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When the sun sets on summer, it’s time to break out the warm and comforting meals of fall. As the leaves start to change, so will the ingredients in your kitchen. Think fresh fall squash, beans to make chili, and starches to throw into soups. While fall’s heavier foods lend themselves to feeding a crowd, you can cook for far fewer people this season with the following selection of small-scale dishes. If you’re having a quaint night in or just trying to use up leftover ingredients, these fall recipes for two are the perfect meal options.
Chicken Parmigiana
You don’t have to go to an Italian restaurant for a fancy dinner. This breaded Chicken Parmigiana is delicious served over your favorite pasta and with a side of greens. “After several Chicken Parm recipes THIS is THE ONE! I’ve finally found one that we all love! It’s simple and it’s darned good. I will definitely make this recipe again and again,” says reviewer STARCHILD1166.
One-Pot Sausage and Peppers Rice Cooker Meal
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
“The definition of a cozy, flavorful, hearty dump meal.” —Nicole Hopper
Chef John’s Chicken and Mushrooms
Five simple ingredients are all you need to make Chef John’s Chicken and Mushrooms. This recipe incorporates the tasty flavors of butter, mushrooms, and chicken, and is ready in less than an hour for a quick weeknight dinner.
Roasted Spaghetti Squash with Ground Turkey and Vegetables
Spaghetti squash is a low-carb alternative to pasta, but it doesn’t skimp on flavor. This roasted version is stuffed with ground turkey, asparagus, tomatoes, and onion. “This is definitely going to be a revolving favorite for my family! I didn’t make any changes to the recipe except doubled the basil just because we love it so much and everyone loved it,” says home cook Pharen.
Sweet Potato Boats with Bacon, Apples, and Cheddar
Bibi
“For these sweet potato boats with bacon, apples, and Cheddar, you’ll partially bake sweet potatoes, scoop out the flesh, add some apple bits and seasonings, and spoon back into the skins. Melt some Cheddar cheese on top, and dig into a great side for some simple chops or baked chicken.” —Brenda Venable
Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta
This Southern-inspired recipe adds a little heat to a veggie-centric pasta dish. You can add or remove any of the vegetables, and if you like it extra spicy, you can add more Cajun seasoning or cayenne pepper to your chicken. Try serving this pasta with cornbread.
Sloppy Joe Sandwiches
An easy Sloppy Joe recipe for a chilly fall evening when you want a quick dinner. This sweet meat is great served atop dinner rolls, rice, or baked potatoes. If you want a lighter version, try using ground turkey.
Pizza Chicken
If you’re looking for a new way to serve poultry, try these breaded chicken breasts topped with pizza sauce, mozzarella cheese, and pepperoni. You can also add any of your favorite pizza toppings — reviewers love to use mushrooms, red peppers, and onions.
Tuna Panini Melt
Try this twist on a classic tuna melt with American cheese, balsamic vinegar, and dill pickles on sourdough bread. This recipe only takes 15 minutes to prepare and is great served with a fall salad.
Stuffed Eggplant with Shrimp and Basil
Eggplant is stuffed with a mixture of shrimp, basil, breadcrumbs, and Parmesan cheese in this fantastic fall dish. You can add more veggies if you like, and reviewers suggest halving the amount of bread crumbs.
Bulgogi Beef (Korean-Style Barbecue)
Chef John’s Korean-style barbecue is the perfect dish served over rice. You only have to marinate your meat for about one to two hours, but Chef John says you can leave it for up to 12 hours if you want. This recipe uses beef short tips, but reviewers have used flank steak and country-style ribs and have seen success.
Stuffed Butternut Squash
This simple vegan dish will be enjoyed by everyone — even meat lovers. Stuff your butternut squash with basmati rice, garbanzo beans, and vegetables to create a balanced meal. Reviewers say you can substitute brown rice and your preferred dairy milk alternative for the basmati rice and soy milk in this recipe.
Jalapeño Popper Grilled Cheese Sandwich
Kick up the heat with this fun take on traditional grilled cheese, filled with cream cheese, sour cream, jalapeños, cheese, and crushed chips. Reviewers say this sandwich tastes just like a jalapeño popper. “OMG how much better could it get?!?!? I needed a quick dinner after work and threw these together in under 15 min. I served it with spicy tomato soup,” says reviewer Jog Dish.
Chicken Korma
Skip the takeout and try this Indian-inspired dish instead, serving it over rice with naan bread. “Outstanding! Reasonably quick and very tasty. My son walked into the kitchen and said ‘What smells so good?'” says home cook Studboy.
Spicy Garlic Udon Noodles
Brenda Venable
“These spicy garlic udon noodles are chewy and savory with a garlicky spicy sauce, and a winner for a quick weekday meal. If you want to jazz them up even more, serve topped with a fried egg or stir in some sautéed shrimp.” —Pat Bernitt
Chicken Taco Soup for Two
You can have this cozy chicken taco soup ready in just 15 minutes — and it can be ready even quicker if you use rotisserie chicken. Top it with tortilla chips, avocado, Oaxaca cheese, and sour cream for extra flavor. If you want a heartier meal, reviewers recommend adding beans.
Individual Grilled Veggie Pizzas
Put your fall veggies to good use with these individual pizzas topped with mushrooms, zucchini, butternut squash, broccoli, onion, pesto, and Gorgonzola cheese. You can make these pizzas in the oven, but this recipe is the perfect opportunity to use your outdoor grill before grilling season is over.
Beef Miso Ramen
“This flavorful bowl of miso ramen is full of delicious flavors that will make your palate sing! If you’ve been dreaming of Japanese cuisine, this is the perfect meal for you. Add a hard-boiled egg, mushrooms, spicy chili oil, or toppings of your choice.” —TheSaltyCooker