UPDATED: AUGUST 1, 2024
Halloween and Dinner Parties?
When you think of parties and Halloween, you probably go costume party, not a Halloween dinner party. However, there is no rule book and sometimes you’re just much more inclined to a dinner party vibe than a regular party or costume party. If dinner parties are more your speed, you can swap out the costumes for crudites and make it more you. The decor and the music are definitely essential, but people are showing up for the food. Here are some creepy-cool ideas to make your Halloween dinner party the chicest on the block.
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Halloween Dinner Party Essentials
Color Scheme
A key to setting the mood for any party is choosing a color scheme. For a chic Halloween dinner party, you will want to go with deep, moody colors to push home the Halloween theme without being cliche or kitschy. Choose 2-3 colors, one of them being a more subtle, base option such as black, white, or gold.
Think deep purples, reds, black, and orange. This color scheme will translate over to your dinnerware, your linens, and the colors of the dishes you serve. Also, consider warm and moody lighting such as candle light or low light or even colored low lights.
Decor
When it comes to decor, keep it classic. Lean into your traditional elements within your color scheme, plates, glasses, napkins, etc. Consider adding in traditional silver throughout your tablescape and food styling for that “Old Vampire” feel. And then to add flare fill the space with elements that scream dark and moody such as lit candles, live and dead roses, and deep purple and black plants, fruits, and vegetables.
Moody Music
Outside of pushing your theme, you will want to put on a playlist that’s not distracting but matches the mood well enough. It should be subtle enough to fade into the background of conversation. To set your Halloween dinner party apart from your run-of-the-mill dinner party, consider dramatic instrumental pieces or jazzy classical options. Be sure to play up the piano-centered compositions.
Magical Menu Making
Of course, the key to any dinner party, but especially a Halloween dinner party, is the food. You want to think “moody” colors and thematic flavors. Lean into seasonal fruits and vegetables as they will be easier to find, more aligned with the flavors you want to focus on, and they are more likely to match your color scheme. Most importantly, keep it fun! So, here are some magical and moody recipes, perfect for any Halloween dinner party, to inspire you when planning your own menu!
Drinks
Drinks can absolutely set the tone for a night, especially if you’re considering having a bit of a cocktail hour before the meal. You’ll want a couple of options but at least one option should be the ‘signature’ drink of the night. Not only does it show attention to detail, it’s a conversation starter and you’ll want as many of those as you can get. Consider making your signature drink non-alcoholic so that everyone can enjoy, and enjoy it in large quantities. This is also beneficial because, unlike mixed-drinks, they are better suited for being made in batches.
Halloween Margarita
This stunning margarita hits the mark on the moody colors, but also plays into seasonal flavors for an added effect. Take note of the glass it’s served in as well, to play even more into the Halloween themes.
Blood Orange Lemonade
Nothing says Halloween more than ‘blood’. Fret not, this lemonade uses the deep red fruit to put a spin on the traditional lemonade while using a more season-appropriate fruit. The name and color just add more of a special touch. This drink can be made in large batches and served up all night long!
Blackberry Thyme Prosecco Fizz
This smoke show not only tastes amazing but is a source of entertainment for your guests. The sweet and tangy cocktail with a herby finish is gorgeous and fits the theme so well.
Appetizers
Appetizers allow you to transition from a cocktail hour or allow guests to begin eating and conversing while you finish preparing your entrees or plating the meals. Consider having two or three appetizers so that you have a good variety but not so much that your guests fill up on appetizers only. You don’t want them to miss out on the main course!
Prosciutto Wrapped Figs
Not only do these prosciutto-wrapped figs serve as a well-balanced and easy-to-eat appetizer, but they also look like wrapped hearts. It’s a bit on the grotesque side but it’s a Halloween dinner party after all. You can also take a page from the author’s book and use these theme-appropriate skewers to add to the macabre effect.
Squid Ink Deviled Eggs
Squid ink is one of the best options when you’re trying to up that dark and moody tone for a meal. Usually, you see it used in squid-ink pasta. This lovely appetizer uses squid ink to put a chic spin on a classic. The optional salmon or trout roe not only provides a pop of on-theme color but deepens the flavor profile.
Black Hummus
Hummus already makes the perfect dinner appetizer, so what do we need to make it fit our macabre dinner party vibes? A little black tahini. Don’t let the look fool you, the tahini and cumin add a unique earthiness to the dinnertime favorite.
