The Best Halloween Treats and Recipes in One Roundup

Growing up, Halloween wasn’t just about the candy. To us, it was about making your own homemade costumes from what you could find around the house, wearing your costume to school for a full day of celebration, and the occasional Raisin Creme Pie plunked into the bottom of your goodie bag on Halloween night.

While Halloween celebrations may have grown bigger, that just means more reasons to whip up tasty treats and celebrate. So The Harris Sisters are stirring up a little magic in the kitchen.

This year, we’ve pulled together some of our favorite Halloween-inspired recipes from past posts that our readers loved most. Think of it as our own little recipe spell book that's full of comforting flavors, nostalgic bites, and a touch of whimsy that’ll take you back to the good old days while keeping things fun for today’s celebrations.

Whether you’re planning a party spread, packing up treats for the kiddos, or just looking to indulge in a cozy night at home, this roundup is full of inspiration. Click through the links, revisit some of our tried-and-true favorites, and maybe discover a new tradition to add to your Halloween lineup.

Spooky Sweets 

Let's start out with the real star of Halloween - the sugary sweets! Sure to impress, these cakes, cookies, and bars will fly off your party table like a witch into the night.

Halloween Butter Cookies with Sprinkles

Halloween M&M Cookie Bars - These chewy cookie bars are the best and they're so festive with Halloween colored M&Ms.

Halloween Butter Cookies with Sprinkles - This vintage butter cookie recipe can be made for any holiday but when you add Halloween cookie cutters and sprinkles, they come out awfully cute for spooky season.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge Cake - This decadent dessert is a real showstopper and you can decorate it with Reese's Pieces or Halloween M&Ms for a Halloween party.

Oreo Dirt Cake - Make this recipe into a graveyard by preparing it in a larger baking dish with decorated cookies, gummy worms, and pumpkin candy!

Pumpkin Bread - One of our most visited recipes, this pumpkin bread does not disappoint and has all the flavors of the fall season.

Pumpkin White Chocolate Chip Cookies - This recipe is perfect for all you folks out there who love pumpkin spice flavor this time of year.

Pumpkin Crunch Cake - Another favorite for pumpkin lovers!

Earthquake Cake - The perfect black and white cake for a disaster-themed party.

Haunting Hors D'oeuvres

Add a pop of pumpkin orange magic to your party table with these appetizers and dips. They're the  perfect color for the Halloween season!

Pimento Cheese Pinwheels

Buffalo Chicken Dip - A fan favorite, this spicy chicken dip comes together in no time flat. Serve with your favorite tortilla chips. (And don't forget that sometimes you can find ghost shaped tortilla chips near Halloween!)

Pineapple Marmalade Brie - The pineapple marmalade gives this appetizer its orange hue for Halloween parties. If you're feeling really fancy, cut the puff pastry dough in strips and wrap the brie like a mummy before you bake it. Add some olives or small pieces of red peppers from your canape tray for eyes if you're feeling fancy!

Classic Cheese Ball - This vintage recipe is straight from our Aunt Gladys' kitchen, so you know it's a winner. We usually make it at Christmas, but the orange color is perfect for Halloween parties too.

Queso Dip - This queso is a healthier version, using real cheese and evaporated milk. It's just as easy to make as the Velveeta kind so give this one a try.

Baked Pimento Cheese Pinwheels - These cute little pimento cheese pinwheel sandwiches won't last long on your party table. Made with homemade pimento cheese and baked to perfection, they're sure to please!

Pineapple Habanero Pepper Jelly - Serve this orange pepper jelly as an appetizer with cream cheese on crackers or alongside your appetizer cheese tray as a complement to Havarti, gouda, fontina, or goat cheese.

Bewitching Beverages

What's brewing in your cauldron? Whip up some of these magic potions for your Halloween party. 

Halloween Witch's Brew

Crockpot Witch's Brew - This recipe makes an entire cauldron (crockpot) of spiced apple cider, so it's perfect to serve up at your next Halloween party.

