1. Mummy hot dogs
Why it works: Hot dogs are a safe bet with picky eaters, and wrapping them in dough makes them feel special.
How to make it: Wrap each hot dog in thin strips of refrigerated crescent dough, leaving a small gap near the top for a face. Bake until the dough is golden, then dot on mustard or ketchup for the eyes.
2. Jack-o'-lantern quesadillas
Why it works: A quesadilla is fast, uses very few ingredients and everyone eats it.
How to make it: Cut a jack-o'-lantern face out of one tortilla with a small knife or cutter. Fill a second tortilla with shredded cheese, set the cut-out tortilla on top and cook in a skillet until crisp, flipping once. The melted cheese shows through the face.
3. Chili in a mug
Why it works: Chili can cook all afternoon, and a mug makes it easy to eat while kids are getting into costumes.
How to make it: Make a pot of chili earlier in the day and keep it warm on low. Ladle it into mugs, top with shredded cheese and serve with a spoon or crackers.
4. Eyeball spaghetti
Why it works: Spaghetti is a dinner everyone agrees on, and the decoration only takes a minute.
How to make it: Cook spaghetti and toss it with warm sauce. Top with heated meatballs, then press a round of mozzarella and a slice of olive onto each meatball so it looks like an eyeball.
5. Pumpkin face pizza
Why it works: Pizza is easy to customize, and kids like making the face themselves.
How to make it: Spread sauce on pizza dough, naan or flatbread and add cheese. Let everyone decorate a pumpkin face with pepperoni and olives, then bake until the cheese is bubbly.
6. Make a plan, not a mess
Why it works: Cooking a full dinner right before the doorbell starts ringing is stressful.
How to make it: Choose one dish, do the prep earlier and keep dinner simple. Serve it before trick-or-treating so kids have something filling in them before the candy.
Recipes that use these tips
These recipes fit a Halloween dinner:
- Beef chili: make it ahead and keep it warm.
- Spaghetti with meat sauce: a base for eyeball spaghetti.
- Baked meatballs: the eyeballs.
- Ground beef tacos: a fast, kid-friendly dinner.