November is the month for cozy dinners that mostly cook themselves. The days get shorter, the schedule fills up with school events and holiday prep, and nobody wants to stand over the stove for an hour on a Tuesday.
So I rounded up 30 easy dinners to carry you through the whole month, one for every night. Every recipe here comes from Fork To Spoon, and nearly all of them lean on an air fryer, Instant Pot or slow cooker to do the heavy lifting.
You’ll find soups and chili for chilly nights, weeknight pork chops, turkey ideas for Thanksgiving week (plus a way to use up the leftovers), and a handful of family-friendly chicken, beef and salmon dinners. Pick a few from each section and you’ve got a varied meal plan with very little effort.
Soups and chili for chilly nights
Soup season is the best part of November. Make a big pot on Sunday and you’ve got lunches covered for half the week, too.
Copycat Costco Butternut Squash Soup – Silky butternut squash and sweet potato with coconut milk and a little fresh ginger. Peak fall flavor in a bowl.
Instant Pot Jason’s Deli Chicken Pot Pie Soup – All the comfort of chicken pot pie, no crust required. Serve with warm biscuits for dunking.
Instant Pot Italian Wedding Soup – Tender meatballs, greens and little pasta in a savory broth. A crowd-pleaser for kids and adults alike.
Instant Pot Copycat Applebee’s French Onion Soup – Deeply caramelized onions and rich broth, topped the classic way with bread and melted cheese.
Instant Pot Copycat Campbell’s Tomato Soup – The homemade version of the childhood classic. Pair it with grilled cheese for an easy Friday night.
Instant Pot South Carolina She-Crab Soup – A creamy, special-occasion soup with lump crab and a hint of Old Bay. Great when you want something a little fancy.
Texas Roadhouse Chili – Thick, meaty and hearty. Perfect for game day or a cold Sunday.
Instant Pot Wendy’s Chili – The drive-thru favorite, made at home from pantry staples.
Easy Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Chili – A fun twist on chili with shredded pork. Set it in the morning and come home to dinner.
Easy pork dinners
Pork chops are a weeknight hero: quick, budget-friendly and endlessly flexible. The air fryer gives them a golden crust without drying them out.
Pork Roast in the Air Fryer – A whole roast with a sweet, smoky rub, no oven needed. Serve with mashed potatoes and roasted carrots for a Sunday-style dinner.
Air Fryer Ranch Pork Chops – Ranch seasoning plus a little olive oil. Simple, savory and kid-approved.
Air Fryer Barbecue Pork Chops – Brushed with BBQ sauce at the end so it gets sticky and caramelized.
Air Fryer Shake and Bake Pork Chops – The nostalgic boxed coating, but crispier thanks to the air fryer.
Air Fryer Italian Pork Chops – Thin-cut chops with Italian herbs, ready in about 15 minutes.
Air Fryer Frozen Pork Chops – Forgot to thaw dinner? These go straight from the freezer to the table with a brown sugar rub.
Turkey for Thanksgiving week (and after)
Thanksgiving falls on November 26 this year. Whether you’re hosting a crowd or cooking for two, these turkey recipes have you covered, including one for the leftovers.
Air Fryer Boneless Turkey Breast Roast – A great option for a small Thanksgiving. Juicy, flavorful and far less work than a whole bird.
Juicy Air Fryer Whole Turkey – Yes, a small whole turkey can go in a large air fryer. Check your basket size first.
Easy Air Fryer Turkey Tenderloin – A lean, quick weeknight dinner that gives you turkey flavor any night of the month.
Air Fryer Turkey Cutlets – Herb-butter cutlets ready in about 15 minutes. Leftovers make great sandwiches.
Air Fryer Trader Joe’s Sous Vide Turkey Tenderloins – A store-bought shortcut crisped up in the air fryer. Perfect for the busiest night of the week.
Air Fryer Turkey Croquettes – Turn leftover turkey, stuffing and mashed potatoes into crispy little bites the day after Thanksgiving.
Family-friendly chicken dinners
Chicken is the dinner nobody argues about. These four cover a casserole night, a fun meatball night, a crispy comfort-food night and a make-ahead shortcut.
Air Fryer Mexican Chicken Casserole – Layers of tortillas, chicken, black beans and cheese, finished with crunchy chips on top.
Air Fryer Chicken Meatballs – Juicy, never dry, and ready in about 20 minutes. Serve over pasta, rice or in a sub roll.
Arthur Treacher’s Chicken – Buttermilk-soaked, crispy-coated chicken made in the air fryer instead of a pot of oil.
Easy Crockpot Shredded Chicken – Just three ingredients. Make a batch early in the week and use it for tacos, soups, casseroles and salads.
Beef, pasta and seafood
Round out the month with a couple of cheesy casseroles, an Italian-night favorite and a lighter salmon dinner for when you need a break from comfort food.
Air Fryer Cowboy Casserole – Ground beef, corn and cheese topped with crispy tater tots. Kids love this one.
Easy Air Fryer Ground Beef Casserole – A low-carb, taco-seasoned casserole with peppers, Rotel and melted cheddar.
Easy Air Fryer Spaghetti and Meatballs – Crispy meatballs in marinara over pasta. A classic for a reason.
Copycat Firehouse Subs Meatball Sub – Saucy meatballs and melted provolone on a toasted roll in under 30 minutes. Great for a movie night.
Easy Air Fryer Salmon Bowls – Flaky salmon over rice with fresh veggies and avocado, ready in 20 minutes. A healthy reset after Thanksgiving.
Tips for planning your November dinners
- Soups on busy nights. Instant Pot and slow cooker soups are hands-off, so save them for the nights with practice, meetings or late work.
- Batch the shredded chicken. One pot of crockpot shredded chicken can cover two or three dinners that week.
- Keep a frozen backup. The frozen pork chops recipe means a forgotten thaw doesn’t turn into takeout.
- Plan around Thanksgiving. Keep the week of November 23 light and simple, then use the turkey croquettes and salmon bowls for the days after.
- Double the chili. Chili freezes well, so make extra for an easy December dinner.
Your turn
Which of these are you making first? Let me know in the comments, and save or pin this post so you have the full list handy all month long.
All recipes in this roundup are from Fork To Spoon.