Non-Alcoholic Party Punch - This vintage punch recipe is a fan-favorite and is perfect for Halloween parties if you make it purple or orange!

Happy Hallo-WINE! - Which Halloween candy pairs better with a Moscato? Which pairs better with a Cabernet? We've tasted 5 wines with 11 types of candy for you and provided our thoughts on the pairings so that you have all the details!

As we wrap up this little collection of recipes, it’s hard not to notice how much Halloween has grown since the good old days. What used to be an evening of trick-or-treating and a few homemade goodies has turned into full-blown celebrations, complete with over-the-top decorations, themed parties, and enough candy to fill a cauldron. 

But no matter how elaborate the holiday has become, the heart of it is still the same: gathering with the people you love, making memories, and sharing a few sweet treats along the way. We hope these recipes bring a touch of nostalgia to your kitchen while adding a little extra sparkle to your celebrations this year.

Three’s a Charm: Creative Trio Halloween Costumes for You and the Girls

Ready to turn heads this Halloween? Whether you’re dressing up with your best friends, teaming up with your sisters, or planning the ultimate group costume, The Harris Sisters have rounded up our best trio Halloween ideas just for you. With these picture-perfect outfits, we've got an era for everybody. And these creative costumes will have you and your girls stealing the spotlight all spooky season long.

Circus / Life of a Showgirl 

The Harris Sisters were in our showgirl era way back in 2020 and with so many circus characters to choose from, it's an easy one for a group of three. You can find extra details about our costumes here: Circus Themed Family Photoshoot.

Disney Villains

Why should princesses get all the love? There are just as many Disney Villains to choose from, and in keeping with the spooky them of the season, they're the perfect choice for a group of three. For more details on our Maleficent, Ursula, and Cruella DeVil costumes, take a peek here Disney Villains Group Halloween Costume.

Flower Garden

It does not get more simple than this when it comes to costumes: a giant flower fascinator and a green outfit. BOOM! You and your sisters are a flower garden. These flower fascinators were hand-crafted and hand-painted by the super-talented Harris Sister Misty, but you can find similar flower hats and flower fascinators online.

River Sirens / Woodland Fairies

When we wore these costumes, we were inspired by the River Sirens from the movie Oh Brother, Where Art Thou? But you can use the same ethereal look to create a trio of Woodland Fairies (just add wings!) More information on the costumes here River Sirens Photoshoot.

Barbies

What's better than one great Barbie costume? Three! There are so many iconic Barbie looks that this is a fun choice for a group of friends. Since the Barbie movie was released in 2023, there are a variety of Barbie costumes to choose from. We're shown here as vintage Barbie Learns to Cook, Original Barbie, and Great Shape Barbie.

Sanderson Sisters

Nothing says Halloween more than the cult classic 1990s Halloween movie Hocus Pocus. When dressing up as everyone's favorite sisters, your hardest decision will be who is Winifred, who is Mary, and who is Sarah. Once you get that sorted, the Sanderson Sisters costumes are easy to recognize this time of year and will be perfect for a group of three friends,

Classic 1980s

You and your homegirls can like totally recreate these 1980s costumes. Just make sure to get all of your slang ready to get into character in time for Halloween (for sure, excellent, bodacious, radical). Take a peek here for all the details Takin' It Back to the Old School.

Clue Characters

Three or six friends can use this idea for the perfect group Halloween costume. Pick your favorite characters from this classic board game and go wild! Here we're dressed as Miss Scarlett, Mrs. Peacock, and Mrs. White, but check out photos of us as Colonel Mustard, Mr. Green, and Professor Plum and all the costume details here Clue Halloween Group Halloween Costume.

Pirates

Arrgh, mateys! Pirate costumes are a popular choice for group costumes, but I'll let you in on a secret: they're also usually pretty easy to throw together last-minute. Why? Staples in the costumes include many pieces you may already own: ruffled blouse, long jacket or coat (think velvet, brocade, or leather), multiple scarves and belts, hoop earrings, dark pants or skirt, and tall boots. Pro tip: Dollar stores often sell pirate eye patches near Halloween, and tri-corn hats are often sold at party stores. Raid your kids toys for "weaponry." Layer, layer, layer! 

Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz / Wicked

When deciding on your group Halloween costume, don't be afraid to think outside of the box. In 2021, rather than dressing as three separate characters from The Wizard of Oz, we chose to all do a different take on the Dorothy costume. Pop over to this post for more details on the individual costumes Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz: Group Halloween Costume.

Storybook Characters

If you're a little more traditional, then we've got the perfect trio costume for you and the girls. These storybook characters are easy to recognize, just Over the Rainbow and Through the Looking Glass, to Grandmother's House We Go! and you'll find Dorothy (again), Alice, and Red Riding Hood. 

Flappers / Roaring 20's

You and your sisters will be the bee's knees in this iconic look and it's so easy to recreate. Just pair your flapper dress with accessories like pearl necklaces, headbands, and gloves. Make sure to put on your best dancing shoes because you'll be doing the Charleston all night!

Regency / Brigerton / Victorian Era

Make sure to read all our tips on Shopping Your Local Theater Company Sales. You might be surprised what you could score for your group Regency Halloween costumes. Or check online for Brigerton costumes and Victorian costumes. And don't forget to accessorize with items like tiaras, fascinators, lace gloves, brooches, and pearls.

Mechanics

For mechanic group costume look, we snagged three matching speed suits and added customized name patches to make them seem "official." To complete the costumes, we added red accessories we already owned.

Who says three’s a crowd? This Halloween, three is officially a vibe! Squad goals take on a whole new meaning when Halloween rolls around. If you and your friends (or sisters!) are looking for the best group costumes to rock this spooky season, we hope this list will do the trick. 

Get ready to make your trio the star of the night and pin these ideas for later.

This post contains affiliate links.

Old-Fashioned Apple Spice Cake with Caramel Frosting

What is it about fall that makes us crave those cozy, old-fashioned flavors that feel like a hug from the inside out? Apples fresh from the orchard, a hint of cool breeze in the air, and the golden glow of early fall afternoons. This Apple Spice Cake with Caramel Frosting is exactly the kind of recipe our Grandma would’ve pulled out for company or just to make an ordinary Sunday feel special. Moist, tender layers of spiced cake meet a rich, buttery caramel frosting that tastes like it came straight out of a heirloom cookbook. It’s the perfect dessert for welcoming fall, sharing with family, or bringing to a gathering where you want to impress. One bite, and you’ll see why this old-fashioned treat deserves a place on your table.

We've provided both icing and frosting options below. Really looking to go the old-fashioned route? Make the icing for this cake instead of the frosting and you can't go wrong.

Apple Spice Cake with Caramel Frosting

Cake Ingredients

3 cups all purpose flour, sifted and then measured

1 cup sugar

2 tsp baking powder

1½ tsp cinnamon

¾ tsp ground nutmeg

½ tsp salt

1 cup dark brown sugar

10 tbsp unsalted butter, room temperature

1 cup buttermilk, room temperature

3 cups diced apples

½ cup unsweetened applesauce 

1 tsp vanilla

3 eggs, room temperature

Caramel Icing Ingredients

½ cup butter

1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed

¼ cup milk

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 cups powdered sugar, sifted

Caramel Frosting Ingredients

Caramel Icing

1¼ cups powdered sugar, sifted

1. Preheat oven to 350 °F. Grease and flour two 9 inch round pans or one 9×13-inch pan.
2. Sift the flour and then measure out 3 cups into a large mixing bowl.
3. Add the white sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt to the sifted flour and whisk together to combine.
4. In the bowl of an electric mixer combine brown sugar, butter, applesauce, and buttermilk. Beat for 2 minutes.
5. Add the eggs and vanilla and beat 2 more minutes.
6. With the electric mixer on low, gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Continue mixing until the batter is smooth.
7. Fold the diced apples into the batter.
8. Pour the cake batter into the prepared pans. Bake 25 to 30 minutes for round pans or 30 to 40 minutes in a 9×13 pan or until cake tests done with a toothpick.
9. Allow round pans to cool at least 15 minutes. Run a knife around the perimeter of the pans and turn onto a cooling rack. Cool completely.

