Recipes Featured in this Article
- Mummy Hot Dogs
- Squid Ink Linguine with Squash and Pancetta
- Pumpkin Chilaquiles
- Rotisserie Chicken Stuffed Shells
- Pizza-Stuffed Meatloaf
- Pasta with Pumpkin Vodka Sauce
- Turkey & Zucchini-Stuffed Jack-O'-Lantern Bell Peppers
- Chicken Meatloaf Parmigiana
- Black Forbidden Rice Bowl with Roasted Sweet Potatoes
- Air-Fryer Cereal-Crusted Chicken Tenders
- Sweet Potato and Miso Mac and Cheese
- Black Sauce and Lingonberry Sauce Wings
- Pumpkin and Sausage Lasagna
- Severed Finger Hot Dogs
- Herby Rigatoni with Toasted Pine Nuts and Dates
- Baked Pumpkin Mac and Cheese
- Cauliflower Bolognese with Spicy Breadcrumbs
- Mac-O'-Lanterns
- Turkey and Pumpkin Chili
- Chicken Lasagna Roll Ups
- Roasted Apple Butter Chicken
- French Onion Mac and Cheese
- Copycat Burrito Bowls
- Lighter Mongolian-Style Beef Bowl
- Spicy Stuffed Peppers
- Roasted Buffalo Cauliflower Bites with Black Buffalo Sauce
- Popcorn Shrimp with Gochujang Mayo Dipping Sauce
- Slow-Cooker Barbecue Cocktail Wieners
- Vampire Garlic Fries
- Penne with Roasted Butternut Squash, Pancetta and Sage
- Orecchiette with Sausage, Balsamic Grapes, Kale and Goat Cheese
- Red Wine Spaghetti
- Buffalo Chicken Chili
- Sheet-Pan Chicken Fajitas
- Sausage and Butternut Squash Pasta
- Oven-Baked Baby Back Ribs with Sticky Date Barbecue Sauce
- Air Fryer Orange Chicken
- Penne with Roasted Butternut Squash, Pancetta and Sage
- Butternut Squash Chili
- Pull-Apart Pizza Sliders
- Skillet French Onion Chicken
- Daphne Oz's Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese
- Air Fryer Chicken Schnitzel with Apple Slaw
- Chicken Potpie with Roasted Butternut Squash
- Sticky Ginger-Teriyaki Beef with Coconut Rice
- Turkey and Black Bean Casserole
- Curry Beef Lo Mein with Chili Crisp
- Sheet-Pan Chicken with Figs
- Cheesy Stuffed Chicken Breasts with Roasted Vegetables
- Upside Down Pizza
- Chicken Pesto Spaghetti Pie
- Lasagna alla Vodka Roll Ups
No matter your age, Halloween brings out a childlike energy to all who participate. There’s the costumes, of course, but this festive holiday feels like it marks a real change in the seasons. It’s a time to hunker down and watch scary movies, decorate the house, and eat a staggering amount of candy.
When it comes to mealtime, Halloween dinner doesn’t follow the same restrictions of other holidays. It’s one of the many reasons why we love this holiday so much. There’s no set menu or expectations about what should (or shouldn’t) be served. While autumnal recipes that play up fall favorites like pumpkin, squash, pancetta and sage are always welcome, spooky season is a great opportunity to lean into the kitsch of Halloween.
Whether you’re looking for meals to serve up the family after a long night of trick-or-treating or creating a menu for an adults-only party, we’ve rounded up 52 of our favorite Halloween dinners to suit every taste. For kid-friendly dishes, channel classic Halloween characters with hot dogs that look like mummies or peppers carved in the shape of Jack-O’-lanterns. Halloween parties are the perfect time to whip out big trays of mac and cheese, two-toned chicken wings and garlic-infused fries fit for a vampire. And if you’re just looking for some cozy, comforting meals, we’ve got those too. From pastas that come together quickly to hearty chili, there’s no shortage of autumnal inspiration in this list. These hearty and haunted Halloween dinners recipes will fuel your body ahead of a long night of trick-or-treating.
This low-lift recipe is the ultimate savory Halloween showstopper. Hot dogs are wrapped in crescent roll dough to create the appearance of a mummy. Let your little ones use their hands to eat and serve them with ketchup and mustard for dunking.
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Squid Ink Linguine with Squash and Pancetta
With black and orange-hued ingredients, this hearty pasta perfectly fits the Halloween theme. The jet-black color of squid ink pasta is an easy way to instantly add some spooky vibes while keeping the dish elevated. Studded with roasted delicata squash and pancetta, this pasta hits all our favorite fall notes.
