36 Easy Halloween Appetizers and Party Recipes

I absolutely love Halloween, and Halloween appetizers are part of the reason why. (So are Halloween desserts, Halloween snacks, and Halloween cocktails!) 

Like I said, I LOVE Halloween. 

And for this list, I’ve pulled out all the stops. I’ve included many traditional appetizer favorites. I’ve just made some of them a little spookier.

These Halloween appetizers include everything from queso and pigs in a blanket to Jack Skellington bites and witches’ brooms!

I hope you have as much fun reading about (and making) these Halloween snacks as I did writing about them.

What Makes a Halloween Appetizer?

Looking for a few tips to ensure your Halloween appetizers are as perfect as possible? Keep these things in mind:

• Make them delicious. No matter how good something looks, if it tastes bad, no one is going to enjoy it.

• Ensure they’re eye-catching. Typical appetizers like chips and salsa, veggie trays, etc., are all well and good. But for Halloween, you’ll want at least a few appetizers to fit the theme and turn heads.

• Jazz them up. This goes along with ensuring the appetizers are eye-catching. Don’t be afraid to jazz things up with festive bowls and serving platters, plastic spiders, candy eyeballs, etc.

• Make them ahead of time. The best appetizers for the person making them are the ones that are stress-free. Use recipes that you can make ahead of time to make it easier on yourself.

• Have fun with them! Of all the holidays, Halloween is easily the most fun. So, don’t let cooking for such a fun holiday become a chore! Be creative and have fun!

30+ Spooky Halloween Finger Foods

1. Mini Spider Pizzas

Looking for Halloween finger food recipes that are sure to please the crowd? Try these scary (read: adorable) spider mini pizzas. 

All you’ll need is pizza crust, tomato sauce and paste, herbs, cheese, and black olives.

If some guests don’t like olives, don’t worry. You’ll add them after the pizzas finish cooking, so they can remove them without leaving the olive taste behind.

2. Mummy Brie

If you’ve never tried brie, it can be hard to describe. It’s somehow fruity, tangy, nutty, and herby all at once. Baked brie is also creamy and warm. 

The puff pastry crust adds the mummy’s bandages and a rich, buttery taste that’s simply delightful.

Add a couple of olives and mini pepperonis for the eyes, and you’ll have an adorable mummy!

3. Veggie Tray Skeleton

You won’t believe how easy it is to turn a simple veggie tray into a cute and realistic, albeit colorful, skeleton.

With some peppers for ribs, dipping sauce for a head, celery stalks for arms, and mushrooms for hips, this guy doesn’t precisely look like the real thing.

Still, everyone will know what he is.

4. Pigs in a Blanket

Sadly, not every appetizer recipe can be Halloween-themed. Some are just tasty and easy to make. Like these pigs in a blanket! 

All you’ll need are hot dogs, a can of crescent rolls, and some cheese. 

You can have them ready in less than 30 minutes, and honestly, they look a little like mummies. Add two dots of ketchup for eyes, and they’ll be convincing.

5. Jack-O-Lantern Cheese Quesadillas

You can make these enchanting little Jack-o-lanterns in 15 minutes with only two ingredients – cheese and tortillas!

If you can cut a pumpkin shape and a Jack-o-lantern face, then you can make them with no trouble. 

You can even get your kids in on the fun by buying them edible markers to draw the faces. (You’ll want to do the cutting yourself, though.)

6. Queso

It may not be Halloween-themed, but there is never a wrong time for queso, especially when it’s delicious copycat queso from Qdoba.

It’s creamy, spicy, and full of flavor.

If you want to make it more festive, serve it in Halloween-themed bowls with colored tortilla chips. 

7. Pumpkin Fluff Dip

Pumpkin fluff is one of those Halloween recipes that should be in everyone’s repertoire. It’s precisely what it sounds like it would be. 

It’s creamy, fluffy, and full of pumpkin and pumpkin spice flavor. I

t may not be spooky or eye-catching. But all of that pumpkiny goodness makes it a total win for Halloween. 

8. Bacon-Wrapped Smokies

I don’t know what it is about wrapped things that make me think of mummies, but that’s where my brain goes, particularly around Halloween.

These are a meat lover’s dream. Each one is ideal for bite-sized snacking.

They’re smokie sausages wrapped in bacon and covered with brown sugar. Seriously, what’s not to love?

9. Halloween Cheese and Crackers

Get creative with your cheese and crackers this Halloween by using Halloween cookie cutters to cut the cheese.

Top each cracker with a pumpkin, ghost, bat, or kitty cat. 

