40 Healthy Fall Recipes That Are Comforting and Delicious
Easy autumn meals that are simple and light!
As the seasons change, so does your menu. Summer is all about the fresh, crunchy veggies and BBQ favorites but come fall, it's all about cozy soups, butternut squash dishes, and pumpkin favorites. Luckily, we've rounded up the best healthy fall recipes that make the most of seasonal produce like Brussels sprouts, pumpkin seeds and more. Serve up these fall dinners that include veggie-packed fall salads with roasted vegetables, easy sheet pan dinners and even a few fall recipes that come together in the air fryer or slow cooker.
We even have a few extra ideas to round out your menu, such as fall appetizers for small bites and fall desserts for after dinner. And of course, if you're simply looking to add a few healthy dinners to the fall weeknight rotation, we also have loads of easy one pot meals and make-ahead dinners that will save you tons of time. Plus, a lot of these recipes are super versatile and can be modified to be vegan-friendly or vegetarian.
So if you are looking to add a few extra healthy dinners for fall, go ahead and save your favorites when we enter pumpkin spice season!
Sheet Pan Roasted Chicken
This recipe, which brings together red onions, acorn squash, fennel and golden roasted chicken is cozy and perfect for fall.
Get the Sheet Pan Roasted Chicken recipe.
RELATED: 60 Healthy Chicken Recipes Perfect for an Easy Weeknight Dinner
Paprika Chicken with Peppers and Tomatoes
This simple recipe takes regular chicken breast and simple vegetables and turns them into a flavorful dinner of protein-packed chicken covered with paprika and jammy roasted peppers and tomatoes.
Roasted Shrimp, Tomatoes, and Spinach
When you're in the mood for something fresh, delicious, and filling, it's hard to imagine a better meal than this. The sprinkle of sumac and fresh citrus flavor make this a dinner worthy of your weekly rotation.
Get the Roasted Shrimp, Tomatoes, and Spinach recipe.
RELATED: 30 Seriously Easy Shrimp Recipes
Seared Steak with Blistered Tomatoes and Green Beans
Juicy steak, jammy roasted tomatoes and tender green beans come together for a satisfying and veggie-packed dinner that won't leave you reaching for the snack cupboard an hour later.
Get the Seared Steak with Blistered Tomatoes and Green Beans recipe.
RELATED: 83 Steak Recipes That Make Dinner at Home Feel Extra Fancy
Vegetarian Antipasto Salad
This satisfying salad has plenty of protein thanks to the chickpeas and mozzarella balls, plus you'll get your serving of vegetables thanks to the cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, celery and lettuce.
Get the Vegetarian Antipasto Salad recipe.
RELATED: Healthy Salads for a Very Filling, Very Un-Boring Meal
Quick White Bean and Sausage Stew
This cozy stew features white beans, which are packed with protein and fiber. You can also add a little extra spinach to make it even healthier.
Get the Quick White Bean and Sausage Stew recipe.
RELATED: 27 Best Dutch Oven Recipes: Cozy Dinners and Decadent Desserts
Garam Masala Roasted Chicken and Cauliflower
Chicken and veggies get an upgrade thanks to the cozy, warming flavor from the garam masala. This dish also features cauliflower, which is a good source of fiber and several vitamins.
Get the Garam Masala Roasted Chicken and Cauliflower recipe.
Air Fryer Squash Soup
Put your air fryer to use and make this healthy fall soup. It brings together butternut squash, carrots and flavorful spices. Each serving is just under 300 calories, making it a good choice when you're in the mood for something comforting but not too heavy.
Get the Air Fryer Squash Soup recipe.
RELATED: 72 Easy Air Fryer Recipes for a Quick Weeknight Dinner
Paprika Chicken with Crispy Chickpeas and Tomatoes
This gorgeous dish is packed with protein, thanks to the juicy chicken breasts and toasted chickpeas. Tomatoes and paprika bring the flavor, making this an easy meal everyone will enjoy.
Get the Paprika Chicken With Crispy Chickpeas and Tomatoes recipe.
Creamy Cauliflower Soup with Almond-Thyme Gremolata
This elegant soup packs in plenty of nutrients, thanks to the cauliflower, leek, celery and almonds.
