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

Updated October 25, 2018
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. 

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Instant Pot Butternut Squash Soup with Chorizo

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.

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Instant Pot Mac and Cheese with Bacon

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.

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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.

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Cobb Salad Wraps

Credit: Helen Dujardin; Styling: Mindi Shapiro-Levine

Cobb Salad Wraps Recipe

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Simple Enchilada Casserole

Credit: Time Inc. Video Studio

Simple Enchilada Casserole Recipe

Spicy, creamy, and wholly comforting! 

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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.

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