Halloween

37 Easy Halloween Appetizer & Snack Recipes

From bright orange dips to spicy popcorn and spooky party mixes, these quick snack recipes will make Halloween planning a breeze.
Our favorite salty Father's Day snacks include this pimento cheese dip
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Ali Nardi

Halloween is mostly about candy, sure. But it's important to eat something other than chocolate treats, caramel-coated apples, and Halloween cookies. Here are a few ideas for Halloween appetizers and snacks that will help tamp down the sugar high that's sure to come.

  • Our favorite salty Father's Day snacks include this pimento cheese dip
    Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Ali Nardi
    1/37

    Five-Cheese Pimento Cheese

    Complete your Halloween snacking lineup with this addictive, bright orange five-cheese version of the classic Southern spread.

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  • Photo by Lauren Volo
    2/37

    Russian Deviled Eggs

    A topping of salmon roe gives these deviled eggs an extra layer of flavor.

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  • Photo by Peter Frank Edwards
    13/37

    Bacon Crackers

    Magic happens when a cracker slowly sops up the fat from smoky, crisping bacon; it transforms into something more akin to pie crust.

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  • Photo by Catherine McCord
    14/37

    Roasted Red Pepper Almond Dip

    Yeah, this creamy, savory dip is orange like a pumpkin, so you can doll it up as much as you'd like—be warned, it won't last long.

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell
    15/37

    Grand Aioli

    The perfect celebratory snack is one that requires zero silverware. Adults and kids alike will have a blast dipping and munching all night.

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  • Photo by Rhoda Boone, Food Styling by Rhoda Boone
    16/37

    Guacamole with Aleppo Pepper

    Our favorite freshly-made guacamole is spiced with garlic and jalapeño, plus cumin, Aleppo pepper, and cayenne. Offer carrot sticks and bell pepper strips alongside it, and people may even eat a vegetable!

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  • Photo by Alex Lau, Food Styling by Sue Li, Prop Styling by Elizabeth Jaime
    21/37

    Crudités With Bacon XO Sauce

    Long, gnarled carrots and dark grilled bread make for a spooky-chic presentation alongside this umami-heavy sauce.

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  • Photo by Marcus Nilsson
    22/37

    Sweet-and-Sour Tomato Chutney

    This brooding purple chutney is like an Indian-spiced ketchup, just begging for fried vegetables and crackers for dipping.

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Kat Boytsova
    25/37

    3-Ingredient Seeded Crackers

    A quick spin in the food processor is all it takes to mix up these rustic whole-wheat crackers.

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  • © 2009 Matthew Mead
    26/37

    Yummy Mummy Meatloaf

    This mournful relic makes a silly dish everyone will enjoy—slice and serve as an appetizer once everyone has a chance to see it (and Instagram it).

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  • Photo by Alex Lau, Food Styling by Andy Baraghani
    27/37

    Muhammara

    This vibrant dip of toasted walnuts and roasted red peppers pairs perfectly well with fresh pita bread.

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Kat Boytsova
    28/37

    Chocolate-Covered Peanuts

    Again, this salty-sweet combo is a much-needed break from the impending candy binge you and your guests need to prepare for.

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  • Lara Ferroni
    29/37

    Scary Barbecue Snack Mix

    You can count on snack mix to be the first thing to disappear at a party. Salty, cheesy, crunchy (and with an optional kick of heat)—this addicting combo is a flavor-packed blend of popcorn, tortilla chips, and corn nuts scented with tangy barbecue sauce and Spanish smoked paprika.

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  • Photo by Romulo Yanes
    30/37

    Maple Pecan Popcorn

    What could be more Halloween than candy corn? Try maple pecan popcorn treats, for starters. You're three ingredients away from crunchy, salty-sweet heaven.

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  • Gentl & Hyers
    31/37

    Pumpkin Spoon Bread

    Savory pumpkin dishes might very well be the best part of the season and this glorious spoon bread is proof of that.

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  • Stephanie Foley
    32/37

    Potato Ghosts

    You and your guests will be utterly charmed when you see how easily mashed potatoes can be transformed into a gaggle of ghosts.

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  • Marcus Nilsson
    33/37

    Pumpkin Seed Brittle

    Kick off the holiday sweet(s) season by treating guests to this crunchy, easy-to-make-ahead brittle.

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  • © 2009 Matthew Mead
    34/37

    Green Gruel with Eyeballs

    Okay, it's kind of cringe-y looking (in a fun way!), but this broccoli soup is delicious, and the eyeball is a harmless hard-cooked egg.

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  • Stephanie Foley
    35/37

    Poppy Cheddar Moon Crackers

    By incorporating cheese into the dough, along with the tiny crunch of poppy seeds, these crackers become crisp snacks that keep your fingers reaching for another and then another and, well, you know how it goes.

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  • Zach DeSart
    36/37

    Chile Peanut and Pumpkin Seed Snack Mix

    This addictive peanut-and-seed mix has "unbeatable fall snack" written all over it. It's got just the right amount of salty-spicy crunch to keep you reaching for more.

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  • Gail Albert Halaban
    37/37

    Fennel and Celery Salad with Pumpkin Seeds

    Pumpkin seeds feel like a festive addition to your Halloween menu. Here they add crunch to a crisp salad of celery, fennel, and parsley that's dressed with tart lemon and rich Parmesan. 

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Becky Hughes is the social media editor for NYT Cooking where she's written about the New York City restaurant scene and the return of the espresso martini. She has a bachelor’s degree in journalism and food theory from the Gallatin School of Individualized Study at New York University. During college, ... Read More
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