Fall Dinner Ideas (to Share with Kids)

Find easy fall dinner ideas to share with the kids including easy one pot meals, slow cooker favorites, soups, and more. Plus, storage tips and tips for serving to kids, too.

Butternut squash soup in various containers.

Busy schedules, cooler temperatures, and seasonal ingredients combined with normal busy mom life make these fall dinners some of our favorite staples. Each healthy family meal is appropriate for a toddler or big kid, but is also yummy enough for adults.

Why These Recipes Work

With streamlined cooking methods, cozy fall flavors, kid-friendly serving options, and easy options for allergy swaps, these fall dinner ideas are great for both busy days and cozy days at home.

Why These Recipes Work
Slow Cooker Black Bean Soup
Easy Sweet Potato Mac and Cheese
Quick Butternut Squash Pasta with Sausage
Sweet Potato Chicken Bowls
Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos
Butternut Squash Apple Soup
Roasted Sweet Potato Tacos
Sweet Potato Quesadillas
Cheesy Meat Buns
Turkey Sweet Potato Meatballs
Vegetarian Bean Chili
Chana Masala-Style Chickpeas
Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup
Shortcut Butternut Squash Risotto
Butternut Squash Pasta
Best Tips for Success

Pair these with Cornbread Muffins, Cheese Muffins, Cinnamon Apples, or Baked Pears as easy sides to round out the meal.

Slow Cooker Black Bean Soup

With black beans, sweet potato or butternut squash, and mild seasonings, this hearty soup is an easy make-ahead family dinner. Add the ingredients to the slow cooker in the morning and finish with rice and favorite toppings.

Slow Cooker Black Bean Soup

Use the crock pot to cook up a hearty and nutritious Slow Cooker Black Bean Soup with veggies and lots of kid-friendly flavor. It's easy, versatile, and a great freezer meal

Slow Cooker Black Bean Soup

Black bean soup in two bowls with toppings.

sweet potato mac and cheese in bowls on counter.

Easy Sweet Potato Mac and Cheese

This creamy mac and cheese has subtle sweetness and extra nutrition from sweet potato puree. It needs only 5 ingredients and comes together quickly for a cozy weeknight meal.

Easy Sweet Potato Mac and Cheese

Friends, meet my new favorite lightning-fast dish. This Sweet Potato Mac and Cheese requires just 5 simple ingredients, zero prep work, and is just the yummiest pasta recipe!

Easy Sweet Potato Mac and Cheese

butternut-squash-pasta-in-white-bowl-and-teal-bowls

Quick Butternut Squash Pasta with Sausage

Tender squash, pasta, broccoli, and sausage come together in less than 20 minutes. The easy one-pan method makes this a practical fall dinner for busy nights.

Quick Butternut Squash Pasta with Sausage

This easy skillet dinner is super cozy and super versatile. You can use freshly diced butternut squash or precut squash from the store and frozen peas or broccoli according to what you have or prefer. See the Notes for vegetarian options.

Quick Butternut Squash Pasta with Sausage

chicken and sweet potato bowls on counter.

Sweet Potato Chicken Bowls

Roast chicken, sweet potato, and zucchini on sheet pans, then let everyone add the toppings they like. This flexible dinner also works well for meal prep.

Sweet Potato Chicken Bowls (Easy Meal Prep)

You can meal prep this recipe to have ready for future lunches or dinners to share with the kids or you can make it as a family dinner. Add flavor to your bowl with the optional ingredients.

Sweet Potato Chicken Bowls (Easy Meal Prep)

chicken-and-sweet-potato-bowls-for-kid-and-parent

Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos

These tender chicken tacos have a veggie-loaded sauce and a short ingredient list. Sweet potato is one of the easy vegetable options, and the filling can also be made in the Instant Pot.

Slow Cooker Chicken and Bean Tacos

With a short ingredient list and a veggie-loaded sauce, these Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos are such a delicious family meal. (You can even make it in the Instant Pot for dinner in just 25 minutes.)

Slow Cooker Chicken and Bean Tacos

Butternut Squash Apple Soup

Naturally sweet apple and butternut squash blend into an ultra-creamy dairy-free soup. Serve it with buttered toast or crackers for an easy fall meal.

Easy Butternut Squash Apple Soup

With a quick cooking method and the creamiest texture, this easy Butternut Squash Apple Soup is a family favorite. It is great for babies on up to adults, is dairy-free and packed with vegetarian protein, and just tastes so good. We love this with buttered toast or crackers.