(This is a versatile option that you can use for any holiday.)

10. Monster Munch

Monster munch is the easiest of all easy Halloween appetizers.

Simply combine Chex, pretzels, and all your favorite cereals and Halloween candies and cover them in melted white chocolate chips and Halloween sprinkles.

It takes mere minutes to make and tastes so good.

Plus, you can follow this recipe or make it up as you go along! It’s the perfect Halloween sweet treat.

11. Jack-O-Lantern Hand Pies

These are mini-pumpkin pies that look like Jack-o-Lanterns.

I’m not sure I’ve ever loved a pie so much in my life. They’re absolutely enchanting.

They also aren’t hard to make. You can have half a dozen ready in about 40 minutes.

I’m not sure there’s a cuter Halloween dessert anywhere in the world.

12. Halloweeno Jalapeno Popper Mummies

Halloweeno Jalapeno – how fun! These have buttery, flaky crusts and are creamy and full of heat. There’s a massive burst of spice and flavor in every bite. 

And who can resist those candy eyeballs staring back at them from the mummy wrappings?!

13. Spooky 7-Layer Halloween Dip

This is not your traditional seven-layer dip. Of course, the cream cheese spider web and olive spider probably gave that away already.

It has everything you love about taco dip – beans, cheese, sour cream, guacamole, and more – but it looks a bit more witchy than the standard variety.

14. Spinach and Artichoke Dip

Okay, so this is just spinach and artichoke dip, but with the proper presentation, you can definitely make it spooky.

Try black and red tortilla chips or some plastic spiders on the side.

Even the non-spooky variety will be a hit, though.

It’s smooth, creamy, cool, and incredible. No one can turn down a second (or third) helping of this delectable dip.

15. The Puking Pumpkin (Halloween Guacamole)

This, too, is just simple – but yummy – guacamole. However, the presentation is absolutely gruesome. (Which, for Halloween, means absolutely AWESOME.)

This recipe’s name pretty much says it all, so I won’t spell it out for you. Just be sure your Halloween party guests don’t suffer from weak stomachs.

16. Jack Skellington Ricotta Olive Tarts

If you love The Nightmare Before Christmas and enjoy olives and ricotta cheese, this will be your new favorite recipe. 

They take a bit of time and effort to make, but they look exactly like Jack and are salty, cheesy, garlicky, and great. Seriously, they’re incredible.

17. Antipasto Eyeballs

Antipasto eyeballs are easy Halloween appetizers that take about 10 minutes to whip up. (And no cooking, either!)

Simply cut and assemble the ingredients to look like — you guessed it! — eyeballs! If you wrap the prosciutto just right, it’ll even look like tongues.

18. Witches’ Broomsticks

If you have pretzel sticks, cheese sticks, and fresh chives, you can whip up dozens of these adorable witches’ broomsticks in no time.

Plus, the salty pretzels taste phenomenal with the cheese.

(These are also ideal for Harry Potter-themed parties!)

19. Meatball Mummies

Need some Halloween hors d’oeuvres that will delight kids and adults alike? Try these juicy, crescent roll-wrapped meatball mummies.

They’re totally adorable, so the kids will love them.

However, they’re basically single-serve meatloaf balls wrapped in buttery crescent rolls. What adult wouldn’t appreciate that?

20. Apple Monster Bites

These are so much fun! Who knew sliced apples, strawberries, and sunflower seeds could look so much like monsters? 

Add some homemade googly eyes (or candy eyeballs) to the tops, and these look eerily realistic.

I’ll be honest, though; those sunflower seed teeth are almost too creepy to eat.

21. Graveyard Dip

Despite its appearance, this ghoulish graveyard dip isn’t sweet and chocolatey. That “dirt” layer isn’t made of crushed Oreos. It’s a black olive tapenade.

So, if you’re expecting a Halloween dirt cake, think again. This is a creamy, briny, cheese- and veggie-filled dip. It’s still delicious, though! Even the kids will enjoy it.

22. Pizza Rolls

No matter your age, you never really outgrow the love of pizza rolls.

If you can cut down on the grease and retain the crispy crust and gooey, cheesy center, that’s even better.

Do that with ease by cooking them in an air fryer. It only takes about 6 minutes to make two dozen.

Whip up a few batches for your next Halloween party. They’re grade-A, prime party food.

23. Ham ‘n’ Cheese Spiders

I’ll be honest. These look more like crabs than spiders to me, but they have eight legs, so…

Regardless, they’re so tasty that people won’t care if they look like Hannibal Lecter once they take the first bite.