Get the Creamy Cauliflower Soup with Almond-Thyme Gremolata recipe.
Orange-Ginger Roast Chicken with Fennel and Radicchio Salad
Get your lean protein from roasted chicken (or grab a rotisserie version from the store if you're short on time) and dig into a fresh and earthy side salad. Fennel comes packed with folate, a type of B vitamin that helps with muscle and nerve function.
Get the Orange-Ginger Roast Chicken With Fennel and Radicchio Salad recipe.
Acorn Squash with Brown Rice and Turkey Sausage
Acorn squash comes loaded with vitamins A and C, and it's the perfect vessel for lean turkey sausage, peppers and onions. Healthy whole grains like brown rice supply even more fiber.
Get the Acorn Squash With Brown Rice and Turkey Sausage recipe.
Savory Pumpkin and Sage Soup
Make sure you grab cans of pure pumpkin — not the pie filling — when you stock up on soup ingredients. A special shiitake mushroom garnish adds the finishing touch.
Get the Savory Pumpkin and Sage Soup recipe.
Broccoli-Parmesan Chicken Soup
Just one cup of broccoli florets contains all the vitamin C you need in a day. Grab your immersion blender to puree the veg (and just the right amount of Parmesan) for a creamy, cheesy soup under 400 calories per serving.
Spaghetti Squash Alfredo
You've tried low-carb zoodles — now use squoodles for a lighter version of your favorite pasta dish. Even with creamy half-and-half, shredded Mozzarella, and grated Parmesan, this meal rings in under 400 calories per serving. Plus, the beta-carotene, potassium, and antioxidants in spaghetti squash will help protect your immune system.
Get the Spaghetti Squash Alfredo recipe.
RELATED: The Best Spaghetti Squash Recipes That Taste Better Than Pasta
Radicchio Salad with Roasted Fennel and Shrimp
Radicchio's bittersweet flavor profile is at its best in the fall season, when fresh leaves are harvested. Layered on fresh homemade bread, crunchy fennel (another seasonal farmer's market grab!) and plump shrimp make for a delicious seasonal toast.
Get the Radicchio Salad With Roasted Fennel and Shrimp recipe.
Squash and Spinach Lasagna
The best way to use surplus produce this season is to purée; a stockpile of squash, for example, can be turned into a purée that's frozen (or you can simply stock up on frozen squash at the supermarket!). This lasagna uses that silky smooth purée as a base for a better-for-you weeknight comfort dish. Squash contains a higher amount of fiber that'll help you stay full longer (and aid in weight loss naturally over time).
Get the Squash and Spinach Lasagna recipe.
Salmon with Skyr and Sauteed Kale
Eating more salmon can benefit your heart, brain and blood pressure — and when it's served with wild mushrooms, sautéed kale and a dollop of Icelandic yogurt, you're only packing in more vitamins and minerals.
Light Chicken Parmesan
This take on the comfort food classic swaps in part-skim Mozzarella and fresh tomatoes for a dish that won't leave you in a total food coma afterwards. (Psst: Vegetarians, check out our recipe for Portobello Parmesan instead.)
Get the Light Chicken Parmesan recipe.
Lemon-Dill Chicken Meatball Soup
One cup of bulgur contains nearly 75% of the dietary fiber you need for the day, and 25% of the protein you should get, making this stew a total whole-grain powerhouse.
Zee Krstic is a health editor for Good Housekeeping, where he covers health and nutrition news, decodes diet and fitness trends and reviews the best products in the wellness aisle. Prior to joining GH in 2019, Zee fostered a nutrition background as an editor at Cooking Light and is continually developing his grasp of holistic health through collaboration with leading academic experts and clinical care providers. He has written about food and dining for Time, among other publications.
Jamie Ballard (she/her) is a freelance writer and editor who covers news, lifestyle, and entertainment topics, including sex and relationships, TV, movies, books, health, pets, food and drinks, pop culture, shopping, and personal finance. She regularly contributes to Cosmopolitan, Woman’s Day, Good Housekeeping, and YouGov, among other publications. When she’s not working, you can find her running, traveling, or scrolling TikTok. Follow her on Twitter.
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