With Halloween right around the corner, it’s easy to get so caught up with getting costumes just right, making sure you have enough candy for trick-or-treaters, putting up spooky decorations, and preparing the games for the Halloween party that we forget about the dinner. You can use the same old standbys, but making a Halloween-themed dinner is way more fun.
We know Halloween candy tends to get all the attention during the spooky season, but you shouldn’t count out the dinner just yet. Kids are going to need something besides cookies, candies, and cupcakes to have enough energy to go door-to-door. That’s why we have rounded up the best Halloween dinner ideas for family.
15 Best Halloween Dinner Ideas for Family
Whether you are looking for a holiday menu to entertain adults and kids at a Halloween party or to fill kids’ bellies before trick or treating, we have plenty of menu ideas. From ghostly pizzas to eerie eyeball pasts, the meals will add magic to your Halloween night.
1. Creamy Pumpkin Soup
The simple soup is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. The bright orange color and sweet and savory flavor make it a perfect Halloween dinner idea. The velvety-smooth pumpkin soup is made with roasted pumpkin, garlic, onions, and heavy cream. You can also add chicken or vegetable broth to give it a unique taste.
To give it a spooky look, you can use cream to create a spider web design and garnish it with toasted pumpkin seeds for a crunchy finish.
2. Mummy Hot Dog
Surely a Halloween favorite, mummy hot dogs are easy and fun to eat. Simply wrap the hot dog in crescent roll dough, leaving a small gap for “eyes.” Bake them until golden brown, and then use ketchup and mustard to create eyes for a creepy mummy effect.
It is a great appetizer. The mummy hot dogs are kid-friendly and fun to eat, which will surely bring a smile to everyone’s face.
3. Jack-o-Lantern Stuffed Peppers
The adorable jack-o-lantern stuffed peppers are a fantastic Halloween dinner idea for the family. Simple, delicious, and flavorful starters are equally popular among kids and adults. Ideally, use orange bell peppers, carve them like jack-o-lanterns, and fill them with a delicate mix of rice, ground meat, and veggies.
After baking, these peppers look like pumpkins, and their warm, savory filling will surely be a hit. To add some more flavor, you can top the peppers with cheese or use marinara to add more flavors.
4. Buffalo Chicken Slider
The slider is a perfect combination of spicy, tangy, and savory, making them a great addition to your Halloween party. Start by preparing shredded chicken with your favorite seasoning and then toss in the buffalo sauce. Add a bit of ranch or your favorite dressing and the sliders are ready for Halloween.
You can also get creative with a presentation with spooky toothpicks or turning the sliders into monsters with olive and cheese. The bite-size buffalo chicken slider is a great Halloween dinner idea for a family and packs a solid punch of taste.
5. Miso Bolognese
Add a unique taste to your Halloween dinner with miso Bolognese. Incorporating miso paste for a savory depth of flavor gives a great depth to the traditional Bolognese flavor. It combines the rich taste with ground meat, tomatoes, and aromatic vegetables.
Miso adds a distinct flavor and enhances the taste while keeping it familiar. It can be served with spaghetti or your favorite pasta for a comforting Halloween dinner. We will recommend keeping it the way it is due to the added miso’s green hue. But there is always an option to add festive decorations.
6. Apple Cider Glazed Chicken
Add a fall twist to your dinner with apple cider glazed chicken. The tangy sweetness pairs beautifully with the savory chicken. The delicious main course is perfect for a cozy Halloween evening. The glaze also caramelizes as it cooks, giving the chicken a lovely golden hue. Serve it with roasted vegetables or mashed potatoes for a healthy, autumn-inspired meal.
7. Monster Veggie Burger
Need something spooky for veggie lovers? The monster veggie burgers fortify the trick-or-treaters for a night of candy gathering and satisfy the taste buds of vegans at the party. Prepare your patties using your favorite veggie burger recipe and decorate them with cheese teeth, olive eyes, and bell pepper horns.
Serve them on a toasted brioche. You can also put toppings and ask everyone to create their own monsters. The monster veggie burger is a great way to sneak in some veggies while keeping the Halloween fun alive.
8. Eyeball Pasta
Eyeball pasts a Halloween-themed version of meatball and spaghetti. It turns a simple pasta dish into a spooky treat by adding mozzarella and olive eyeballs to the top, making dinner a ghoulish delight.
The recipe is quite simple: cook spaghetti for any pasta of your choice, and top it with marinara and meatballs. Add sliced cheese and olives for the pupils, and the eerie yet delicious dish is ready. Perfect for a Halloween-themed dinner that’s both fun and fulfilling.
