53 Halloween Dinner Ideas for a Spooky Feast Before the Candy
Mummy hot dogs? Don't mind if we do.
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Halloween candy tends to get all the attention during the spooky season, but you shouldn’t count out Halloween dinner just yet, either! After all, there's nothing scarier than going trick-or-treating on an empty stomach. So, fuel up for a night of fun with these ghoulishly good Halloween dinner ideas. Here, you’ll find on-theme Halloween foods, like mummy-wrapped hot dogs and spider cookies, that are perfect for serving at a Halloween party. But you'll also find tons of seasonal fall dinner ideas, like buffalo chicken sliders or pumpkin mac and cheese, that simply make you feel cozy on a chilly October night.
Don't worry—these Halloween dinner recipes aren't scary to prepare and serve. They're quick, easy, and they're even perfect for a Halloween potluck with friends. For instance, feeding a crowd of ghosts and goblins is easy when you're armed with the deviled eggs and buffalo chicken sliders. You'll also find tons of Halloween appetizers, comforting soups, seasonal main courses, and Halloween desserts to make the menu complete. You can serve up your Halloween dinner before or after trick-or-treating, but whatever you do, don't forget to dress up your table with a Halloween centerpiece—the scarier, the better!
Roasted Delicata Squash
Pumpkin isn't the only squash to make this season—try this simple delicata squash as a side dish for any main course. It gets a nice crispy coating of parmesan that everyone will love.
Get the Roasted Delicata Squash recipe.
Buffalo Chicken Meatballs
Give meatball night a spicy twist by swapping the marinara for buffalo sauce instead! And since these meatballs are made with lean ground chicken, you can feel good about taking a few extra pieces of candy.
Get the Buffalo Chicken Meatballs recipe.
One-Pot French Onion Pasta
This cozy pasta dish is loaded with caramelized onions and lots of melty cheese. It's like comfort food in a pot.
Get the One-Pot French Onion Pasta recipe.
Apple Cider Donut Cake
Everyone loves those cinnamon-crusted donuts from their local pumpkin patch. Well, this recipe takes things one step further by turning them into a beautiful bundt cake.
Get the Apple Cider Donut Cake recipe.
Stuffed Acorn Squash
Seasonal acorn squash acts as individual, edible bowls for this hearty fall dinner. Each one is filled with rice, sausage, and cheese.
Get the Stuffed Acorn Squash recipe.
Beef and Noodles
Made with hearty beef, mushrooms, onions, and thick egg noodles—this stew will warm you right up. Top it off with a dollop of sour cream and parsley for the perfect finishing touch.
Get the Beef and Noodles recipe.
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
This subtle nod to Halloween takes your classic chocolate chip cookie and adds seasonal pumpkin puree and pumpkin pie spice to the mix!
Pumpkin Mac and Cheese
A creamy pumpkin sauce is the key to making this ooey-gooey mac and cheese a fall favorite. Not to mention there's garlic butter breadcrumbs and crispy sage leaves to finish.
Get the Pumpkin Mac and Cheese recipe.
Pull-Apart Buffalo Chicken Sliders
Buffalo chicken fans will love this variation in slider form! It has all that spicy buffalo flavor, plus melty cheese, layered on toasted buns.
Get Ree's Pull-Apart Buffalo Chicken Sliders recipe.
Butternut Squash Lasagna
You can't go wrong with a cozy lasagna, especially when it's loaded with fall flavors from butternut squash and hearty Italian sausage. Serve it up with a side salad to make dinner complete.
Get the Butternut Squash Lasagna recipe.
Halloween Deviled Eggs
It's not just the olive "spiders" that make these deviled eggs creepy. The egg white are also dyed with black tea for a beautiful crackled web look.
Get the Halloween Deviled Eggs recipe.
Halloween Brownies
These sweet treats get a Halloween spin by adding chopped candy, sprinkles, and candy corn on top. You can really get creative and use your favorites to decorate the dish.
Get the Halloween Brownies recipe.
Chicken Pot Pie with Cheddar Crust
On a chilly October night, this pot pie will warm you right up! Adding grated cheddar cheese is the trick you never knew you needed.
Get Ree's Chicken Pot Pie with Cheddar Crust recipe.
Cowboy Casserole
You don't have to be dressed up as a cowboy (or cowgirl) to make this comforting casserole. The creamy ground beef mixture and tater tot topping will be a hit no matter your costume might be.
Get the Cowboy Casserole recipe.
Pierogi and Kielbasa Sheet Pan Dinner
The last thing you want to do on Halloween is the dishes so make this sheet pan dinner instead! It's a one and done meal that's hearty and filling.
Caramel Apple Martini
Forget caramel apples and make these caramel apple martinis instead! They're sweet, seasonal, and just the right amount of boozy.
Get the Caramel Apple Martini recipe.
Sheet Pan Pizza
Instead of ordering in a pie, make your own pizza instead! When you use a sheet pan, the pizza comes out thin, crisp, and big enough for a crowd.
Get the Sheet Pan Pizza recipe.
Chicken Nachos
A snack-y dinner like nachos loaded with saucy chicken and cheese is the perfect meal for a scary movie night in! You can serve them as is or load them up with your favorite nacho toppings.
Get Ree's Chicken Nachos recipe.
Baked Pasta with Sausage
This comforting cheesy pasta can go straight from the oven to the table. It's one of those dishes that you'll put on repeat throughout the season.
Get Ree's Baked Pasta with Sausage recipe.
Slow Cooker Chili
Making a hearty beef and bean chili in the slow cooker means you'll have plenty of free time to work on your haunted house! It also means you can let your family help themselves and build their own chili bowl!
Get the Slow Cooker Chili recipe.
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