6 Easy Halloween Dinner Ideas for Kids

Now that the Fourth of July festivities and National Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations are over, it’s almost the spookiest time of the year. Halloween is right around the corner! But the frightening festivities aren’t complete without tales of terror and tasty treats. What’s more, your little ones need enough energy before they go hunting for sweets. 

Looking for meals to prepare for the haunted holiday? Bewitch your guests with our fun Halloween dinner ideas for kids.

Pumpkin Deviled Eggs

Start your Halloween feast right with delicious pumpkin deviled eggs! With just one bite, your kids will fall under your spell.

Here’s what you’ll need:

• 12 large eggs
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 1/2 lemon juice
• 1 1/2 teaspoon mustard
• Kosher salt
• Black pepper, freshly ground
• 2 tablespoons paprika
• 4 chives, chopped into smaller bits

Instructions:

1. In a saucepan, line the eggs in a single layer. Add 2 inches of water to the pan and bring to a boil. 
2. Set to low heat and cook the eggs for one minute. 
3. Once cooked, remove the eggs and let sit for about 15 minutes. Rinse in cold water as you gently crack and remove the shell.
4. Cut the eggs into half lengthwise. Scoop the yolks out using a spoon and place them into a small bowl. Transfer the whites to a serving platter.
5. Mash the yolks in the bowl with a fork. Add lemon juice, mayonnaise, and mustard then season with salt and pepper.
6. Take a spoonful of the yolk mixture and spread evenly on the egg whites. Sprinkle the top of the egg yolks with paprika.
7. Draw ridges down the yolk using a paring knife to make the eggs look like a pumpkin.
8. Add some chives on top to make your eggs look like a pumpkin with a stem, and you’re good to go!

Frankenstein Monster Wraps

Halloween festivities can get pretty busy, so why not prepare a portable meal that your kids can eat anywhere? Prepare a delightful monster wrap so your little ones can enjoy a quick, lightweight dinner while trick-or-treating. 

All you need are these ingredients:

• Large spinach wraps
• Your choice of sandwich filling
• For the hair and mouth: Cheddar cheese slices, nori sheets
• For the eyes: cheese spread, sliced olives
• For the bolts: whole cornichon pickles
• For the nose and eyebrows: sliced cornichon pickles

Instructions:

1. Fill each spinach wrap with a generous amount of your kid’s favorite filling and roll like a burrito.
2. Cut the nori and cheese slices in half and shape them into triangles to form the “hair.” Then, create the “mouth” by slicing the remaining cheese and nori into longer strips.
3. Cut small cornichon pickles into half-lengthwise slices for the “eyebrows” and use thinner slices to make the “nose.”
4. Stuff the sliced olives with cheese spread to make the “eyes.”
5. Finish it off and attach two cornichon pickles or olives to the sides of each wrap for Frankenstein’s “bolts!”

Jack-O-Lantern Stuffed Bell Peppers

Are pumpkins too big for your kids to design and carve? Maybe you could encourage them to cut bell peppers instead. Simply stuff these peppers with a savory filling for a terrifyingly tasty dish!

Prepare these ingredients:

• 4 orange bell peppers
• Extra-virgin olive oil
• Salt and pepper
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 teaspoons chili powder
• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 cup white rice, cooked
• 1 cup chicken broth, divided (1/2 cup each)
• 1 can (15 ounces) fire-roasted tomatoes
• 1 cup Monterey Jack, shredded and divided (3/4 cup and 1/4 cup each)

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Chop off the top of each bell pepper and set aside. Remove the core and seeds.
3. Grab a paring knife and carve a Jack O’Lantern face into each pepper. Lightly drizzle the peppers with oil and season with salt and pepper.
4. In a large baking dish, place the pepper tops upright and set aside.
5. In a non-stick pan, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the onions until cooked, then add garlic and cook for another minute. 
6. Add the ground beef and wait until properly cooked. Season with salt, pepper, and chili powder. Make sure to break the meat with a wooden spoon so it’s cooked properly.
7. Mix in the tomatoes, cooked rice, 1/2 cup chicken broth, and 3/4 cup cheese. Stir until the ingredients are thoroughly combined.
8. Take the baking dish from earlier and stuff each pepper with the rice and beef mixture. Top with the remaining 1/4 cup of cheese.
9. Place it in the oven and bake for 30 minutes. Remove the foil and cook for another 10 to 15 minutes.
10. Once the cheese has melted and the meat is tender, the Jack O’Peppers are ready to serve!

