Halloween Dinner Ideas & Dinner Party Recipes

fw-Pork Dumplings with Chile-Sesame Sauce

Photo: John Kernick

These delicious Halloween dinner ideas guarantee full tummies that won't be tempted to sneak candy during trick-or-treating. You could make a big batch of chili or an easy spaghetti casserole—but why not add a little fun and make a delicious Halloween-themed dinner? A boneyard pot pie, brain-like dumplings, and ghostly pizza graveyard are all easy, fun ways to make Halloween dinner a meal to remember.

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Boneyard Chicken Pot Pie

Photo: Thomas J. Story

Boneyard Chicken Pot Pie Recipe

We made good old chicken pot pie Halloween party-worthy by loading up the filling with fresh vegetables and herbs, and decorating the top with bones and skulls cut from puff pastry. You'll need special cookie cutters; or you can create your own skull and bones from cardboard and cut around them on the pastry with a knife. For the best "puff," keep the pastry cold as you work.

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Orange-and-Black Salad Platter

Photo: Kate Sears; Styling: Gerri Williams for James Reps

Orange-and-Black Salad Platter Recipe
Skip the food coloring this year and bring Halloween hues to the table in the form of a healthy salad, instead. Orange slices, black Kalamata olives, feta, and a red wine vinaigrette infuse this arugula salad with bright Mediterranean flavors.

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Roasted Red Pepper Deviled Eggs

Photo: Kate Sears; Styling: Gerri Williams for James Reps

Roasted Red Pepper Deviled Eggs Recipe
Serve these devilishly tasty treats as part of a Halloween feast. Roasted red peppers and paprika give the filling an orange hue reminiscent of jack-o-lanterns, while snipped chives resemble their stems.

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Mummy Dogs

Photo: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Lisa Powell Bailey, Rose Nguyen

Mummy Dogs Recipe

These make-ahead hot dogs use refrigerated breadstick dough, perfect for goblins, pretty princesses, superheroes, and even their parents. Watch the how-to video at SouthernLiving.com.

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Spider Bagel Pizza Bites

Photo: Kate Sears; Styling: Gerri Williams for James Reps

Spider Bagel Pizza Bites Recipe

These adorablly spooky pizza bagel bites make a tasty app for guests before your Halloween feast starts.

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Spiced Lamb Chops with Rosemary Crumbs

Photo: Thayer Allyson Gowdy; Styling: Miranda Jones

Spiced Lamb Chops with Rosemary Crumbs Recipe

These spiced lamb chops are great for cocktail parties, since you can eat them one-handed.

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Bacon-and-Sage-Wrapped Chicken Breasts

Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Styling: Lynn Miller

Bacon-and-Sage-Wrapped Chicken Breasts Recipe

These juicy chicken breasts are wrapped with bacon and sage—and make a mouthwatering dinner option. They're even more delicious alongside mashed potatoes and crunchy green beans.

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Monster Meatball Sandwiches

Photo: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Lisa Powell Bailey, Rose Nguyen

Monster Meatball Sandwiches Recipe
These 5-ingredient, money-saving mini sandwiches will satisfy the heartiest of appetites. Using premade frozen meatballs keeps preparation swift and simple.

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Braised Brisket with Sweet Potatoes

Photo: Charles Schiller; Styling: Lynn Miller

Braised Brisket with Sweet Potatoes Recipe

This comforting baked brisket and sweet potatoes make a delicious fall meal when the temperature starts to drop.

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Ghostly Pizza

Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Styling: Lynn Miller

Ghostly Pizza Recipe
Frozen pizza dough is the secret to this easy pizza which is topped with slices of mozzarella cheese shaped like ghosts.

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Pumpkin-Shaped Crispy Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

Photo: Thomas J. Story

Pumpkin-Shaped Crispy Grilled Cheese Sandwiches Recipe

These chubby sandwiches have shredded cheese on the outside, which melts into a crunchy sheath as they cook. We used a Wilton 4 1/2-in. cutter for the large sandwiches and a 3 3/4-in. cutter for the smaller ones (find both as part of a nested set on amazon.com). Make these festive Halloween sandwiches alongside a pot of tomato soup for an easy dinner if you're having guests over to trick-or-treat.

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Pork Dumplings with Chile-Sesame Sauce

Photo: John Kernick

Pork Dumplings with Chile-Sesame Sauce Recipe
These wrinkly dumplings are filled with pork, shiitake mushrooms, bok choy, scallions and ginger. For Halloween, David Burtka soaks the brain-like dumplings in the dipping sauce, then serves them in science-lab beakers.

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10+ Must-Try Halloween Dinner Ideas

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Boneyard Chicken Pot Pie

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Orange-and-Black Salad Platter

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Roasted Red Pepper Deviled Eggs

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Mummy Dogs

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Spider Bagel Pizza Bites

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Spiced Lamb Chops with Rosemary Crumbs

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Bacon-and-Sage-Wrapped Chicken Breasts

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Monster Meatball Sandwiches

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Braised Brisket with Sweet Potatoes

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Ghostly Pizza

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Pumpkin-Shaped Crispy Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

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Pork Dumplings with Chile-Sesame Sauce

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