The ham is tender and juicy, and the cheese is pure melted goodness.
The onions, mustard, butter, and poppy seeds add even more rich, bold flavors.

24. Nachos

This recipe for nachos is my all-time favorite, and I don’t care if it’s Halloween, Thanksgiving, or the Ides of March.

These nachos make a fantastic appetizer any time of year.

With sharp cheddar cheese, tender, well-seasoned beef, and every vegetable and topping you can fit on them, you won’t have to worry about the chips going soggy.

They won’t last long enough.

25. Witches Finger Breadsticks

All you’ll need to make these is pizza dough, eggs and water (for an egg wash), and raw almonds.

The knotty, twisted pizza dough looks creepily like a long finger. Once you add the almond fingernail, it’s almost too authentic to eat!

You can also add poppy or sesame seeds for extra texture and flavor.

26. Halloween Snack Tray

When planning appetizer recipes, you can’t go wrong with charcuterie boards. That’s precisely what this Halloween snack board is.

To make it Halloweeny, simply take a little time with the presentation.

Don’t just add cheese; add cheese pumpkins. Give your olives an “eyeball”-like appearance. Add edible eyeballs, spiders, and skeletal bones.

There are plenty of ways to jazz up a boring old charcuterie board.

27. Monster Halloween Popcorn

If you can pop popcorn and coat it in melted candy melts, you can make monster Halloween popcorn in 10 minutes or less. 

Add some Halloween sprinkles, candy eyeballs, and candy corn to make it extra Halloween-themed.

28. Eyeball Deviled Eggs

Looking for Halloween finger food recipes that people can pick up and eat while walking around or enjoying the party? Deviled eggs are always a hit. 

And these particular deviled eggs are ideal for Halloween. 

Their bloodshot appearance and the gunky yellowish goop in their centers make them downright disgusting. You’ll hate how much you love them. 

29. Halloween Eyeball Bruschetta

These aren’t quite as chilling as the deviled egg eyes, but if you enjoy bruschetta, you’ll love them.

You don’t have to do any cooking for these – just assembling.

They’ll look like bloodshot eyes and are full of cheese, pepper, and garlic flavor. They’re the perfect Eye-talian treat.

30. Pumpkin Cheese Ball

I’m a massive fan of cheese balls. Add that to my love of Halloween, and this is one of the best appetizer recipes I’ve ever found.

I make it any time it even remotely makes sense – Halloween, Thanksgiving, or any get-together held in the fall.

It tastes marvelous – creamy and cheesy on the inside, with an outside covered in crunchy, flavorful Doritos.

31. Mummy Pizzas

Mini pizzas are always a fan favorite at any party or get-together. Make your mini pizzas Halloween-ready by decorating them to look like mummies.

It takes minimal effort and yields maximum results. That’s definitely my kind of recipe.

32. Halloween Cheese Platter

There’s no such thing as “too much cheese.” Take this smiling Jack-O-Lantern cheese board, for example.

Though you can customize it however you like, the original recipe calls for TONS of cheese. Cheese balls, cheese squares, cheddar cheese, cheesy popcorn, etc.

And despite (read: because of) its excessive cheesiness, it’s easily one of the most popular appetizers at any party.

33. Stuffed Pizza Skulls

We’ve already established that pizza and pizza rolls always have a place on any appetizer table.

But with a skull-shaped mold and about 30 minutes, you can really step up your Halloween pizza game.

The recipe here is for pizza with Italian sausage and pepperoni. Keep it as-is, or include other add-ins to suit your specific tastes.

34. Sweet and Sour Bat Wings

Don’t worry. These “bat wings” won’t give you rabies or any other type of infectious disease. Because despite how they look, they aren’t bat wings at all.

They’re juicy, succulent, crispy-skinned chicken wings. They have a phenomenal sweet-n-sour taste and just enough heat to tingle your tongue.

Their frightening appearance comes totally from black food coloring.

35. Halloween Chicken Parm Sliders

Like pizza, chicken sliders are another easy-to-make appetizer that’s sure to please a crowd. Typically, they aren’t very Halloween-oriented, though.

You can change that by creatively cutting the cheese slices and adding some olive eyeballs. They’re tasty, filling, and more cute than scary.

Still, your friends, family, and party guests will love them.

36. Halloween Stuffed Dates

Stuffed dates have always been one of my favorite hors d’oeuvres. They just taste so good and seem so rich and decadent.

Of course, plating them on the same platter as plastic roaches kind of diminishes the “rich and decadent” effect.

But if you can get past the ick factor, they taste just as phenomenal as always.