Delicious Halloween Lunch Ideas to Get the Festivities Started Early
It’s shockingly easy to give your meals a holiday makeover.
October 31 only rolls around once per year, and these Halloween lunch ideas help you make the most of it! Instead of waiting until evening trick-or-treat time, add some fall flair—and sometimes a goofy, ghoulish touch—to your menu with our best Halloween lunch ideas, including mummy hot dogs, saucy sliders, and pumpkin recipes galore.
Jack-O-Lantern Stuffed Peppers
Since they often require several steps, some chopping, and baking in a casserole, stuffed peppers are normally reserved for dinnertime. But for this playful Halloween lunch idea, we trim down the prep time (and the effort required!) to ensure it’s doable for a busy weekday afternoon. The microwave, canned beans, canned tomatoes, and a pouch of brown rice mean that you can have this jack-o'-lantern-inspired peppers on the table in less than 20 minutes.
Mummy Hot Dog
Even among picky eaters, hot dogs are an easy sell for a midday meal. This Halloween lunch idea makes the kid-friendly sausage even more enticing. Instead of a basic bun, we suggest wrapping the dogs in a crescent dough “mummy costume.” Bake on a sheet pan until the dough is cooked through, then pipe on “eyes” with condiments. Looking good!
Sloppy Turkey and Chili Joes
Even though this cozy sandwich is sloppy—or “bloody,” depending on how you want to market it for the holiday—it’s a winner, BHG fans and Test Kitchen staff agree. “ I've made it several times and haven't changed a thing,” one home cook raves. Since the ground turkey sandwich filling asks for just 25 minutes and one skillet to prepare (and since it delivers so much flavor and satisfying protein per ounce), we can totally see why readers insist it’s not missing a single element.
Pumpkin Fall-afel
Even though the first day of autumn occurs about a month prior to fright night, we often view October 31 as the time when the crisp, leaf-dropping season really kicks in. To celebrate this, why not dig into a quick Halloween lunch idea that celebrates fall’s favorite flavor—pumpkin—and its signature hue? If you have a can of pumpkin, a can of chickpeas, an egg, fresh lemon, onion, bread crumbs, and a handful of pantry staple spices, you’re basically all set to add this Middle Eastern-inspired savory pumpkin recipe to your menu.
Sweet-Spicy Barbecued Chicken Sliders
No need to call for takeout if the party ghouls and goblins have already arrived. This well-balanced and surprisingly easy Halloween lunch idea serves 12. So what makes these shredded meat sandwiches fitting for the holiday? Their semi-homemade nature that requires about 5 minutes of prep time (so you can focus on the fun), the fact that certain incognito ingredients are hiding inside the sandwich costume (ahem, pineapple, pickled jalapeños), and the warm, hearty results.
Mac and Cheese Spaghetti
If you use your imagination, a pile of spaghetti somewhat resembles brains. Since it’s ready in 30 minutes flat, is a homemade version of the boxed family favorite, and delivers a balance of carbs, protein, and fat that will fuel an afternoon of action, it’s really a no-brainer (sorry!) to add this Halloween lunch idea to your line-up. Bonus: This mac and cheese acts as a welcoming vehicle to sneak in some frozen peas.
Roasted Spaghetti Squash with Meatballs
If regular noodles aren’t your choice nosh, try this seasonal and similar substitute: spaghetti squash. The foundation for this messy masterpiece roasts in the oven while you assemble the hearty yet lean meatballs that feature both beef and bulgur for blood sugar-balancing protein and fiber. Sear the meatballs and simmer the sauce in the same skillet to keep clean-up time minimal for this Halloween lunch idea.
Make-Ahead Taco Salad Cups
No need to wait until the busy holiday to prepare your provisions. The tortilla bowls and zesty turkey taco filling for this healthy make-ahead meal can be created up to 3 months in advance, then kept on ice in the freezer until October 30. Simply thaw overnight in the fridge, then build the kid-sized taco salads by adding fresh lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, and salsa.
Apple and Almond Butter Panini
It looks a lot like a waffle, true. But this is actually a lunch sandwich in costume! Almond butter, honey, and cinnamon-sugar-dusted apple slices are hiding inside. A 3-minute press in the waffle iron melts all the elements together and gives these eye-catching sandwiches their unique shape.
Vegetable-Beef Pot Pie
Since it usually requires a fair amount of prep and bake time, pot pie is usually something we reserve for Sunday dinners. But thanks to a few savvy shortcuts—including store-bought pizza dough—this “bloody” good casserole can be yours in a mere 40 minutes. Due to its hearty, warm nature and all of the protein and veggies it sneaks in, this is one Halloween lunch idea that’s especially awesome to consider when it’s brisk outside.
Pumpkin-Shape Meatball Biscuits
Whether you serve these festively-shaped meatball biscuits as a filling dinner appetizer or a Halloween lunch idea (just add a side salad and/or a piece of fruit), they will steal the show. You need just 5 ingredients to make mealtime magic. Frozen meatballs get the party started, the jarred pesto and shredded mozzarella ups the flavor ante. Wrap those both in canned biscuit dough, then a piece of string is all that’s standing between you and the showy squash shape. Don’t forget the rosemary sprig “stem”!
Buffalo Cauliflower Salad
This salad topping looks and tastes a lot like Buffalo chicken. Surprise: It’s another vegetable in disguise. If you’re unsure if there will be any produce on the menu for the rest of the holiday, adding this Halloween lunch idea to your menu will guarantee that everyone still gets their fair share. Beyond the zippy Buffalo-sauced cauliflower, this main dish salad showcases wings’ favorite pals—celery and carrots—plus lettuce and cherry tomatoes.
Related: 8 Healthier Takes on Buffalo Chicken Dips and Game-Day Snacks
Mix-and-Match Baked Chicken Fingers and Dipping Sauces
When you bill them as “fingers” instead of “tenders” or “strips,” oven-fried chicken pieces instantly become one of the best Halloween lunch ideas. We’re especially fond of this quick and easy chicken recipe since it’s ready in less than 25 minutes. Plus, there are ample opportunities for customization to ensure that everyone can try a variety until they find their perfect breading and dipping sauce match. (We’re partial to the pretzel-coated chicken with honey mustard sauce.)
Pumpkin Mac and Cheese
Because there’s no such thing as too much pumpkin on Halloween…A full can of pumpkin helps make this macaroni and cheese casserole far creamier than its boxed counterparts. One BHG fan confirms that “the pumpkin flavor is subtle, but the ingredient creates an extra-creamy sauce without too much cheese” (just 1 ½ cups total). “Delicious and easy!”
Curried Sweet Potato Soup
Pumpkin shouldn’t get all of the glory, though. Seasonal sweet potatoes star in this silky soup, alongside carrots, flavorful stock, and a few aromatic ingredients and spices. Many creamy soups call for incorporating loads of cream or half-and-half, but for this plant-based dish, we suggest using an immersion blender to score the ultra-silky texture (without adding saturated fat and calories).
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