October is HERE, and you know what that means – cozy sweaters, pumpkin everything, and let’s be real… trying to figure out what’s for dinner while the grocery bill keeps climbing.
This month, I wanted to share some fall comfort food recipes that won’t spook your budget. Whether you’re feeding your little monsters after a busy night of trick-or-treating, looking for easy weeknight meals, or just craving something warm and cozy as the weather cools down, I’ve got you covered. And because not everyone celebrates Halloween, most of these are just good old-fashioned comfort food, but I did throw in a few fun Halloween twists for those of you who love to get festive!
The best part? Every single one of these meals is designed to be easy on your wallet AND easy on your time. We’re talking shortcuts, money-saving swaps, and recipes that use ingredients you probably already have (or can grab on sale right here in Michiana).
So grab your favorite fall beverage, get cozy, and get inspired by these fall comfort foods that won’t spook your budget.
Easy Sausage Sheet Pan Dinner
Okay, can we just talk about sheet pan dinners for a second? They are absolute LIFESAVERS when you’re tired, it’s getting dark at like 5pm, and the last thing you want to do is stand over the stove. This one is my go-to because it’s basically “dump and done” – plus it actually tastes like you tried!
Here’s what you need:
Grab some kielbasa (you know, the good smoky sausage), a couple sweet potatoes, and a bag of frozen broccoli. That’s it. You probably already have olive oil and some seasonings hanging out in your pantry.
How to throw it together:
Preheat your oven to 400°F. While that’s heating up, chop your kielbasa into coins – about half-inch thick. Peel your sweet potatoes (or don’t, I won’t judge) and cut them into cubes. Toss everything – the sausage, sweet potatoes, and frozen broccoli straight from the bag – onto a big sheet pan. Drizzle with a couple tablespoons of olive oil, then sprinkle with whatever seasonings you’re feeling. I usually do garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper, but honestly? Use what you’ve got.
Give it all a good toss with your hands (or a spoon if you’re fancy), spread it out in a single layer, and pop it in the oven for about 30-35 minutes. You want the sweet potatoes fork-tender and the sausage getting those nice crispy edges.
What’s this gonna cost you?
Kielbasa sausage (14 oz): ~$4-5
Sweet potatoes (2 medium): ~$2-3 (or grab a bag if they’re on sale!)
Frozen broccoli (12 oz bag): ~$1.50-2
Olive oil & seasonings: You probably have these, but maybe $1 if we’re counting
Total: Around $8.50-11 for the whole meal, feeding 4-6 people
Breakfast for dinner: Pumpkin Pancakes
Listen, some nights you just need to rebel a little bit. Breakfast for dinner is one of life’s simple pleasures, and when you add pumpkin to the mix? Chef’s kiss. It feels festive, it’s cozy, and honestly – breakfast is THE cheapest meal you can make for dinner. Win-win-win.
Here’s what you need:
A box of pancake mix (I’m talking the “just add water” kind), a can of pumpkin puree (NOT pumpkin pie filling, just plain pumpkin), eggs, and bacon or sausage if you want to make it a full meal. Some syrup and butter for the finishing touches.
How to throw it together:
Okay, so here’s the magic trick: you’re going to make your pancake batter like normal following the box directions, BUT you’re going to add about 1/2 to 3/4 cup of pumpkin puree to the whole batch. Just dump it in and whisk it up. The pumpkin makes them a little thicker and SO much fluffier, plus you get that cozy fall flavor without buying a million spices.
If you want to get fancy (and you have them), throw in a pinch of cinnamon, nutmeg, or pumpkin pie spice.
Heat up your griddle or a big pan over medium heat, add a little butter or cooking spray, and cook these babies like regular pancakes. They’ll be a little more orange-ish than regular pancakes, and you can have fun with it and try and make them pumpkin shaped!
Serve with scrambled eggs and some bacon or sausage on the side, and boom – you’ve got yourself a full meal that everyone will actually be excited about.
What’s this gonna cost you?
Pancake mix (box): ~$3-4
Can of pumpkin puree (15 oz): ~$1.50-2 (If they aren’t on sale yet, they will be soon!)
