Fall dinner ideas in my house mean one pot, a long simmer, and something spooned over rice. Not pumpkin spice.
Here on the East Coast the weather turns fast, and the second it does I want sudado de pollo, habichuelas negras, and anything that fills the kitchen with sofrito. These are the Latin-inspired fall dinner ideas I actually cook, from thirty-minute weeknights to stews that take their time.
The Fall Dinner Ideas I Make Every October
Most of these fall dinner ideas are the same shape. Brown something, let it simmer, put it over rice. The stews are worth the wait and the skillets get you through a Tuesday.
30-Minute Bistec de Carne
Colombian bistec de carne with cumin, salt and pepper. One of the fastest fall dinner ideas here: rice, steak, a fried egg on top.
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30-Minute Bistec de Carne – Colombian Steak with Sauteed Onions and Tomatoes
Delicious Colombian bistec de carne seasoned with cumin, salt, and pepper. Serve this carne de bistec with fluffy rice, and a fried egg for the perfect Colombian dinner.
Chicken chimichangas, crispy outside and stuffed with Oaxaca and Monterey Jack. Fried, and worth the mess.
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The Best Chicken Chimichangas
The best chicken chimichangas are crispy on the outside and stuffed with deliciously seasoned chicken on the inside, which melds together with melted, gooey Oaxacan and Monterey Jack cheese.
Spicy Chicken Chipotle Pasta (Cheesecake Factory Copycat)
Honey-glazed chicken in a spicy chipotle parmesan cream sauce over penne. The Cheesecake Factory copycat.
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Spicy Chicken Chipotle Pasta (Cheesecake Factory Copycat)
Simple and delicious honey-glazed chicken coated in a creamy and spicy chipotle parmesan cream sauce on penne pasta with asparagus, green peas, sliced bell peppers, a copycat recipe and Cheesecake Factory favorite.
Sopa de lentejas with green lentils, sweet plantains and tomatoes. Add the crispy plantain crumble on top, it makes the whole bowl.
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Delicious Sopa De Lentejas with Plantains (Lentil Soup)
Look no further than a bowl of sopa de lentejas! This hearty soup is packed with nutritious green lentils, sweet plantains, tangy diced tomatoes, and a blend of rich spices. And if you really want to take your soup to the next level, don't forget to add the optional crispy plantain and green onion crumble – trust me, it's so worth it!
Birria tacos stuffed with melty cheese, with consome on the side for dipping. I crave these about once a month.
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Delicious Birria Tacos (Quesabirria)
I crave these homemade birria tacos at least once a month! Tender beef slow-cooked in a rich Mexican chiles birria sauce is stuffed into crispy corn tortillas with melty cheese, and served with a side of rich consommé for dipping—it's messy and incredibly delicious!
Angel hair with chimichurri butter. Silky and herby, and it takes almost no time.
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Angel Hair Chimichurri Pasta
Angel hair pasta with rich, tangy, and herbaceous chimichurri butter. It's delicate and silky, and such a simple recipe. You can also make this with an authentic chimichurri olive oil based recipe.
Asopao de camarones, Puerto Rican shrimp stew with tomatoes in a seasoned broth. All one pot.
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Puerto Rican Shrimp Stew
This Puerto Rican Shrimp Stew (Asopao de Camarones) is loaded with tender shrimp, tomatoes, and a perfectly seasoned broth. It’s a cozy, one-pot dish that’s simple to make and brings all the bold, authentic flavors of Puerto Rican cooking to your table.
Arroz con gandules, Puerto Rican rice with pigeon peas, sofrito and sazon. Meatless, one pot, good with tostones.
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Vegan Arroz con Gandules
Arroz con gandules – Puerto Rican rice with pigeon peas, cooked with sofrito, sazon, and adobo. This vegetarian version comes together in one pot and is perfect with tostones.
Chipotle honey salmon tacos with pineapple salsa, cabbage and cilantro garlic sauce.
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Chipotle Honey Salmon Tacos with Pineapple Salsa
Delicious salmon chunks smothered in chipotle honey perfectly crisped, served on warm corn tortillas, with pineapple salsa, sliced cabbage, and cilantro garlic sauce.
Southwest ground beef and sweet potato skillet. Sweet potato instead of regular, and it’s all one pan.
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Southwest Ground Beef and Sweet Potato Skillet
Southwest ground beef and sweet potato skillet makes the perfect weeknight meal with tender sweet potatoes, caramelized ground beef, bold spices, tomatoes, onions, and garlic—all in one easy, delicious skillet meal.
This list grows every fall. These are the newest fall dinner ideas, and the stews at the top are the ones I make first when it gets cold.
Puerto Rican Sancocho
Puerto Rican sancocho, a cozy one-pot stew. It makes enough for days, which is honestly the point.
