Our Best Halloween Food Ideas For A Festive Celebration
We're making it simple, not scary, to plan the Halloween menu.
Emily Laurae / Southern Living
After everyone's picked out their costume and you've filled the candy bowl, the next thing on the to-do list for Halloween prep is decide what's on the menu. Whether you're looking for festive snacks for a Halloween party or a warm dinner to serve after trick-or-treating, we have plenty of Halloween food ideas on this list for every occasion. We even included some fun treats like Homemade Candy Corn and Spider Cookies for an extra festive touch.
From appetizers to snacks to mains to desserts, these Halloween food ideas are sure to be loved by every party guest and family member.
Chili For A Crowd
Will Dickey; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn
If you're hosting neighbors and friends for Halloween, this big batch chili is the perfect supper to serve. It can be prepared in a slow cooker or on the stovetop.
Halloween Spider Cookies
These cute cookies are not too spooky while still adding a bit of festiveness to the party spread. Kids can help decorate by adding the legs and eyes.
Homemade Candy Corn
Instead of opting for a bag of candy corn this year, try your hand at making it from scratch.
Slow-Cooker Taco Soup
Emily Laurae / Southern Living
Let this slow-cooker soup cook low and slow for six hours so it'll be ready to serve when you return from trick-or-treating. We like topping with sour cream, fresh cilantro, and of course serving with plenty of tortilla chips for dipping.
Halloween Cake Pops
Whether you choose just cute pumpkins or like a little bit of spookiness with spiderwebs and ghosts, these Halloween cake pops will be fun for the whole family to decorate together.
Easy Buffalo Chicken Dip
Monica Farber
If you prefer a snack dinner for Halloween, let this hearty dip be the center of the table. You can offer a mixture of chips and veggies for dipping.
Spider Web Cookies
Don't be intimidated by these decorative cookies. Despite their impressive look, they're actually easy to make,
Air Fryer Pumpkin Seeds
After carving the pumpkin, don't toss the seeds. Toss them in oil and turn them into this crunchy snack with the help of your air fryer.
Slow-Cooker Grape Jelly Meatballs
There's a reason this old-school recipe is just as popular today as it was when it was first created. Chili sauce, grape jelly, and barbecue sauce come together to create the perfect glaze for homemade or store-bought meatballs.
Easy Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
Regular chocolate chip cookies are given a festive makeover with the addition of canned pumpkin.
Pumpkin Dump Cake
As the name implies, you dump the cake mix layer on top of the pumpkin layer, but don't be tempted to mix the two together. Just place it in the oven and bake until the top is golden brown in color.
Apple Chips
This two-ingredient snack will be a welcome addition to the Halloween spread to offset the candy.
Supreme Pizza
Instead of ordering takeout, make homemade pizza your Halloween dinner tradition. Choose your family's favorite toppings or do half-and-half if everyone doesn't agree on the same veggies.
Caramel Popcorn Balls
Caramel and pecans give homemade popcorn balls a distinctly fall flavor. Just make sure to use freshly popped popcorn for the best results.
Rotel Sausage Dip
This six-ingredient slow-cooker dip is a welcome addition to any gathering, including Halloween. Plus, you won't have to worry about keeping it warm.
Pumpkin-Chocolate Brownies
Greg DuPree
Not only does pumpkin give brownies added flavor, but also gives them an orange color which helps them match Halloween's orange color scheme.
Lasagna Soup
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Stir up the flavors of lasagna in soup form with this recipe that comes together in just 25 minutes. It'll warm everyone up after a night of trick-or-treating in cooler temps.
Beef Enchiladas
Stacy Allen; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Hannah Greenwood
Serve enchiladas for a hearty Halloween supper to balance out all of the candy that will be consumed later in the evening.
Pumpkin Bread
This homemade pumpkin treat comes together with just 10 minutes of hands-on time, and lining pans with parchment paper makes cleanup a breeze. You can add chocolate chips, if desired, to make the bread even sweeter.
Meatball Sliders With Tomato Sauce
Sliders are a fun option for any party and we love that the homemade tomato sauce for these meatball sandwiches comes together easily with the help of your slow cooker.
Sheet Pan Nachos
Greg DuPree
Serve nachos straight from the pan for a fun family-style meal. You can leave the toppings on the side to allow everyone to build their own nachos.
Sweet-and-Salty Snack Mix
Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Katie Jacobs
Get the Halloween party started with this snack mix that's the best of both salty and sweet. Kids and adults will find it hard to resist. It can also be made ahead of time and stored in an airtight container until it's time to enjoy.
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