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46 Halloween Dinner Ideas to Fuel Up for Trick-or-Treating

Spooktacular recipes before all the candy rolls in.

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skull pizzadillas
Mike Garten

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If you've been busy creating your Halloween costume, putting up spooky decorations, and stocking up on candy for trick-or-treaters, planning Halloween dinner may not be high on the priority list. But just trust us, in the (fun!) chaos of Halloween night, you'll be grateful that you thought ahead about what to have for dinner. Many of these recipes come together in about 30 minutes, making it easy to get dinner on the table for all the goblins and witches you need to feed. Many of them are also sheet pan meals or one-pot meals, so you won't have to spend a ton of time doing dishes. That means you can get out the door for trick-or-treating or Halloween parties that much sooner.

These delicious crowd-pleasing dinners ensure that your whole crew is fueled up for the night — no sugar crashes here.

1

Tandoori-Spiced Cauliflower Chicken Flatbreads

halloween dinner ideas tandoori spiced cauliflower chicken
Mike Garten

These flavorful flatbreads are inspired by tandoori masala. Coat both chicken and cauliflower in a savory spice blend, cook them in the air fryer, and then pile them atop a warm flatbread covered with creamy Greek yogurt for a Halloween dinner that will leave everyone feeling satisfied.

Get the Tandoori-Spiced Cauliflower Chicken Flatbreads recipe.

2

Cheeseburger Pizza

halloween dinner ideas cheeseburger pizza
Mike Garten

Cheeseburgers + pizza = a Halloween dinner that the whole crew will love. The secret to bringing these two flavor profiles together is a hefty dose of barbecue sauce cooked into the ground beef.

Get the Cheeseburger Pizza recipe.

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3

Crispy Pork Noodles

halloween dinner ideas crispy pork noodles
Mike Garten

Put down the takeout menu! These savory noodles made with golden-brown crispy pork, garlic, ginger, and red chili take just 30 minutes to make.

Get the Crispy Pork Noodles recipe.

4

Paprika Chicken With Crispy Chickpeas and Tomatoes

halloween dinner ideas
Mike Garten

This dish not only offers two sources of protein — chicken and chickpeas — flavored with jammy roasted tomatoes, paprika, and garlic. It all cooks together on one sheet pan, so cleanup should be a breeze.

Get the Paprika Chicken With Crispy Chickpeas and Tomatoes recipe.

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5

Pinto Bean and Poblano Soup

halloween dinner ideas
Mike Garten

If it's a chilly October night, warm up with a bowl of this smoky soup that's made with pinto beans, poblano peppers, cumin and coriander. Pro tip: Make a double batch and freeze the leftovers so you have an easy dinner on hand for the future.

Get the Pinto Bean and Poblano Soup recipe.

6

Saucy Pizza Beans

halloween dinner ideas
Mike Garten

Need a quick dinner before heading out for trick-or-treating? This delicious 15-minute dinner packs in plenty of protein and fiber, so everyone will have the energy to walk around the neighborhood all night long.

Get the Saucy Pizza Beans recipe.

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7

Five-Spice Steak and Broccoli

halloween dinner ideas
Mike Garten

This rich, savory dinner combines steak, broccoli, Chinese five-spice powder, and chili black bean sauce for a simple meal the whole family will enjoy. You can serve it with rice, or enjoy it on its own.

Get the Five-Spice Steak and Broccoli recipe.

8

Sheet Pan Roasted Chicken

halloween dinner ideas sheet pan roasted chicken
Mike Garten

If you've got chicken breasts, onions, and an acorn squash on hand, you're most of the way to having this dinner on the table. The autumnal vegetables paired with seared chicken and thyme feel perfect for the season.

Get the Sheet Pan Roasted Chicken recipe.

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9

Pork Tenderloin Sandwiches

halloween dinner ideas
Mike Garten

Two types of mustard, brown sugar, and cider vinegar meet honey, hot sauce, and Worcestershire sauce in this flavor-packed sandwich inspired by South Carolina's famous barbecue.

Get the Pork Tenderloin Sandwiches recipe.

10

Spice-Rubbed Chicken Lettuce Cups

halloween dinner ideas
Mike Garten

Put your spice cabinet to use by making this ultra-flavorful rub that livens up chicken breast. Pile it into lettuce cups and top it with cilantro and lime crema for a light and zesty dinner.

