By Tessa McCarthy
When you ask any kid about their favorite part of Halloween, you’ll probably hear a few classic answers: wearing a fun costume, staying out late in the neighborhood with friends, or collecting a candy haul that could last an entire year. But when I think back on my own Halloween experiences growing up, one highlight stands out above the rest. Our traditional pre-trick-or-treating dinner was always the thing I looked forward to the most as the spookiest holiday of the year neared. Although a simple recipe that can be whipped up in a matter of minutes, to me, nothing says Halloween quite like a homemade grilled cheese sandwich and soup.
Every year, after my mom helped me into my costume (which was normally too niche for anyone to recognize and made up of too many uncomfortable pieces), she would head into the kitchen to start making the meal I had been looking forward to enjoying all day. With just two pieces of bread, various types of sliced cheeses, and, of course, just a dash of love, she would transform a simple sandwich into the ultimate trick-or-treating fuel.
Served with a side of soup (I always liked a homemade minestrone), I would dip my crusts into the salty, steamy broth and warm myself from the inside out in preparation to brave the chill that I would endure while trick-or-treating. This simple, commonly underrated dinner was the perfect thing for me to enjoy prior to kicking off Halloween night. It was warm, just right for the unpredictable but always chilly Western New York weather. It was quick to make—a lifesaver when costume prep ran long, which it usually did. And it was ooey-gooey and comforting—the kind of meal that got all of us excited for the night of trick-or-treating that awaited.
My mom would agree that this is the perfect Halloween dinner because it can be as simple or as elaborate as you want it to be. If you have some extra time, you can make a homemade soup and use festive cookie cutters to make Halloween-shaped cutouts in your grilled cheese sandwiches. If you’re in a rush—the more common situation in my memory—you can stick with a trusty store-bought canned soup and whip up grilled cheese in just a few minutes. Either way, it is a simple meal for parents to get onto the table quickly during an already hectic and exciting evening.
Even when I grew out of the trick-or-treating age and spent my Halloween nights handing out candy to the neighborhood kids with my mom, we would still make our favorite grilled cheese and soup for dinner. Now that I am an adult, I carry this tradition with me, making the same tried and true dinner every October 31st—proof that even the simplest of meals can lead to the most special traditions.
Get the recipe: Halloween Grilled Cheese Sandwich
Tessa is the associate digital editor at Savoryonline, where she combines her skills in storytelling with her passion for food. She loves learning about nutrition, trying new recipes, and capturing her kitchen creations—whether through photos or the playlists that soundtrack her cooking.
