27 Pre-Trick-or-Treat Suppers to Keep Everyone Full

Everyone’s excited for candy, but a real dinner needs to happen first. These recipes make sure no one heads out the door hungry or comes back ready to raid the chocolate stash. They’re easy to pull together, crowd-friendly, and full of fall flavors that hit the spot before the sugar rush begins. From casseroles and soups to pasta and roasts, there’s something here for every kind of eater.

Creamy Pumpkin Garlic Pasta

Pumpkin puree and garlic blend into a velvety sauce that clings to pasta perfectly. It’s quick to make, full of seasonal flavor, and hearty enough to keep everyone fed before a long night outside.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Pumpkin Garlic Pasta

Pumpkin Tortilla Casserole

Layers of tortillas, pumpkin, cheese, and a touch of spice bake into a creamy casserole that tastes like fall. It’s easy to make ahead, reheats well, and has enough comfort factor to please both kids and adults.
Get the Recipe: Pumpkin Tortilla Casserole

Pumpkin Stuffed Shells

Pasta shells filled with pumpkin, ricotta, and a hint of nutmeg bake under a blanket of sauce and cheese. It’s rich, filling, and exactly what you want before a chilly Halloween night.
Get the Recipe: Pumpkin Stuffed Shells

Stuffed Delicata Squash

Roasted delicata squash halves get filled with a mixture of ground pork, cranberries, apples, and leeks. It’s hearty, colorful, and fits right in with fall’s best flavors. It works well for a dinner that feels seasonal but easy to make ahead.
Get the Recipe: Stuffed Delicata Squash

Chicken Apple Cheddar Chili

Shredded chicken, apples, white beans, and cheddar create a creamy chili that’s both comforting and unexpected. It’s packed with flavor, quick to make, and the perfect way to warm up before heading out.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Apple Cheddar Chili

Apple Butter Roasted Chicken

A whole chicken brushed with apple butter roasts until the skin is crisp and the meat stays juicy. It’s a simple recipe that brings sweet and savory together for a dinner that feels special but doesn’t take much effort.
Get the Recipe: Apple Butter Roasted Chicken

Kabocha Squash Chili

Slow-cooked kabocha squash adds a nutty sweetness to this hearty vegetarian chili. It’s rich, filling, and great for keeping everyone full before the Halloween sugar rush begins.
Get the Recipe: Kabocha Squash Chili

Mini Monster Meatloaf

These mini meatloaves are shaped into little monsters for a fun Halloween dinner that keeps everyone full before the candy starts. They bake up juicy on the inside with a flavorful glaze on top, and kids love decorating them with mashed potato “eyes” or veggie “teeth.” They’re easy to make ahead, reheat well, and turn a regular weeknight meal into something seasonal and fun.
Get the Recipe: Mini Monster Meatloaf

Beef Chili

A hearty bowl of beef chili is exactly what you want before a long night out. It’s made from scratch with pantry staples like tomatoes, beans, and spices that simmer together into a thick, flavorful stew. It feeds a crowd, tastes even better the next day, and pairs perfectly with cornbread or chips.
Get the Recipe: Beef Chili

Salisbury Steak

Tender beef patties get cooked in a rich mushroom gravy until coated in a thick, savory sauce. It’s a comfort classic that feels like a real dinner without requiring much effort. Mashed potatoes or noodles make it a complete meal that keeps everyone satisfied before heading out for trick-or-treating.
Get the Recipe: Salisbury Steak

Citrus Pork Tenderloin

This pork tenderloin is marinated in fresh orange, lime, and lemon juice, then grilled until juicy and caramelized. The citrus flavor keeps it bright and fresh while still hearty enough to anchor dinner. It slices easily for tacos, rice bowls, or sandwiches, making it perfect for feeding a hungry group.
Get the Recipe: Citrus Pork Tenderloin

Creamy Burrito Casserole

Layers of tortillas, seasoned meat, peppers, and melted cheese bake together into a creamy casserole that feels like comfort food with a kick. It’s easy to assemble ahead of time, holds up well for seconds, and feeds a full table without much cleanup.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Burrito Casserole

