Halloween appetizers are the best or are they the best? Yes to both. I am 120 percent sure that this is what my spooky food dreams are made of. And I am here for all of it, from the Halloween desserts and spooky snacks to the creepy cocktails!
This list has all the good things. We’re taking classic party appetizers and giving them a Halloween makeover. Think yummy queso and pigs in a blanket, but also Jack Skellington bites and cheesy witches’ brooms.
Get ready, friends. It is going to be a delicious time.
1. Jack-O-Lantern Hand Pies
These are basically tiny pumpkin pies that look just like Jack-o-Lanterns. I don’t think I have ever adored a pie more in my entire life. They are just so completely enchanting.
They aren’t difficult to make, either. You can have a half-dozen of these ready to go in about 40 minutes. I am not sure there is a more adorable Halloween dessert anywhere on the planet.
2. Monster Halloween Popcorn
If you are able to pop some popcorn and coat it with candy melts that you’ve melted, you can whip up this monster Halloween popcorn in ten minutes or less.
To make it feel extra Halloween-themed, go ahead and add some fun sprinkles, candy eyeballs, and even some candy corn.
3. Witches’ Broomsticks
If you happen to have pretzel sticks, cheese sticks, and some fresh chives, you can whip together dozens of these super cute witches’ broomsticks in no time at all.
Plus, the salty pretzels taste absolutely phenomenal when paired with the cheese. (These are also perfect for any Harry Potter-themed parties!)
4. Stuffed Pizza Skulls
We have already made it clear that pizza and pizza rolls belong on any appetizer table. But if you have a skull-shaped mold and about 30 minutes, you can seriously elevate your Halloween pizza game.
The recipe here is for a pizza with Italian sausage and pepperoni. You can keep it just like that, or feel free to include other additions that suit your own specific tastes.
5. Antipasto Eyeballs
Antipasto eyeballs are one of those easy Halloween appetizers that take about 10 minutes to pull together. (And there’s no cooking involved, either!)
All you have to do is cut and put together the ingredients so they look like—you guessed it!—eyeballs! If you manage to wrap the prosciutto just right, it will even look like little tongues.
6. Ham ‘n’ Cheese Spiders
I’ll be upfront. To me, these look more like crabs than spiders, but they do have eight legs, so… In any case, they are so delicious that people won’t even care what they look like once they’ve had that first bite.
The ham is so tender and juicy, and the cheese is just pure melted goodness. The onions, mustard, butter, and poppy seeds bring in even more rich and bold flavors.
7. The Puking Pumpkin (Halloween Guacamole)
This one, too, is just simple—but so yummy—guacamole. However, the way it’s presented is absolutely gruesome. (Which, for a Halloween theme, means it’s totally AWESOME.)
The name of this recipe pretty much gives it all away, so I won’t have to spell it out for you. Just make sure your Halloween party guests don’t have weak stomachs.
8. Halloween Cheese and Crackers
Get a little creative with your cheese and crackers this year by using some Halloween-themed cookie cutters to cut the cheese.
You can top each cracker with a little pumpkin, ghost, bat, or kitty cat. (This is a really versatile idea that you can use for any holiday.)
9. Jack-O-Lantern Cheese Quesadillas
You can make these totally enchanting little Jack-o-lanterns in just 15 minutes with only two ingredients—cheese and tortillas!
If you are able to cut out a pumpkin shape and a Jack-o-lantern face, then you can definitely make these with no trouble at all.
You can even get your kids in on the action by buying some edible markers so they can draw the faces. (You will probably want to do the cutting part yourself, though.)
10. Eyeball Deviled Eggs
Searching for Halloween finger food recipes that people can just pick up and eat while they walk around and enjoy the party? Deviled eggs are always a huge hit.
And these deviled eggs, in particular, are just ideal for Halloween. Their bloodshot look and the gunky yellowish goop in the centers make them look downright disgusting. You are going to hate how much you love them.
11. Mummy Brie
If you have never had brie, it can be a little hard to describe. It’s somehow fruity, tangy, nutty, and herby, all at the same time. When it’s baked, brie is also creamy and warm.
The puff pastry crust not only adds the mummy’s bandages and a rich, buttery taste that is simply delightful. Just add a couple of olives and mini pepperonis for the eyes, and you will have a super adorable mummy!
12. Halloween Stuffed Dates
Stuffed dates have always been one of my personal favorite hors d’oeuvres. They just taste so good and have a rich and decadent feel to them.
Of course, putting them on the same platter as some plastic roaches does kind of take away from the “rich and decadent” vibe. But if you can get over the ick factor, they taste just as phenomenal as they always do.
13. Graveyard Dip
Despite how it looks, this ghoulish graveyard dip is not sweet and chocolatey. That layer of “dirt” is not made from crushed Oreos. It is actually a black olive tapenade.
So, if you were expecting a Halloween dirt cake, you should think again. This is a creamy, briny, cheese and veggie filled dip. It is still delicious, though! Even the kids are going to enjoy it.
14. Mini Spider Pizzas
Looking for some Halloween finger food recipes that are guaranteed to please the crowd? You should try these scary (I mean, adorable) spider mini pizzas.
All you are going to need is some pizza crust, tomato sauce and paste, herbs, cheese, and black olives. If some of your guests don’t care for olives, don’t you worry.
