14 Buffet Ideas for Hosting a Large Halloween Gathering

Witch’s Cauldron Mac and Cheese

Mac and cheese is a comforting, beloved dish, but for Halloween, you can elevate it into a spooky “witch’s cauldron.” This hearty dish adds a fun touch to your buffet while offering a creamy, cheesy flavor everyone will love. You can prepare the mac and cheese in a large, black pot to resemble a cauldron, and use green food coloring or spinach to make it look even more eerie. With the addition of crispy breadcrumbs on top, it will feel like you’re serving up a magical concoction fit for a witch.

Recipe:

• 1 lb elbow macaroni

• 4 cups shredded cheddar cheese

• 2 cups milk

• 2 tbsp butter

• 2 tbsp flour

• 1/2 tsp garlic powder

• 1/2 tsp onion powder

• 1/4 cup breadcrumbs

• Green food coloring (optional)

Cook the macaroni according to package instructions and set aside. In a large saucepan, melt butter over medium heat and whisk in the flour. Gradually add the milk, stirring constantly, until the sauce thickens. Stir in the shredded cheese, garlic powder, and onion powder, then season with salt and pepper. Add green food coloring if you want to make the “cauldron” look even spookier. Mix in the cooked pasta and pour everything into a large black pot or cauldron. Top with breadcrumbs and bake at 350°F (175°C) for 10 minutes until golden and bubbly.

Zombie Finger Cookies

Zombie finger cookies are a spooky yet delicious treat to serve at your Halloween party. These cookies are shaped like fingers and made even creepier with “nails” made of almonds and a bloody effect with jam or red icing. The simple sugar cookie dough serves as the perfect base, and with a few additional ingredients, these cookies will steal the show. These spooky treats are fun to decorate and are perfect for guests to snack on during the party.

Recipe:

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter

• 1/2 cup powdered sugar

• 1 egg

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

• 1/4 tsp almond extract

• 1/2 cup sliced almonds (for nails)

• Red jam or red icing

Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Cream the butter and powdered sugar together in a mixing bowl, then beat in the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract. Gradually mix in the flour until a dough forms. Roll the dough into finger shapes and use a knife to create “knuckles.” Place a sliced almond at the end of each cookie to resemble a fingernail. Bake for 10-12 minutes, until golden brown. Once cooled, add a small amount of red jam or red icing to the tips to create a bloody effect.

Bat Wings (Buffalo Chicken Wings)

Buffalo chicken wings are always a popular snack, and with a Halloween twist, they become “bat wings.” The dark sauce, whether it’s buffalo or barbecue, gives the wings an eerie, dark look that fits the Halloween theme perfectly. Serve these wings with a side of “blood-red” ranch or blue cheese dressing for dipping, and your guests will love both the flavor and the spooky presentation. They’re an easy and satisfying dish that pairs well with a variety of Halloween-themed sides.

Recipe:

• 12 chicken wings

• 1/4 cup buffalo sauce

• 1/4 cup barbecue sauce

• 1/2 cup ranch or blue cheese dressing

Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Arrange the chicken wings on a baking sheet and bake for 25-30 minutes, flipping halfway through. In a small bowl, mix the buffalo and barbecue sauces. Once the wings are baked, toss them in the sauce mixture and return them to the oven for an additional 5 minutes. Serve with a side of ranch or blue cheese dressing for dipping.

Pumpkin Shaped Cheese Ball

A cheese ball shaped like a pumpkin is a fun and festive snack for your Halloween buffet. By mixing cream cheese, shredded cheddar, and herbs, you create a creamy and flavorful base. The pumpkin shape is easy to achieve by molding the cheese mixture and then adding a pretzel stick for the “stem.” This is a simple yet visually striking dish that’s perfect for snacking.

Recipe:

• 8 oz cream cheese

• 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

• 1/2 cup chopped green onions

• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce

• 1/4 cup chopped nuts (optional)

• Pretzel stick for the stem

In a bowl, combine cream cheese, cheddar cheese, green onions, and Worcestershire sauce. Mix until smooth and well-combined. Mold the cheese mixture into a pumpkin shape and cover with chopped nuts if desired. Place a pretzel stick in the top to create a stem, and serve with crackers or sliced vegetables for dipping.

