40 Spooky-Themed Easy Appetizers To Serve Up at Your Halloween Party
If you’re throwing a Halloween party, festive kids’ birthday party, or scary movie night with friends this spooky season, give one or more of these Halloween appetizers a try. Pair them with a fun fall cocktail for a memorable night of scary good bites, show-stopping costumes, and of course, quality time with friends and family.
Depending on the type of event you’re throwing, there’s an appetizer to match. There are chips and dip for a relaxed hang, bite-sized hors d'oeuvres for an upscale gathering, and simple, three-ingredient snacks for kid-friendly eats. If you’re a beginner in the kitchen, don’t stress. Most of these recipes are easy to execute, requiring only a few festive touches, such as seasonal plating materials, small-themed garnishes, and creativity. Best of all, if you struggle with the decoration portion of these light bites, you can always claim they’re monsters. Monsters aren’t supposed to be perfect.
These tasty Halloween recipes will ensure you get some sustenance before a big night out, whether that’s trick-or-treating, attending a costume contest, or sipping on Halloween drinks. For a full night of festive foods, consider serving a Halloween dinner and Halloween dessert too.
For more Halloween recipe ideas, make sure to check out our list of apple recipes, fall appetizers, and Halloween punch recipe ideas.
Guacamoldy Witch
For a chip and dip platter that'll wow (and potentially scare), start with a guacamole base and add to it with spiral carrots, blue corn tortilla chips, and other vegetables.
Get the Guacamoldy Witch recipe.
"Pumpkin" Hummus
It's all about presentation when it comes to this simple hummus recipe. Create lines in the dip using the tip of a spoon, and garnish with celery leaves and a celery stick.
Get the Pumpkin Hummus recipe.
Pesto Spaghetti and Eyeballs
Whip up your favorite pesto pasta recipe and embellish with mozzarella and olive eyeballs. Or make the eyeballs on their own for a quick and easy hors d'oeuvre.
Get the Pesto Spaghetti and Eyeballs recipe.
Carrot Fingers with Creamy Edamame Dip
Scare guests with these easy-to-make finger carrots that act as the perfect vessel for delicious edamame dip.
Get the Creamy Edamame Dip recipe.
Pumpkin Biscuits
If you're a fan of apple butter, you must try pumpkin butter on these tasty pumpkin biscuits for a sweet starter. Or sandwich two biscuits together with ham and cheese for a savory snack.
Get the Pumpkin Biscuit recipe.
Slow Cooker Sausage, Potato, and Onion Stuffed Peppers
Talk about easy! To add some Halloween flair to this slow-cooker recipe, carve a mouth, nose, and eyes into a pepper for a jack-o'-lantern appearance.
Get the Slow Cooker Sausage, Potato, and Onion Stuffed Peppers recipe.
RELATED: Slow Cooker Meals for Kids That Prove Your Crockpot Is Dinner's MVP
Skeleton Crudite
This adorable idea won't take any time at all. Just arrange your favorite veggies into the shape of a skeleton. We suggest using cauliflower, carrots, celery, radishes, bell peppers, and more. Don't forget the dip!
Pumpkin Hand Pies
For a sweet appetizer, try these pumpkin-packed hand pies that are also filled with brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
Get the Pumpkin Hand Pies recipe.
RELATED: Halloween Treat Recipes Kids (and Adults) Will Scream Over
Ghostly Pizza
The key here is cutting the cheese into ghost shapes. You can either free-hand it or use a ghost cookie cutter.
Get the Ghostly Pizza recipe.
Monster Wraps
The best part about these wraps is that you can fill them with whatever your guests want — so even the pickiest of eaters can enjoy!
Get the Monster Wraps recipe.
Jack-o'-Lantern Chicken and Sweet Potato Potpie
You can't beat these little jack-o'-lantern potpies. Guests will love the taste, and you'll love how easy they are to make.
Get the Jack-o'-Lantern Chicken and Sweet Potato Potpie recipe.
Halloween Cheese Balls
Homemade cheese balls take flight with a set of crispy tortilla wings.
Get the Halloween Cheese Balls recipe.
Stuffed Eyeballs
Roll up your meat of choice (any type of thinly sliced, cured meat will do!), then place a ball of mozzarella inside. Finish by adding a green olive, stuffed with red pepper into the mozzarella to create an "eyeball."
Cheese Witch Brooms
Grab a slice of cheese, roll it up, and fray one end with a knife or kitchen scissors to look like a broom. Poke a pretzel stick in the middle, and tie it together with sliced green onion.
Mini Mummy Meat Loaves
Sweet cherry tomatoes are hidden in the center of these mini-meat loaves, offering a burst of juicy flavor when you take a bite.
Get the Mini Mummy Meat Loaves recipe.
Spiderweb Pizza
Serve up a piping hot slice of creepy with these super-simple pizzas made from pre-baked crust, pizza sauce, strategically placed string cheese, and a black olive spider.
Get the Spiderweb Pizza recipe.
RELATED: Festive Halloween Birthday Party Ideas for Kids and Adults
Severed Toes in Bandages
Think pigs in a blanket with a twist! Guests will love eating these baked cocktail franks wrapped in pie crust strips. Serve with blood-red ketchup or the sauce of your choice for dipping.
