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.
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One-Pot Sausage and Peppers Rice Cooker Meal
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
“The definition of a cozy, flavorful, hearty dump meal.” —Nicole Hopper
Chicken Parmigiana
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
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.
Spaghetti Alio e Oglio
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
“So many flavors going on in this dish and all are fantastic. There’s the sweet toasted garlic, then the spicy red pepper with it’s warmth, the perfumy black pepper, and the fruity olive oil. All that topped off with the nutty salty rich parmesan cheese. This was so simple and quick to make. I can’t believe how delicious this was.” —TxCin2
Chef John’s Chicken and Mushrooms
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
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.
Easy Black Bean Soup for Two
Christina
“My husband and I loved this recipe. The soup had great flavor and was so easy to make. I added some shredded cheese, taco chips, and tomatoes for garnish.” —Lela
Cast Iron-Seared Pan Steak (Oven-Finished)
DOTDASH MEREDITH FOOD STUDIOS
“When my husband says ‘Home run honey’ about a new recipe I try, it’s definitely a keeper. Easy and so, so tasty. The recipe uses ingredients I always have on hand. Another fun, delicious meal from my cast iron pan.” —WiscoCat
Sloppy Joe Sandwiches
Brawny
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.
Tuscan Chicken Soup
Jason Donnelly / Food Stylist: Holly Dressman / Prop Stylist: Natalie Ghazali
“Very good recipe, did not change anything except I doubled it. Super quick and easy and when my picky husband likes it, it is a keeper.” —AliciaP
Lobster-Stuffed Pasta Shells for Two
John Mitzewich
“I made this for my wife and I. We both enjoy seafood, and this was a nice change of pace from some of our more traditional seafood dishes. It took a little time, but it was well worth the effort.” —OrangeBroth5878
Chicken Korma
Meredith Food Studios
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.
Creamy Garlic Shrimp Toast
Chef John
“Made this tonight for 4…didn’t have bread but instead served over cheese grits and paired with fried okra!! There wasn’t a speck left!! Thanks for the great recipe!!” —CraftyBun1424
Ants Climbing a Tree Glass Noodles
John Mitzewich
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.
Tuna Panini Melt
bd.weld
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.
Bulgogi Beef (Korean-Style Barbecue)
Photo by Chef John.
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
Mackenzie Schieck
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.
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
Individual Grilled Veggie Pizzas
Allrecipes Magazine
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
Broccoli Chicken Stir-Fry
“Amazing!!!! I love oyster sauce so I [tipped] in a bit more than given on rmthe recipe. I have filed this in my, ‘perfect make again’ collection. Thank you for posting!” —YouCanCallMeSusie
Cheeseburger Wellington
ALLRECIPES / ANA CADENA
“This turned out perfect! Hubby was impressed. He loves grilled onions on his cheeseburgers, so I added caramelized onions with extra bacon. I sliced cheddar and pepperjack like Chef John recommended in the video. A dinner winner!” —JPayne
