Halloween is about more than just costumes, candy and spooky decorations. It’s also a great opportunity to bring some spooky food into the mix.

A simple cake and some spooky snacks will give your party a hauntingly delicious twist.

How to Smoke

A few ghoulish touches and your pellet or charcoal smoker can transform some of your favorite recipes into Halloween favorites. From meatball mummies to monster feet and even a skeleton cheese board, there are plenty of spooky and tasty dishes you can make this October to impress your guests and family members.

This smoked rack of ribs will definitely scare your guests! They’re super easy to prepare and require a hands-off cooking process. The recipe also includes instructions on how to prepare entrails, if desired, for an extra creepy presentation.

Another fun Halloween-inspired dish is this zombie burger. It’s an excellent meal option for kids, but adults will love it, too! This recipe is made with a variety of different toppings and condiments that can be customized to your liking. You can even shape the burgers into a ghost, monster, or carved pumpkin to match your party theme.

Recipe Ideas

Whether you’re hosting a Halloween party, celebrating with the family, or just looking for a fun new dish to add to your regular menu, we have some hair-raising recipes for you to try. From turning hot dogs into mummies, making meatballs look like eyeballs, and sculpting monster meatloaf, there are plenty of ways to make food spookily delicious this October 31.

Kids will love making ghoulish burgers with cheese teeth, olives on cocktail sticks for eyes, and a slice of ham for a tongue. You could also bake a classic sourdough French Fougasse in the shape of a ghost. Another easy option is to dress up classic deviled eggs. Then there’s a no-cook graveyard dip that combines the best of treats, with chocolate hummus and sliced fruit, pretzels, and cookies for dipping. Just spread the hummus in a shallow baking dish, then sprinkle with crushed sandwich cookies and berries for a creepy touch. This recipe is sure to make a scream with everyone at the table.

Eerie Food Presentation

Oftentimes food can be spooked up by simply presenting it in a different way. A few simple touches, such as black olives sliced to look like eyeballs, barbecue sauce used as blood, or a plastic spider strategically positioned on a plate can instantly transform an otherwise ordinary dish into one that will give your guests the chills.

From meatball mummies to cake pop brains, there are plenty of spooky dishes that can be made in your smoker. A burger platter cut to look like a skeleton or a zombie can be a great centerpiece for any Halloween gathering.

The spooky vibes can be carried over to drinks and desserts, as well. A classic margarita can be made eerie with the addition of a few drops of red food coloring, and cupcakes can be decorated to look like zombie brains. Even a charcuterie board can be spruced up for Halloween with a few meats shaped to look like bats or skeleton fingers, nestled next to the best cheeses for a spine-tingling appetizer.

Safety

In addition to decorating your grilling area to maintain a Halloween image, you also want to ensure that you’re cooking your smoked meats safely. You’ll want to avoid contaminating any food items, which can be easily done by storing your meats properly when you finish smoking them.

The best way to do this is by flash-freezing your meats, which is a simple process that reduces the amount of time your meat spends at room temperature (and in the microbial danger zone). To flash-freeze meat, simply place it into a resealable plastic bag, remove as much air as possible before sealing it, and then submerge it in a bowl of heavily iced water.

When you’re ready to grill, simply thaw your meats in the fridge or freezer (fridge for a day or two, and freezer if you’ll be waiting longer). Enjoy! And, if you’re looking for an excellent gas grill to use this year, check out our review of the Muscle Grill 36-inch 5-Burner Freestanding Grill.

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