Fall Meal Plan (40 Cozy Dinners for Busy Weeknights!)
Developed and tested by Robyn Conley Downs
on Oct 21, 2020 (last updated Jan 19, 2026) 
Hello fall! This season? It can be busy! Let’s simplify with this effortless fall dinner plan, featuring 40 cozy, real-life recipes mapped out into one easy capsule meal plan to help you eat well, without overthinking it. Whether you’re feeling stretched thin or just craving more calm at dinnertime, this guide has you covered!
Easy One-Pot Dinner Recipes
Chicken Zucchini and Tomatoes (Italian Skillet)
A simple Italian chicken zucchini skillet with tomatoes, garlic, and fresh basil. One-pan, ready in 30 minutes, and works with chicken breasts or thighs.
Ingredients: chicken breasts (or chicken thighs), zucchini, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, chicken stock, butter (optional: traditional or dairy-free), fresh basil, red pepper flakes, garlic, Italian seasoning, olive oil and salt.
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Skillet Chicken and Sweet Potatoes
This easy chicken and sweet potatoes skillet can be made quickly on the stovetop and then baked in the oven. Plus it includes a delicious honey butter & chipotle pan sauce everyone will love!
Ingredients: chicken, sweet potatoes, avocado oil, honey, butter, chipotle peppers (from canned in adobo sauce), garlic and salt.
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Ground Turkey Taco Skillet (with Beans and Corn)
This ground turkey taco skillet comes together in 20-minutes with black beans, corn, and pantry spices for a protein-packed weeknight dinner.
Ingredients: ground turkey, onion, garlic powder, cumin, canned black beans, canned fire-roasted tomatoes, frozen corn, olive oil and salt.
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Southwest Beef & Sweet Potato Skillet (1-Pan Dinner!)
This easy Southwest Beef & Sweet Potato Skillet is a super simple and flavorful weeknight meal made in just one pan with ground beef, sweet potatoes, and simple spices. It's a one-pan dinner you'll want on your repeat list!
Ingredients: ground beef, sweet potato, canned diced tomatoes, mild chili powder, garlic powder, cumin, water, baby spinach, lime juice, olive oil, and salt.
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Ground Turkey Sweet Potato Skillet (30-Minute)
Easy ground turkey sweet potato skillet with spinach, melty cheese, and a homemade chipotle honey sauce. A healthy one-pan dinner in 30 minutes.
Ingredients: ground turkey, sweet potatoes, olive oil, garlic powder, shredded cheese (traditional or dairy-free), baby spinach, chipotle honey vinaigrette and salt.
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Meatless Mains
Baked Vegetarian Enchilada Casserole
This baked vegetarian enchilada casserole is a hearty and flavorful vegetarian meal that's packed with colorful veggies like bell pepper and corn, hearty black beans, gooey melted cheese, all layered together with flour tortillas and smothered in smokey red enchilada sauce. It's a family-favorite and so EASY to make.
Ingredients: olive oil, onion, bell pepper, zucchini, salt, garlic powder, spinach, corn, green chilis, cream cheese, black beans, Mexican cheese blend, red enchilada sauce, tortillas
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Slow Cooker Vegetable Curry
Slow cooker vegetable curry combines sweet potato, chickpeas, cauliflower, spinach, coconut milk, and Indian-style curry powder for an easy dump-and-go, hearty crockpot meal. Makes for the perfect hearty vegetarian and meal that will have you going back for seconds!
Ingredients: chickpeas, sweet potato, cauliflower, onion, vegetable broth, peas, spinach, coconut milk, curry powder, turmeric, ginger, garlic powder, tomato paste, lime juice, and salt
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Black Bean and Sweet Potato Enchiladas
This easy, vegetarian black bean and sweet potato enchiladas recipe is simple to prepare in just one pan and yields super flavorful, delicious results every time!
Ingredients: sweet potato, black beans, spices, cream cheese, tortillas, red enchilada sauce.
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Easy Slow Cooker Lentil Soup
This easy slow cooker lentil soup is made with simple pantry ingredients like green lentils, celery, carrot and spinach making for a hearty vegan and vegetarian meal. Plus instant pot and stovetop directions!
Ingredients: Green (or brown) lentils, stock, onion, celery, carrot, diced tomatoes, garlic, red wine vinegar, spinach, salt and bay leaves.
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Slow Cooker Black Bean Stuffed Sweet Potatoes (5-Ingredients!)
Black Bean Stuffed Sweet Potatoes just got easier because now you can make them in the slow cooker, with just 5 simple ingredients, and without chopping or pre-cooking! Yes, easy recipes like this one are my specialty, so let me show you how easy fresh & filling slow cooker meals can be.
Ingredients: black beans, sweet potatoes, salsa, garlic powder and smoked paprika.
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Sweet Potato Peanut Soup (Slow Cooker + Stovetop!)
