19 Halloween Dinners to Make Before a Night of Trick-or-Treating

We know it’s tempting to want to fill up on nothing but treats on October 31st, especially with all the cute Halloween breakfast ideas and kid-friendly recipes. But trust us, you’re going to need to eat something besides cookies and cupcakes if you’re going to have enough energy to go door-to-door. That’s why we’ve rounded up our best Halloween dinner ideas for kids. You’ll find cute ideas your little ones will love like macaroni and cheese or chicken fingers — along with plenty of dishes that feature seasonal ingredients like pumpkin. One of our favorite Halloween recipe ideas? A classic dinner: spaghetti. This version comes with a fun twist; when you cut into the kinda-creepy brain, prosciutto-wrapped meatballs come tumbling out!

Rachael uses all the best fall flavors in this baked pasta dish — like butternut squash, nutmeg and pumpkin puree.

To ensure a nice browned top to your sliders, check that the broiler flame is on when you pop them in. Many broilers cycle on and off as they work, so it’s important to broil these fast-cooking burgers during an “on” cycle.

Impress you family with these orange bell pepper jack-o-lanterns. You might even get your kids to eat more veggies this way!

Give chicken fingers an extra crunchy coating by wrapping them (just like mummies) in strips of phyllo dough. The chicken is marinated in teriyaki so it’s guaranteed flavorful and delicious — so no need to worry if you don’t have time to make the dipping sauce to serve alongside.

Trisha’s quick-and-easy tortilla soup is the perfect bite before heading out for a night of trick-or-treating. With hundreds of 5-star reviews (and fans raving that it’s “full of flavor” and “the best I have ever made”) it’s guaranteed to please kids and grown-ups alike.

Kids will love the “yuck” factor of eating worms, but everyone will appreciate that these dressed-down versions of sausage and peppers are also quite yummy.

The best way to get your kiddos to eat before heading out for a night of candy and fun? Halloween-themed mini pizzas, decorated to look like ghosts, jack-o-lanterns and spiders.

Stir-fry is quick and easy — making the perfect choice when you need a speedy family meal. The fact that this one is sweetened with blood oranges (for a fun nod to Halloween) makes it even better.

Maneet uses squid-ink pasta to give her Bolognese cups their eerie black color. If you can’t find it at your local supermarket, black bean pasta is a great substitute.

Made with store-bought crescent dough, these mummy dogs will be a hit at dinner or a Halloween party. The dough is very forgiving and easy to wrap, and the best part is it doesn’t need to be perfect—these are ancient mummies after all.

Like a fairy godmother in the kitchen, you can transform boring bites of chicken into magical pumpkins with just a “swish” of the knife.

Cozy up to a bowl of chili before you head out for a night of trick-or-treating. Hearty ingredients like squash and black beans will keep you and your little ones full all night.

These crispy chicken fingers get their wicked witch-inspired hue from a secret ingredient in the panko crust: matcha powder!

These pizzas are spook-tactularly simple to make. You can use store-bought dough and skip the sauce — and you don’t need to worry about stretching the dough into perfect circles!

Puff pastry is a freezer staple. Keep a box on hand at all times and use it to wrap just about anything — kid-friendly, Halloween-inspired meatballs included!

This dinner may look like a terrifying sea monster but the only thing scary about those tentacles is how delicious they are! Stuffed with pesto, crumbled Italian sausage and plenty of cheese they’re the perfect way to enjoy pizza on Halloween night.

Need something to fortify your trick or treaters for a night of candy gathering? These madcap veggie burgers are just the thing. They’re full of veggies and greens, but how can they protest — monsters are green, right? If you’d like to add more cheese, stick a slice on top of each crisp patty in the last minute or two of cooking.

This family-friendly casserole topped with sweet potato tots is hearty, crowd pleasing and easy to make. It’s a great dish before trick or treating or for any casual fall dinner. The filling can be prepared a day or two ahead – just top with the cheese and frozen tots before baking.