21 Cozy 20-Minute Fall Dinners for When You're Too Tired to Cook

You won't believe what you can bring to the table in just 20 minutes.

By
Devan Grimsrud
Devan Grimsrud
Devan Grimsrud

Devan Grimsrud is a Berlin-based writer, editor, and recipe developer originally from Minneapolis, Minnesota. After working in television production with James Beard Award-winning chef Andrew Zimmern, she relocated to Berlin and became the managing editor at Kitchen Stories, an international digital cooking platform with millions of active users. 

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Published November 23, 2025
Devan Grimsrud
Overhead shot of Tuscan butter beans in a skillet topped with dollops of ricotta toasted bread on the side

Simply Recipes / Jessica Furniss

There's just no telling when having a 20-minute dinner recipe in your back pocket will be a life saver. It might be when the fatigue from the week starts to creep up on you a day early, leaving your meal plan for Thursday night looking a little too, well, complicated. Or maybe it's brought on by a cancelled dinner date with friends, because you're feeling slightly under the weather and just want to eat something cozy on the couch. Perhaps an evening meeting went way too long and instead of swinging by the grocery store on the way home, you'd rather leave it up to chance and pull from the pantry.

Whatever your reason for feeling too tired to cook, these easy, 20-minute recipes will be there for you. They're satisfying and comforting, but most important, they come together fast and require the bare minimum of effort. Plus, they feel fully like fall, leaning on seasonal ingredients or offering warmth from the outside in. You're going to want to save some of these for later, I promise!

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  • Chicken Enchilada Chili

    A bowl of chicken enchilada chili topped with shredded cheese sour cream and cilantro

    Simply Recipes / Coco Morante

    "While the chili simmers for a speedy 10 minutes, you’ll have just enough time to set the table and round up your toppings. I like to top my chili with chopped cilantro, shredded cheddar cheese, and a big spoonful of sour cream." —Coco Morante, Recipe Developer

  • Pumpkin Black Bean Tostadas

    Two tostadas topped with black beans diced vegetables and herbs served with lime wedges on a plate

    Simply Recipes / Sara Haas

    "For this recipe: please buy the can labeled “100% pure pumpkin,” and not the one labeled “pumpkin pie filling.” Pumpkin purée is just that—puréed pumpkin with nothing else added. Pumpkin pie filling, on the other hand, has spices and sugar added to it because it’s for pie. We’re not making pie, so leave that one on the shelf." —Sara Haas, Recipe Developer

  • Honey Soy Chicken

    Overhead view of a blue plate with a serving of partially sliced honey soy chicken and white rice topped with green onions along with a fork and knife

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Julia Gartland / Food Styling by Pearl Jones

    "If you can't find chicken cutlets at the supermarket, you can make your own using boneless, skinless chicken breasts. Slice 2 chicken breasts in half horizontally, making 4 cutlets." —Kris Osborne, Recipe Developer

  • One-Pan Orzo alla Vodka

    Orzo in vodka sauce garnished with grated cheese and fresh basil served in a white bowl with a gold spoon

    Simply Recipes / Alexandra Shytsman

    "This dish goes with just about any protein or veggie side. I served it with sautéed ground chicken sausage, but it would be fabulous with meatballs, leftover roast chicken, or baked fish. To make it more filling on its own, you can stir in some white beans, too." —Rebecca Fennel, Recipe Developer

    Continue to 5 of 21 below

  • Tomato-Spinach White Beans

    A plate of stewed beans with tomatoes and spinach served alongside bread

    Simply Recipes / Alexandra Shytsman

    "To make this dish even more pantry friendly, use a can of whole cherry tomatoes instead of fresh tomatoes." —Alexandra Shytsman, Recipe Developer

  • 15-Minute Salmon Piccata

    overhead view of platter of Salmon Piccata fillets

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

    "If you’d like to skip the white wine, swap in low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth. Just note the latter might darken the sauce a bit, though it will still be delicious." —Sheela Prakash, Recipe Developer

  • Easy Chickpea Curry

    3 bowls of Easy Chickpea Curry with spoons, naan on the side

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

    "If you’re out of fresh spinach, don’t hesitate to use frozen—just use one cup in place of two packed cups of fresh." —Shayma Saadat, Recipe Developer

  • Easy Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas

    Sheet pan with cooked chicken strips and assorted vegetables surrounded by bowls of tortilla shells shredded cheese salsa and guacamole

    Simply Recipes / Frank Tiu

    "My version of this easy sheet pan fajitas recipe calls for chicken tenders for the easiest possible prep. You can also swap in an equivalent weight of boneless, skinless chicken breasts. Just plan for a few extra minutes to cut them into strips." —Deborah Koenig, Recipe Developer

    Continue to 9 of 21 below

  • Crab Rangoon Sandwiches

    Grilled sandwich filled with a creamy crab mixture served on a white plate with a sweet and sour dipping sauce

    Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm

    "I prefer making these sandwiches with white bread, but you can use milk bread, brioche, or even challah." —Annika Panikker, Recipe Developer