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Puerto Rican Sancocho
Puerto Rican Sancocho is a hearty stew with tender meat, root vegetables, and a rich broth. This one-pot meal is simple to prepare and perfect for family dinners.
Sudado de pollo, the Colombian chicken stew I grew up eating over rice. Of all the fall dinner ideas here, start with this one.
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Colombian Chicken Stew (Sudado de Pollo)
Sudado de Pollo is a traditional Colombian stew with chicken, potatoes, onions, and tomatoes, cooked together and served with rice to enjoy all the sauce.
Creamy Chicken Enchilada Soup to Save Dinner Tonight
A creamy chicken enchilada soup that saves dinner on a cold night. One of the easiest fall dinner ideas to keep on hand.
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Creamy Chicken Enchilada Soup
This creamy chicken enchilada soup is loaded with shredded chicken, chunky tomatoes, and a cheesy, creamy broth, all seasoned with classic enchilada flavors. It’s easy to make with simple ingredients like enchilada sauce, black beans, corn, and plenty of shredded cheese. Serve it with crunchy tortilla chips for dipping, and you’ve got a satisfying meal that comes together quickly any night of the week!
Creamy Mexican Street Corn Chicken Soup in 30 Minutes
Creamy Mexican street corn chicken soup in 30 minutes. Elote in soup form, and the chicken makes it dinner.
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Creamy Mexican Street Corn Chicken Soup
A creamy Mexican street corn chicken soup made with sweet corn, a touch of spice, and shredded chicken. Done in 30 and perfect with all your favorite toppings.
Mexican chicken and black bean soup. Filling enough that nobody asks what else is for dinner.
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Mexican Chicken and Black Bean Soup
This Mexican chicken and black bean soup has tomatoes, cumin, garlic, and pulled chicken. It’s hearty, easy to make, and perfect for dinner or meal prep.
The Secret To The Best Carnitas Fajitas In The Oven
Carnitas fajitas made in the oven. No standing over a skillet, which is why I make them this way now.
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Delicious Carnitas Fajitas
The carnitas are slow-cooked in a Dutch oven with a fresh citrus combo of navel orange juice, fresh lemon juice, tons of garlic, and an earthy blend of spices like cumin, chili powder, and Mexican oregano. Served with perfectly caramelized sweet onions and bell peppers for the perfect fajitas!
A tortilla chip enchilada skillet for any night. One pan and almost nothing to wash after.
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Enchilada Skillet
This Enchilada Skillet is a one-pan dinner made with tortilla chips, your favorite protein, enchilada sauce, and melted cheese. It’s quick, simple, and perfect for busy weeknights
Rotisserie chicken on blue corn tostadas. Crunchy and fast, and another one that uses a store-bought chicken.
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Rotisserie Chicken Blue Corn Tostada
Rotisserie chicken blue corn tostadas are layered with warm shredded chicken, roasted corn, and cheese, then topped with fresh veggies and lime. Baked and served crisp.
Cilantro lime chicken quesadillas with Oaxaca and Monterey Jack. Quesadillas never disappoint at my table.
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Cilantro Lime Chicken Quesadillas
Crispy cilantro lime chicken quesadillas filled with Oaxaca and Monterey Jack cheese and chopped chicken thighs. Served with cilantro jalapeño lime sauce.
A chicken fajita bowl with adobo ranch. The sauce is the reason I keep making it.
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Chicken Fajita Bowl with Adobo Ranch Sauce
Chicken fajita bowl with adobo ranch sauce has seared chicken, peppers, onions, and rice with a smoky, tangy drizzle. Brightened with lime and cilantro.
A loaded chicken fajita burrito bowl over rice. Everything from a fajita, no tortilla to wrestle.
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Chicken Fajita Burrito Bowl
This chicken fajita burrito bowl has all the flavors of classic fajitas over rice, with tender chicken, colorful peppers, and plenty of spice. I like to add black beans, avocado, or a sprinkle of cheese, but you can top it with whatever you have on hand!
Marinated and baked chimichurri chicken thighs. Herby and sharp against plain rice.
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Chimichurri Chicken Thighs
Chimichurri chicken thighs are marinated in a fresh herb and garlic sauce, then cooked and topped with more chimichurri. Serve with cilantro lime rice, crispy yuca fries, or a balsamic arugula salad.
These pickle-garlic butter Cuban sliders are the perfect mix of tangy, buttery, and cheesy goodness. Made with ham, Swiss cheese, and mustard mayo, these pull-apart sliders are baked to golden perfection and topped with a delicious pickle-garlic butter.
Hi, I’m Olga! I love cooking from scratch with simple, fresh ingredients. The recipes here are inspired by the flavors I grew up with and the places I’ve traveled to. My hope is to share some of my favorite dishes and inspire you to try something new in the kitchen.
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