Caramel Icing

1. In a medium-sized saucepan, melt the butter. Add brown sugar and bring to a boil. Boil for exactly 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Add the milk and return to a boil. As soon as it has reached the boiling state, remove it from the heat. Add the powdered sugar and vanilla. Spread icing on cooled cake.

Caramel Frosting

1. Prepare the Caramel Icing as instructed above and allow it to cool. Add the icing to the bowl of an electric mixer and add 1¼ cups powdered sugar or enough to get a spreading consistency. Add additional milk if frosting becomes too thick. Frost the cooled cake or store covered in the refrigerator until needed.

Notes:

Refrigerate frosted or glazed cake for up to five days.

As September settles in and the days grow cozier, this Apple Spice Cake with Caramel Frosting is just the kind of dessert that brings everyone to the table. It’s a little taste of nostalgia, a little touch of comfort, and a whole lot of fall flavor. Whether you bake it for a family gathering, a Sunday supper, or simply to enjoy with a cup of coffee on a crisp afternoon, this cake is sure to become one of those recipes you’ll reach for year after year. We hope you'll enjoy a slice of it with someone you love.

Recipes Straight from Grandma Elizabeth's Cookbook

If you're looking for other Harris Sisters-approved recipes, give these Southern favorites a try:

• Grandma Elizabeth's Applesauce Cake
• Grandma Elizabeth's Oatmeal Cake
• Grandma Elizabeth's Magic Fruit Cake

Blackberry Jelly

There’s just something about September that feels like the perfect time to bring out the mason jars, dust off the canning pot, and savor the last fruits of summer. For us, nothing says changing seasons quite like the sweetness of fresh blackberries. This Blackberry Jelly recipe is simple, nostalgic, and just the right way to hold onto those end-of-summer flavors while welcoming crisp autumn mornings. Spread it on a warm biscuit, drizzle it over pancakes, or tuck it away as a thoughtful homemade gift. 

This jelly recipe specifically calls back to The Harris Sisters' childhood when we would pick blackberries on our great-grandparents' farm. When I started growing a little blackberry patch in our backyard, I knew exactly what I wanted to make with our first harvest. And I'm sharing that recipe with you today.

If you have never used a water bath canning method to can jams or jellies before, you'll want to read the complete instructions online before you start making your Blackberry Jelly. 

Blackberry Jelly for Canning

To Make Juice

4 cups blackberries

4 cups water

To Make Jelly

3 3/4 cups of juice

1.75 oz powdered pectin

4 1/2 cups sugar

1/2 Tbsp butter (optional)

6-8 half pint (8 oz.) glass preserving jars with lids and bands

1 piece of food grade cheese cloth

1. Make Juice: Wash the blackberries and put them in a large pot with the water. Mash the fruit and cook for 20 minutes on medium-medium/high heat, stirring occasionally to make sure the fruit doesn't stick to the bottom.
2. Line a colander with cheesecloth and strain out the juice. Save the juice and discard the seeds and skins.
3. Make Jelly: Put the juice, pectin, and butter (if you are using it) back into the large pot. Bring it to a full rolling boil on high heat, stirring constantly. 
4. Add all of the sugar and return to a boil. Boil for exactly 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Skim foam if necessary.
5. Ladle hot jam into hot jars, leaving 1/4-inch head space. 
6. Follow water bath canning directions to complete the canning process. Process Blackberry Jelly 10 minutes. 
7. Recipe yields 6-8 half pint jelly jars. (I ended up with 7.)

Notes:

I used hand-picked blackberries for this recipe, but you can use wild or store-bought blackberries too. Just make sure your measurements are the same when you start.

If you want to separate making juice and making jelly onto different days, refrigerate the strained juice until you are ready to make the jelly. It will take a little longer to bring the mixture to a boil because you are starting with refrigerated liquid in Step 3.