This recipe for pumpkin chilaquiles is an autumnal twist on the popular breakfast dish. Vegetables and aromatics are cooked down with tomato sauce, canned black beans and enchilada sauce, the latter of which adds a subtle hint of spice and smoky flavor. We recommend using thicker tortilla chips that can hold up against the sauce.
Stuffed shells go beyond the classic marinara and cheese pairing with this family-friendly spin. Here, they’re filled with a mixture of shredded rotisserie chicken, broccoli and a creamy Parmesan sauce. As a bonus, this dish can be made completely ahead of time and popped in the oven right before serving.
If you love the idea of combining all the flavors of a cheesy, saucy pepperoni pizza with the homestyle goodness of meatloaf, this family-friendly dinner is for you. It’s a comfort food mashup reminiscent of Chicago-style deep-dish pizza that will give you energy for trick-or-treating.
Pasta with vodka sauce is always a favorite. This fall version swaps the usual tomatoes with pumpkin for a cozy dinner that’s fit for Halloween. While the pumpkin vodka sauce only takes about 20 minutes to make, it can be made ahead of time and refrigerated overnight.
This is the ultimate kid-friendly dinner. Here, bell peppers are carved in the shape of Jack-O'-Lanterns, which act as the vessel for a ground turkey and zucchini mixture. The peppers can be made ahead of time and popped in the oven right before serving.
This recipe mashes up two Italian-American favorites — chicken Parmesan and meatloaf — into one hearty meal. Store-bought pesto is the secret ingredient in this dish, as it keeps the meatloaf moist and flavorful.
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Black Forbidden Rice Bowl with Roasted Sweet Potatoes
Forbidden black rice not only acts as the base to this hearty bowl, but also adds some welcome spooky vibes. As the rice cooks, it takes on a deep purple hue, which pairs perfectly with the vibrancy of orange sweet potatoes. Top this vegetarian dinner off with black beans, salsa verde crema, avocado and lime.
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Air-Fryer Cereal-Crusted Chicken Tenders
These crunchy chicken tenders swap out the usual breadcrumbs for an unexpected ingredient — cereal! Crushed oat cereal adds a subtle sweetness while keeping the tenders crisp and crunchy. Skip the hassle of shallow frying by opting to make these in an air fryer.
Miso paste adds an umami bomb of flavor to anything it touches. Here, it’s incorporated into mac and cheese along with sweet potatoes for an unexpected take on the classic. With such bold flavors, you’ll be pleased to know this old-fashioned dish comes together quickly — and better yet can be made ahead of time.
Chicken wings get a Halloween makeover with a dramatic look and even bigger flavor. Here, wings are fried and smothered in two diabolically delicious sauces. One is a tangy red lingonberry barbecue sauce and the other a jet-black spicy bean sauce.
Forgo the usual red sauce and cheese for an autumnal take on hearty lasagna. The sauce combines Italian sausage with button mushrooms, canned pumpkin and cream to create a savory sauce that drapes every noodle. As is, the dish serves eight but can be easily doubled to feed a hungry crowd.
Hot dogs transform into the perfect spooky season dinner, thanks to one small trick. With a knife, carve the hot dogs to create the look of fingernail beds and cut off the ends to mimic bloody fingers. Kids and adults alike will shriek with glee with every bite.
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Herby Rigatoni with Toasted Pine Nuts and Dates
While you might be familiar with dates in sweet preparations, they work well on the savory side too. This herby, pesto-like sauce comes together quickly in a food processor and is mixed with rigatoni before getting dotted with sliced dates for an unexpected contrast. With just a handful of pantry staples, this dish is sure to become a staple on your weekly dinner rotation long after Halloween.
While we love mac and cheese in all forms, baking it elevates this comforting classic to another level. This version sneakily incorporates pumpkin into the mix, elevating it just so slightly for the spooky holiday while still being a dish the whole family will love.
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Cauliflower Bolognese with Spicy Breadcrumbs
This recipe offers a lighter take on everyone’s favorite pasta sauce. In lieu of ground beef, cauliflower serves as the base of this dish, adding texture and loads of nutrients. To capture that classic flavor, make use of a slew of umami-infused ingredients including Parmesan, chili paste and anchovies.
It doesn’t get cuter than these carved peppers! Think of the peppers as a vessel for mac and cheese — but instead of just serving them like a bowl, carve the peppers like Jack-o'-lanterns. It’s the perfect dinner to have ready when the kids get back from trick-or-treating.
Two of fall’s most famous flavors — turkey and canned pumpkin —come together in this bean-free chili. A handful of spices and canned tomatoes temper the sweetness of the pumpkin, creating a wonderfully aromatic base for the chili. While it only takes 20 minutes to cook, this dish can be made well in advance.
These lasagna roll-ups pack all of the flavors of traditional lasagna into a new format. Here, each roll-up is filled with shredded rotisserie chicken along with marinara sauce and ricotta cheese for a bit of extra protein. It’s a dish the whole family is sure to love.
Apple butter, usually reserved for sweet preparations, makes its way into savory territory with this autumnal chicken dinner. Seared chicken breasts are cooked alongside sautéed apples and shallots. They’re then simmered in the oven with broth, lemon juice and apple butter until perfectly cooked through.
Mac and cheese is a perennial family favorite for good reason. This version incorporates all the beloved flavors from French onion soup into a hearty dinner. While it’s best served straight out of the oven, the whole thing can be assembled ahead of time.
Everyone’s favorite Mexican chain restaurant may be known for its stuffed burritos, but their burrito bowls are a lower lift when it comes to feeding a crowd. This version uses the fan favorites, which include spicy garlic and chipotle-marinated chicken breasts, cilantro-lime white rice and saucy black beans. Assemble a DIY bar so your family and friends can build their own bowls before trick-or-treating.
Inspired by the takeout classic, this Mongolian-American recipe will fuel your family on Halloween. Here, seared flank steak paired with rice, cabbage, bean sprouts and carrots to create a well-rounded meal. Pro tip: to get perfectly thin slices of beef, freeze the steak for an hour before preparing dinner for easy slicing.
These colorful stuffed peppers are a great all-in-one meal option when you’re feeding a crowd. The peppers are filled with a mixture of turkey sausage, spiced chicken breast, jasmine rice and diced peppers before getting topped with Mexican-blend cheese.
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Roasted Buffalo Cauliflower Bites with Black Buffalo Sauce
Anything drenched in Buffalo sauce is a winner in our eyes. This vegetarian-friendly recipe calls for roasting cauliflower with a crispy breadcrumb topping, which creates a delicious crunchy texture without the need for deep-frying. For the dip, black sesame tahini is used instead of a traditional tahini paste, which adds some spooky flair to this Halloween-ready recipe.
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Popcorn Shrimp with Gochujang Mayo Dipping Sauce
Popcorn shrimp is one of those beloved dishes that plays on nostalgia while delivering unbeatable crispy, crackly flavor. Of course, serving popcorn shrimp with a sauce only makes it better. This one is made by combining mayonnaise and gochujang, a Korean chili paste, with a handful of pantry staples.
This two-ingredient dish couldn’t be easier to make. Cocktail wieners and barbecue sauce get added to a slow cooker and cooked for an hour until bubbling. Serve them on a platter with toothpicks and let the Halloween crew go to town.
Surely you’ve heard that garlic is the best way to keep vampires at bay. This Halloween, take a cue from the lore and make a platter of these garlic-infused fries. All it takes is tossing pre-made French fries with freshly made garlic oil.
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Penne with Roasted Butternut Squash, Pancetta and Sage
Few flavors go together as well as butternut squash, sage and pancetta. This trifecta of ingredients comes together to elevate a hearty bowl of penne fit for cozy fall nights.
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Orecchiette with Sausage, Balsamic Grapes, Kale and Goat Cheese
While sausage and kale pasta is a classic, this dish has an unexpected addition — roasted grapes. Once roasted, the grapes transform into a sweet, jammy pop of flavor and texture which pairs perfectly with the goat cheese. Serve it atop the pasta and let your family twirl in the cheesy mixture into every bite.
This adults-only pasta is sure to get the whole Halloween party talking. Made with a full bottle of red wine, this recipe happens to be made in one pot making assembly a breeze. Spaghetti is cooked in the wine, which not only turns it a ruby-red hue, but also imparts it with a distinct rich flavor.
Buffalo chicken isn’t just for game day! Here, the classic snack transforms into a hearty chili dinner with all the familiar flavors and then some. Top each bowl with crumbled blue cheese, hot sauce, green onions and corn chips.
A Tex-Mex spread is always a crowd-pleaser. This version cuts down on time by making the whole recipe on a sheet pan. Serve the spiced chicken and pepper mixture with warmed tortillas and your favorite toppings such as salsa, sour cream and shredded cheese for a DIY dinner that is sure to be a hit.
It only takes a handful of ingredients to create this hearty fall recipe. Sausage does the heavy lifting in terms of flavor, creating the base of a creamy sauce that drapes noodles. Studded with hunks of butternut squash and fresh basil, it’s the perfect balance of all our favorite fall ingredients.
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Oven-Baked Baby Back Ribs with Sticky Date Barbecue Sauce
Ribs aren’t relegated exclusively to summer barbecues. This version skips the grill and gets made entirely in the oven, making it an unexpected dish for chilly fall nights. The homemade sauce adds deep caramelized notes and sweetness that’ll make the whole family come back for more.
Orange chicken is one of the most beloved Chinese-American takeout staples. This version can be made at home without sacrificing any of that classic flavor. The secret here is to crisp the chicken in an air fryer — not one, but twice — to get a perfectly crispy exterior.
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Penne with Roasted Butternut Squash, Pancetta and Sage
If you’re looking to have a more low-key Halloween while still getting in the spirit of the season, this is the perfect meal to make. Our favorite flavors of fall — sage, pancetta and squash —come together here to create a full-flavored weeknight dinner.
Feeding a crowd on Halloween is no problem when you’ve got a big pot of chili on the stove. Thanks to a handful of store-bought ingredients like rotisserie chicken, canned beans and tomatoes, this autumnal chili comes together quickly.
If you’re hosting the Halloween party this year, these pizza-inspired sliders are a must-have addition. They’ve got all the familiar pizza flavors tucked into individual rolls. While any pizza toppings can be incorporated, we love the classic ingredients of Italian sausage, mozzarella cheese and marinara sauce.
This hearty chicken dinner takes inspiration from French onion soup. Seared chicken thighs and sautéed onions are simmered in the oven until caramelized and tender. To get the full effect, top the chicken thighs with shredded Gruyere cheese, which melts in the oven.
Cozy and comforting, this saucy butternut squash mac and cheese hits all the right notes. The squash is simmered along with the milk until tender. Once blended, the squash mixture is folded right into the noodles along with the cheese, creating a sneakily vegetable-packed dish that the whole family will love.
This chicken schnitzel skips deep-frying, thanks to the use of an air fryer. The result is a perfectly crispy chicken that comes together in minutes without the need for lots of oil. Pair it with a crunchy apple-studded slaw to round out this autumnal meal.
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Chicken Potpie with Roasted Butternut Squash
There’s nothing better than digging into chicken pot pie on a chilly night. For this fall-friendly dinner, shredded rotisserie chicken is combined with butternut squash and peas to create a hearty filling that’s topped with a homemade buttery crust.
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Sticky Ginger-Teriyaki Beef with Coconut Rice
This easy weeknight dinner recipe is inspired by a takeout classic — beef and broccoli. Here, thin slices of flank steak are seared and coated in a sticky teriyaki sauce made with tamari, ginger, garlic, hot sauce and brown sugar. The steak is served with coconut rice and blanched vegetables and comes together in one hour flat.
Casseroles are always a go-to when feeding a hungry crowd post trick-or-treating. This one takes on some of our favorite taco flavors by combining beans, cheese, ground turkey and taco shells. The whole thing comes together in just 35 minutes, making it ideal for when you’re looking to get dinner on the table in a snap.
Your takeout favorite couldn’t be easier to make. Japanese curry roux cubes act as the base for this flavorful riff on lo mein, while chili crisp adds heat, deepened savory flavors and crisp textures against the tender noodles.
Reminiscent of chicken Marbella, a classic recipe from "The Silver Palate Cookbook", this sheet-pan spin features simple prep and a hands-off marinade that renders a super flavorful chicken. The key here is to add chicken stock to the sheet pan from the start, which prevents the ingredients from burning and keeps the meat juicy.
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Cheesy Stuffed Chicken Breasts with Roasted Vegetables
We always love a sheet pan dinner, but this one has an extra-special spin to it. Butterflied chicken breasts are stuffed with mozzarella and basil before getting covered in a spice blend and baked until cooked through. To ensure that everything finishes cooking at the same time, make sure to start the hearty vegetables first.
This recipe takes all the beloved ingredients of pizza and transforms them into a family-friendly casserole ready. Cooked sausage and ground beef are topped with pasta sauce, shredded cheese and pepperoni before getting buried under a layer of biscuits.
Spaghetti pie is an Italian-American weeknight dinner staple similar to lasagna, but it’s so much easier to assemble. To make it, toss cooked pasta with mozzarella, ricotta, pesto and chopped chicken., pile it into the pie dish and bake it in the oven.
A big tray of lasagna roll ups is the perfect meal when you’re looking to serve a crowd. This version mashes up the classic dish with another Italian-American favorite — penna alla vodka. While the roll ups require a bit more assembly than a traditional lasagna, this is a special occasion dish that’s worthy of the extra effort.
