Skip to content

Top Navigation

MyRecipes MyRecipes
  • Course
  • Baking
  • Global
  • Healthy
  • Favorite Ingredients
  • Holidays and Occasions
  • Quick and Easy
  • Convenience Recipes
  • BBQ and Grilling
  • How To
  • Extra Crispy
  • News

Profile Menu

Your Profile

Account

  • Register
  • Email Preferences
  • Logout
Login
Pin FB

Explore MyRecipes

MyRecipes MyRecipes
  • Explore

    Explore

    • 55+ Easy Dinner Recipes for Busy Weeknights

      55+ Easy Dinner Recipes for Busy Weeknights

      Everybody understands the stuggle of getting dinner on the table after a long day. If you're looking for a simple recipe to simplify your weeknight, you've come to the right place--easy dinners are our specialty. For an easy supper that you can depend on, we picked out some of our tried-and-true favorites that have gotten us through even the busiest of days. Whether you're cooking for yourself or for a family, these easy dinners are sure to leave everyone satisfied and stress-free. Read More
    • The Brilliant Secret to Making Better Mashed Potatoes

      The Brilliant Secret to Making Better Mashed Potatoes

      Trust me, it’s so worth it. Read More
    • 65 Super Easy Finger Foods to Make for Any Party

      65 Super Easy Finger Foods to Make for Any Party

      From chips and dip to one-bite apps, finger foods are the perfect way to kick off a party. No forks or spoons required, just easy-to-pick-up party foods, so you can clean up in no time.  Read More
  • Course

    Course

    See All Course
    • Best Appetizer Recipes...Ever
    • Best Drink Recipes for Any Occasion
    • Salad Recipes
    • The Ultimate Guide to Sensational Sides
    • Soup and Stew Recipes
    • Easy Entertaining for Everyone
    • Breakfast and Brunch Recipes
    • Main Dishes and Entrées
    • Dinner Recipes
    • Dessert Recipes
  • Baking

    Baking

    See All Baking
    • Bread Recipes
    • Our Most-Loved Cake Recipes
    • Cookie Recipes
    • Pie Recipes
  • Global

    Global

    See All Global
    • Spanish Recipes
    • Thai Recipes
    • Vietnamese Recipes
    • Middle Eastern Recipes
    • Mexican Recipes
    • Malaysian Recipes
    • Korean Recipes
    • Japanese Recipes
    • Italian Recipes
    • Indian Recipes
    • Greek Recipes
    • French Recipes
    • Chinese Recipes
    • African Recipes
    • American Recipes
    • Cajun and Creole Recipes
    • Caribbean Recipes
    • South American Recipes
    • Southern Recipes
    • German Recipes
  • Healthy

    Healthy

    See All Healthy
    • Easy, Healthy Recipes
    • Healthy Breakfasts
    • Healthy Dinners
    • Healthy Desserts
    • Diabetic Recipes
    • Gluten-Free Diet and Recipes
    • Vegan Recipes
    • Low Carbohydrate Recipes
    • Low Cholesterol Recipes
    • Low Fat Recipes
    • Low Sodium Recipes
    • Low Calorie Recipes
    • Vegetarian Recipes
  • Favorite Ingredients

    Favorite Ingredients

    See All Favorite Ingredients
    • The Ultimate Guide to Chicken
    • Vegetable Recipes
    • Beef Recipes
    • Cheese Recipes
    • Chocolate Recipes
    • Pasta Recipes
    • Pork Recipes
    • Seafood Recipes
    • Shrimp Recipes
  • Holidays and Occasions

    Holidays and Occasions

    See All Holidays and Occasions
    • A Foodie's Guide to Halloween Recipes
    • The Ultimate Thanksgiving Guide
    • Hanukkah Recipes
    • Your Ultimate Christmas Recipe Guide
    • Our Most Festive New Year's Recipes
    • Best-Ever Super Bowl Sunday Recipes
    • Best Valentine's Day Recipes
    • Mardi Gras Recipes
    • The Ultimate Guide to Easter Recipes
    • Cinco de Mayo Recipes
    • Labor Day Recipes
    • The Ultimate Fourth of July Guide
    • Memorial Day Recipes
    • Touchdown-Worthy Tailgate Recipes
    • Wedding and Shower Recipes
  • Quick and Easy

    Quick and Easy

    See All Quick and Easy
    • 15-Minute Recipes for Busy Home Cooks
    • 5 Ingredients or Less
    • Dinner Tonight
    • No-Cook Recipes
    • 45-Minute Recipes
  • Convenience Recipes

    Convenience Recipes

    See All Convenience Recipes
    • Budget-Friendly Recipes
    • Our Top Make-Ahead Recipes
    • Our Favorite Slow Cooker Recipes
    • Instant Pot Recipes
  • BBQ and Grilling

    BBQ and Grilling

    See All BBQ and Grilling
    • Grilled Beef Recipes
    • Grilled Fish Recipes
    • Grilled Shrimp Recipes
    • Grilled Chicken Recipes
    • Grilled Pork Recipes
    • Grilled Vegetable Recipes
  • How To