Jam and jelly recipes are finicky, so these types of things can cause your recipe not to set:

• Doubling the recipe.
• Measuring less than the full amount of sugar listed in the recipe or using a sugar substitute. If you want to use less sugar, use a recipe specifically developed for low sugar. 

As the seasons shift and September brings its cooler mornings, there’s something special about capturing the taste of summer in a jar. This Blackberry Jelly is more than just a recipe, it’s a sweet reminder of Southern traditions, simple pleasures, and the comfort of homemade goodness. Whether you’re enjoying it now or tucking jars away for holiday gifts, we hope this jelly brings a little Southern sweetness to your table all season long. 

Welcoming Fall: 10 Simple Touches to Cozy Up Your Home

There’s just something about that first hint of crisp air, isn’t there? When the mornings turn cool enough for a sweater and the evenings call for a steaming mug of cider, we know fall has officially arrived. For The Harris Sisters, fall is more than a season, it’s a chance to slow down, cozy up, and bring a little extra warmth into our homes.

The good news? You don’t have to completely redecorate (or spend a fortune) to make your home feel like fall. A few thoughtful touches can transform your space into a cozy retreat that feels equal parts nostalgic and welcoming. Here are 10 simple ways to bring autumn charm into your home, with a few photo and craft ideas to inspire you along the way.

1. Bring Out the Warm Textiles

Fall decorating is as much about feel as it is about looks. As the weather cools down, trade out lightweight summer throws for chunky knit or crochet blankets and quilts. Toss plaid pillows on the sofa, drape a soft throw across the porch swing, or even layer rugs for extra warmth. 

Super Thick Stash-Busting Afghan Free Crochet Pattern

2. Layer in Earthy Colors

Rust orange, golden yellow, sage green, and deep burgundy red are the colors that instantly signal the season. You don’t have to repaint a thing; just tuck these hues into your décor with table runners, pillows, candles, or other accents. If you have collections in these colors, like these vintage plaid Thermoses, now is the time for them to shine!

3. Set the Mood with Candlelight

Nothing says cozy like the flicker of candlelight. Place taper candles in vintage brass holders on your mantle, or cluster votives on your coffee table. Choose fall scents like apple cider, pumpkin spice, or vanilla to layer in the warmth. 

For you coffee and tea lovers out there, if you have an abundance of fall-themed coffee mugs or tea cups, fill them with coffee beans and use them to hold votive candles for your seasonal candle display.

4. Add Natural Elements

Bring a little of the outdoors inside. Pinecones, acorns, and branches cost nothing but look timeless when gathered in a basket or displayed in a vintage glass jar. You can even make a simple fall wreath by hot gluing pinecones, acorns, or branches onto a cardboard base.

5. Create a Fall Entryway

Your entry sets the tone for the whole home. Hang a seasonal wreath and add a few pumpkins or mums by the door. If you live near a corn field, don't forget ask if you can grab some dried corn stalks for your porch decor. You can add metal and stone outdoor fall decorations to your collection and bring those out year after year. Even the smallest entry can feel inviting with just a few autumn touches.

Fall Porch Photo Inspiration Ideas

6. Use Pumpkins as a Decorating Staple

Of course pumpkins are a fall favorite, but think beyond carving! Uncarved pumpkins can take you from September through November in terms of decor because they represent fall, Halloween, and Thanksgiving. Mix real pumpkins with faux for longevity. To get the most life out of your fresh pumpkins, remember our tips for Caring for and Making Your Decorative Pumpkins Last Longer.

Pro Tip from my Mother-In-Law who hosts Thanksgiving, if you have faux pumpkins that have carved faces on one side and are plain on the other, turn them around so that the plain sides are showing after Halloween to get a few more weeks of decor out of them.

7. Cozy Up the Kitchen

Fall is made for kitchens that smell like cinnamon and spice and sharing heirloom recipes with family. Use our recipe to keep a simmer pot of fruits, cloves, and cinnamon sticks in the crockpot. Display Grandma’s handwritten recipes or a stack of vintage aprons as functional décor that tells a story.