  • Tuna and Butter Bean Stew

    15-Minute Tuna and Butter Bean Stew in a bowl with spoon

    Simply Recipes / Frank Tiu

    "You can substitute 4 cups of your favorite chicken stock or even vegetable broth for the Better Than Bouillon and water, if you prefer, but you may need to add more salt to the dish." —Stephanie A. Ganz, Recipe Developer

  • Beef and Broccoli Ramen Stir Fry

    A plate of beef and broccoli ramen stir fry

    Simply Recipes / Nick Evans

    "I like to use sirloin steak when I’m making beef stir fries. It has the perfect mix of lean meat and fat, and it's still tender even if cooked quickly. You could use other cuts of steak, but try to avoid getting one that has a high fat content, like porterhouse steak." —Nick Evans, Recipe Developer

  • Tomato Orzo Soup

    overhead view of a bowl of 20-Minute Tomato Orzo Soup

    Simply Recipes / Alexandra Shytsman

    "If you’re feeling a little lazy (like me!), you can skip the chopping and pick up a tub of pre-chopped mirepoix in the refrigerated section of the supermarket or in the frozen vegetable aisle. Toss a jar of minced garlic in oil in your cart, too, and you’ll have all of the vegetable prep out of the way." —Alexandra Shytsman, Recipe Developer

    Continue to 13 of 21 below

  • Tuscan-Style Beans

    Overhead shot of Tuscan butter beans in a skillet topped with dollops of ricotta toasted bread on the side

    Simply Recipes / Jessica Furniss

    "Sometimes the sauce can cook quickly and you don’t want it to get too thick. If the sauce seems too thick, add another 1/4 cup of water. Then taste to see if you need more salt." —Jessica Furniss, Recipe Developer

  • Easy Taco Casserole

    easy taco casserol in a pot at a table setting with bowls of toppings, chips on a platter, and a bottle of beer

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Emily Nabors Hall / Prop Styling by Lindsey Lower

    "For this recipe, use sturdy, thick-style tortilla chips and not restaurant-style chips. I like the GreenWise brand." —Laurel Randolph, Associate Editorial Director

  • One-Pan Ravioli With Sausage

    One-Pan Ravioli in a pan with a large spoon

    Simply Recipes

    "I chose straightforward cheese-filled ravioli for this recipe, but the beauty is that it’s versatile and customizable. If you want to switch up the flavor of the ravioli, go ahead. Both fresh and frozen will work, so choose whatever brand or type you normally buy. Or swap for tortellini." —Theodora Kaloudis, Recipe Developer

  • Black Bean Soup

    Overhead shot of a bowl of black bean soup, topped with avocado cubes, jalapeño slices, pickled onion and and cilantro

    Simply Recipes / Coco Morante

    "A great flavor booster I include here is a can of fire-roasted tomatoes, preferably the kind with green chiles included." —Coco Morante, Recipe Developer

    Continue to 17 of 21 below

  • Quick and Easy Buffalo Chicken Tacos

    Buffalo Chicken Tacos Topped With Blue Cheese Crumbles and Green Onion Slices and Next to a Lime Quarter, All on a Platter, and in the Surroundings, Another Lime Slice on the the Counter, a Small Bowl With More Cheese, and a Glass of Water

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

    "Franks RedHot is the classic choice for Buffalo chicken and will lend the most signature flavor, but I actually prefer the tangy, spicier flavor of Cholula. Use whichever you like best." —Sheela Prakash, Recipe Developer

  • Creamy White Beans and Greens

    Overhead view of a bowl of beans and greens with a chunk of bread all next to a spoon and resting on a blue cloth napkin

    Simply Recipes / Ali Redmond

    "Two things set this recipe apart from the other beans and greens out there. First, some beans are mashed before they’re added, and second, I make use of an oft-discarded ingredient: the bean liquid, aka aquafaba. Both of these things lend a velvety body to the dish and give it a rich, creamy texture." —Devan Grimsrud, Recipe Developer

  • Marry Me Beans

    Marry Me Beans in a white bowl

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

    "Any kind of white bean will work, like cannellini, navy, and Great Northern." —Laurel Randolph, Associate Editorial Director

  • Tuscan-Style Chicken Thighs

    Overhead view of a blue dutch oven and small white bowl of tuscan-style chicken thighs recipe

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Rachel Vanni / Food Styling by Tiffany Schleigh

    "The pan should be hot before you start—you want to hear the sizzle when you add the chicken." —Theodora Kaloudis, Recipe Developer

    Continue to 21 of 21 below

  • Sausage White Bean Soup

    A white bowl with kale, white bean and sausage soup, places on a dark green plate on a wooden serving board

    Simply Recipes / Sara Haas

    "You’ll already be using spicy Italian sausage, but for more heat, add a bit of crushed red pepper. I’ve also been known to add a bit of the pickling liquid from jarred jalapeño peppers." —Sara Haas, Recipe Developer

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