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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Photo/Styling: Katherine Gillen
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.
Colin Price/Dinner Then Dessert
Thanks to Italian sausage, this dish is practically overflowing with flavor (but requires just six ingredients and 25 minutes to make).
Photo/Styling: Katherine Gillen
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.
Photo/Styling: Katherine Gillen
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.
Elizabeth Van Lierde/Everyday Entertaining
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.
Photo/Styling: Katherine Gillen
Don't tell anyone, but this crispy-chewy pie starts with store-bought dough and it's still light-years better than takeout.
Uyen Luu/Vietnamese
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.
Jessica Merchant/Everyday Dinners
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.
Photo/Styling: Katherine Gillen
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.
Half Baked Harvest
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).
Photo: Nico Schinco/Styling: Heath Goldman
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.
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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.
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
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.
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
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.
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
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.
Photo: Michael Marquand/Styling: Nisha Vora
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.
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Derek Laughren
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.
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
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.
Half Baked Harvest
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.)
Photo: Mark Weinberg/Styling: Erin McDowell
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.
Paul Brissman/Antoni in the Kitchen
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.
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
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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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
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.
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
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.
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
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.
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
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.
Helen Cathcart/Tuscany
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.
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Rich, creamy and oh-so-seasonal. You can use fresh or canned pumpkin, depending on how fancy you want to get.
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
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.)
I Am a Food Blog
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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Photo: Christine Han/Styling: Erin McDowell
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.
Photo: Mark Weinberg/Styling: Erin McDowell
Spooky? Nope. Spicy? You bet. This pasta will become a weeknight regular long past Halloween night.
Photo: Christine Han/Styling: Erin McDowell
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.
Photo: Nico Schinco/Styling: Erin McDowell
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.
Colin Price/Two Peas and Their Pod Cookbook
On our ideal Halloween dinner checklist? Fast, easy, minimal cleanup and tastier than a king-size chocolate bar.
Photo: Nico Schinco/Styling: Erin McDowell
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.
Laura Edwards/From the Oven to the Table
This is technically a side dish, but we recommend serving it as a vegetarian main course with rice on the side.
Jaqui Melville/Apple
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.
Tieghan Gerard/Half Baked Harvest Super Simple
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.
Michael Graydon and Nikole Herriott/Nothing Fancy
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.
Tieghan Gerard/Half Baked Harvest Super Simple
FYI, baking your meatballs instead of pan-frying them ensures a tender, melt-in-your-mouth texture that can't be topped.
The Modern Proper
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.)
Spoon Fork Bacon
Feeling ambitious? Go ahead and roast your own pumpkin. Or don't; canned will taste equally delicious.
Half Baked Harvest
You had us at browned butter mashed potatoes, but the 30-minute cooking time certainly sweetens the deal.
Benito Martin/Always Add Lemon
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.
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
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.
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
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.
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
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.
Erin McDowell
Admit it: It's what everyone wants. Serve them with plenty of ranch dressing and crudités.
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
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?
Photo: Eric Moran/Styling: Erin McDowell
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.