You will add them after the pizzas are done cooking, so they can be removed without leaving that olive taste behind.
15. Halloweeno Jalapeno Popper Mummies
Halloweeno Jalapeno—how fun is that! These have buttery, flaky crusts and are so creamy and full of heat. There is just a huge burst of spice and flavor in every single bite.
And really, who can resist those candy eyeballs that are staring back at them from the mummy wrappings?!
16. Sweet and Sour Bat Wings
Don’t you worry. These “bat wings” are not going to give you rabies or any other kind of infectious disease. Because even though they look like them, they aren’t bat wings at all.
They are actually juicy, succulent chicken wings with crispy skin. They have a totally phenomenal sweet and sour taste and just enough heat to make your tongue tingle.
Their frightening look comes completely from some black food coloring.
17. Jack Skellington Ricotta Olive Tarts
If you are a big fan of The Nightmare Before Christmas and you enjoy olives and ricotta cheese, this is going to be your new favorite recipe. They do take a bit of time and effort to put together, but they look exactly like Jack and are salty, cheesy, garlicky, and just great. Seriously, they are pretty incredible.
18. Apple Monster Bites
These are just so much fun! Who would have thought that sliced apples, strawberries, and sunflower seeds could look so much like monsters?
Add some homemade googly eyes (or candy eyeballs) to the top, and these look eerily realistic. I will be honest, though; those sunflower seed teeth are almost a little too creepy to eat.
19. Witches Finger Breadsticks
All you will need to make these is some pizza dough, eggs and water (for an egg wash), and some raw almonds. The knotty, twisted pizza dough looks so creepily like a long finger.
Once you add the almond for the fingernail, it is almost too authentic to actually eat! You can also add some poppy or sesame seeds for extra texture and flavor.
20. Veggie Tray Skeleton
You are not going to believe how easy it is to transform a simple veggie tray into a cute and realistic, if a bit colorful, skeleton.
With some peppers for the ribs, some dipping sauce for a head, celery stalks for arms, and mushrooms for hips, this guy doesn’t exactly look like the real thing. But still, everyone is going to know what he is.
21. Spooky 7-Layer Halloween Dip
This is not your average seven-layer dip. Of course, the cream cheese spider web and the olive spider probably made that pretty clear already.
It has all the things you love about taco dip—beans, cheese, sour cream, guacamole, and more—but it looks a little more witchy than the standard version.
22. Meatball Mummies
Need some Halloween hors d’oeuvres that are going to delight both the kids and the adults? You have to try these juicy, crescent roll wrapped meatball mummies.
They are totally adorable, so the kids are going to love them. But, they are basically single serve meatloaf balls that are wrapped in buttery crescent rolls. What adult wouldn’t appreciate that?
23. Halloween Chicken Parm Sliders
Just like pizza, chicken sliders are another one of those easy to make appetizers that are sure to be a crowd pleaser. Typically, though, they are not very Halloween oriented.
You can change that by creatively cutting the slices of cheese and adding on some olive eyeballs. They are tasty, filling, and more cute than they are scary. Still, your friends, family, and party guests will absolutely love them.
24. Pumpkin Cheese Ball
I am a huge fan of cheese balls. Add that to my love for Halloween, and this is one of the best appetizer recipes I have ever come across.
I make it any time it even sort of makes sense—Halloween, Thanksgiving, or any get-together that’s held in the fall. It tastes so marvelous—creamy and cheesy on the inside, with an outside that’s covered in crunchy, flavorful Doritos.
25. Monster Munch
Monster munch is the absolute easiest of all the easy Halloween appetizers. All you have to do is combine Chex, pretzels, and all your favorite cereals and Halloween candies, and then cover them in melted white chocolate chips and some Halloween sprinkles.
It takes just a few minutes to make and it tastes so good. Plus, you can either follow this recipe or just make it up as you go! It is the perfect sweet treat for Halloween.
26. Mummy Pizzas
Mini pizzas are always a fan favorite at any party or get-together. You can make your mini pizzas ready for Halloween by decorating them to look just like mummies.
It takes such minimal effort and you get maximum results. That is definitely my kind of recipe.
27. Halloween Snack Tray
When you’re planning out your appetizer recipes, you really can’t go wrong with charcuterie boards. That is exactly what this Halloween snack board is.
To make it feel Halloweeny, all you have to do is take a little bit of time with the presentation. Don’t just add cheese; add some cheese pumpkins. Make your olives have an “eyeball” like appearance.
Add some edible eyeballs, spiders, and skeletal bones. There are plenty of ways you can jazz up a boring old charcuterie board.
28. Halloween Eyeball Bruschetta
These are not quite as chilling as the deviled egg eyes, but if you happen to enjoy bruschetta, you are going to love them.
You don’t have to do any cooking for these—just some assembling. They will look like bloodshot eyes and are full of cheese, pepper, and garlic flavor. They are the perfect Eye-talian treat.
29. Halloween Cheese Platter
There is no such thing as “too much cheese.” Take this smiling Jack-O-Lantern cheese board, for example. Though you can customize it however you want to, the original recipe calls for TONS of cheese.
Cheese balls, cheese squares, cheddar cheese, cheesy popcorn, and so on. And despite (or maybe because of) its excessive cheesiness, it is easily one of the most popular appetizers at any party.