Made with simple pantry ingredients, sweet potato peanut soup is a hearty, satisfying vegetarian meal that will have everyone heading back for seconds.
Ingredients: sweet potatoes, onions, garlic, fire roasted tomatoes, vegetable broth (or chicken broth), coconut milk, creamy unsweetened peanut butter, baby spinach, lime juice and salt.
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Taco Tuesday
Slow Cooker Turkey Tacos (Ground Turkey)
Easy slow cooker turkey tacos with ground turkey, tomato sauce, and a simple homemade spice blend. A hands-off weeknight dinner for taco night.
Ingredients: ground turkey, tomato sauce, olive oil, cumin, chili powder, granulated garlic powder, paprika and salt
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Slow Cooker Shredded Beef (Easy Tacos + More!)
Perfectly spiced and incredibly easy to prepare, my slow cooker Mexican-inspired shredded beef is made with 7 simple ingredients. You'll love how it saves you time (no searing required), so just dump-and-go for the most succulent, fork tender shredded beef for tacos and more.
Ingredients: boneless beef chuck-eye roast, onion, tomato paste, cumin, mild chili powder, smoked paprika, lime juice and salt.
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Easy Crockpot Cilantro Lime Chicken
Easy to make and oh-so satisfying, this crockpot cilantro lime chicken is perfect for stuffing into warm tortillas or bowls! It’s elevated by the most flavorful homemade cilantro lime sauce and can be made with either chicken breasts or chicken thighs.
Ingredients: chicken breasts (or chicken thighs), fresh cilantro, lime juice, garlic cloves, cumin, avocado oil, honey (optional) and salt.
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Slow Cooker Taco Meat (No Pre-Cooking!)
You will not believe how easy this dump-and-go slow cooker taco meat recipe is! Made simply with ground beef, spices, and salsa, it requires no pre-cooking and no chopping, so it's perfect for feeding a crowd, as a super easy dinner idea or as protein meal prep!
Ingredients: ground beef, salsa, garlic powder, cumin, smoked paprika, mild chili powder, and salt.
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6-Ingredient Slow Cooker Enchilada Chicken
This easy recipe for shredded chicken for enchiladas is totally simple, completely delicious and the perfect weeknight crockpot recipe. With just 6-ingredients and no pre-cooking, let me show you how easy this fresh & simple enchilada chicken is to make!
Ingredients: chicken breasts (or chicken thighs), onion, garlic powder, cumin, lime juice, tomato sauce, chili powder and salt.
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Cozy Chili Recipes
Crockpot White Chicken Chili (Dump-and-Go)
Dump everything in the crockpot and walk away! My crockpot white chicken chili takes five minutes of prep, no pre-cooking required, and comes out thick and creamy from white beans and cream cheese.
Ingredients: chicken breast, stock, white beans, mild green chilis, salsa verde, onion, garlic powder, cumin, cream cheese.
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Slow Cooker Turkey Chili (with Sweet Potato)
Easy slow cooker turkey chili with ground turkey, sweet potato, three beans, bell pepper, and warm spices. A hearty, crowd-pleasing weeknight dinner.
Ingredients: ground turkey, canned beans, bell peppers, onion, sweet potato, tomatoes, cumin, chili powder, lime juice, and salt.
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Crockpot Vegetarian Chili
This easy crockpot vegetarian chili recipe tastes delicious and is easy to make with basic pantry ingredients, three beans, vegetables, and spices. Gluten free and vegan!
Ingredients: black beans, pinto beans, kidney beans, bell peppers, onion, fire roasted tomatoes, cumin, chili powder, lime juice, and other spices
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Slow Cooker Pumpkin Chili (Ground Beef)
Hearty slow cooker pumpkin chili with ground beef, pumpkin puree, kidney beans, and warm spices. A cozy fall dinner for game day or easy weeknights.
Ingredients: ground beef, pumpkin puree, bell pepper, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, onion, garlic, spices.
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Slow Cooker Chicken Chili (6-Ingredient)
Six-ingredient slow cooker chicken chili with chicken, beans, salsa, and simple spices. Dump everything in and walk away.
Ingredients: chicken, tomato sauce, beans, salsa, cumin, garlic and salt.
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Fall Soup Recipes
Easy Pumpkin + Sweet Potato Soup (w/ Canned Pumpkin)
Creamy and warming, pumpkin and sweet potato soup is an easy, healthy, vegetarian soup that can be made with canned pumpkin on the stovetop or in the slow cooker or Instant Pot.
Ingredients: sweet potatoes, pumpkin puree, chipotle peppers, vegetable broth, coconut milk or cream, pumpkin pie spice, olive oil, onion, garlic powder, fresh lemon juice, maple syrup and salt.
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Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup (Dump-and-Go!)
