Are you looking for some simple Halloween dinner recipes to make before the big evening out? These delicious and super creative recipes will ensure you don’t have to do too much prep work before the big night and will keep things easy even if the rest of your evening isn’t! The best part about these dinner recipes is that your family will love them both visually and taste-wise.
Try one of these tried and tested dinners tonight or even make them for a fun pot luck or Halloween party. They are creative, fun, and will even encourage healthy habits with little ones because they are so much fun to eat! Do you have a favorite? Let us know!
Halloween Dinner Recipes To Fill You Up Before Heading Out
We know how tricky little are already and getting them to eat something healthy before heading out to collect candy is like trying to wrangle wet cats! These fun 10 Halloween dinner ideas are not only delicious but will excite your kids or guests like nothing else.
1. Snake Sandwich
A Simple sandwich can take a scary turn with the help from a few easy vegetables. Making the unique snake like bread is the most challenging piece, but any good bread recipe will work well.
If you are not a baker, then using a long loaf will suffice or the dough in a can you can bake- Pillsbury french bread works great. You can make the bread way in advance as well so on the big night you just need to slice and layer on the yum.
The sandwich itself can be stuffed with any goodies you like. Mozzarella and veggies, Italian sub ingredients, meatballs and marinara, or even just turkey and cheese will work!
Just place a few olives on the front part of the snake for eyes and leave a large piece of red bell pepper hanging from the end- be sure to cut a triangle on the end for the split tongue look.
This dish should serve 4-6 people or a crowd for an nice appetizer and its sssssuper clever.
2. Pepperoni Peepers
This is one of my favorite recipes that I actually make quite often because its so much much and super easy for both dinner or an appetizer. Kids always love this simple Halloween dinner recipe as well because really, whats not to like here!
Kids also will surely love these during the Halloween season as they are a bit on the creepy side. Pepperoni Peepers are like mini pizza eyeballs that everyone will love- my kids sure did and they enjoyed helping out in the kitchen as well.
This dish is made with pre-made bread roll dough found easily at the grocery store, some pepperoni and black olives. Red olives work just as well as evenly as creepy. Grab some marina sauce for dinning and you are good for the night!
They are definitely easy on the wallet- its just a win-win when it comes to fun and eerie food for kids to make.
3. Mummy Meatloaf
A fun twist on a classic comfort food for kids, this Mummy meatloaf is terrific and super simple! Before heading out with your kids for a night of trick-or-treating, this chilling Mummy Meatloaf will be sure to make your little tricksters giggle as they won’t be able to stop ogling their food!
You can make meatloaf just as would regularly and shape into a mummy afterward with the cooked meat or design the mummy prior to cooking and bake away (I prefer the latter as I feel its easier). Once cooled enough, take some string cheese pieces and wrap it all around the mummy meatloaf.
Place it back into the oven for a few minutes to allow the cheese to melt. Then add some spooky eyes- olives or even the red pimentos work great. Serve with a wholesome side dish like Halloween apple bites for a complete and creepy meal. Meatloaf recipe from Spoonful.com
4. Easy Halloween Spaghetti
Halloween Spaghetti is about as easy as they come! This incredibly simple dish is a no brainer for parties, quick Halloween kids dinners, or just for fun before a night out trick or treating.
Make spaghetti anyway you like (minus the meatballs- but adding ground meat is fine) and then stuff into large bell peppers that you have already carved fun jack-o-lantern faces into. You can also you small round squashes or even little pumpkins for this creative and yummy Halloween meal.
We love having the spaghetti brains coming out of the top and mouth for that extra bit if squeamish fun for the kids. Or if you have older kids- you can use the meat sauce is additional creep out ways. My teen gets really into his halloween recipes!
5. Eyeball Tacos
Eyeball tacos are another one of those dinners that I make quite often as it always gets lots of smiles from the crowd. Its creepy but fun! Top it off it is super simple and can be made in a number of ways to suite a number of different tastes
We make turkey meat tacos with mild taco sauce but you can use ground beef, ground chicken or veggie. Before placing your meat into the pan, make a few meatballs to use as peepers and cook together. Once all the meat is cooked thoroughly, place the crumbled meat into the bottom of the taco shells. Then add your condiments.
Take two meatballs for each taco and place them on top of the all the goodies. Place a dab of sour cream and then a black olive on each meatball to resemble eye balls.
You can also make a taco salad with eyeballs. Just throw some tortilla chips on a plate- Doritos works well also.
