15 One-Pan Fall Dinner Recipes for Easy Cleanup

Fall is here, and you know what that means: cozy sweaters, pumpkin spice everything, and… the dreaded pile of dishes after dinner. Ugh. Who has time to stand over the sink scrubbing pots when all you want to do is binge-watch your favorite show with a fuzzy blanket? Not me. Probably not you either.

That’s why I’m obsessed with one-pan dinners—especially in the fall. You throw everything into one pan (or skillet, or sheet pan), let the oven or stovetop do its magic, and boom: dinner is served. Cleanup? Practically nonexistent.

I’ve rounded up 15 one-pan fall dinner recipes that are hearty, seasonal, and ridiculously easy. These aren’t just “dump and bake” meals (though a few are delightfully close). We’re talking cozy casseroles, hearty skillets, and sheet-pan wonders that taste like you worked way harder than you did.

So grab your favorite pan (the one that makes you feel like a kitchen rockstar) and let’s talk recipes.

1. One-Pan Apple Cider Chicken with Brussels Sprouts

Sweet, savory, and screams “fall” louder than a pumpkin patch Instagram post.

Ingredients

• 4 bone-in chicken thighs
• 2 cups Brussels sprouts, halved
• 1 apple, thinly sliced
• 1 cup apple cider
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp thyme
• Salt & pepper

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Heat oven to 400°F.
2. Sear chicken thighs skin-side down in a large oven-safe skillet until crispy.
3. Toss in Brussels sprouts, apple slices, garlic, and thyme.
4. Pour in apple cider.
5. Roast for 25–30 minutes until chicken is golden and cooked through.

Why You’ll Love It

It’s cozy, slightly sweet, and makes you look like a fancy home chef. Plus, the pan juices? Spoon-worthy.

2. Sheet-Pan Maple Dijon Salmon with Roasted Veggies

Easy, fast, and way healthier than takeout.

Ingredients

• 4 salmon fillets
• 2 tbsp maple syrup
• 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
• 1 tbsp soy sauce
• 2 cups butternut squash, cubed
• 1 red onion, sliced
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• Salt & pepper

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 425°F.
2. Mix maple, Dijon, and soy sauce for glaze.
3. Toss squash and onion with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Spread on sheet pan.
4. Roast 15 minutes.
5. Add salmon, brush with glaze, and roast another 12–15 minutes.

Why You’ll Love It

The glaze caramelizes beautifully, and cleanup is literally one sheet pan. Healthy but feels indulgent.

3. Creamy Pumpkin Alfredo Pasta Skillet

Because sometimes you just need pasta.

Ingredients

• 12 oz fettuccine
• 1 cup pumpkin puree
• 1 cup heavy cream
• ½ cup Parmesan cheese
• 2 tbsp butter
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• ½ tsp nutmeg
• Salt & pepper

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Cook pasta in skillet with salted water until al dente. Drain.
2. Melt butter, sauté garlic. Add pumpkin, cream, nutmeg, and Parmesan.
3. Stir in pasta until creamy and coated.

Why You’ll Love It

It’s like mac and cheese got a seasonal upgrade. Rich, cozy, and done in 20 minutes.

4. One-Pan Sausage, Kale, and White Bean Stew

Comfort food that also makes you feel kinda healthy.

Ingredients

• 1 lb Italian sausage
• 1 can white beans, drained
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 2 cups kale, chopped
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp chili flakes

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Brown sausage in a Dutch oven.
2. Add onion and garlic, cook until fragrant.
3. Pour in broth, beans, and chili flakes. Simmer 10 minutes.
4. Stir in kale and cook 2–3 minutes.

Why You’ll Love It

It’s hearty without being heavy. Perfect for chilly nights when you want comfort in a bowl.

5. Sheet-Pan BBQ Chicken and Sweet Potatoes

All the fall flavors in one tray.

Ingredients

• 4 chicken breasts
• 2 sweet potatoes, cubed
• 1 red bell pepper, sliced
• ½ cup BBQ sauce
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• Salt & pepper

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400°F.
2. Toss sweet potatoes and peppers with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Roast 15 minutes.
3. Add chicken, brush with BBQ sauce, roast another 20 minutes.

Why You’ll Love It

Sweet, smoky, and minimal effort. Basically fall’s version of a summer BBQ.

6. Butternut Squash Risotto (One-Pan Shortcut)

Yes, risotto without endless stirring.

Ingredients

• 1 cup Arborio rice
• 2 cups butternut squash, cubed
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 1 small onion, diced
• ½ cup Parmesan
• 2 tbsp butter
• Salt & pepper

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Sauté onion in butter in a deep skillet.
2. Add squash and rice, stir to coat.
3. Pour in broth, bring to simmer. Cover and cook 20 minutes.
4. Stir in Parmesan before serving.

Why You’ll Love It

Creamy, dreamy, and doesn’t require babysitting the pot.

7. One-Pot Turkey Chili with Pumpkin

Yes, pumpkin belongs in chili.