Get the Spice-Rubbed Chicken Lettuce Cups recipe.

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11

Fiery Black Bean Soup

halloween dinner ideas fiery black bean soup
Mike Garten

Charred veggies, creamy black beans, and smoky fire-roasted tomatoes combine beautifully in this hearty soup that's perfect for a fall or winter evening. Top it with pickled onions for an extra flavor boost.

Get the Fiery Black Bean Soup recipe.

12

Delicata Squash Pizza

halloween dinner ideas
Mike Garten

Give your go-to pizza an autumnal twist by topping it with roasted delicata squash. The slightly sweet squash pairs perfectly with provolone cheese, onion, blue cheese, and onion.

Get the Delicata Squash Pizza recipe.

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13

Steak Sandwich

halloween dinner ideas steak sandwich with arugula
Mike Garten

Fuel up for a long night of Halloween festivities with these hearty sandwiches. Juicy marinated steak, peppery arugula, and salty parmesan are piled high on toasted ciabatta rolls for a dinner everyone will enjoy.

Get the Steak Sandwich recipe.

14

Quick White Bean and Sausage Stew

halloween dinner ideas quick white bean and sausage stew
Mike Garten

Simple and savory, this stew delivers coziness in every bite. It's made with dry white wine and if you want to pour yourself a glass to drink while this simmers, we support you.

Get the Quick White Bean and Sausage Stew recipe.

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15

High-Protein BBQ “Chicken Pizza”

halloween dinner ideas
Mike Garten

Looking to get more protein in your diet? The crust of this pizza is made with ground chicken and egg and topped with Greek yogurt and cheese — that's four sources of protein in one dish.

Get the High-Protein BBQ “Chicken Pizza” recipe.

16

Fiery Pork Lettuce Wraps

halloween dinner ideas
Mike Garten

Warning: Once you season pork tenderloin with gochujang, soy sauce, lime juice, sugar and sesame oil and pile it into crunchy lettuce cups, your family will be asking you to make this delicious dinner at least once a week.

Get the Fiery Pork Lettuce Wraps recipe.

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17

Steak Fajitas

halloween dinner ideas steak fajitas
Mike Garten

Put your air fryer to use for a quick and easy Halloween dinner. Peppers and steak are cooked together in the air fryer and then piled into warm tortillas and topped with sour cream and cilantro.

Get the Steak Fajitas recipe.

18

Mummy Meat Loaves

halloween dinner ideas
Mike Garten

Add a spooky twist to dinner with these mini meatloaves topped with mashed potatoes and stuffed with grape tomatoes.

Get the Mummy Meat Loaves recipe from Woman's Day.

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19

Monster Chicken Sliders

chicken slider with olive toothpicks for eyes
Mike Garten

This kid-friendly meal is perfect for chicken tender fans. Sneak in some veggies and add a drizzle of Buffalo mayo sauce for the ultimate monster sandwich.

Get the Monster Chicken Sliders recipe.

20

Jammy Grilled Cheese

a stack of grilled cheese sandwiches with jam
Mike Garten

Need a quick dinner everyone will enjoy before they head out to trick-or-treat? Consider these elevated grilled cheese sandwiches made with brie and jam. They'll satisfy both kids and grown-ups.

Get the Jammy Grilled Cheese recipe.

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Samantha MacAvoy
Senior Editor

Samantha (she/her) is the Senior Editor at Delish, where she edits the most-talked-about food news and features on the internet. In her previous role as Assistant Editor in the Good Housekeeping Test Kitchen, she taste-tested hundreds of products and recipes (tough job!). A graduate of Fordham University, she considers the kitchen to be her happiest place.

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Jamie Ballard
Contributing Writer

Jamie Ballard (she/her) is a freelance writer and editor who covers news, lifestyle, and entertainment topics, including sex and relationships, TV, movies, books, health, pets, food and drinks, pop culture, shopping, and personal finance. She regularly contributes to Cosmopolitan, Woman’s Day, Good Housekeeping, and YouGov, among other publications. When she’s not working, you can find her running, traveling, or scrolling TikTok. Follow her on Twitter.

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