Add your meat, cheese, tomatoes, onions, olives, (which ever toppings you like) and then add two dollops of sour cream and frame them with a small slice of red bell pepper or tomato and then drop in an olive slice to make it look as if the peepers are really looking at you.
Kids of all ages can help and will enjoy making this silly Halloween dinner as well. Its a good combination of proteins and veggies before a night out collecting lots of Halloween candies!
6. Jack-o-Lantern Pizza
In a rush and need to get dinner on the table quickly? Want to make sure the kids gobble it up as well?
Then look to the fun Jack-o-Lantern Pizza for the perfect Halloween Dinner meal that is as simple as can be and always comes out a winner. If you have time, I suggest you make this one with your kiddo as its so much fun to make.
You can use store bought cheese pizza, ready made pizza dough or make it all from scratch. Use whatever type of topping you enjoy and be as creative as you want- this time, the scarier and creepier the better right?!!
If you have a large group of kids over or a Halloween party and need some fun activities you could host a pizza making contest or competition.
Organize the kids into teams and have them make the most creative, scariest, or funniest jack o lantern pizza design. Consider giving out prizes to the top pizza’s or coolest jack o lantern face pizza. Tons of fun for all and makes for a delicious dinner as well!
7. Gross Halloween Spaghetti Peepers
Just slightly on the gross side, but definitely a winner with kids and adults alike- this spaghetti and eyeball meatball dish is perfectly awesome and always a crowd pleaser. Its another easy dish to make for a crowd and takes just a few minutes to put together.
Feel free to embellish the eyeballs as well! Try black olive slices with red pimento pieces for the middle for a really evil looking meatball eye! White mozzarella cheese layered underneath the olive gives a really stand out look.
You can add a face with a slice of pepper or cheese and really jazz it up. There is no wrong way to make creepy Halloween dinner recipes.
Grab the complete Gross Halloween Spaghetti Recipe here.
8. Halloween Spooky Sliders
Halloween Sliders are an easy and fun idea for any party or kids meal. Use small cookie cutters to cut a pumpkin shape from each piece of American cheese and a ghost shape from each piece of mozzarella. Combine ground beef (or turkey meat), Worcestershire sauce and salt in a medium bowl. Form into 8 small patties.
Warm oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add patties and cook, turning once, until browned on each side, about 5 minutes total for medium. During last minute of cooking, place a mozzarella ghost or American cheese pumpkin on top of each slider.
Place a lettuce leaf and tomato slice on bottom half of each bun. Top with sliders, cheese side up. Serve with top halves of buns alongside sliders. These Halloween dinner recipes go great with some fun Halloween appetizers or even a few healthy carrots.
9. Ghostly Shepherd’s Pie
Do your kids adore mashed potatoes and a unique take on a great dish? This spooky and super yummy meal will fully satisfy all kids and grown ups alike. Make it fun with ghostly eyes, faces and even smiles for the younger crowd.
Everything cooks up quickly in a skillet, which makes our Spooky Shepherd’s Pie topped with ghostly dollops of mashed potatoes a perfect year-round main dish and a simple Halloween meal.
See the recipe at Mr.Food. We think you will find it a true winner!
10. Pumpkin Quesadillas
This is great meal for anytime of the day- even breakfast! Stack 8 tortillas on a cutting board and use a sharp paring knife to trim away some of top, leaving a 1-inch “stem” so tortillas are shaped like pumpkins. Repeat with remaining 8 tortillas.
Use a knife to cut two triangles for eyes and a crescent for a mouth into 8 tortillas. Warm 1 teaspoon oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add a tortilla without eyes and mouth, sprinkle with approximately 1/2 cup cheese. Cover with cutout tortilla. Cook until underside is golden, 1 to 2 minutes, slide onto baking sheet, and repeat to make three more quesadillas.
Place baking sheet under broiler and broil until tops are golden. Slide onto a serving platter and loosely tent with foil to keep warm. Repeat with remaining tortillas and cheese. Serve immediately.
Final thoughts
These Halloween dinner recipes are ideal for a small family or a large party and all super easy to make. They are fun and creative and will get you in the mood for all the fun to come Halloween night. Nobody likes to go hungry or be cranky before heading out for a little fun so give these a shot and let us know what you think!
Robin says
Ha! These are so fun. My kids love all of these. Can’t wait to make them for Halloween but gonna give them a try in the meantime. Hopefully it will encourage my little one to eat her veggies. Love these ideas!!