Let me start out by saying that ordering pizza is probably the best way to feed your crew of trick-or-treaters on Monday night.
We’ll all be rushing home from school and work, dealing with last minute costume malfunctions and cursing the fact that cat whiskers are harder to draw on a child’s face than expected.
Who has time to cook dinner?
But, if you want to have a homemade dinner ready there are plenty of options that create a good base of protein and carbs before all of that candy goes in.
Chili
Chili seems to be the meal of choice on Halloween. You can try my Instant Pot Vegetarian chili or Instant Pot ground turkey and white bean chili (double this recipe).
Chef/author Anne Byrn’s white chicken chili is also good and you can use rotisserie chicken to make it easy. For something heartier, try Dinner A Love Story’s Beef and Black Bean Chili.
Pasta
A batch of pork and ricotta meatballs is so satisfying with spaghetti and a jar of marinara. Instant Pot spaghetti and meatballs is easier to make and also delicious, but won’t feed a large crowd. No time to roll meatballs? Then Instant Pot bolognese is for you.
If you need a vegan pasta, try lentil bolognese with any type of noodle.
Feeling retro? Then try Instant Pot Hamburger Helper or Instant Pot Tuna Casserole.
For lasagna lovers, Pinch of Yum’s Creamy Tomato Lasagna Florentine is a winner.
Dinner Last Week
I’m always curious about what other families are eating. Aren’t you? Here’s what my crew ate last week. This wasn’t the most inspired week of dinners. I was busy and tired and mentally halfway out the door because I knew I had a fun weekend trip ahead.
Monday: Broiled salmon, roasted Brussels sprouts and carrots, salad. You might have noticed that salmon has been on my weekly menu for awhile now. Alas, I think we’re all finally tired of it so this dinner wasn’t received with a lot of enthusiasm.
Tuesday: Roasted potatoes and carrots, Trader Joe’s samosas, frozen peas and polenta (a tube sliced and pan-fried in butter). This was a random dinner of odds and ends that needed to be used up.
Wednesday: Rotisserie chicken, Instant Pot turmeric coconut rice. Did I serve a veggie on side? Maybe? I can’t remember.
Thursday: Salad for the grown-ups, mac & cheese for the kiddos.
Friday: I was visiting Seattle and spent all weekend eating my friend’s home cooked dinners, amazing food at Ciudad, pastries at Temple Pastries and drinking lots of coffee, of course.
Seattle was really showing off its fall colors and rainbows and misty weather. It was the perfect Autumn escape from Southern California.
Hope you all have a fun Halloween weekend!
xo
Jenny