9. Ghostly Pizza
No matter if you are looking to please the kids or want a delicious dinner for an adult party, pizza is always a top choice. Moreover, giving is a Halloween makeover also significantly easier. You can play with the pizza dough, sauce, veggies, and cheese to make different versions of ghosts.
Moreover, if you don’t have any Italian friends at the party, you can add some pumpkin to add a sweet touch to the pizza.
10. Vegan Shepherd Pie
It is comforting and hearty and is a perfect Halloween dinner idea for family. The plant-based version swaps meat for lentils or mushrooms, creating a rich and flavorful filling. The vegan shepherd pie has a layer of healthy vegetables, including carrots, peas, and onions, simmered in a savory gravy. They are topped with a layer of creamy mashed potatoes; then the pie is baked to golden perfection.
For a Halloween twist, you can pipe the masked potatoes in fun shapes like ghosts, pumpkins, and more. It is a warm and delicious option for plant-based eaters.
11. Chicken Parmesan
There is a lot to prepare for Halloween. So, keeping things simple for dinner is a great idea. Chicken Parmesan is a classic comfort food. You can deep-fry them in oil or air-fry them to prepare a healthy meal. You can make them Halloween-themed by decorating them with cheese, marinara, and olives.
The ghostly fried chicken cutlets can be served over pasta or with a side of vegetables. Overall, it is a delicious meal to satisfy the whole family.
12. Spiced Pumpkin Molasses Cake
Kick off the spooky season with a dessert that embodies the fall flavors. The spiced pumpkin molasses cake is moist, rich, and full of warming spices like cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg. The molasses add a deep, slightly sweet flavor while the pumpkin keeps the cake soft and tender.
Top the ultimate autumn dessert with cream cheese frosting for a decadent finish, and don’t forget to add Halloween-themed decorations like candy pumpkins and spooky sprinkles.
13. Spider Cookies
The creepy crawler dessert brings the kids together. Prepare your favorite chocolate chip or peanut butter cookie; once baked, call the kids to decorate them. You can create the spider’s main body with a chocolate truffle or peanut butter cup in the center. Lastly, use melted chocolate or icing to draw on spider legs and add candy eyes to complete the look.
The sweet treats are perfect for Halloween and allow kids to participate in the decorating process.
14. Caramel Nut Tart
The tart is a perfect ending to a frighteningly good dinner. It’s sweet, buttery, and caramel enriched with the goodness of mixed nuts like pecans, walnuts, and almonds. Once baked, the Caramel Nut Tart develops a crispy, golden top with gooey caramel layers underneath. It delivers a delightful crunch in every bite.
Drizzle a bit of dark chocolate on top with edible glitter to serve with a twisted Halloween theme. It is a perfect show-stopping sweet treat at the end of your spooky dinner.
15. Pomegranate Margarita
For a festive Halloween drink with a twist, try Pomegranate margarita. The vibrant red hue to the juice adds a spooky vibe, perfect for Halloween. Mix the pomegranate juice with tequila and lime juice for a refreshing and tarty margarita. You can add a salted or sugary rim to complement the flavors.
For extra Halloween fun, garnish the drink with pomegranate seeds resembling bloody jewels or add a spooky drink stirrer. The cocktail is a great addition to adult Halloween celebrations and pairs wonderfully with many dinner options.
FAQs
Can I prepare these Halloween dishes in advance?
Many of these dishes, like stuffed pepper, pumpkin soup, and spider cookies, can be made ahead of time and stored in the fridge. Dishes like eyeball pasta and ghostly pizza taste best when served fresh.
Are these dinner ideas kid-friendly?
Most of these ideas are designed to be fun for kids and adults. Many of them even encourage kids to take part in preparation. In contrast, drinks like pomegranate margarita are not suitable for kids.
Can I prepare vegan or vegetarian versions of these recipes?
We have included vegan and vegetarian options like veggie monster burger and vegan shepherd pie. But you can absolutely prepare a vegan version by replacing chicken with tofu, meat with plant-based options, dairy products with plant-based milk, and more.
Conclusion
This holiday, turn your dinner into a festive feast with these fun and spooky Halloween dinner ideas for family.
Whether going for something sweet like spider cookies or savory like apple cider glazed chicken, the dishes will bring a magical touch to your celebrations. Get creative, involve the whole family, and enjoy a tasty and terrifying Halloween dinner.
Have shopped what to wear on such big family dinner? Find the best spooky outfit for the entire family.