Eggs (dozen): ~$3
Bacon or sausage: ~$4-6 (check those manager’s special stickers!)
Syrup & butter: You probably have these, but let’s say $1-2 if we’re counting
Total: $12.50-17 will easily feed a family of 6
*EXTRA IDEA*
Wanting to keep on the pumpkin theme for the morning? Take a box of white cake mix and mix it with a full can of pumpkin puree until it resembles a batter. Put it in a bread loaf, muffins tins, or anything else you may have and bake until it passes the toothpick test. It makes the most delicious, moist, and filling pumpkin breakfast to start your day!
Slow Cooker Chili
If there’s one meal that screams fall comfort food, it’s chili. And the best part? Your slow cooker does all the work while you’re out living your life. This could be a perfect option for Halloween day, throw it together in the morning and after a busy night of trick or treating.
Here’s what you need:
Ground beef (or turkey if that’s on sale!), a couple cans of beans (kidney beans, black beans, whatever you like), a can of diced tomatoes, a can of tomato sauce (I actually use a few cans, it just depends on how thick you like your chili), an onion, some chili seasoning, and whatever toppings you want – cheese, sour cream, crackers, cornbread, you name it.
How to throw it together:
Now, you CAN just throw everything raw into the slow cooker and call it a day (and honestly, that works!), but if you have five extra minutes, I like to brown the ground beef with some chopped onion in a pan first. It just adds a little extra flavor. But if you’re in a rush, just dump it all and go! When you add your cans of beans, don’t even drain them, that liquid adds flavor! For your seasonings, sprinkle in your chili seasoning packet (or make your own with chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, and a pinch of cayenne if you like heat). Give it a good stir, put the lid on, set it to low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours, and walk away. That’s it. You’re done. Go to work, run errands, binge a show, take your little monsters trick or treating, whatever you need to do. The slow cooker’s got this.
When you come back, give it a stir and serve it up with your favorite toppings.
What’s this gonna cost you?
Ground beef (1 lb): ~$4-6 (watch for sales!)
Canned beans (2-3 cans): ~$1-1.50 each, so ~$3-4.50 total (or use dried beans if you plan ahead, WAY cheaper!)
Diced tomatoes (1 can): ~$1 ($2-3 if you use more then one)
Tomato sauce (1 can): ~$0.75-1
Onion: ~$0.50-1
Chili seasoning packet: ~$1 (or use what you have in your spice cabinet for free!)
Toppings (cheese, sour cream, crackers): ~$3-5
Total: Around $13.25-19.50 for the whole pot – and this makes A LOT. Like, enough to feed your family for two nights, or freeze half for later. That’s seriously budget-friendly, especially when you consider the leftovers!
Stuffed “Brains” (Peppers)
Okay, so this one is specifically for those of you who want to lean into the Halloween vibes without going totally overboard. It’s basically stuffed peppers, but we’re filling them with spaghetti and making them look like… well, brains. Sounds weird, tastes amazing, and honestly? It’s kind of fun to freak people out a little bit at the dinner table.
Here’s what you need:
Bell peppers (red, orange, or yellow look the most “brain-like”), a box of spaghetti, a jar of marinara sauce, ground beef or Italian sausage if you want to add meat (totally optional!), and some shredded mozzarella or parmesan cheese. Plus your usual Italian seasonings like garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
How to throw it together:
First, preheat your oven to 375°F. Cut the tops off your peppers and clean out all the seeds and ribs inside. If you’re feeling extra and want to go full spooky, you can carve some squiggly lines on the outside of the peppers to look like veins.
Cook your spaghetti according to the box directions, but pull it off maybe a minute early so it’s still got a little bite to it. Drain it and set it aside.
If you’re using meat, brown it in a pan with some garlic powder and Italian seasoning, then drain off the grease. Mix your cooked spaghetti with the marinara sauce (and the meat if you’re using it). Make it REALLY saucy. Like, more sauce than you think you need. This is what makes it look all gooey and brain-like, plus it keeps everything from drying out in the oven.
