5 Fast and Easy, Warm and Hearty Fall Dinners
Cooler autumn days invite a warm and hearty menu to feed your family. Planning for five meals allows for one night out (or take-out) and one night of leftovers – it covers the week!
Dinner 1
- Chicken Noodle* Soup
Homemade stock makes all the difference in flavor for this soup. Make a large batch of stock ahead, and keep it in the freezer for multiple meals. After bringing stock to a boil, add chopped onion, celery, and carrots. Cook for 10 minutes, then add the noodles or pre-cooked rice, and boil for another 10 minutes. Add cooked chicken if you have some available. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Fast and delicious! - Sliced apples
- Cheddar cheese
*Make with wild rice for Gluten-free version
Dinner 2
- Black Bean Burritos
Heat cooked or canned black beans with diced onion and garlic in a little oil. Warm a whole wheat tortilla with shredded cheese in the microwave for 15 seconds. Add a scoop of heated black beans to the tortilla, roll, and repeat until all the burritos are made (if you have extra, refrigerate or freeze for packed lunches). *Customize burritos with your protein of choice, add roasted vegetables, or use different cheeses for lots of variety. - Sautéed Zucchini
Slice zucchini into half-coins, and sauté in olive oil until slightly browned. Season with salt and pepper. - Pico de Gallo
Dinner 3
- Salmon – baked or grilled
Salmon is an easy and healthy main dish — bonus, most children love it. Rub the outside of fresh salmon fillets (skin on) with olive oil. Season with salt and pepper. Grill or bake at 450 degrees for about 10 minutes, or until cooked to desired finish. Allow the fish to rest for about 5 minutes, and remove skin before serving. Top with fresh squeezed lemon juice and fresh or dried dill. - Quinoa
- Roasted Vegetables
Dinner 4
- Fried Rice with Tofu
This delicious recipe from Ellie Kreiger is a satisfying one-dish dinner, but some sweet clementines are a nice compliment. - Clementines
Dinner 5
- Baked Potato Bar
See our post on Baked Potatoes for fast-cooking recipes and lots of topping ideas. - All the Toppings
- Roasted or Steamed Broccoli (to serve on top or on side)
Variations: Add a green salad to any of these dinners and/or fresh fruit for dessert.
Super speedy version: Use prepared ingredients (soup, salsa, shredded cheese) to expedite any of these menus.
Have a great week!