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground turkey
• 1 can black beans
• 1 can kidney beans
• 1 cup pumpkin puree
• 1 can diced tomatoes
• 2 tbsp chili powder
• 1 onion, chopped

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Brown turkey in large pot.
2. Add onion, cook until soft.
3. Stir in beans, pumpkin, tomatoes, and chili powder. Simmer 25 minutes.

Why You’ll Love It

It’s hearty with a subtle sweetness. Pumpkin haters won’t even notice (promise).

8. Sheet-Pan Gnocchi with Roasted Veggies

Lazy-night dinner MVP.

Ingredients

• 1 pkg shelf-stable gnocchi
• 2 cups butternut squash, cubed
• 1 zucchini, sliced
• 1 red onion, cut into wedges
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Heat oven to 425°F.
2. Toss everything with olive oil and seasoning on sheet pan.
3. Roast 25 minutes until gnocchi is crispy.

Why You’ll Love It

It tastes gourmet but requires zero boiling water. Win-win.

9. Cast-Iron Skillet Shepherd’s Pie

The coziest fall classic.

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef or lamb
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 cups mixed veggies (peas, carrots, corn)
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 2 cups mashed potatoes
• Salt & pepper

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Cook beef and onion in skillet.
2. Stir in veggies and tomato paste.
3. Spread mashed potatoes on top.
4. Bake at 375°F for 20 minutes until golden.

Why You’ll Love It

It’s basically a hug in food form.

10. One-Pan Honey Garlic Shrimp with Fall Veggies

Quick, saucy, and packed with flavor.

Ingredients

• 1 lb shrimp, peeled
• 2 cups Brussels sprouts, halved
• 1 red bell pepper, sliced
• 3 tbsp honey
• 3 tbsp soy sauce
• 2 cloves garlic, minced

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Toss shrimp in honey, soy, and garlic.
2. Spread veggies on sheet pan, roast 15 minutes at 400°F.
3. Add shrimp, roast 7–8 more minutes.

Why You’ll Love It

Sticky, sweet, garlicky heaven. And it’s done in under 30 minutes.

11. Autumn Veggie and Quinoa Skillet

For when you want something filling but light.

Ingredients

• 1 cup quinoa
• 2 cups vegetable broth
• 1 cup butternut squash, cubed
• 1 cup Brussels sprouts, halved
• ½ cup cranberries
• ½ cup walnuts

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Toast quinoa in skillet, add broth, cook until fluffy.
2. Roast squash and sprouts in same skillet.
3. Stir everything together with cranberries and walnuts.

Why You’ll Love It

Nutty, sweet, and savory—basically fall in a bowl.

12. Sheet-Pan Pork Chops with Apples and Onions

This one smells amazing while it cooks.

Ingredients

• 4 pork chops
• 2 apples, sliced
• 1 onion, sliced
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
• Salt & pepper

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Heat oven to 400°F.
2. Toss apples and onions with olive oil and Dijon. Spread on pan.
3. Add pork chops, season, and roast 25 minutes

Why You’ll Love It

Savory pork meets sweet apples—classic combo for a reason.

13. One-Pan Creamy Tuscan Chicken

Rich, saucy, and restaurant-worthy.

Ingredients

• 4 chicken breasts
• 2 cups spinach
• ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes
• 1 cup heavy cream
• ½ cup Parmesan
• 2 cloves garlic

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Sear chicken in skillet until golden.
2. Remove, then sauté garlic and sun-dried tomatoes.
3. Add cream and Parmesan, simmer.
4. Stir in spinach, return chicken.

Why You’ll Love It

Creamy, garlicky sauce that you’ll want to lick off the spoon.

14. Sheet-Pan Stuffed Acorn Squash

It looks fancy but is secretly easy.

Ingredients

• 2 acorn squash, halved
• 1 cup quinoa
• ½ cup cranberries
• ½ cup pecans
• 2 tbsp maple syrup
• 1 tbsp olive oil

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Roast squash halves cut-side down at 400°F for 30 minutes.
2. Cook quinoa in skillet. Stir in cranberries, pecans, and maple syrup.
3. Fill squash with quinoa mixture.

Why You’ll Love It

It doubles as a show-stopping dinner and centerpiece.

15. One-Pan Baked Ziti with Sausage

Because pasta baked with cheese will never go out of style.

Ingredients

• 12 oz ziti pasta
• 1 lb Italian sausage
• 3 cups marinara sauce
• 2 cups mozzarella
• ½ cup ricotta
• ½ cup Parmesan

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Brown sausage in oven-safe skillet.
2. Stir in pasta and marinara. Add 2 cups water.
3. Cover, simmer until pasta is tender.
4. Top with cheeses and bake 10 minutes until bubbly.

Why You’ll Love It

Cheesy, saucy perfection. Bonus: leftovers taste even better.

Final Bite

There you have it—15 one-pan fall dinner recipes that bring max flavor with minimal cleanup. From cozy stews to roasted sheet-pan meals, these dishes are proof that weeknight dinners don’t need to be complicated.

So the next time you’re staring into your kitchen thinking, “Ugh, I don’t want to do dishes tonight,” just grab one pan, pick a recipe, and let fall comfort food save the day. 🙂