    How To

    See All How To
    • 7 Ways With...
    • Videos
    • Ingredients and Tools
    • Kitchen Cleaning
  • Extra Crispy
  • News

Profile Menu

Your Profile

Account

  • Register
  • Email Preferences
  • Logout
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. Home
  2. Holidays and Occasions
  3. A Foodie's Guide to Halloween Recipes
  4. 15 Easy Dinners You Can Make Before Trick-or-Treating

15 Easy Dinners You Can Make Before Trick-or-Treating

Updated October 25, 2018
Skip gallery slides
Pin
Tahini Chicken Salad Sandwich
Credit: Sara Tane

Halloween night (or whichever night they trick-or-treat) is a BIG deal for kids. It's kind of the most important event of the year. There's a lot that goes into it, too: Costumes, routes, and a million other details have to be planned in advance. We get it—if it's a lot for your kids, it's even more for you. Don't let dinner add to the chaos. These easy, healthy, kid-friendly meals will leave you and your kids more than enough time to focus on what's really important: the candy. 

Start Slideshow

1 of 15

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email

Chicken Fingers and Green Beans with Tahini Sauce

Chicken Fingers and Green Beans with Tahini Sauce
Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez

Chicken Fingers and Green Beans with Tahini Sauce Recipe

Chicken fingers aren't just for kids. Savory-sweet and addictive, the tahini-tomato dipping sauce offers a palate intrigue adults will love but enough flavor familiarity to keep it kid-approved.

1 of 15

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 15

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email

Mini Mozzarella-and-Kale Pita Pizzas

Mini Mozzarella-and-Kale Pita Pizzas

Mini Mozzarella-and-Kale Pita Pizzas Recipe

We split the pitas in half before toasting so the crusts can get extra crisp.

2 of 15

3 of 15

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email

Creamy, Light Macaroni and Cheese

Creamy, Light Macaroni and Cheese
Credit: Caitlin Bensel

Creamy, Light Macaroni and Cheese Recipe

We set out to make a serious dent in the calorie and fat content of good old macaroni and cheese, while preserving the creamy comfort-food texture.

3 of 15

Advertisement

4 of 15

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email

Extra-Easy Lasagna

Extra-Easy Lasagna
Credit: Lee Harrelson; Styling: Jan Gautro, Laura Martin

Extra-Easy Lasagna Recipe

When we say easy, we mean easy. You don't even have to cook the noodles for this speedy yet impressive lasagna that always gets rave reviews. Lasagna is a family favorite, but this version is extra-special because it only requires 5 quick ingredients: ground beef, pasta sauce, lasagna noodles, ricotta cheese, and shredded mozzarella (we don’t count the water!). It’s rated 5 stars for a reason. Pro tip: Make a double batch: Enjoy one now and freeze one for a quick meal on a busy weeknight.

4 of 15

5 of 15

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email

Instant Pot Butternut Squash Soup with Chorizo

Instant Pot Chorizo Butternut Squash Soup image
Credit: Caitlin Bensel; Prop Styling: Sarah Elizabeth Cleveland; Food Styling: Marianne Williams

Instant Pot Butternut Squash Soup with Chorizo Recipe

For an easy and elegant fall entertaining dish you can make in your Instant Pot, look no further than our savory butternut squash soup. This Instant Pot butternut squash soup is a perfect recipe for effortless autumnal vibes. Featuring chorizo sausage and spices like cumin and chili powder, matched with butternut squash’s inherent sweetness, this Instant Pot soup exudes seasonal warmth. It’s excellent when served with crusty bread and a green salad for a light entree, but also makes for a fantastic appetizer served in smaller portions. A speedy and flavorful twist on classic butternut squash soup, our Instant Pot version delivers a delightful blend of textures and flavors in each bite thanks to toppings that make the dish as beautiful as it is delicious.

5 of 15

6 of 15

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email

Instant Pot Mac and Cheese with Bacon

Instant Pot Bacon Mac and Cheese
Credit: Briana Riddock

Instant Pot Mac and Cheese with Bacon Recipe

If you thought you loved your Instant Pot, just wait until you make a rich and gooey bowl of macaroni and cheese within minutes. The Instant Pot’s pressure function allows you to skip the entire process of boiling water, cooking, and draining the pasta saving valuable time over a traditional stovetop mac and cheese recipe. And we keep the cheese sauce quick and convenient, as well as decadently creamy, by utilizing canned evaporated milk—an affordable staple that you may already have in your pantry. Plus, evaporated milk packs less fat than using heavy cream, which means you can feel a little better about all the cheese you’re pouring in to make a beautiful melty finish. We opted for a blend of cheddar and Gouda cheeses, but feel free to go all-cheddar or try adding another favorite cheese to the mix.