Stand your peppers upright in a baking dish (a 9×13 works great). Now comes the fun part: twist and stuff the spaghetti into each pepper. Let it overflow and hang out over the top. The messier and more chaotic it looks, the better! You want it to look like brains spilling out.
Cover the whole dish with foil and bake for about 30 to 35 minutes, until the peppers are nice and tender. Pull off the foil, sprinkle cheese all over the top, and pop it back in for another 5 minutes until everything is melty and bubbly.
Serve these bad boys on a platter with all that spaghetti hanging out everywhere. It looks completely ridiculous and creepy, and your whole family will love it.
What’s this gonna cost you?
Bell peppers (4 to 6): about $1 to $1.50 each, so around $4 to $9 total
Box of spaghetti: about $1 to $1.50
Jar of marinara sauce: about $2 to $3
Ground beef (1 lb, optional): about $4 to $6
Shredded cheese: about $2 to $3
Total: Around $13 to $22.50 depending on if you add meat and this feeds about 4 to 6 people. Not the absolute cheapest meal on the list, but still way more affordable than ordering pizza or going out!
Chicken & “Maggot” (Orzo) Casserole
Okay, I know calling orzo “maggots” sounds absolutely disgusting, but hear me out. If you’re serving this around Halloween and you want to give people a little scare before they taste how GOOD this is, the name does the trick. Plus, orzo really does look like little rice-shaped… well, you know. But once people take a bite? They’ll forget all about the creepy factor because this casserole is pure comfort food heaven.
Here’s what you need:
A rotisserie chicken (the ultimate shortcut!), orzo pasta (that little rice shaped pasta), a package of Boursin cheese (any flavor, but garlic and herb is chef’s kiss), chicken broth, sundried tomatoes or cherry tomatoes, and if your feeling extra fancy you can use a big handful of chopped fresh spinach. You’ll also want some salt and pepper pr other seasonings to taste.
How to throw it together:
Preheat your oven to 375°F.
Grab a 9×13 baking dish and literally just throw everything in there. Shred up your rotisserie chicken and toss it in. Add your uncooked orzo (about 1.5 to 2 cups). If you’re using sundried tomatoes, throw them in. If you’re using cherry tomatoes, halve them and add those. You can cut up your Boursin cheese into chunks and scatter it around or just place it in the center and let it melt and mix as its baking. Add your fresh spinach right on top.
Pour in about 3 to 4 cups of chicken broth. You want enough liquid to cover the orzo because it needs to cook in the oven. Give everything a good stir to mix it up and make sure the orzo is submerged.
Cover the whole dish tightly with foil and pop it in the oven for about 35 to 40 minutes. The orzo should be tender and have absorbed most of the liquid.
Pull off the foil, give it another stir (the Boursin should be all melted and creamy now), and if you want it a little more golden on top, pop it back in uncovered for another 5 to 10 minutes.
That’s it! One dish, minimal effort, maximum comfort.
What’s this gonna cost you?
Rotisserie chicken: about $5 to $7 (You can always look for them to go on sale at the end of the day and freeze it)
Orzo pasta (1 lb box): about $2 to $3
Boursin cheese (5.2 oz package): about $4 to $5 (this item is a splurge, but to save you could also do cream cheese with garlic powder & italian seasonings)
Chicken broth (32 oz box): about $2 to $3
Sundried tomatoes or cherry tomatoes: about $3 to $4
Fresh spinach (bag or container): about $2 to $3
Total: Around $18 to $25 for the whole dish, and this easily feeds 6 to 8 people.
So there you have it, friends! Five cozy, budget-friendly meals to get you through October without breaking the bank or spending hours in the kitchen. Whether you’re leaning into the spooky season with “brains” and “maggots” or just want something warm and comforting as the leaves fall, these recipes have you covered. The best part? They’re all flexible, so use what you have, swap what’s on sale, and make them your own. And hey, if you try any of these, I’d love to hear about it! Drop a comment and let me know which one became your new fall favorite. Now go forth and feed your people without spooking your wallet. Happy cooking, Michiana!