak3. View Recipe 02 of 30 Beet Salad with Goat Cheese Dotdash Meredith Food Studios "This delicious beet salad with creamy goat cheese, maple-candied walnuts, and a tangy orange and balsamic vinaigrette is a beautiful way to serve beets," says Allrecipes member Donna. We agree. This recipe has over 400 reviews and 5-star ratings. View Recipe 03 of 30 Best Butternut Squash Soup Ever Fall season is soup season. If you want a delicious soup with little hassle, this one is for you. "This butternut squash made with chicken broth is slightly sweet. It's one of the best soups I've had in a while!" says Allrecipes member Chester. View Recipe 04 of 30 Gourmet Mushroom Risotto DOTDASH MEREDITH FOOD STUDIOS I discovered risotto later than I would have liked. To make up for it, I eat it as often as possible in the fall. This recipe is an easy and comforting one-pan dinner that does not need your constant attention. "This mushroom risotto is cooked the slow and painful way, but-oh so worth it," says recipe creator Myleen S. "Complements grilled meats and chicken dishes very well." View Recipe 05 of 30 Cedar Planked Salmon Dotdash Meredith Food Studios "This cedar plank salmon is a dish my brother prepared for me in Seattle," says Allrecipes member Wendy Freeman-More. "The salmon is moist, smoky, and by far the best I've ever eaten. I like to serve it with Asian-style rice and asparagus." View Recipe 06 of 30 Easy Pasta Fagioli Dotdash Meredith Food Studios "This hearty pasta fagioli recipe with cannellini beans and ditalini pasta is a classic and deliciously comforting Italian soup. Serve with a grating of Parmesan cheese and crusty bread," says recipe creator Cindy. View Recipe 07 of 30 Easy Chicken Marsala Who doesn't love Chicken Marsala? Here's an easy way to make it. "Chicken breasts are sauteed, then braised in Marsala wine and cream with mushrooms and green onion. Chicken Marsala simplified!" says recipe creator Sara. View Recipe Nicole's Chicken Marsala 08 of 30 Grilled Pork Loin Chops DOTDASH MEREDITH FOOD STUDIOS "A great grilled pork chop marinade that's tangy, a little sweet, and very easy to prepare. The pork loin chops turn out wonderfully tasty with an awesome array of flavors," says recipe creator ScorpioGG. "You might want to throw an extra chop on the grill for leftovers because you will have a craving for it the next day—guaranteed." View Recipe 09 of 30 Fish Chowder Bobby Bats "This fish chowder recipe is one of the best chowders I've had; my kids love it too! The fishermen of Bodega Bay, California, shared this favorite, quick, and easy recipe with my sister during a fish festival," says recipe submitter AMYTHE. "We top the chowder with bacon bits and a few shakes of hot sauce for a little spice. Enjoy!" View Recipe 10 of 30 Air Fryer Spaghetti Squash "Use your air fryer for the easiest and fastest way to cook a spaghetti squash," says Allrecipes Allstar Soup Loving Nicole. "Cutting them in half was intimidating for me until I discovered the microwave hack, which makes prepping a breeze!" View Recipe 11 of 30 Shoyu Chicken With hundreds of 5-star ratings and reviews, this chicken tops the list as a community favorite. Simply marinate your chicken and grill it. "Shoyu chicken is a popular Hawaiian dish often served with rice. The word shoyu is Japanese for soy sauce," says recipe creator The Big E. "Let the chicken soak in the marinade for at least an hour; the longer the better." View Recipe 12 of 30 Instant Pot Mushroom Risotto DOTDASH MEREDITH FOOD STUDIOS If you want to make risotto but can't feel the energy to use a pan, this recipe is for you. "This delicious Instant Pot risotto with tender mushrooms and Parmesan cheese is so simple and fuss-free to make," says recipe creator Shauna James Ahern. "It tastes like a fancy dish ordered at an Italian restaurant! You'll probably start making risotto in your pressure cooker far more often after you try this recipe." View Recipe 13 of 30 Sheet Pan Harissa Chicken Dinner "Spice up your night with this sheet pan harissa chicken. The North African red pepper sauce adds depth and kick to this one-pan meal that's perfect for weeknights," says recipe developer Juliana Hale. View Recipe 14 of 30 Creamy Corn Soup Dotdash Meredith Food Studios "This corn soup recipe is really easy to make, lower in fat than most cream soups, and delicious—especially if you are fighting off a cold!" says Allrecipes member Abby. Take a rest on the couch and let soups do what soups do best. View Recipe 15 of 30 Curry Red Lentil Soup "Clean, delicious, comforting red lentil soup! You can prep dry ingredients and spices, and add whatever veggies you have on hand," says recipe creator Hedz. "I made it with cauliflower, carrots, and kale!" View Recipe 16 of 30 Easy 5-Ingredient Chili Paula Sometimes simple things are the best. That's the case with this recipe. "My father and I created this easy 5-ingredient chili recipe and everyone we have made it for loved it," says recipe creator tenastic66. "It is fast, simple, and delicious." View Recipe 17 of 30 Buffalo-Style Chicken Pizza Dotdash Meredith