What to cook in October: Hearty meals for Halloween night

Prep for trick-or-treating with recipes that are easy to make, fun for kids and perfect for a chilly evening

Image | what to cook in October - meals for Halloween night

Caption: (Photo, left to right: David Bagosy, Dhivya Subramanian, Amina Al-Saigh)

October is here, which means one of the biggest events of the year is almost upon us — trick-or-treating on Halloween night. What do you cook when you need to get everyone energized for an evening of roaming the chilly streets, collecting candy and dodging ghosts (or, you know, fog machines)? You want something that's simple and not too heavy, but still feels like a treat. At my house, spaghetti bolognese was always the pre-game go-to for All Hallows' Eve. It's cosy, carby and the kind of dish that says, "Grab a bowl, eat up and let's get moving!"
In the spirit of keeping things low-maintenance and kid-friendly, we've rounded up our favourite Halloween night recipes, including plenty of weeknight staples like sheet pan dinners, rice and pasta dishes, plus some make-ahead meals. They'll also be ideal for the entire month of October, since this time of year is all about grabbing something hearty and getting outside as much as possible before the real cold arrives. And for all you falliday fans, we've got the gourds, too: a few pumpkin and squash recipes to add to your menus.
Spaghetti and Meatballs

Image | spaghetti and meatballs

Caption: (Photo: David Bagosy, Styling: Melissa Direnzo)

Skillet Lasagna with an Easy Everyday Tomato Sauce

Image | skillet lasagna

Caption: (Photo: David Bagosy, Styling: Melissa Direnzo)

Meatballs with Mixed Vegetables and Tahini-Yogurt Sauce

Image | Sheet pan meatballs with mixed vegetables - Amina Al-Saigh (crop)

Caption: (Photography by Amina Al-Saigh)

Za'atar Orange Chicken and Potatoes

Image | Za’atar orange chicken and potatoes - Amina Al-Saigh (crop)

Caption: (Photography by Amina Al-Saigh)

One-Pot Chickpea Curry

Image | Chickpea Curry with Spinach

Caption: (Photography by Dhivya Subramanian)

French Onion Soup Pasta — and Handpies

Image | French Onion Soup Pasta and Handpies Aviva Wittenberg

Caption: (Photography by Aviva Wittenberg)

Chicken Shawarma Bowls with Crispy Potatoes

Image | Chicken Shawarma Bowl

Caption: (Photography by: Amina Al-Saigh)

Sweet-and-Sour Meatballs

Image | Sweet-and-Sour Meatballs 3 - Amy Rosen

Caption: (Photography by Carmen Cheung)

Cauliflower Cheese Pasta

Image | Jamie Oliver Easy Meals for Every Day Cauliflower Cheese Pasta

Caption: (Photo: Jamie’s Easy Meals for Every Day)

Zucchini Dal

Image | Zucchini dal - Dhivya Subramanian

Caption: (Photography by Dhivya Subramanian)

Root Vegetable Stew with Rosemary Garlic Baguette

Image | root vegetable stew

Caption: (Photo credit: Dennis The Prescott)

Misir Wot

Image | Misir Wot Lentil Stew crop

Caption: (Photography by DL Acken)

Chicken Pot Pie

Image | Chef Dwight Smith’s chicken pot pie recipe

Caption: (Photography by Dwight Smith)

Vegetable Biryani

Image | Vegetable Biryani

Caption: (Photography by Leila Ashtari)

Basque-Style Bean and Kale Stew

Image | Steve Sando’s Basque-style bean and kale stew - crop

Caption: (Photography by Ed Anderson)

Chicken Cacciatore Sheet Pan Dinner

Image | chicken cacciatore

Caption: (Photo: David Bagosy; Styling: Melissa Direnzo)

Delicata Squash and Italian Sausage Bake

Image | Delicata Squash and Italian Sausage Bake

Caption: (Photography by Betty Binon)

Delicata Squash and Mushroom Tart

Image | Delicata Squash and Mushroom Tart

Caption: (Photography by Betty Binon)

Brown Rice, Chicken and Butternut Squash Salad with Roasted Garlic Tahini Dressing

Image | Brown Rice, Chicken and Butternut Squash Salad with Roasted Garlic Tahini Dressing

Caption: (Photography by Gabriel Cabrera)

Classic Pumpkin Pie

Image | pumpkin pie

Caption: (Photography by Betty Binon)

Half-Made Home-Made Pumpkin Ice Cream Pie

Image | Pumpkin Ice Cream Pie

Caption: (The Goods)