Get the Severed Toes in Bandages recipe.
Saucy Spider
Spin a web of doughy deliciousness with this party-perfect Halloween appetizer. If you can't find pizza dough at your supermarket, try a local pizza parlor. They will likely sell you a fresh ball. For extra effect, sprinkle the legs with poppy seeds for a hairy appearance, in addition to parmesan.
Get the Saucy Spider recipe.
Bloodshot Deviled Eyeballs
Whip up a batch of creamy deviled eggs and then turn them into eerie-looking "eyeballs" with a few simple additions: black olive slices for pupils and thinly sliced pimiento for veins.
Get the Bloodshot Deviled Eyeballs recipe.
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Mummies in a Blanket
Loosely wrap strips of pie crust dough around hot dogs to create little mummies. Leave room for edible eyes to be placed.
Spinach Dip in a Bread Bowl Cauldron
Impress guests with this crafty Halloween appetizer. It cleverly transforms pumpernickel bread and breadsticks into a cauldron before filling it with a secret potion (spinach dip).
Get the Spinach Dip in a Bread Bowl Cauldron recipe.
Bite-Size Eyeballs
These cheesy pastry puffs will be the most app-eye-tizing item on the table this Halloween.
Get the Bite-Size Eyeballs recipe.
Snakes and Soup
Red gumdrop tongues and poppy seed scales turn breadsticks into slithery snakes.
Get the Snakes and Soup recipe.
Jack-o'-Lantern Sandwich Bites
These golden ham-and-cheese bites are way easier than carving a pumpkin. Just use a pumpkin-shaped cookie cutter on store-bought pie crust, add ham and cheese slices, then layer, and bake!
Get the Jack-o'-Lantern Sandwich Bites recipe.
Hot Pepper Mummies
To make this recipe, wrap jalapeño poppers with puff pastry strips and add roasted red peppers for eyes.
Get the Hot Pepper Mummies recipe.
Spiderweb Nacho Spread
Give your traditional Mexican dip an upgrade with this terrifyingly tasty recipe that layers refried beans with salsa, cheese, and homemade guacamole.
Get the Spiderweb Nacho Spread recipe.
Cheesy Spiders
With crunchy chow mein legs, these cheesy spider balls are a delicious addition to your next serving platter.
Get the Cheesy Spiders recipe.
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Tangy Pumpkins
For a healthier party snack that's still in line with the holiday spirit, peel oranges and use bits of celery to create a pumpkin stem.
Get the Tangy Pumpkins recipe.
RELATED: Healthy Halloween Treats That Everyone at the Party Will Love
Monster Fingers
These creepy monster fingers take a bit of work but are well worth the effort. Shape ready-made breadstick dough into stalks, tint them with spray color, and top them with an almond "fingernail" and poppy seeds.
Get the Monster Fingers recipe.
RELATED: Best Halloween Food Ideas to Serve at Your Theme Party
Butternut Squash and Turmeric Soup
Okay, so this isn't creepy, but it's still festive. Our soup uses the flavors of butternut squash and turmeric to make the ultimate fall recipe.
Get the Butternut Squash and Turmeric Soup recipe.
Test Tube Dips
Presentation is everything. This mad scientist display of guacamole, beet hummus, romesco, and bread dips is sure to get guests talking.
Cheese Pumpkins
Traditional cheese balls will make guests happy, but these pumpkin-shaped ones will leave them speechless.
Get the Cheese Pumpkins recipe.
"Pumpkin" Patch Bites
These snacks are ideal for any autumn-themed gathering (even Thanksgiving!) and don't take much to make. Black Forest ham and extra-sharp cheddar are layered between pumpkin-shaped, ready-made pie crusts and baked until golden.
Get the Pumpkin Patch Bites recipe.
Bat Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches
Kids and adults alike will love these bat-shaped peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. They are a classic for a reason.
Get the Bat Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches recipe.
Cauldron Dip
What's a Halloween party without a good dip? Made from dippable edamame and ricotta cheese, serve the spread in a hollowed acorn squash atop a "fire" of crudité and breadsticks.
Get the Cauldron Dip recipe.
Slow-Cooker Meatballs
What we love about these meatball sandwiches (besides the taste) is that they are made in a slow cooker, meaning you can set it and forget it.
Get the Slow-Cooker Meatballs recipe.
Slow Cooker Curried Butternut Squash Stew
On a cold Halloween night, this seasonal stew will warm your guests right up.
Get the Slow Cooker Curried Butternut Squash Stew recipe.
Orange Jack-o'-Lanterns
This is a healthy snack that's easy to make. All you need is a sharpie and oranges. Then go to town with drawing funky faces and designs.
Get the Orange Jack-o'-Lanterns recipe.
Pumpkin-Carrot Soup
Get the dinner party started with a classic recipe of pumpkin-carrot soup. You can place it in a classy, orange bowl, or go the cutesy route with a Halloween-themed container.
Get the Pumpkin-Carrot Soup recipe.
Sausage and Sage-Stuffed Acorn Squash
Kids may be skeptical of the dried cranberries stuffed into these acorn squash halves, along with Italian sausage, onion, and parmesan, but mature party-goers will give these two thumbs up.
Get the Sausage and Sage-Stuffed Acorn Squash recipe.
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