8. Add Vintage Touches

Old-fashioned charm never goes out of style. Layer Grandma's quilt over the back of a chair, fill antique mason jars with sunflowers, or showcase your milk glass collection along with mini pumpkins. These little details remind us of the “good old days” while still feeling timeless.

9. Set the Table for the Season

Even cozy dinners can feel special with a little autumn charm. If you're hosting a dinner during the fall season, set your table with mismatched vintage dishes and napkins in warm fall colors. Place a few mini pumpkins or candles down the center of the table to decorate. You don’t need a big gathering (or even matching dishes!) to set a seasonal table for everyone to enjoy.

10. Create Cozy Corners

Sometimes the smallest spaces bring the most comfort. Create a special self-serve hot cocoa or coffee station in the kitchen for family and guests. Add fall touches like your favorite fall mugs and vintage fall serving pieces to make this simple, everyday task one that's ready for the season.

Fall is more than just a season, it’s a feeling. A little warmth here, a nostalgic touch there, and suddenly your home becomes the gathering place everyone loves. We hope we've shown you that these simple touches don’t take much effort, but they go a long way in creating comfort, joy, and connection.

So grab that pumpkin spice latte, light a candle, and welcome the season with open arms.

Interested in more fall ideas? Check out these popular posts:

• 100 Things to Do This Fall
• Crockpot Baked Apples
• Super Moist Pumpkin Bread
• Crockpot Spiced Apple Cider
• The Best Products for Dry, Chapped Lips

If You Give a Kid a Cooking Challenge: 12 Easy Recipes for College Students

My oldest son Aidyn moved off campus this semester. As a college freshman, he had the convenience of eating either at the cafeteria or at one of the many on-campus restaurants through his college meal plan. This summer, my goal was to teach him a few simple recipes that he could make for himself without spending a lot of time in the kitchen. 

Easy Recipes for College Students

We are sharing these recipes because they are serving a specific purpose: to teach a young adult basic kitchen skills while also making sure he can feed himself at college without eating at a fast-food restaurant for every meal. And these types of recipes may be helpful to other young adults too! 

How it started . . .

What does that mean? It means that a lot of the recipes use canned or frozen vegetables, canned soup, quick rice, etc., to get a simple meal on the table quickly.

These recipes aren’t for seasoned cooks. They’re for beginners and specifically include shortcuts for a kiddo who just learned how to cut an onion. But, if you’re looking for some new ideas for recipes that you can make for a quick weeknight dinner, then these recipes might be for you too!

How it's going . . . 

This is the same kiddo who started baking cakes for charity when he was in middle school as a volunteer activity. So does he already know how to read a recipe? Yes! How to make desserts? Also yes! He just needed a little direction to move into making a full-blown meal for himself. And I’m super proud of what we accomplished this summer.

What Basic Kitchen Skills Should a College Student Know?

These recipes will give you the opportunity to review simple cooking skills. And while they may seem very basic to you, they may seem daunting to a teen or young adult who has never tried them before. Once your kiddo has mastered these skills, they can move on to more complicated recipes later in life.

• Boiling vs. simmering
• Browning ground meat
• Chopping vegetables
• Cracking eggs
• Ingredient substitutions (listed with recipes, if applicable)
• Marinating meat
• Measuring ingredients
• Preheating an oven
• Reading and following a recipe
• Sauteing vegetables
• Setting a timer
• Using a crockpot
• And more!

Making Loaf Pan Lasagna

What Types of Recipes Are Included in This Cooking Challenge?

