51 Halloween Dinner Ideas for Adults
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've got you covered with spooky Halloween cocktails to serve and Halloween desserts that will round out your meal.
1. Winter Squash Galette with Caramelized Onions and Gruyère
Roasted, stuffed or pureed into soup, we’ll eat winter squash any way you make it. So yeah, pie is on the party menu.
2. Sausage and Fennel Pasta
Thanks to Italian sausage, this dish is practically overflowing with flavor (but requires just six ingredients and 25 minutes to make).
3. Skillet Roast Chicken with Shmaltzy Potatoes
If you’re looking to impress a costumed crowd, look no further. This glorious roast chicken is practically foolproof.
5. Oven-Baked Hot Honey Chicken Tenders
Listen, just because the kids are out trick-or-treating doesn’t mean you can’t eat off their menu. Plus, these tenders are *so* grown up.
6. Crispy Cast-Iron Skillet Pizza with Fennel, Sausage and Garlic
Don’t tell anyone, but this crispy-chewy pie starts with store-bought dough and it’s still light-years better than takeout.
7. Baked Ginger and Lemon Chicken
Sultry ginger, tangy lemon, hot chiles and sticky honey are a combo made in heaven.
9. Sweet Potato Chili with Turkey and Black Beans
Brisk fall nights call for a warm pot of chili; it’s just a fact.
10. Sweet Potato Gnocchi in Herbed White Wine Sauce
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).
11. Easy One-Pot Lentil Kielbasa Soup
Tonight is all about staying cozy. This hearty, healthy Halloween dinner will do just fine.
12. Yotam Ottolenghi's Roasted Butternut Squash with Lentils and Gorgonzola
After all, it is W.S.S.—winter squash season.
13. Cheater’s Sicilian-Style Pizza with Jalapeños and Honey
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.
15. Kale Salad with Persimmons, Crispy Chickpeas and Fried Shallots
This is to offset all the Halloween candy we’ll inevitably eat in the upcoming days (or weeks).
16. Instant Pot Spicy Thai Butternut Squash Soup
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.
17. Cornish Hens in Parchment Paper
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.
18. Cheater’s Slow-Cooker Beef Bourguignon
Beef stew, but make it fancy…and then tell everyone at the party you’re being Julia Child for Halloween.
19. Healthy Slow-Cooker Turkey and White Bean Chili Recipe
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.
20. Low-Carb Zucchini Enchiladas
Sure, they’re healthier for you—that’s not why we’re making them on repeat. It’s because they’re also really delicious.
21. Antoni Porowski’s Moroccan-Style Pasta Bolognese
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.
22. Pumpkin Soup in Pumpkin Bowls
Guys, come on. This is a Halloween no-brainer.
24. Hearty Stuffed Butternut Squash
Who needs a bowl when you’ve got a gourd? They’re filled with quinoa, chickpeas, Gruyère and all the good stuff.
25. Pumpkin Pizza Crust with Arugula and Prosciutto
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.
26. Macaroni and Cheese in Acorn Squash Bowls
This is—dare we say it?—better than a bowl of Halloween candy. (Yes, even candy corn.)
27. One-Pan Creamy Chicken Fricassee with Sage
What’s the opposite of spooky and scary? Glossy, saucy chicken in a skillet (with almost no cleanup) is what.
28. Pumpkin Polenta
Rich, creamy and oh-so-seasonal. You can use fresh or canned pumpkin, depending on how fancy you want to get.
29. Tomato Soup in Grilled Cheese Bread Bowls
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.
30. One-Pot Creamy Pumpkin Mac and Cheese
Now this is how you do Halloween dinner.
RELATED: 54 Halloween Snacks That’ll Get Any Grown-Up in the Spirit
31. Butternut Squash Risotto with Crispy Leeks
Risotto is the ultimate comfort food—add creamy squash to fall-ify it, and you’ll be going back for seconds (or thirds).
RELATED: Here’s How to Cut a Butternut Squash Without Hurting Yourself
32. Spicy Bucatini Amatriciana
Spooky? Nope. Spicy? You bet. This pasta will become a weeknight regular long past Halloween night.
33. Sausage, Corn and Poblano Chowder
When you’re sufficiently chilled and tired from handing out candy, come inside to a bowl of chowder that will warm you right up.
34. Polenta with Roasted Mushrooms and Bacon
This dinner is creamy, filling and begging to be served with a cup of homemade apple cider.
35. Honey Mustard Sheet-Pan Chicken with Brussels Sprouts
On our ideal Halloween dinner checklist? Fast, easy, minimal cleanup and tastier than a king-size chocolate bar.
36. Mac and Cheese with Crispy Parmesan-Phyllo Crust
The decadent, cheesy pasta is just waiting to emerge from that gorgeous blanket of phyllo rosettes.
37. Roasted Squash and Tofu with Soy, Honey, Chili and Ginger
This is technically a side dish, but we recommend serving it as a vegetarian main course with rice on the side.
38. Curried Parsnip and Apple Soup
While everyone else picks the candy apple out of their teeth, you’ll be enjoying a silky bowl of apple soup.
39. Spinach and Three-Cheese Stuffed Shells
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.
40. Alison Roman’s Roasted Squash with Yogurt and Spiced Buttered Pistachios
You haven’t lived until you’ve tried spiced buttered pistachios, trust us.
41. Baked Coconut-Curry Meatballs
FYI, baking your meatballs instead of pan-frying them ensures a tender, melt-in-your-mouth texture that can’t be topped.
42. French Onion Chicken
One of our all-time favorite soups meets an easy skillet chicken dinner that’s smothered in gooey Gruyère cheese—yum.
43. Pumpkin Risotto with Seared Scallops
Feeling ambitious? Go ahead and roast your own pumpkin. Or don’t; canned will taste equally delicious.
44. 30-Minute Coq Au Vin Chicken Meatballs with Browned Butter Mashed Potatoes
You had us at browned butter mashed potatoes, but the 30-minute cooking time certainly sweetens the deal.
45. Whole Roasted Pumpkin Stuffed with Wild Mushrooms and Gruyère
If you’re not eating straight out of a pumpkin at least once in October, you should fix that.
46. Butternut Squash and Goat Cheese Pasta Salad
Sorry, summer. You don’t own pasta salad. And this one has Halloween day written all over it.
49. Oven-Baked Buffalo Wings
Admit it: It’s what everyone wants. Serve them with plenty of ranch dressing and crudités.
50. Roasted Tomato Soup
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?
51. Skillet Chicken Fajitas
Our love for our cast-iron skillet runs deep. Serve with plenty of lime wedges and fresh guacamole.