Salads
Like the appetizers, a salad course can really step up your hosting game. It shows your guests the amount of consideration you placed into planning out the course of the evening. While it is customary in American culture to have a salad before the entree, many places have it after the main course. I’d suggest considering your other elements and making the decision based on where you think it would fit best, both flavor-wise and practicality-wise.
Midnight Garden Salad
Have you ever seen anything more stunning? This gorgeous salad uses seasonal ingredients to create a stunning salad you’ll find almost too pretty to eat. But only almost! The salad balances sweet fruits and savory elements such as kale and pumpkin seeds for the perfect before, or after, meal transition.
Beet and Pomegranate Salad
If there were ever a salad to describe fall, I think it’s this one. The seasonal ingredients and the stunning colors combine to create a dish that could not be more perfectly suited for a Halloween dinner party.
Black Magic Salad
Packed full of fresh fruits and vegetables and dressed in a super tasty Salsa Cremosa dressing, this salad is sure to stun guests in both the looks and tastes department.
Entrees
The main course should feature at least one statement portion of the meal. You can compliment this with sides that match in flavor profile, and if you can, color scheme. If your sides have to be more on the traditional side, make sure your entree is a show-stopper. It doesn’t need to be stereotypically Halloween in ingredients but you do want either the flavors and/or the colors to scream “This is a Halloween Dinner Party!”
Beet and Ricotta Tortellini
This rich beet and ricotta tortellini not only nails it on looks, but it will have all your guests talking about your meal for days to come! The flavors are stand out but subtle enough to be paired with one of our striking side options to add some dimension to your meal.
Blackberry Balsamic Glazed Chicken
You can rarely go wrong with a chicken entree. This Blackberry balsamic glazed chicken puts a lovely twist on a familiar dish. The deep purple hue the glaze adds to the chicken not only adds a sweet and tangy flavor to the dish but makes it a perfectly moody color to compliment your other dishes.
Purple ‘Sheperdess’ Pie
Step up your cozy food game with this spin on a traditional Sheperd’s pie by substituting your typical potato with purple potatoes. This may not be your first choice for a party but it serves up well in crowds and if you’re hosting a more intimate event, it will make the ambiance feel more like a home-cooked meal.
Sides
Roasted Carrots
Roasted carrots are one of my favorite go-to side dishes because they are incredibly easy to make and always look stunning on the table. This recipe amps up the flavor profiles with some pistachio and goat cheese garnishes and the mixed color profiles add some lovely contrast while still landing in that Halloween color palette.
Butternut Squash with Goat Cheese
This recipe combines some of my absolute fall favorites. A gorgeous mix of butternut squash, goat cheese, and pomegranate creates a gorgeous and low-effort side dish that is guaranteed to stun. The red and orange hues play into the Halloween colors while the ingredients play right into those familiar fall flavors.
Sweet Potato Wild Rice Pilaf
This rice pilaf recipe will leave you tempted to make it the star of the show ( and you can if you want to). The wild rice adds a lovely dynamic aspect to the dish along with the vibrant sweet potatoes and cranberries to compliment. No matter what you serve it in, this dish will be a showstopper in your tablescape.
Desserts
Of course, dessert is a must when hosting. You want your guests to be enthralled from beginning to end. This is also where I’d suggest having more creative fun in terms of being kitschy or overboard with the theme. While it’s not necessary, and you can stick to the principles of matching the color scheme, this is where the ‘corniness’ will be best accepted.
Skull Galette
It had to be done, there’s no Halloween dinner party without at least one skull! Here are several, and even better, they’re edible and delicious. This galette balances a chocolate base with pears, raspberry, and red wine flavors. It’s just eery enough and looks like it took a lot more effort than it actually will.
Black Dessert Salad
Salad for dessert sounds like madness but in the Halloween spirit, follow me into the madness. This gorgeous mix uses dark and sweet fruits, coated in a sweet floral rose syrup to create a refreshing, and yes sweet, end-of-the-night treat. The colors alone are enough to want to add this to your menu but don’t forget the convenience. This lovely dish can be made ahead of time to give it time to marinate and give you time to host the best party of the year.
Elderberry Curd Tart
The dark fruits are a theme here, obviously. This stunning elderberry tart topped with gorgeous seasonal figs, blackberries, and more is unmatched. Leave your guests’ mouths agape with this show-stopper.
If these meal ideas don’t match up to the level of creepy you’re looking for for your Halloween dinner party, consider checking out these 15 unusual and spooky recipe ideas.
