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Halloween might be all about costumes and candy, but at some point, everyone should eat something besides sweets. After all, you need to be properly fueled for all that trick-or-treating! And let's be honest, nothing is scarier than a bunch of hungry ghouls and goblins. That's where these Halloween pasta ideas come in. They will be sure to fill everyone up and comfort them on a potentially chilly night. Plus, they won't be zombies the next day after the sugar crash.
Among the many Halloween dinner ideas here, you'll find a lot of fall pasta recipes you can make throughout the month of October. If you think about it, savory pumpkin recipes and butternut squash recipes are not only seasonally appropriate in terms of flavor but they are naturally orange for the holiday, too. Even an adults-only, more sophisticated fall dinner like pumpkin ravioli just feels right whether you're in costume or not.
Of course, if your little monsters are all about the on-theme Halloween foods, you'll find those, too. You can easily dye spaghetti with food coloring, for example, which doubles as an interactive Halloween activity or turn mozzarella balls into eyeballs. Whether you're headed to a Halloween potluck or just feeding the kids before you head out for a party, these Halloween pastas will be so scary easy to throw together. No one will haunt you for being hungry, that's for sure!
Halloween Spaghetti
Turn your traditional spaghetti with marinara sauce into a spooky supper with mozzarella eyeballs! You just poke a hole in each, add a few drops of olive oil and a black olive piece for the pupil.
Dyed Halloween Pasta
Here's a fun way to make your own Halloween pasta. All you have to do is boil spaghetti, place it in zip-top plastic bags filled with food coloring, and let the magic happen!
Squid Ink Pasta
If you're looking to naturally dye your pasta, try squid ink! It's the sophisticated twist that would taste amazing with some sautéed shrimp and some red pepper flakes.
Pumpkin Mac and Cheese
You can't go wrong with mac and cheese any night of the year, but adding creamy pumpkin really does make it extra special. Sprinkle garlic butter breadcrumbs and crispy sage leaves on top.
Get the Pumpkin Mac and Cheese recipe.
Goulash
Maybe you should rename this ghoul-ash for just one night only! Either way, your little goblins will love this warm, beefy, cheesy dish on a chilly October night.
Get the Goulash recipe.
Creamy One-Pot Sausage Gnocchi
Making a one-pot meal and having less dishes to do is anything but scary. And the result is creamy and comforting with just a little bit of a kick from hot Italian sausage.
Butternut Squash Lasagna
Lasagna and chillier weather just go together! But if you're celebrating a big fall holiday, make it extra special by adding butternut squash and hearty Italian sausage.
Get the Butternut Squash Lasagna recipe.
Chili Mac and Cheese
Win everyone over by combining two comfort good classics in one dish: chili and mac and cheese! It'll fill everyone up to give them enough energy to collect candy. Plus, it's done in just 30 minutes.
Get Ree's Chili Mac and Cheese recipe.
Pumpkin Penne alla Vodka
Classic Italian meets everyone's favorite fall flavor! Pumpkin not only adds color and a subtle sweetness to the dish but makes it extra creamy, too. You can use canned or fresh puree.
Get Ree's Pumpkin Penne alla Vodka recipe.
Pasta with Shrimp and Pistachio Pesto
Not everything has to be orange come Halloween. Pesto can make pasta ghoulishly green. Plus, it's so flavorful! You can pair it with shrimp, chicken, or keep it vegetarian.
Get Ree's Pasta with Shrimp and Pistachio Pesto recipe.
Creamy Butternut Squash Pasta
Not only doesn't this pasta get a boost from flavorful butternut squash, but from bacon, walnuts, and parmesan cheese, too. Save time by looking for pre-cut squash at the grocery store.
Get the Creamy Butternut Squash Pasta recipe.
Pumpkin Ravioli
If you're looking for something a little more elegant, pumpkin ravioli is the way to go. But don't worry, they're ready in just 20 minutes because they're made with wonton wrappers.
Get Ree's Pumpkin Ravioli recipe.
Slow Cooker Chicken Alfredo
Another color to try? Ghostly white! Of course, there's nothing frightening about creamy alfredo sauce or the fact that your slow cooker does all the work for you.
Get Ree's Slow Cooker Chicken Alfredo recipe.
Pumpkin Lasagna Roll-Ups
Want to trick them with a treat? These roll-ups taste like just like fall and are a fun twist to traditional lasagna. The pinch of nutmeg and fresh sage will really delight your tastebuds.
Get Ree's Pumpkin Lasagna Roll-Ups recipe.
Homemade Hamburger Helper
If you loved the boxed kind as a kid, just wait until you try it made from scratch! It yields a richer, more flavorful dinner with only a few more minutes of effort.
Get the Homemade Hamburger Helper recipe.
Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese
Add a little bit more orange, a lot more flavor, and some added vitamins and minerals to your skillet mac with butternut squash. And don't forget a hearty dose of crispy breadcrumbs on top.
Get Ree's Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese recipe.
Pumpkin Bacon Carbonara
This comforting, creamy pasta dish comes together really fast thanks to staple ingredients: eggs, bacon, cheese, pasta, and canned pumpkin. Have it ready in just a half hour!
Get the Pumpkin Bacon Carbonara recipe.
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