55 Easy Halloween Appetizers To Get The Party Startled
Pre-game your candy haul with these spooky appetizers.
This year, we're calling it: Halloween is going to be the food holiday to beat, especially when it comes to spooky snacking. Of course, Halloween might be ALL about the candy, but you can’t survive on sugar alone. You’re still going to want to get your party started off right by offering a sweet and savory mix of options. Which is why we’re big (HUGE) proponents of a good appetizer spread, particularly on holidays not known for their food. Keep your party guests happy all the way 'til the witching hour with these 55 appetizer ideas. They’re sure to please everyone, young and old, this Halloween season.
Much like costumes, Halloween food is a great opportunity to show off your creativity. We’re talking ingenious uses for cookie cutters, like our ghost pizza bagels; putting scary faces on everything, like our Jack-o’-lantern quesadillas, our mummy brie, or our ghost s'mores dip; and using garnishes in unexpectedly spooky ways, like in our cheesy witch brooms, our pumpkin deviled eggs, or our ghoulishly green avocado hummus. When in doubt, pipe a spiderweb on it, like our our spiderweb black bean dip, or add some scary legs to your spread, like we did with our spider taco ring. Trust us, everyone will love the effort.
Looking for Halloween appetizers that are a little less… on the nose? We’ve also included some fall appetizers here that feature pumpkins, butternut squash, apples, and more. Check out our caramel apple cheeseball, our butternut squash potstickers, our pumpkin butter and brie pull-apart bread, or our candied walnut Brussels sprouts bites. They’re perfect for Halloween and can be enjoyed all season long too.
Want more Halloween inspiration? Check out our favorite Halloween cocktails, Halloween dinners, and Halloween desserts too.
Pumpkin Cheese Ball
Part retro, part cult classic, it’s hard to go wrong with a cheese ball. This festive pumpkin rendition may not contain any actual pumpkin, but it’s full of fresh herbs, minced jalapeños, and of course, plenty of cheese (and is SO cute on a Halloween cheese board!).
Get the Pumpkin Cheese Ball recipe.
Antipasto Roll-Ups
Your favorite antipasto just got even better—it’s now wrapped in buttery puff pastry. A couple bites in, and you’ll be going back for another. And another. Layered with Provolone, salami, pepperoni, roasted red peppers, and slathered in a Kalamata olive and pepperoncini spread, you’re going to be dreaming about these bundles for days.
Get the Antipasto Roll-Ups recipe.
Spider Taco Ring
If you love crescent rolls and are as obsessed with tacos as we are, this Halloween-inspired appetizer is calling your name. Created to playfully represent a spider with crescent roll legs and a crescent roll ring body stuffed with a beefy taco-spiced filling, it’s equal parts cute, creepy, and downright tasty.
Get the Spider Taco Ring recipe.
Skillet Chili & Meatballs
This recipe combines the best of a game-day snack and the components of spicy chili into a single dish, perfect for any fall party. Rather than crumbling the ground meat as in the classic dish, you'll form those same elements into perfect meatballs. Bathed in a tasty chili sauce, the dish becomes spooky good dip and app all in one.
Get the Skillet Chili & Meatballs recipe.
Mummy Brie
Thanks to puff pastry, your basic baked brie becomes a totally spooky Halloween appetizer. Perfect for a Halloween party spread or to bring to snack on during a scary movie marathon.
Get the Mummy Brie recipe.
Pumpkin Deviled Eggs
These adorable pumpkin deviled eggs are way easier to make than Jack-o'-lanterns! Paprika gives a wash of bold color, while a fresh chive (or snip of scallion) makes for the perfect stems.
Get the Pumpkin Deviled Eggs recipe.
Avocado Hummus
This ghoulish green dip is the best of hummus and guacamole combined.
Get the Avocado Hummus recipe.
Ghost Pizza Bagels
The scariest thing about these pizza bagels is how fast we're going to eat them. 😉 We definitely recommend using a cookie cutter for the ghosts—try other shapes too if you got 'em!
Get the Ghost Pizza Bagels recipe.
Butternut Squash Potstickers
Making your own potstickers doesn't have to be complicated. These vegan potstickers are easy to put together and most of your time is spent roasting your squash until really tender, which can be done ahead of time. Crimping takes a little practice, but the good news is that even if they look a little wonky, they're still going to taste great!
Get the Butternut Squash Potstickers recipe.
Graveyard Chicken Enchilada Dip
It takes fewer than 10 ingredients to throw this simple graveyard together—you might have some of them at home already! Feel free to use all store-bought ingredients to make it easier, or make your own enchilada sauce, homemade chicken, and taco seasoning.
Scallion Pancakes
Crispy, flaky, and with the *slightest* bit of chew, these are the perfect addition to your Halloween spread. Feel free to take inspiration from our Jack-o'-lantern quesadillas or our ghost pizza bagels, and cut these into seasonal shapes too!
Get the Scallion Pancakes recipe.
Mummy Hot Dogs
There are a lot of mummy hot dogs in the world, but ours is the best for a couple of big reasons. Firstly, they're stuffed with cheese. Secondly, each mummy is brushed with melted butter before baking. Buttery, flaky, and cheesy, you really can't go wrong!
Get the Mummy Hot Dogs recipe.
Curried Cashews
These curry-lime cashews are a great anytime snack, but we think the color contrast (and the surprising flavor combo) will fit in perfectly in your Halloween appetizer spread too.
Get the Curried Cashews recipe.
Jack 'O Lantern Quesadillas
These spooky quesadillas are a trick and a treat. 😈 If you're a master pumpkin carver, feel free to get creative with the faces here.
Get the Jack-O'-Lantern Quesadillas recipe.
Soft Pretzel Bites
Using canned biscuit dough to make pretzel bites is the best hack ever. The pretzels won't look gorgeous as they come out of the boiling water, but don't worry—they will brown and crisp up and be oh-so-gorgeous when they come out of the oven!
Get the Soft Pretzel Bites recipe.
Ghost S'mores Dip
This s'mores-inspired dip is the perfect dessert or appetizer to throw together last minute. Graham crackers make for perfect dippers, but sliced apple, pretzels, or potato chips would certainly do the trick. You can even make it ahead of time—to reheat, return to a 450° oven until melty, 3 to 5 minutes.
Get the Ghost S'mores Dip recipe.
Nashville Hot Chicken Dip
Need a flavor-packed dip to really amp up your Halloween party? This Nashville hot chicken-inspired dip brings the heat and MORE. Beware—this is for major spice fans only.
Get the Nashville Hot Chicken Dip recipe.
Witch Finger Cookies
Ghouls, goblins, and witches to the front, please! Spooky season is here, and we’re celebrating in style with these scary delicious witch finger cookies. A witch finger cookie is exactly what it sounds like: a shortbread cookie shaped into a severed finger and adorned with an almond nail and a bit of blood-red jam.
Get the Witch Finger Cookies recipe.
Pumpkin Pie Dip
We have made so many pumpkin pie desserts, but we love this for its simplicity, and because it's the ultimate last-minute dish for Halloween. Gingersnaps are great for dipping, but don't stop there: Apple fries, cannoli shells, or graham crackers would also be delicious.
Get the Pumpkin Pie Dip recipe.
Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower
This cauliflower is the perfect answer when you have Buffalo wings on the brain, but need to eat more vegetables. All the Buffalo flavor you love coat these florets, which are then air-fried to perfection. It all comes together when you dip one into our perfectly creamy blue cheese dressing (but feel free to go with ranch dressing if you prefer!).
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