Kimchi Quesadillas

Crispy tortillas filled with melted cheese, chicken, and tangy kimchi make these quesadillas bold, flavorful, and fast. They cook in minutes on the stove and deliver a good mix of spice and crunch that keeps everyone coming back for another wedge.
Get the Recipe: Kimchi Quesadillas

Air Fryer Mummy Hot Dogs

Hot dogs wrapped in crescent dough cook up crisp in the air fryer for a fun Halloween-themed dinner that’s ready in minutes. Kids love them, adults sneak seconds, and they make an easy grab-and-go meal before heading out the door.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Mummy Hot Dogs

Halloween Pizza

A dark, black-crust pizza gets loaded with sauce, cheese, and your favorite toppings for a dinner that’s as festive as it is hearty. The activated charcoal gives it dramatic color without changing the taste, making it a fun centerpiece before trick-or-treating.
Get the Recipe: Halloween Pizza

Halloween Pasta

This spooky pasta mixes skull-shaped mushrooms, sausage “fingers,” and plenty of cheese in a rich marinara sauce. It’s full of playful Halloween details but still hearty enough to count as dinner. It can be prepped ahead and reheated when everyone’s ready to eat.
Get the Recipe: Halloween Pasta

Halloween Mini Pizzas

Small pizzas get topped with cheese, olives, and peppers arranged into ghosts, spiders, and jack-o-lantern faces. They’re quick to make, fun for kids to help decorate, and easy to serve before the chaos of trick-or-treat night.
Get the Recipe: Halloween Mini Pizzas

Cream Cheese Pasta Sauce

Cream cheese melts into a smooth, rich sauce that coats every bite of pasta. It takes less than half an hour to make, uses ingredients you probably already have, and creates a comforting meal that’s simple but filling.
Get the Recipe: Cream Cheese Pasta Sauce

Turkey Pumpkin Chili

Ground turkey and pumpkin puree simmer together in a savory chili that tastes like fall in a bowl. It’s thick, flavorful, and loaded with beans and spices, making it the perfect make-ahead dinner before everyone heads out into the cold.
Get the Recipe: Turkey Pumpkin Chili

Pasta in Pumpkin Sauce

This creamy pumpkin pasta brings together fall flavor and comfort in one pot. The sauce is smooth and rich with a touch of spice, making it great for serving a hungry crowd before the night’s Halloween fun begins.
Get the Recipe: Pasta in Pumpkin Sauce

Mississippi Pot Roast

A slow-cooked chuck roast simmers in butter, peppers, and gravy until it’s tender enough to fall apart. It’s an easy set-it-and-forget-it meal that fills the house with savory aroma and makes sure no one leaves the table hungry.
Get the Recipe: Mississippi Pot Roast

Italian Meatballs

Classic Italian meatballs simmer in a hearty tomato sauce that’s perfect over pasta or with garlic bread. They’re juicy, flavorful, and great for serving a big family dinner before trick-or-treating. The leftovers make easy subs the next day.
Get the Recipe: Italian Meatballs

Big Mac Loaded Fries

Crispy fries get piled high with seasoned beef, melted cheese, pickles, lettuce, and that signature sauce everyone loves. It’s a shareable dinner that’s fun, messy, and keeps everyone full before the candy binge begins.
Get the Recipe: Big Mac Loaded Fries

Cheesy Hamburger Noodle Casserole

Ground beef, egg noodles, and plenty of melted cheese bake into a hearty casserole that feels like an instant classic. It’s the kind of meal that feeds a crowd easily and holds up well if people come and go throughout the evening.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Hamburger Noodle Casserole

Pumpkin Soup

Silky pumpkin soup seasoned with Cajun spices brings warmth and comfort to the dinner table. It’s simple to make, reheats beautifully, and pairs well with grilled cheese or cornbread for a filling fall meal.
Get the Recipe: Pumpkin Soup

Halloween Spaghetti

Classic spaghetti gets a Halloween makeover with creamy burrata ghosts on top. It’s quick, fun, and still gives everyone the hearty dinner they need before heading out for candy.
Get the Recipe: Halloween Spaghetti

Dutch Oven Pot Roast

A classic pot roast cooks low and slow with carrots, potatoes, and onions until everything is fork-tender. It’s an easy one-pot meal that fills the house with comforting aromas and keeps everyone full for hours.
Get the Recipe: Dutch Oven Pot Roast