Small Meatball Mice

These small meatball mice add a spooky yet savory twist to your Halloween buffet. These bite-sized meatballs are shaped to resemble little mice, complete with a mozzarella “nose” and “ears” made from small cheese slices. Perfect for an appetizer, they are easy for guests to grab and go, and they add a whimsical element to your spread. The meatballs can be made in advance, and the cheese and olive details make them look both cute and creepy.

Recipe:

• 1 lb ground beef

• 1/4 cup breadcrumbs

• 1 egg

• 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese

• 1/2 tsp garlic powder

• 1/4 cup shredded mozzarella

• 12 black olives (for eyes and nose)

• 12 small cheese slices (for ears)

Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). In a mixing bowl, combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, egg, Parmesan cheese, and garlic powder. Roll the mixture into small balls, about 1 inch in diameter. Place the meatballs on a baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes. Once baked, place a small mozzarella ball on each meatball for the nose and use olive slices for the eyes and cheese slices for the ears. Serve immediately, and enjoy these spooky little mice!

Spider Deviled Eggs

Deviled eggs are a Halloween classic, but you can make them even more fun by turning them into spooky spider faces. Using black olives, you can create the “spider” body and legs, while the deviled egg filling remains creamy and savory. These creepy spiders are sure to delight your guests and are easy to prepare in advance.

Recipe:

• 6 hard-boiled eggs

• 3 tbsp mayonnaise

• 1 tsp Dijon mustard

• Salt and pepper to taste

• 6 black olives

Peel the hard-boiled eggs and cut them in half. Remove the yolks and mash them with mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper until smooth. Spoon the mixture back into the egg whites and use black olives to create the spider’s body and legs. Slice the olives into smaller pieces for the legs and place them around the egg halves, while the whole olives form the body. Arrange on a platter and serve!

Tomato Juice with Olives

Tomato juice is a simple yet flavorful beverage, and with the addition of olives, it becomes a Halloween treat. This “bloody” drink is easy to make in large batches and can be served chilled or over ice. The olives add a salty kick that balances the sweetness of the tomato juice, and the drink’s red color ties perfectly into the Halloween theme.

Recipe:

• 4 cups tomato juice

• 1/4 cup lemon juice

• 1/4 tsp hot sauce

• 1/4 cup green or black olives

• Salt and pepper to taste

In a pitcher, combine tomato juice, lemon juice, and hot sauce. Stir to combine and season with salt and pepper to taste. Add the olives and mix gently. Serve chilled in glasses or as a punch in a large bowl. For an extra spooky effect, garnish with a slice of lemon or additional olives floating on top.

Cheese Ghost Pizza

Pizza is always a hit at any gathering, and for Halloween, you can turn it into a spooky treat. By cutting mozzarella cheese into ghost shapes, you can easily transform a simple pizza into a Halloween masterpiece. The ghost-shaped cheese melts perfectly on top of a tomato sauce base, creating a fun and festive dish for your buffet.

Recipe:

• 1 pizza dough (store-bought or homemade)

• 1 cup pizza sauce

• 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

• 2-3 olives (for eyes)

Preheat the oven to 450°F (230°C). Roll out the pizza dough onto a baking sheet and spread pizza sauce evenly across the surface. Sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese over the sauce. Use a ghost-shaped cookie cutter to cut cheese slices and place them on the pizza, leaving space for the olives. Bake the pizza for 10-12 minutes, or until the crust is golden and the cheese has melted. Once baked, place two olive slices on each ghost to create eyes.

Jack-O’-Lanterns Filled with Green Salad and Cheese

These mini jack-o’-lanterns are a fun way to serve a fresh, healthy salad at your Halloween gathering. You can carve small pumpkins into jack-o’-lanterns and fill them with a mix of greens, shredded cheese, and a light vinaigrette. These bite-sized salad bowls make the perfect individual servings and will add a festive touch to your buffet table.

Recipe:

• 4 small pumpkins (for bowls)

• 4 cups mixed greens

• 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

• 1/4 cup balsamic vinaigrette

• Salt and pepper to taste

Carefully carve the top off each small pumpkin and scoop out the seeds to create a hollow bowl. In a bowl, toss the mixed greens with shredded cheddar cheese and balsamic vinaigrette. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Fill each pumpkin with the salad mixture and serve as individual salad bowls. These mini jack-o’-lanterns are a unique and creative addition to your Halloween buffet.

This article originally appeared on Avocadu.