20 Halloween Dinner and Appetizer Ideas That Are a Total Scream

By Carl Hanson
September 14, 2020
Sugarplum

Halloween isn't always sugary sweetness. Sometimes it's savory and occasionally creepy...but always scary good. These Halloween dinner ideas and party food ideas are a total scream. We start off cautiously, with adorable Halloween appetizers and only slightly spooky Halloween main dishes. But WARNING: You will not be able to un-see some of these ghastly, ghastly dishes. They will haunt your dreams of dinner!

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1 of 20

Monster Ball

LINNBENN
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"This ghoulishly good cheese ball has become a part of our family's Halloween tradition," says LINNBENN. "It's as much fun to make as it is to eat."

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Stuffed Jack-O-Lantern Bell Peppers

tenshi0019
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"What a FAB presentation -- my daughter flipped out over this clever idea," says Marsha.

3 of 20

Witch Hat Dippers

Denise
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"A great Halloween party snack for Halloween parties," says NomNomDelicious. "Very versatile and easy to personalize for your own tastes."

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Halloween Jack-o'-Lantern Beef Pies

Jen
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"Yummy biscuit cups filled with spicy beef mixture and topped with Halloween pumpkin faces," says Grandmaluvlee.

5 of 20

Spooky Calzone Snake

Sugarplum
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"Made this for my daughter's Halloween party," says krista1925. "It was a big hit! Not only was it 'creepy,' it was yummy."

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Octodogs

KGora
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Halloween hot dogs are always a winning dinner idea for the kids. "Our whole family loved this cute idea," says mohawkblonde. "We floated ours in a sea of chili."

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Hot Dog Mummies

Paula
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Another great Halloween dinner idea for the kids! Rock_lobster shares her Hot Dog Mummies haiku: "Gourmet food, it's not. But serve to younger diners? They'll scarf them down!"

8 of 20

Monster Bites

KGora
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Turn pearly whites into a dreadful fright. These Halloween teeth start with ripe red apples as the devil's lips, with slivered almonds as the frightening fangs. If you like, drizzle your disturbing dentures with El Droolo del Diablo, also known as "slightly thinned-out honey." Bonus: This spooky surprise doubles as a healthy Halloween snack.

9 of 20

Bats and Cobwebs

Sugarplum
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"The bow-tie pasta is the bats and the stringy, gooey mozzarella cheese is the cobwebs," says Kristin McNeil.

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10 of 20

Creepy Mini Pizzas

Christina
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Tiny pizzas are the pinnacle of Halloween party treats. "Love!" raves happysoupandrice. "Kids had a great time making the dough and then decorating their own spooky designs."

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Dragon Eggs

Mary B
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"Love the technique," says Misty Campbell. "A huge hit at my Halloween dinner."

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Mummy Pizza

The Gruntled Gourmand
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More Halloween pizza ideas! Easy to make, and so yummy. Save a slice for your mummy.

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Spooky Spider Halloween Hot Dogs

fabeverydayblog
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Creepy, crawly, creepy-creepy, crawly-crawly! "Use crescent rolls and hot dogs to make this Halloween version of pigs in a blanket," says fabeverydayblog. "Kids love them, and they are an easy snack for a Halloween party."

14 of 20

Halloween Shrimp Cocktail Brain

pattyw67238
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And in the not-for-the-squeamish category, here's some gross Halloween party food for adults. "Realistic, creepy, AND yummy," says Cammie. "Make it the day before your Halloween party so it has time to set."

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Flayed Man Cheese Ball

foodelicious
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"So gross and yet SOOOooo good," says Tara. "Arrange crackers, pretzels, or any snacks you want around the face and serve with a knife!"

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Severed-Finger Cheese Sticks

Shearone
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These creepy appetizers take the concept of Halloween fingerfood literally. They're actually yummy string-cheese sticks. You'll be deeply, deeply disturbed by how delicious they are.

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Halloween Zombie Meatloaf

FeedMe!
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Too far? Or just far enough? Spooky Halloween food doesn't get more disturbing than this. Deliciously disturbing, that is. "Making the zombie was surprisingly easy," says eli3leg.

18 of 20

Halloween Black Bat Wings

Melissa Goff
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"These spooky little morsels will have everyone talking and doing double takes," says gopintos. "Looks can be deceiving; they taste absolutely delicious."

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Ratloaf (Halloween Meatloaf)

Soup Loving Nicole
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Clearly a contender for most gross Halloween food. "What's better than gooey warm rat guts on Halloween? The layer of crushed French-fried onions resembles burnt fur," says Deborah. "When you slice it, the 'guts' should ooze out and make quite an impression."

20 of 20

Mummified Meatballs in Crispy Potato Skin Coffins

Soup Loving Nicole
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These spooky potatoes are ready in just 45 minutes. They're an easy appetizer or simple dinner. 

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By Carl Hanson