This Cooking Challenge includes three recipe categories: crockpot recipes, casserole recipes, and one pot recipes. Each category includes four easy-to-make recipes that have quick prep times and have a minimal number of ingredients (minus pantry staples like oil and spices). And they all provide enough leftovers for one person to have a few extra meals or to share with roommates and friends. At the end of the Cooking Challenge, he had 12 recipes under his belt that he can rotate through for the school year:

If You Give a Kid a Crockpot (Dump and Go Dinners)

• Pizza Fondue
• Crockpot BBQ Chicken
• 15 Bean Soup
• Crockpot Pineapple Teriyaki Chicken

If You Give a Kid a Casserole Dish (Classic Comfort Food)

• Loaf Pan Lasagna
• Chicken Cobbler
• No Peek Chicken & Rice Casserole
• Upside-Down Pizza Casserole

If You Give a Kid a Cooking Pot (One Pot Meals)

• One Pot Taco Soup
• One Pot Chicken and Dumplings
• One Pot Easy Two-Bean Chili
• One Pot Taco Pasta

Making One Pot Chicken and Dumplings

Join The Harris Sisters Cooking Challenge for College Students

We'd love for you and your college student to join us on this Cooking Challenge. Together, let’s teach your college student the basic kitchen skills they need, so they can enjoy cooking for themselves. It’s not just about meals. It’s about giving them a foundation to feel confident in the kitchen and to build lasting habits for a healthier lifestyle. Let’s make this journey a little easier, together.

Simply choose a recipe above to get started. Walk them through it once, and before you know it, they’ll be cooking that recipe on their own. It's that simple! 

Be sure to Pin this post so you can easily come back to the full recipe series. And when they finish their first dish? We’d love to hear how it went. Those first kitchen wins are worth celebrating!

If You Give a Kid a Cooking Pot: One Pot Taco Pasta

Over the next several weeks, we'll be bringing you recipes for beginning cooks designed to teach basic cooking skills. So be on the lookout for all the recipes in the series. Today's recipe is part of the Cooking Challenge series.

This nostalgic dish is a twist on the hamburger helper you used to love as a kid. Just as simple to make, this creamy Taco Pasta with ground beef, vegetables, and cheese is prepared in one pot in less than 30 minutes, making your weeknight dinner easier than ever. 

One Pot Taco Pasta

1 pound ground beef

1 medium onion, diced

15 oz. can tomato sauce

10 oz. can Rotel, undrained

15 oz. can black beans, rinsed and drained

15 oz. can corn, drained

2 cups beef broth

1 packet taco seasoning

8 oz. elbow macaroni, uncooked

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1. In a large saute pan, brown the ground beef over medium high heat, breaking it up with a spoon. Drain off any excess grease.
2. Dice the onion, add it to the pan and cook until softened, about 3-5 minutes.
3. Add the tomato sauce, Rotel, black beans, corn, beef broth, and taco seasoning. Stir to combine.
4. Add the uncooked elbow macaroni, ensuring it’s submerged in the liquid. Add more beef broth or water if needed.
5. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes, or until the pasta is cooked through and the liquid has been absorbed into the pasta. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking and test noodles.
6. Remove from heat and stir in the shredded cheddar cheese until melted.
7. Let cool for 5 minutes before serving.

You Can Get with This or You Can Get with That (Recipe Substitutions):

• Substitute ground turkey or chicken instead of ground beef.
• Substitute chicken broth or veggie broth for the beef broth.
• Substitute your favorite beans for the black beans.
• Reduce sodium by choosing a low-sodium taco seasoning.
• Substitute shell, rotini, or penne pasta for elbow macaroni, just make sure to adjust the amount of broth in the recipe, if needed.
• Substitute your favorite cheese for the cheddar cheese.
• Serve with hot sauce, sour cream, or guacamole, if desired.

This Is How We Do It (Kitchen Skills You'll Learn in This Recipe):

• Boiling vs. simmering
• Browning ground meat
• Chopping vegetables
• Measuring ingredients
• Reading and following a recipe
• Setting a timer

Mama Said Knock You Out (Prep Ahead for Easy Dinners):

If you have leftover taco pasta you want to freeze, put the taco pasta into individual airtight containers. It will keep well for up to two months.

When you are ready to serve, take the container out of the freezer and let it thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Reheat in the microwave.

