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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

With Halloween approaching, dinner might be the last thing on your mind amidst costumes, candy and classroom treats (like Halloween cupcakes!). But a Halloween dinner can be easy and festive! From skull-shaped bites to mummy jalapeño poppers, these fun and quick 30-minute meals will ensure the kids eat something before loading up on candy.

If you're hosting a Halloween party or want smaller bites, Halloween snacks and appetizers are perfect for the occasion. For dessert, try a chocolate-candy pretzel tart or white chocolate ghosts to sweeten the celebration. Add some spookiness to your Halloween night with these easy and festive dinner ideas!

1

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.

2

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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3

Roasted Chicken Pot Pies

roasted chicken pot pies with a jack o lantern puff pastry on top
DANIELLE OCCHIOGROSSO

Use cookie cutters to transform puff pastry into a spooky pumpkin topper.

Get the Roasted Chicken Pot Pies recipe.

4

Skull Pizzadillas

skull shaped quesadillas with red salsa on the side
mike garten

For an easy yet frightful dinner idea, make a cheesy quesadilla Halloween-style by cutting holes in the tortillas.

Get the Skull Pizzadillas recipe.

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5

Mummy Jalapeño Poppers

mummy jalapeno poppers on a black plate for halloween
mike garten

There is no doubt that people will be reaching for seconds! These are adorable to look at and extra delicious. Who can go wrong with a cheesy filling and flaky crescent roll dough?

Get the Mummy Jalapeño Poppers recipe.

6

Eye-See-You Martinis

martinis with stuffed olives that look like eyeballs
mike garten

Get in the festive mood by sipping on a martini with creepy eyeballs floating in your drink (aka stuffed olives!).

Get the Eye-See-You Martinis recipe.

RELATED: 34 Best Halloween Cocktails to Thrill Your Guests at the Party

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7

Halloween Deviled Eggs

blue spider webbed deviled eggs on a black board
mike garten

A few drops of gel food coloring can turn classic deviled eggs into a spooktacular food for Halloween!

Get the Halloween Deviled Eggs recipe.

8

Dip-Dyed Donuts

dip dyed purple and black donuts
mike garten

These no-fry, pumpkin cake donuts are super easy and fun to make. Plus, they make a great Halloween activity to do as a family.

Get the Dip-Dyed Donuts recipe.

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9

Graveyard Dip

black bean dip with tortilla chips, guac and salsa
Mike Garten

Cut tortilla chips into the shape of gravestones and serve with salsa, guac and black bean dip.

10

Ghostly Pizza

pizza with slices of ghost shaped cheese and spiders made out of olives
Mike Garten

Cut deli slices of mozzarella or provoline into ghost shapes for a spooky pizza topping.

Get the Ghostly Pizza recipe from Woman's Day.

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11

Monster Wraps

green wraps that look like frankenstein
Mike Garten

Make these monstrous wraps come to life with sliced Cheddar, olives and cornichon pickles!

Get the Monster Wraps recipe from Woman's Day.

12

Cheddar Crackers

cheddar crackers with a plastic black toy spider
Mike Garten

Bake crispy, cheesy crackers to snack on while carving pumpkins.

Get the Cheddar Crackers recipe.

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13

Creamy Cauliflower Soup with Almond-Thyme Gremolata

a pot and bowl of cauliflower soup
Mike Garten

Halloween night can be chilly! Warm up with this silky soup topped with garlic-and-herb toasted almonds.

Get the Creamy Cauliflower Soup with Almond-Thyme Gremolata recipe.

14

Cherry Crush

a red cherry non alcoholic cocktail with crushed ice
Mike Garten

Spice up tart cherry juice with ginger, star anise and cinnamon in this smokin’ hot nonalcoholic cocktail.

Get the Cherry Crush recipe.

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15

Skillet Roasted Chicken

skillet roasted chicken with roasted onion in a cast iron
Mike Garten

Packed with squash and fennel, this golden roast chicken stars produce that's perfectly in-season on October 31.

Get the Skillet Roasted Chicken recipe.

RELATED: 60 Tasty, Easy Fall Dinner Recipes for Busy Weeknights

16

Graveyard Cupcakes

chocolate cupcakes with cookie tombstones on top
Mike Garten

Graveyard cookies are best when buried deep in delicious, crushed-Oreo-cookie dirt-covered cupcakes.

Get the Graveyard Cupcakes recipe.

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17

Roasted Butternut Squash Salad with Tahini Vinaigrette

roasted butternut squash salad with tahini vinaigrette on a white plate
Mike Garten

Since you’re probably planning to eat Halloween candy for dinner (no judgement!) balance it out with this tasty, veggie-packed salad.

Get the Roasted Butternut Squash Salad With Tahini Vinaigrette recipe.

RELATED: 20 Easy Fall Salads to Make the Most of Harvest Season

18

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

roasted pumpkin seeds on a blue plate
Mike Garten

Best part about carving pumpkins for Halloween? Snacking on the nutty roasted seeds afterwards. Try seasoning them with Parmesan cheese and black pepper!

Get the Roasted Pumpkin Seeds recipe.

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19

Savory Pumpkin and Sage Soup

savory pumpkin and sage soup in a blue decorative bowl
Emily Kate Roemer

Pumpkin can be enjoyed as more than just a Jack O' Lantern! Try blending it with garlic, onions and spices, then topping it with a shiitake mushroom and sage garnish.

Get the Savory Pumpkin and Sage Soup recipe.

20

Black Chocolate Cake

black chocolate cake with green icing on a black cake stand
Mike Garten

Try black cocoa (find it in the baking aisle!) for an extra-dark dessert that will delight everyone at the bash.

Get the Black Chocolate Cake recipe.

Headshot of Samantha MacAvoy
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.

Headshot of Jamie Ballard
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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