Eyeball Spaghetti

Turn a classic pasta dish into a spooktacular evening meal with this Halloween-themed eyeball pasta recipe! It’s a scrumptious dish that will leave everyone hungry for more.

For this monstrous meal, you’ll need the following ingredients:

• 1 pound spaghetti
• 1 1/2 cup marinara, warmed
• 1 pound ground beef
• 1/2 medium onion, finely chopped
• 1/4 cup, Panko bread crumbs
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
• 1 large egg, beaten
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Ciliegine, cut into rounds
• Black olives, cut into rounds crosswise

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Place parchment paper on top of a large-rimmed baking sheet.
3. In a large bowl, combine beef, garlic, onion, Panko, parsley, and egg. Season with salt and pepper. Stir the ingredients until thoroughly combined.
4. Shape the meat into balls and place on the baking sheet. Bake the meatballs for around 13 minutes.
5. Add some cheese and black olives on top of the meat to make the “eyeballs.”
6. Return to the oven and bake for another two minutes. Set aside.
7. Cook the spaghetti according to the package instructions. Once finished, strain the noodles to remove the excess water then place on a serving platter.
8. Pour marinara sauce over the pasta and top it off with the “eyeballs.”

Spooky Pizza

Celebrate with some pizza this Halloween! Enjoy a ghoulishly great dinner with spooky pizza.

Here are the things you’ll need:

• 1 pound pizza dough (left at room temperature for one hour)
• 1/2 cup marinara or pizza sauce
• Large pitted olives
• Olive oil
• Slices of mozzarella or provolone

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Lightly brush the large baking sheet with olive oil.
2. On a lightly floured surface, shape your dough into a large oval. Place the dough on the baking sheet, and spread the pizza sauce on top. Make sure to leave a half-inch border around the dough.
3. Bake for around 15 minutes or until the edges are puffy and golden brown.
4. While waiting, chop the olives in half and set aside. Slice the remaining olive halves further into eight parts. Set these aside to make “spider legs.”
5. Meanwhile, cut your cheese into the shape of a ghost, and add a couple of uncut olive halves on top to form their “eyes.”
6. To make the spider, grab an olive half then place the small olive halves that you cut earlier into eight smaller parts around it to form the “legs.”
7. Once your pizza base is properly baked, start decorating! Evenly spread the cheese ghost slices and olive spiders on top. 
8. Bring the pizza back to the oven and bake for 30 to 60 seconds. Once the cheese has melted, serve and enjoy!

Banana Mummies

No Halloween party is complete without a treat! End your festivities on a sweet note with healthy and tasty banana mummies.

To make this dessert, here’s what you’ll need:

• 4 bananas
• 1 pound and 4 ounces white chocolate, separated
• 16 pieces mini m&ms
• 4 ounces milk chocolate chips (optional)
• 8 lollipop sticks

Instructions:

1. Place a sheet of parchment paper on top of a large baking sheet. Skewer some bananas and freeze for at least two hours.
2. Over low heat, melt a pound of white chocolate on a saucepan. Dip the skewered bananas one by one into the mixture until they’re fully coated.
3. To form the “eyes” for the mummy, add two mini M&Ms candies on top of the coated bananas.
4. Melt the remaining four ounces of white chocolate. Pour it inside a small piping bag with a small, rounded nozzle to separate.
5. Use the nozzle to form white chocolate zig zags around the bananas to give the appearance of a mummy’s “bandages.”
6. Once done, keep chilled and serve!

Treat Your Kids to a Fang-Tastic Halloween Feast

Halloween isn’t just about trick or treating. This year’s spookfest isn’t complete without delicious meals to keep your kids energized. With our Halloween party food ideas for kids, you can whip up a fantastic dinner that will set your little ones in the right mood for the night’s festivities.

Need more ideas for holiday treats and projects? Check out the Rayito de Sol blog.