6 of 15

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 15

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email

Whole-Grain Veggie Burrito Bowl

Whole-Grain Veggie Burrito Bowl
Credit: Jennifer Causey Prop: Lindsey Lower

Whole-Grain Veggie Burrito Bowl Recipe

This is a Tex-Mex riff on the Korean rice dish bibimbap, in which various toppings are arranged over a bed of rice. Here, burrito bowl must-haves such as smoky black beans, fresh pico de gallo, and slaw top brown rice.

7 of 15

8 of 15

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email

Cobb Salad Wraps

Cobb Salad Wraps
Credit: Helen Dujardin; Styling: Mindi Shapiro-Levine

Cobb Salad Wraps Recipe

8 of 15

9 of 15

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email

Turkey Vegetable Wraps

Turkey Vegetable Wraps
Credit: Oxmoor House

Turkey Vegetable Wraps Recipe

This recipe makes two adult-sized wraps. Feed little one half of a wrap, and refrigerate the other half for tomorrow's lunch. Take the second wrap with you to work, or send it with an older sibling or your spouse. Feel free to omit the green onions, if desired.

9 of 15

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 15

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email

Creamy Kale and Pasta Bake

Creamy Kale and Pasta Bake
Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez

Creamy Kale and Pasta Bake Recipe

Even self-professed kale haters will fall in love with this cheesy baked pasta with crispy breadcrumbs. Round out the meal with a simple side of roasted carrots.

10 of 15

11 of 15

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email

Roasted Chicken and Bow Tie Pasta Salad

Roasted Chicken and Bow Tie Pasta Salad
Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Lydia DeGaris-Pursell

Roasted Chicken and Bow Tie Pasta Salad Recipe

Use rotisserie chicken from the deli to cut preparation time on this chicken pasta salad recipe. Serve it for dinner tonight, and then pack the leftovers for lunch tomorrow.

11 of 15

12 of 15

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email

Turkey and Bean Chili

Turkey and Bean Chili
Credit: John Autry; Styling: Cindy Barr

Turkey and Bean Chili Recipe

Make this low-calorie chili in just 20 minutes for a quick, one-pot supper. Serve with cornbread to complete the meal.

12 of 15

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 15

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email

Taco Truck Lettuce Wraps

Taco Truck Lettuce Wraps
Credit: Caitlin Bensel

Taco Truck Lettuce Wraps Recipe

Flavorful as a taco truck, but healthy enough to become part of your regular rotation. We keep calories in check by blending a mixture of higher calorie (but oh-so-flavorful) Mexican-style chorizo with leaner ground pork for the meat filling. And then we keep it light by tucking the filling into sweet, fresh butter lettuce leaves—like a cross between a taco and a lettuce wrap. The quick-pickled carrots and jalapeños add authentic taco-truck flavor. Be sure to use fresh Mexican-style chorizo sausage (found near other refrigerated bulk sausages) instead of dry-cured Spanish-style chorizo.

13 of 15

14 of 15

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email

Simple Enchilada Casserole

Simple Enchilada Casserole image
Credit: Time Inc. Video Studio

Simple Enchilada Casserole Recipe

Spicy, creamy, and wholly comforting! 

14 of 15

15 of 15

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email

Tahini Chicken Salad Sandwich

Tahini Chicken Salad Sandwich
Credit: Sara Tane

Tahini Chicken Salad Sandwich Recipe

Nutty, creamy, and of course, topped with greens, tomatoes, and onions, this hearty, easy-to-prep chicken salad sandwich is the perfect, packable lunch. Eat it immediately, or wrap it up and allow the rich, deep flavors of the tahini run into your hearty, toasted bread.

15 of 15

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

    Share the Gallery

    Pinterest Facebook
    Trending Videos
    Advertisement
    Skip slide summaries

    Everything in This Slideshow

    Advertisement

    View All

    1 of 15 Chicken Fingers and Green Beans with Tahini Sauce
    2 of 15 Mini Mozzarella-and-Kale Pita Pizzas
    3 of 15 Creamy, Light Macaroni and Cheese
    4 of 15 Extra-Easy Lasagna
    5 of 15 Instant Pot Butternut Squash Soup with Chorizo
    6 of 15 Instant Pot Mac and Cheese with Bacon
    7 of 15 Whole-Grain Veggie Burrito Bowl
    8 of 15 Cobb Salad Wraps
    9 of 15 Turkey Vegetable Wraps
    10 of 15 Creamy Kale and Pasta Bake
    11 of 15 Roasted Chicken and Bow Tie Pasta Salad
    12 of 15 Turkey and Bean Chili
    13 of 15 Taco Truck Lettuce Wraps
    14 of 15 Simple Enchilada Casserole
    15 of 15 Tahini Chicken Salad Sandwich

    Share & More

    Facebook Tweet Email
    MyRecipes

    Magazines & More

    Learn More

    • Advertise this link opens in a new tab

    Connect

    MeredithMyRecipes.com is part of the Allrecipes Food Group. © Copyright 2023 Meredith Corporation. MyRecipes is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporation All Rights Reserved. MyRecipes may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
    © Copyright MyRecipes. All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.myrecipes.com

    Sign in

    View image

    15 Easy Dinners You Can Make Before Trick-or-Treating
    this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.