November Dinner Menu Ideas

Seasonal November Dinner Menu Ideas to use as inspiration and a starting point for your own family menus. All simple, healthy recipes with the warm and comfort factor northern Novembers call for - plus a Thanksgiving Day meal plan!

Not sure why to menu plan? Check out all the great reasons here!

November is the month we usually see the weather change to be more consistently winter-like, so our dinners this month are full of our favorite warming soups, stews and casseroles.

Isn't it interesting how we eat with the seasons even when we don't plan it?

When the summer starts I can't wait for grilled foods, salads, and easy finger foods.

But right now I'm all about French Beef Stew, Chicken Corn Chili, and Roasted Chicken with Vegetables - all meals that warm up the house with their smells and the heat from the oven.

Mmm, just about perfect.

November is also the beginning of the holiday season where we look forward to indulging in all the traditional foods of Thanksgiving.

Because of that, I've tried to make this seasonal menu have quite a few lighter, healthier options.

Warm and comforting for November is the name of the game, but comfort food and healthy really can go hand-in-hand.

There is also our favorite Thanksgiving menu in the last week - it's literally the menu we have every year!

I hope you'll find some dinner menu ideas here to help you plan your family’s menu this month.

Lentils with Curry, Bacon, and Browned Cabbage - An Oregon Cottage

Week 1

Curried Lentils with Bacon & Browned Cabbage, green salad with Honey Mustard Salad Dressing

Roasted Chicken & Vegetables, cut vegetables & Creamy Feta Dip

Creamy Pesto Tortellini with Red Peppers, spinach salad

Mexican Chicken Corn Soup, Black Bean Quesadillas, carrots and dip

Greek Salmon and Vegetable Frittata with Creamy Feta Sauce, toasted sandwich bread

Bacon Dijon Chicken Pot Pie with Easy WW and Oil Crust

Week 2

Bacon Dijon Chicken Pot Pie (with easy WW crust), green salad with Feta Dressing

Slow Cooker Cassoulet, Orange Almond Salad, Easy Artisan Bread (save half for another meal)

Maple Mustard Chicken, roasted potatoes, Baked Grated Carrots

Mediterranean Fish Bake, green salad

Potato & Caramelized Onion Frittata, green salad, Easy Artisan Bread

Buttered tops of freshly baked whole wheat dinner rolls

Week 3

Slow Cooker Italian Sausage & Vegetable Soup, Soft 100% Whole Wheat Dinner Rolls

PRO TIP: you'll want to make these for the holidays, too - here's a video tutorial to help them turn out beautifully

Stir-fry on baked noodles (using chicken & vegetables)

Pork roast, Easy Slow Cooker Curried Barley, green salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette

Cheesy Baked Pasta, green salad

Slow Cooker Whole Spiced Chicken, Long-Cooked Green Beans with Bacon, Tasty Rice

Maple Sweetened Orange-Cranberry Sauce - An Oregon Cottage

Week 4 - Thanksgiving Menu

Roasted Turkey with Amazing Gravy

Sour Cream & Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Awesome Garlic Green Beans

Sweet & Savory Sausage-Cranberry Dressing/Stuffing

Maple Sweetened Orange Cranberry Sauce

November Dessert Ideas

Pies, of course!

Crumb-Topped Apple Pie (that you froze earlier to be ahead of the holiday game)
Quick & Decadent Chocolate Chip Walnut Pie Recipe
Black Bottom Maple Pecan Pie Bars (for a different option with the same pie flavor)

BONUS: Leftover Turkey Dinner Ideas:

Creamy Turkey-Rice Soup (using leftover turkey & rice), green salad

Thai Inspired Turkey Vegetable Curry (leftover turkey), rice

Turkey soft tacos, 10-Minute Tortilla Chips, Homemade Salsa

Chicken-Spinach Frittata (can use cooked turkey), Quick & Easy Chopped Salad

WHAT ABOUT SATURDAYS & SUNDAYS?

Our family’s menu always has a couple of standards for the weekends - it's one of the ways I make menu planning easier!

Saturdays alternate between burgers on homemade buns (or pigs-in-blankets) & fries and homemade pizza.

Sundays are mostly on-your-own leftovers (if nothing is available, a quick pasta is made using our frozen roasted tomato sauce or pesto).

For more easy menu planning ideas, check out these articles:

I hope you enjoy and are able to use some of these favorite family meals of ours. You can follow me on Pinterest for even more simple, seasonal and from scratch dinner ideas!