If You Give a Kid a Cooking Challenge

This recipe is part of the three-part If You Give a Kid a Cooking Challenge recipe series. These recipes are designed to: 

• be easier to make
• have a minimal number of ingredients (minus pantry staples like oil and spices)
• be quick to prep 
• make enough for one person to have leftovers for a few days

If You Give a Kid a Casserole Dish: Chicken Cobbler

Over the next several weeks, we'll be bringing you recipes for beginning cooks designed to teach basic cooking skills. So be on the lookout for all the recipes in the series. Today's recipe is part of the Cooking Challenge series.

Chicken Cobbler is a TikTok-famous recipe that presents a new and updated way to make a chicken pot pie by layering a few pantry and freezer staples right in a casserole dish. With just 15 minutes of prep time, this recipe will have a hearty weeknight dinner on the table in no time flat!

Chicken Cobbler

1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted

3 1/2 - 4 cups shredded, cooked chicken

12 - 20 oz. frozen mixed vegetables

11.36 oz. box Red Lobster Cheddar Bay Biscuit Mix and enclosed seasoning packet

2 cups milk

2 cups chicken broth

10.5 oz. can cream of chicken soup

1 tsp onion powder

1 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp pepper

1. Preheat oven to 375° F. Add butter to 9 X 13 casserole dish and put in oven while preheating. (When butter has melted, remove casserole dish from oven and swirl around until the butter coats the bottom of the dish. Set aside.)
2. Spread shredded, cooked chicken evenly over the butter in the dish.
3. Top shredded chicken with the frozen mixed vegetables in an even layer.
4. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the Red Lobster Cheddar Bay Biscuit Mix, contents of the enclosed seasoning packet, and milk until just combined.
5. Pour the biscuit mixture over the frozen mixed vegetable layer, being careful not to mix the layers.
6. Using the same mixing bowl as before, add the chicken broth, cream of chicken soup, onion powder, garlic powder, and pepper. Whisk until fully combined with no lumps of soup remaining. Carefully pour the soup mixture over the biscuit mixture, being careful not to mix the layers.
7. Bake uncovered for 60 minutes, or until the crust has risen around the edges, is lightly golden brown, and the liquids are bubbly. Let it sit for at least 10 to 15 minutes before serving.

You Can Get with This or You Can Get with That (Ingredient Substitutions):

4 cups of shredded chicken equals approximately:

• 2 pounds of chicken breasts cooked and shredded
• 1 rotisserie chicken, shredded
• 3 12.5 oz cans shredded cooked chicken, drained

You can substitute:

• Your favorite frozen vegetables for the frozen vegetables in the recipe (we used mixed peas, carrots, corn, and green beans)
• Canned mixed vegetables for frozen mixed vegetables.

This Is How We Do It (Kitchen Skills You'll Learn in This Recipe):

• Measuring ingredients
• Preheating an oven
• Reading and following a recipe
• Setting a timer

Mama Said Knock You Out (Prep Ahead for Easy Dinners):

You can cook the chicken ahead of time for this recipe and assemble the rest of the recipe on a different day.

If cooking chicken breasts ahead of time, add them to a crockpot in a single layer. Cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours or high for 3-4 hours, checking at the earliest time. Use your meat thermometer to be sure the chicken has reached 165 degrees F. Let rest 10 minutes before transferring to a clean bowl or cutting board to shred. 

If you have more than the 4 cups of shredded chicken needed for this recipe after you're finished cooking it, it will last 3-4 days in the refrigerator and can be used in other recipes. If needed, you can let it cool, and then portion it out into freezer bags or reusable plastic containers to freeze for other recipes in the future. Make sure to label and date any food item that you freeze.

If You Give a Kid a Cooking Challenge

This recipe is part of the three-part If You Give a Kid a Cooking Challenge recipe series. These recipes are designed to: 

• be easier to make
• have a minimal number of ingredients (minus pantry staples like oil and spices)
• be quick to prep 
• make enough for one person to have leftovers for a few days

Special thanks to Your Barefoot Neighbor on TikTok for the original recipe.