Use the simple seasonal October Dinner Menu Ideas here as inspiration and a starting point for your own family menus.
Not sure why to menu plan? Check out all the great reasons here, plus get a free seasonal menu planning eBook with shopping lists and more here.
October always seems much more of a transition month to me than September, both weather-wise (it's consistently cooler in the PNW) and food-wise.
On the one hand, there's still quite a bit of summer's harvest to cook with (tomatoes, green beans, zucchini) and on warmer days we still crank up the grill.
But on the other hand, October is the month when the weather fully changes here and we get in the mood for warm and comforting soups, stews, and casseroles.
Oh and homemade bread. Yum.
So while I'm using up the last of the summer's harvest of tomatoes, corn, beans and peppers on the menu, they tend to be in recipes where the produce is cooked more using ovens, big pots and slow cookers.
Of course there'll always be a salad or two in the mix, as well as the last grilling of the season.
You may, or may not be in the same boat, but there are lots of choices on the menu below, no matter where you live!
Below are the dinner options our family will choose from this month - I hope you will find some dinner menu ideas here for your family’s menu!
October Dinner Menu Ideas
Week 1
Black Bean and Sausage Soup, Soft 100% Whole Wheat Rolls
Chicken or Turkey Mini Sliders (use leftover dinner rolls with cooked, sliced chicken or turkey & cheese - assemble and heat until warmed), green salad with Naturally Sweet Apple Cider Vinaigrette
Grilled or broiled shrimp skewers (brush with Sweet Onion Marmalade), Creamy Pesto Pasta, green salad with Creamy Feta Dressing
Stir Fried Vegetables & Pork, rice or noodles
Greek Tuna And Tomato Salad (to enjoy the last of the summer tomatoes!), Easy Artisan Bread
Week 2
Quick Mini Meatloaves with Chipotle-Honey BBQ Sauce, Garlic-Mashed Potatoes, Awesome Garlic Green Beans, Tomato and Feta Salad
Leftover meatloaf sandwiches on 100% Whole Wheat Sandwich Bread, cut vegetables & Creamy Feta Dip/Dressing (maybe left over from last week?)
Maple-Mustard Chicken, Creamy Fresh Corn Bake, Healthy Sesame Kale Salad
Soft Tacos served with fresh salsa cruda
Simple Sausage and Corn Tart, Roasted Beet Salad With Goat Cheese
Week 3
Slow Cooker Italian Sausage Vegetable Soup, Rich Cornbread with Honey Butter, cut peppers & carrots with Best Ranch Dip
Baked Chicken served with Tomato Chutney, Green Beans with Caramelized Onions and Tomatoes, leftover cornbread
20 Minute Mediterranean Chicken Pesto Pasta (using leftover baked chicken), green salad with Honey Mustard Dressing
Grilled Pork skewers served with Rhubarb chutney (or any other chutney you have), Authentic Greek Salad, Easy Homemade Pita, Hummus
Salmon Patties with Flax, green salad with Honey Mustard Dressing, Simple French Baguettes
Week 4
Slow Cooker Spiced Whole Chicken, Simple Barley Pilaf, Caesar Slaw
Chicken-Spinach Frittata with Feta & Tomatoes (using leftover chicken), green salad, Quick & Tender Breadsticks
Fast and Easy Curried Red Lentil Soup, green salad with Basic Vinaigrette, Quick & Tender Breadsticks (leftover)
Pasta with Fresh Roasted Tomato Sauce, Amazing Garlic Green Beans
Roasted Sausages, Onions & Peppers, Slow Cooker Honey/Maple Baked Beans, green salad, bread
Dessert Ideas
Original 4-Ingredient Homemade Caramel Apple Dip +Fun Fall Apple Tasting Night
Applesauce and Spice Bread Recipe (Whole Wheat, Maple Sweetened, Dairy Free)
WHAT ABOUT SATURDAYS & SUNDAYS?
Our family’s menu always has a couple of standards for the weekends - it's one of the ways I make menu planning easier!
Saturdays alternate between burgers on homemade buns (or pigs-in-blankets) & fries and homemade pizza.
Sundays are mostly on-your-own leftovers (if nothing is available, a quick pasta is made using our frozen roasted tomato sauce or pesto).
If you need more ideas for menu planning, you can always check out these articles to help you:
- Menu Planning 101 & 5 steps to frugal menu planning
- Seasonal cooking through the year
- Monthly dinner menus
I hope you enjoy and are able to use some of these favorite family meals of ours. You can follow me on Pinterest for even more simple, seasonal and from scratch dinner ideas!