Easy Butternut Squash Apple Soup

Roasted Sweet Potato Tacos

Roasted sweet potato and chickpeas make a budget-friendly vegetarian taco filling. Offer the components separately or assembled so everyone can enjoy the meal their preferred way.

Roasted Sweet Potato Tacos

You can try serving this to your toddler with the components separated if they aren’t quite up to holding and eating a regular taco. Simply arrange the filling, the tortillas, and toppings on a plate and let them eat them however they like!

Roasted Sweet Potato Tacos

parent and kids roasted sweet potato taco plates

Sweet Potato Quesadillas

Mashed sweet potato and cheese make these quesadillas moist, tender, and flavorful. They are easy to prepare ahead and customize with chicken, beef, or beans.

Sweet Potato and Cheese Quesadillas

Serve these quesadillas with salsa, sour cream, and/or guacamole as desired. You can leave them as simple vegetarian quesadillas or add in a protein like chicken or beans.

Sweet Potato and Cheese Quesadillas

Cheesy Meat Buns

These little pockets have cheeseburger tucked into a tender roll for easy eating and meal prep. They are great for an on-the-go dinner if you have sports or activities, too.

Cheesy Stuffed Meat Buns

These meat buns have all of the components of a cheeseburger, but are much easier for little kids to eat! Plus: They store well in the fridge and freezer so can be made ahead of time. (For a faster dough option, see the Notes below.)

Cheesy Stuffed Meat Buns

Turkey meatballs on plate with side of marinara sauce.

Turkey Sweet Potato Meatballs

Ground turkey, grated sweet potato, breadcrumbs, and Parmesan combine in these soft baked meatballs. Serve them plain, with a favorite dip, or simmered in marinara sauce.

Turkey Sweet Potato Baby Meatballs

With just a few nutritious, flavorful ingredients, you can make a batch of Baby Meatballs (for a baby, toddler, or parent!) with turkey and sweet potato. They freeze well and can be served plain or in marinara sauce.

Turkey Sweet Potato Baby Meatballs

Vegetarian Bean Chili

Sweet potato, corn, and beans make this mild vegetarian chili hearty and satisfying. The large batch provides enough for dinner now and another meal to freeze.

Vegetarian Bean Chili (Big Batch)

When serving this to a little one, I like to drain off much of the broth. This makes it a little easier (and less messy) for them to eat. If your family likes spice, add in a dash or two of cayenne pepper.

Vegetarian Bean Chili (Big Batch)

Chana Masala-Style Chickpeas

This mild chickpea dinner has a creamy tomato and sweet potato sauce with warm spices. Make it in the Instant Pot, slow cooker, or on the stovetop and serve with rice or naan.

Instant Pot Chana Masala-Style Chickpeas

Try making a super easy Indian food recipe at home with this mild Instant Pot Chana Masala. It's easy to make, freezes beautifully, and packs extra veggies tucked right into the sauce. (This will likely make enough for two meals—I like to freeze the second half for a future week.)

Instant Pot Chana Masala-Style Chickpeas

Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup

With a creamy broth, an easy method, and the coziest flavor, this is a favorite soup for kids (that’s great for adults, too).

Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup

You can make cozy, nutritious Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup in less than 30 minutes to share with the kids. It's great for a sick day or any day!

Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup

Shortcut Butternut Squash Risotto

This shortcut version delivers the creamy comfort of risotto without constant stirring. Roasted butternut squash puree, brown rice, and Parmesan make a cozy fall dinner.

Shortcut Butternut Squash Risotto

You can cook the rice ahead of time and do Step 1 ahead. Or make the whole dish ahead and warm to serve when needed.

Shortcut Butternut Squash Risotto

Butternut pasta sauce on pasta in two bowls.

Butternut Squash Pasta

Roasted butternut squash, onion, and garlic blend into a flavorful sauce with a mellow taste for kids. Make the sauce ahead if desired, then toss it with a favorite pasta shape.

Butternut Squash Pasta Sauce

With creaminess and color from butternut squash, plus the extra flavor it adds, this Butternut Squash Pasta Sauce is a favorite creamy pasta sauce. Try it as a vegetarian meal with any pasta you prefer or paired with Italian sausage or chicken meatballs.

Butternut Squash Pasta Sauce

Best Tips for Success

Check out my one-pan dinners for family, 3-ingredient recipes, and Halloween dinner ideas, too.
Check each recipe for the storage and allergy info.
Try serving a family style meal and letting the kids decide what to put on their plate to give them some agency at the table.
Sweet Potato Puree and Easy Pumpkin Cake fit in nicely here, too.