This easy slow cooker chicken tortilla soup is simple to make with basic pantry ingredients, is packed with juicy chicken, vibrant veggies, and hearty beans; topped with crispy tortilla strips (no soggy tortillas here!), and is a 5-minute prep, dump-and-go crockpot that's bound to become a new family favorite.
Ingredients: chicken breasts (or chicken thighs), chicken stock, corn tortillas, avocado oil, onion, black beans, corn, diced tomatoes, fire roasted tomatoes with green chilis, garlic powder, mild chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, lime juice and salt.
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Slow Cooker Butternut Squash Soup (w/ Coconut Milk)
Cozy & flavorful, this easy slow cooker butternut squash soup requires no pre-cooking so you can just dump the ingredients, set-it, and forget it. With an extra boost of flavor from carrots and sweet apple, it's blended together with coconut milk, making for an absolutely delightfully simple and creamy soup.
Ingredients: Butternut squash, apples, onion, carrot, turmeric, coconut milk, vegetable stock, apple cider vinegar, cinnamon and other spices.
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Slow Cooker Pumpkin Soup (with Canned Pumpkin!)
This easy slow cooker pumpkin soup recipe is so easy to prepare with canned pumpkin! It's a simple dump-and-go slow cooker meal that's perfectly rich, creamy and oh-so cozy.
Ingredients: canned pumpkin puree, vegetable stock, canned tomato sauce, cream or coconut milk, onion, garlic, cinnamon and salt.
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Slow Cooker Hamburger Soup
Simple and hearty, slow cooker hamburger soup is loaded with vegetables and ground beef, and can be simmered all day in the slow cooker or made in 35 minutes on the stovetop.
Ingredients: lean ground beef, onion, carrots, celery, tomato paste, chicken stock (or beef stock), olive oil, potatoes, red & yellow bell peppers, red wine vinegar, water, garlic powder, Italian seasoning and salt.
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Fall Butternut Squash Soup + Fall Meal Plan
Servings: 6
This cozy Butternut Squash Soup is a super simple, easy fall dinner recipe that’s perfect to make on busy weeknights or autumn weekends. Plus 40+ more easy dinner ideas you can use for your Fall Meal Plan this season!
Ingredients
- 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
- 2 cups chopped carrot
- 2 cups chopped apple, such as Honeycrisp
- 6 cups chopped butternut squash
- 2 garlic cloves
- 1 ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon turmeric
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 quart chicken stock or vegetable stock
To Add at the End
- 1 cup canned coconut milk, or heavy cream
Instructions
Intant POt
- Add the onion, carrot, apple, butternut squash, garlic, salt, turmeric, cinnamon and stock to a 6-quart pressure cooker.
- Secure the lid, select the manual setting, and set it to high pressure for 5 minutes.
- When the pressure cooker timer is done, quick release the pressure.
- Uncover and add the coconut milk (or cream, if using). Using an immersion blender, blend until very smooth. Alternatively, working in batches, carefully ladle the soup into a blender and blend on high until smooth.
- Taste and add additional salt if desired. Serve with any toppings you like.
Stovetop
- Follow step 1, but use a large Dutch oven or pot.
- Cover, bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Cook until the veggies are tender, about 25-35 minutes.
- Proceed with steps 4-5.
Nutrition Information:
Serving: 1 (of 6), Calories: 205kcal, Carbohydrates: 31g, Protein: 3g, Fat: 10g, Saturated Fat: 9g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 0.4g, Sodium: 636mg, Potassium: 793mg, Fiber: 6g, Sugar: 12g, Vitamin A: 22369IU, Vitamin C: 35mg, Calcium: 95mg, Iron: 2mg
Did you make this recipe?If you do, be sure to share it on Instagram and tag me at @realfoodwholelife so I can see!
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This capsule meal plan was a GAME CHANGER. It streamlined meal plan and took the thinking out of weeknight meals. Guess what. My family was totally okay with having tacos every week. Could you do this for summer time too?
Megan, yay, so happy to hear the capsule meal plan is working for you! Yes, we have plans to do another for spring/summer so stay tuned. 🙂
Found your blog from pinterest, and I’m so glad I did! This is so helpful! Would love to see a capsule meal plan for each season!
Emily, so happy you found Real Food Whole Life, we’re so glad you’re here! And you’re in luck–we have a summer capsule post coming soon! You can jump on our weekly email list to be first to know when it’s published! Cheers!
I’ve LOVED the summer email series and have really appreciated how helpful and organized it is! Do you have plans to release this set as weekly menus? (The printable menus have been so helpful- and I don’t see that in the fall menu unless i’m missing it!) Thank you 🙂
Hi Katie, yay, so happy to hear you enjoyed the series and the printable! We don’t have a printable for fall as of yet. we have a couple of things in the works for fall, so not sure how this one will slot in, but we will definitely let the Good List know first if we do. Cheers!