Food Studios "This Buffalo chicken pizza is a delicious combination of two favorite foods: Buffalo chicken wings and pizza!" says Allrecipes member Brown. Pizza might not seem like the laziest thing, but if you buy a prepared pizza crust, there isn't much else that's simpler. Plenty of home cooks agree. View Recipe 18 of 30 Roasted Fall Vegetable Salad Allrecipes Magazine "Dig into this roasted fall vegetable salad that pairs in-season squash and sprouts with toasted pepitas and fresh herbs," says recipe developer Kathryn Hendrix, RDN, LD. This recipe comes together in a pinch if you want something light. View Recipe 19 of 30 Mexican Casserole wannabe chefette "Chicken breast simmered with a spicy black bean and corn mixture, then topped with cheese and tortilla chip crumbs and baked," says recipe creator SUEZQZ_64. "Easy and quick to fix weekday casserole with a Mexican flair. Nutritious and kid friendly." View Recipe 20 of 30 Sangria Ham Greg M "This recipe requires four hours and twenty minutes and results in the most delicious ham I have ever tasted," says recipe creator Mary Glenn. "Burgundy wine may easily be substituted for the Sangria, and other fruit juices may be added to the blend but the acidity of the pineapple juice and the wine combination is hard to beat for tender moist ham." View Recipe 21 of 30 Grilled Wild Duck Breast Dotdash Meredith Food Studios "This skinless duck breast recipe is a simple way to cook small, wild ducks. It is always a huge hit—like having steak!" says recipe creators Spencer & Serena. "Use the breasts, and save the remaining meat for a stew or stock. If you only have 1 duck, you can also cook the thighs this way." View Recipe 22 of 30 Instant Pot Pork Chops "These pork chops are so easy to make in the Instant Pot," says recipe creator LDMKitchen. "I needed a quick way to cook tender pork chops, and this method did it. My husband and 6-year-old daughter fought over the leftovers!" View Recipe 23 of 30 Bourbon Street Rib-Eye Steak MrB Grilling steaks is a comforting, easy way to get dinner on the table—and this recipe is top tier. "After eating this style of steak in a restaurant a few times, I worked on making my own marinade," says recipe creator Judy Diercks OReilly. "The results are tender and do not have an overbearing bourbon taste. This marinade is very different from the only other one I have seen on this site." View Recipe 24 of 30 Kielbasa with Brussels Sprouts "Kielbasa slices and baby Brussels sprouts cooked with red onion make a hearty main dish," says recipe creator Challengergurl. "I serve this with macaroni and cheese and a loaf of French bread. Even the kids love it! My husband likes to eat his with spicy brown mustard." View Recipe 25 of 30 A Simply Perfect Roast Turkey ALLRECIPES / ANA CADENA If you need a turkey recipe for Thanksgiving or want to practice before the holidays, this recipe lets the oven do most of the work. It's a "simple roast turkey just like grandma used to make. Seasoned with salt and pepper and basted with turkey stock, the flavors of the turkey really stand out," says recipe creator Syd. "Stuff with your favorite dressing." View Recipe 26 of 30 Maple-Roasted Chicken Thighs Sheet pan dinners are always a little lazy. Here's a great fall version. "A little maple syrup brings life to roasted chicken thighs, sweet potato wedges, and caramelized Brussels sprouts. Dried cranberries and pecans add tartness and crunch," says recipe creator Jamie. View Recipe 27 of 30 The Best Parmesan Chicken Bake DOTDASH MEREDITH FOOD STUDIOS "This Parmesan-style chicken bake is done casserole style (so, no breading or frying!), but still offers up that irresistible combination of tender chicken, crunchy-cheesy coating, and flavorful sauce," says Chef John. Lay your ingredients into a baking dish and toss it in the oven. View Recipe 28 of 30 Caramel Apple Pork Chops jayne "Pork chops and apples are spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg in this sweet and savory fall recipe," says one Allrecipes member. "It's a guaranteed favorite for kids. Serve with smashed potatoes and buttered green beans." View Recipe 29 of 30 Shakshuka Dotdash Meredith Food Studios "Shakshuka (or shakshouka) is a traditional Tunisian dish featuring poached eggs in a spicy tomato sauce with onions, bell pepper, and garlic," says recipe submitter Ben. "It's usually eaten for breakfast, but I think it makes a tasty lunch or dinner, served with lots of bread to mop up the sauce." View Recipe 30 of 30 Slow Cooker Ham Dotdash Meredith Food Studios "Slow cooker ham is juicy and delicious with this no-fuss recipe that's perfect for holiday meals," says recipe creator Patricia Anderson. "The only ingredients you need are brown sugar and a bone-in picnic ham." Yes, it's really that simple. Now go spend time with your family. View Recipe More Inspiration Dotdash Meredith Food Studios 7 No-Mess Dinners for Every Night of the Week 15 Simple Dinner Recipes That Start With Potatoes 35 Classic Diner Food Recipes You Can Make At Home Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit