51 Halloween Dinner Ideas for Adults
It’s Halloween: If you’re lucky enough *not* to be chaperoning a gaggle of candy-seeking, costumed children, you’re probably making dinner plans. And whether your night involves burrowing into the couch with a spooky movie or hosting a low-key dinner party with your fellow non-trick-or-treaters, we’ve got 51 Halloween dinner ideas that are festive, seasonal and scary…delicious (nothing too kooky or kiddie here).
Need a few more menu ideas? We have you covered with spooky Halloween cocktails to serve and Halloween desserts that will round out your meal.
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1. Winter Squash Galette with Caramelized Onions and Gruyère
Photo/Styling: Katherine Gillen
Time Commitment: 1 hour, 45 minutes
Why We Love It: special occasion–worthy, crowd-pleaser, vegetarian
Roasted, stuffed or pureed into soup, we’ll eat winter squash any way you make it. So yeah, pie is on the party menu. The homemade crust is gloriously flaky (not to toot our own horn), but you could use store-bought in a pinch.
2. Sausage and Fennel Pasta
Colin Price/Dinner Then Dessert
Time Commitment: 25 minutes
Why We Love It: ready in <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly
Thanks to Italian sausage, this dish is practically overflowing with flavor (but requires just six ingredients and 25 minutes to make).
3. Skillet Roast Chicken with Shmaltzy Potatoes
Photo/Styling: Katherine Gillen
Time Commitment: 5 hours, 45 minutes
Why We Love It: one pan, special occasion–worthy, crowd-pleaser
If you’re looking to impress a costumed crowd, look no further. This glorious roast chicken is practically foolproof, thanks to an overnight buttermilk brine and a beginner-friendly skillet method.
4. Split Pea Soup with Bacon and Beer
Photo/Styling: Katherine Gillen
Time Commitment: 2 hours, 15 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, dairy free
Don’t knock it ’til you try it, folks. This soup is so much more than its humble appearance—the usual ham is replaced with smoky bacon, and there’s a whole can of lager in there.
5. Oven-Baked Hot Honey Chicken Tenders
Elizabeth Van Lierde/Everyday Entertaining
Time Commitment: 50 minutes
Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, dairy free, high protein
Listen, just because the kids are out trick-or-treating doesn’t mean you can’t eat off their menu. Plus, the chile-infused honey drizzle makes these tenders *so* grown up.
6. Crispy Cast Iron Skillet Pizza with Fennel, Sausage and Garlic
Photo/Styling: Katherine Gillen
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why we Love It: one pan, ready in <30 minutes
Don’t tell anyone, but this crispy-chewy pie starts with store-bought dough and it’s still light-years better than takeout.
7. Baked Ginger And Lemon Chicken
Uyen Luu/Vietnamese
Time Commitment: 1 hour
Why We Love It: one pan, high protein
Sultry ginger, tangy lemon, hot chiles and sticky honey are a combo made in heaven. Feel free to swap the thighs and drumsticks for chicken wings or even pork ribs; just adjust the cooking time accordingly.
8. Sheet-Pan Cashew Chicken
Jessica Merchant/Everyday Dinners
Time Commitment: 35 minutes
Why We Love It: sheet pan recipe, high protein, beginner-friendly
Fewer dirty dishes and more Halloween movies, we say. While many sheet-pan numbers yield ho-hum results, this one actually works, since you cook the vegetables before adding the chicken.
9. Sweet Potato Chili with Turkey and Black Beans
Photo/Styling: Katherine Gillen
Time Commitment: 1 hour, 35 minutes
Why We Love It: one pot, beginner-friendly, <500 calories
Brisk fall nights call for a warm pot of beans, meat and veggies; it’s just a fact. As with most chili recipes, this one is super forgiving, so swap ingredients at will.
10. Sweet Potato Gnocchi in Herbed White Wine Sauce
Half Baked Harvest
Time Commitment: 1 hour, 30 minutes
Why We Love It: special occasion–worthy, vegetarian
While everyone else is out trick-or-treating, you’ll be lounging on the couch with a big bowl of this homemade gnocchi (and a glass of wine).
11. Easy One-Pot Lentil Kielbasa Soup
Photo: Nico Schinco/Styling: Heath Goldman
Time Commitment: 1 hour, 10 minutes
Why We Love It: one pot, beginner-friendly, dairy free, gluten free
Tonight is all about staying cozy. This hearty, healthy Halloween dinner will do just fine. If you want to make it a day ahead, go for it—the flavor will only get better.
12. Yotam Ottolenghi’s Roasted Butternut Squash with Lentils and Gorgonzola
Ottolenghi Simple: A Cookbook
Time Commitment: 40 minutes
Why We Love It: vegetarian, gluten free, no sugar
After all, it is W.S.S.—winter squash season. Serve it warm or at room temperature; we prefer the former, since the cheese gets a little melty that way.
13. Cheater’s Sicilian-Style Pizza with Jalapeños and Honey
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: ready in <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
Skip the subpar frozen pizza (talk about spooky) and make this homemade version instead. It’s cheesy, spicy and—best of all—ready in 30 minutes flat. No shame in that store-bought crust game.
14. Slow Cooker Chicken Pot Pie Soup
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 5 hours, 35 minutes
Why We Love It: slow cooker recipe, crowd-pleaser
This soup has not one but two tricks up its sleeve: store-bought biscuit dough and your trusty Crockpot. The actual active cooking time? A cool five minutes.
15. Kale Salad With Persimmons, Crispy Chickpeas and Fried Shallots
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 1 hour, 5 minutes
Why We Love It: vegetarian, gluten free, dairy free
This is to offset all the Halloween candy we’ll inevitably eat in the upcoming days (or weeks). Choose Fuyu persimmons over Hachiya, since they can be served while still crisp.
16. Instant Pot Spicy Thai Butternut Squash Soup
Photo: Michael Marquand/Styling: Nisha Vora
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: Instant Pot recipe, vegan
This recipe is all about maximum flavor and minimum effort, so naturally it takes just 30 minutes to whip up. Psst: Use pre-cubed squash to make it even easier.
17. Cornish Hens in Parchment Paper
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Derek Laughren
Time Commitment: 1 hour, 20 minutes
Why We Love It: special occasion–worthy, beginner-friendly, gluten free
We think we just found the easiest Halloween dinner in the history of ever—the veggies and chicken steam in their packets, so the parchment does all the hard work. Even better, the cleanup is a breeze.
18. Cheater’s Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 8 hours, 20 minutes
Why We Love It: slow cooker recipe, special occasion–worthy, crowd-pleaser
Beef stew, but make it fancy…and then tell everyone at the party you’re being Julia Child for Halloween. You’ll have plenty of time to come up with a costume, since it basically cooks itself.
19. Healthy Slow Cooker Turkey and White Bean Chili
Half Baked Harvest
Time Commitment: 6 hours, 15 minutes
Why We Love It: slow cooker recipe, <500 calories
Few things are more comforting than a steaming bowl of chili on an, ahem, chilly evening. This one has ground turkey to keep it light. (You could use ground chicken, too.)
20. Low-Carb Zucchini Enchiladas
Photo: Mark Weinberg/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 1 hour, 15 minutes
Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, high protein, <500 calories
Sure, they’re healthier for you—that’s not why we’re making them on repeat. It’s because they’re also really delicious. Bonus: The leftovers reheat like a dream.
21. Antoni Porowski’s Moroccan-Style Pasta Bolognese
Paul Brissman/Antoni in the Kitchen
Time Commitment: 3 hours, 50 minutes
Why We Love It: make ahead, special occasion–worthy, crowd-pleaser
The next best thing to getting Queer Eye’s food expert in our kitchen? His meaty, tasty pasta sauce. Make it ahead and store it in the freezer if you’re into dinner meal-prepping.
22. Pumpkin Soup in Pumpkin Bowls
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 1 hour, 30 minutes
Why We Love It: special occasion–worthy, vegetarian
Guys, come on. This is a Halloween no-brainer. The “bowls” are made with small sugar pumpkins, which you can find in any produce section.
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23. Spicy Turkey Enchiladas with Pumpkin Seeds
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 40 minutes
Why We Love It: low sugar, <500 calories, beginner-friendly
Enchiladas, but make them autumnal with a sprinkle of pepitas. If you don’t have leftover roast turkey in the fridge, just use a rotisserie chicken.
24. Hearty Stuffed Butternut Squash
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 1 hour, 25 minutes
Why We Love It: vegetarian, gluten free, beginner-friendly
Who needs a bowl when you’ve got a gourd? They’re filled with quinoa, chickpeas, Gruyère and all the good stuff. Serve them for a few as a main, or a crowd as a side dish.
25. Pumpkin Pizza Crust with Arugula and Prosciutto
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 2 hours
Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, low sugar, high protein
While we’re here, we might as well stay on theme. This easy and festive pizza recipe makes great use of the canned pumpkin you already have in your pantry.
26. Macaroni and Cheese in Acorn Squash Bowls
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 1 hour, 30 minutes
Why We Love It: vegetarian, special occasion–worthy
This is—dare we say it?—better than a bowl of Halloween candy. (Yes, even candy corn.) To really take things over the top, add bacon bits to the breadcrumb garnish.
27. One-Pan Creamy Chicken Fricassee with Sage
Helen Cathcart/Tuscany
Time Commitment: 1 hour, 30 minutes
Why We Love It: dairy free, one pan, low sugar
What’s the opposite of spooky and scary? Glossy, saucy chicken in a skillet (with almost no cleanup) is what. It’s surprisingly creamy, without a drop of cream in sight.
28. Pumpkin Polenta
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 1 hour
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, vegetarian, gluten free
Rich, creamy and oh-so-seasonal. You can use fresh or canned pumpkin, depending on how fancy you want to get.
29. Tomato Soup in Grilled Cheese Bread Bowls
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 50 minutes
Why We Love It: vegetarian, high protein
Raise your hand if you grew up eating your mom’s homemade tomato soup on cold, cozy nights. This one will bring back all the nostalgic dinner feelings. (If you aren’t feeling a bread bowl, just serve cheesy toast on the side.)
30. One-Pot Creamy Pumpkin Mac and Cheese
I Am a Food Blog
Time Commitment: 20 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, vegetarian
Now this is how you do Halloween dinner. And if you’re not the biggest fan of pumpkin, don’t fret: The sauce can be made without squash, too.
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31. Butternut Squash Risotto with Crispy Leeks
Photo: Christine Han/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 1 hour, 35 minutes
Why We Love It: vegetarian, gluten free, special occasion–worthy
Risotto is the ultimate comfort food—add creamy squash to fall-ify it, and you’ll be going back for seconds (or thirds). Wondering how to cut a butternut squash without channeling a slasher film? Refer to our handy guide.
32. Spicy Bucatini Amatriciana
Photo: Mark Weinberg/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 40 minutes
Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, low sugar
Spooky? Nope. Spicy? You bet. This pasta will become a weeknight regular long past Halloween night.
33. Sausage, Corn and Poblano Chowder
Photo: Christine Han/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 50 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, <500 calories
When you’re sufficiently chilled and tired from handing out candy, come inside to a bowl of chowder that will warm you right up. Plus, the leftovers will freeze beautifully for up to three months.
34. Polenta with Roasted Mushrooms and Bacon
Photo: Nico Schinco/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 50 minutes
Why We Love It: special occasion–worthy, <10 ingredients, <500 calories
This dinner is creamy, filling and begging to be served with a pour of homemade apple cider. If your grocery store doesn’t carry a wide selection of mushrooms, reach for shiitake—they have a meaty texture and umami flavor that complements the dish.
35. Honey Mustard Sheet-Pan Chicken with Brussels Sprouts
Colin Price/Two Peas and Their Pod Cookbook
Time Commitment: 50 minutes
Why We Love It: sheet pan recipe, <10 ingredients, gluten free
On our ideal Halloween dinner checklist? Fast, easy, minimal cleanup and tastier than a king-size chocolate bar.
36. Mac and Cheese with Crispy Parmesan-Phyllo Crust
Photo: Nico Schinco/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 1 hour, 20 minutes
Why We Love It: special occasion–worthy, vegetarian, crowd-pleaser
The decadent, cheesy pasta is just waiting to emerge from that gorgeous blanket of phyllo rosettes. They’re easier to assemble than they appear, but if you want to save time, just layer the phyllo in flat sheets.
37. Roasted Squash and Tofu with Soy, Honey, Chili and Ginger
Laura Edwards/From the Oven to the Table
Time Commitment: 1 hour
Why We Love It: vegetarian, dairy free, <500 calories
This is technically a side dish, but we recommend serving it as a vegetarian main course with rice on the side.
38. Curried Parsnip and Apple Soup
Jaqui Melville/Apple
Time Commitment: 50 minutes
Why We Love It: dairy free, <500 calories, gluten free
While everyone else picks the candy apple out of their teeth, you’ll be enjoying a silky bowl of apple soup. Never cooked with parsnips? They’re like pale, sweet carrots.
39. Spinach and Three-Cheese Stuffed Shells
Tieghan Gerard/Half Baked Harvest Super Simple
Time Commitment: 1 hour, 10 minutes
Why We Love It: one pan, crowd-pleaser, high prtoein
It’s not every day that we dig into a melty skillet full of cheesy, meaty pasta. But it’s Halloween and we’re going all out.
40. Alison Roman’s Roasted Squash with Yogurt and Spiced Buttered Pistachios
Michael Graydon and Nikole Herriott/Nothing Fancy
Time Commitment: 1 hour
Why We Love It: vegetarian, gluten free, low sugar
You haven’t lived until you’ve tried spiced buttered pistachios, trust us. Use your favorite squash variety; acorn, kabocha or red kuri would all taste fantastic.
41. Baked Coconut-Curry Meatballs
Tieghan Gerard/Half Baked Harvest Super Simple
Time Commitment: 45 minutes
Why We Love It: special occasion–worthy, gluten free, low sugar
FYI, baking your meatballs instead of pan-frying them ensures a tender, melt-in-your-mouth texture that can’t be topped.
42. French Onion Chicken
The Modern Proper
Time Commitment: 1 hour, 15 minutes
Why We Love It: gluten free, low carb, one pot
One of our all-time favorite soups meets an easy skillet chicken dinner that’s smothered in gooey Gruyère cheese—yum. (The dish also happens to be gluten free and low carb, NBD.)
43. Pumpkin Risotto with Seared Scallops
Spoon Fork Bacon
Time Commitment: 1 hour, 8 minutes
Why We Love It: special occasion–worthy, gluten free
Feeling ambitious? Go ahead and roast your own pumpkin. Or don’t; canned will taste equally delicious.
44. 30-Minute Coq Au Vin Chicken Meatballs with Browned Butter Mashed Potatoes
Half Baked Harvest
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: special occasion–worthy, ready in <30 minutes, <500 calories
You had us at browned butter mashed potatoes, but the 30-minute cooking time certainly sweetens the deal.
45. Whole Roasted Pumpkin Stuffed with Wild Mushrooms and Gruyère
Benito Martin/Always Add Lemon
Time Commitment: 3 hours, 20 minutes
Why We Love It: special occasion–worthy, crowd-pleaser, <500 calories
If you’re not eating straight out of a pumpkin at least once in October, you should fix that. A small-to-medium size squash will ensure the filling is cooked without extra time in the oven.
46. Butternut Squash and Goat Cheese Pasta Salad
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 50 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, vegetarian, <10 ingredients
Sorry, summer. You don’t own pasta salad. With an apple cider vinegar dressing, pine nuts and squash, this one has Halloween day written all over it.
47. The Ultimate Chicken Pot Pie
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 1 hour, 30 minutes
Why We Love It: one pan, special occasion–worthy, crowd-pleaser
Simple store-bought puff pastry and your cast iron skillet prove that this comfort food is as easy to make as it is to devour.
48. Mexican Posole
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 1 hour, 15 minutes
Why We Love It: low sugar, high protein, <500 calories
This chili-soup hybrid is loaded with chicken, chiles and hominy, a type of large-kernel corn that’s soaked in an alkaline solution to soften it. You can find it in the canned-goods aisle.
49. Oven-Baked Buffalo Wings
Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 45 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, high protein, crowd-pleaser
Admit it: It’s what everyone wants. Serve them with plenty of ranch dressing and crudités.
50. Roasted Tomato Soup
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 1 hour, 45 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, vegetarian, <500 calories, low sugar
Don’t settle for the stuff in a can if you can help it because TBH, you can do so much better. Grilled cheese sammies, anyone?
51. Skillet Chicken Fajitas
Photo: Eric Moran/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 1 hour
Why We Love It: one skillet, high protein, beginner-friendly
Our love for our cast iron skillet runs deep. Serve with plenty of lime wedges and fresh guacamole.
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Katherine Gillen is a writer, recipe developer and food stylist with a degree in culinary arts and professional experience in New York City restaurants. She used to sling sugary desserts in a pastry kitchen, but now she's an avid home cook and fanatic baker.
