Halloween Catering in NYC: Seasonal Meets Sophisticated

Halloween in New York City isn’t just for trick-or-treaters. From candlelit rooftop gatherings to black-tie costume galas and creative agency cocktail hours, October has become one of the most atmospheric and sought-after months for events. At Susan’s Kitchen Catering and Events, we bring a chef-driven approach to Halloween catering that’s as thoughtful as it is seasonal—no plastic spiders or glow-in-the-dark frosting in sight.

Our Halloween catering menus blend fall ingredients with rich textures, bold flavors, and just the right amount of drama. Think roasted figs with balsamic reduction, deep burgundy sauces, smoked elements, and dark leafy greens. Every dish is crafted to suit the tone of your event—whether you’re going for hauntingly elegant, harvest-inspired, or subtly thematic.

We cater to hosts who are looking to do more than just fill a buffet table. Our clients want food that looks beautiful, tastes seasonal, and enhances the visual and emotional mood of the evening. That’s why we treat Halloween as an extension of fall—one that allows for a little more creativity, a little more flair, and a slightly moodier palette. For a broader look at how we evolve menus across the calendar, visit our seasonal catering menus page for insights into our process.

Moving Beyond Gimmicks: What Halloween Menus Can Be

It’s easy to lean on novelty when planning a Halloween party—but at Susan’s Kitchen, we prefer to elevate rather than exaggerate. That doesn’t mean we ignore the occasion. Instead, we interpret it through color, texture, plating, and ingredient choices that create mood without sacrificing sophistication.

We’ve served dramatic grazing tables under low lighting, plated dinners with rich sauces and smoky finishes, and passed bites on black slate with garnishes that evoke autumn forests more than haunted houses. Our menus might nod to the theatrical, but they never compromise on culinary integrity.

We also understand that not every event needs to scream “Halloween.” Some of our best October events have drawn from the broader palette of autumn itself. You can see more of that approach in our fall catering menu, which focuses on flavor-forward dishes rooted in the season’s best ingredients without relying on overt holiday themes.

In the next section, we’ll share a sample Halloween-inspired catering menu and explore the types of events we most often serve this time of year—from intimate dinners to large-scale parties and everything in between.

Cold Appetizers ($44.00 per dozen)

Monster Eyes! Deviled Eggs – Traditional with fresh herbs
Assorted mini–focaccia sandwiches: Witch Diamonds
Celery and carrot sticks with peanut butter & ranch dressing
Cubed cheddar cheese with crackers
Salami and cheese skewers
Olive puffs with green olives

Hot Appetizers ($44.00 per dozen)

Bloody Fingers – Chicken strips with marinara dipping sauce
BBQ Bat Wings – Chicken wings served with ranch dressing
Haunted Dogs – Pastry-wrapped franks
Mini meatball skewers with masala sauce
Mac and cheese pops
Black bean roll-ups with sour cream and salsa
Gourmet mini burgers with tomato, blue cheese, and Thousand Island dressing, topped with a cocktail pickle
Mini quiche – vegetarian or Lorraine
Traditional deviled eggs
Mini burgers with full fixings: lettuce, tomato, pickles, cheeses, sauces
BBQ pork mini sandwiches
Bacon-wrapped water chestnut rolls

Halloween Platters

7 Layer Dip – $9.95 per person
Trio of Spreads (hummus, spinach dip, roasted red pepper hummus) – $6.95 per person
Tortilla chips with salsa – $7.95 per person
Chopped fruit bowl – $4.95 per person
Carrot and celery sticks with ranch or blue cheese – $5.95 per person

Sweets

Gourmet Halloween sugar cookies – $4.50 per person
Mini Halloween cupcakes – $5.50 per person
Pumpkin pie (10 inches) – $38.00
Sugar-spiced almonds – $9.95 per person
Dirt with worms – $6.95 per person
Apple dip with spooky crisps – $5.95 per person
Honey chip granola bars – $6.95 per person
Three-in-one popcorn crunch with peanuts, popcorn, and candy corn – $4.95 per person

Beverages ($6.95 per person)

Black Halloween Punch
Spooky Citrus Punch

Hot Boof-fet ($38.95 per person)

Rosemary plum roast pork
Chicken medallions with capers, mushrooms, and chardonnay reduction
Russian beef stroganoff with wild mushrooms
Green beans with basil
Scaredy rice with black beans and diced carrots
Ginger squash soup
Sweet potato casserole with mushrooms
Cornbread muffins
Crunchy apple salad with raisins, celery, and walnuts
Includes your choice of one sweet from the dessert list

Events We Cater During Halloween

October is one of our most diverse catering months, and our menus flex depending on the style and energy of each event. We regularly serve:

• Private Halloween dinners in lofts, brownstones, and townhouses
• Corporate gatherings and team-building events with a seasonal edge
• Gallery openings and retail activations during Halloween week
• Autumn weddings that fall near the holiday weekend

Halloween catering doesn’t have to be all costumes and candy. Some of our most successful events have blended subtle theme elements with autumn-forward menus like those seen in our winter catering menus, where mood and elegance take center stage.

If you prefer more playful touches, our holiday catering menus offer plenty of room to explore visual accents and creative presentation ideas that still keep the food elevated.

And for events that lean toward outdoor dining or a more relaxed format, we can adapt our Halloween menu with influence from our summer catering concepts, introducing smoke, fire-roasted produce, and bold sauces to balance formality with flavor.

Some events this season also incorporate floral styling, color stories, or interactive stations. We often reference the lighter structure of our spring catering menus to provide pacing for guests in standing receptions or passed small-bite formats.

Booking a Halloween Event with Susan’s Kitchen

Halloween events in NYC tend to fill fast, especially when they overlap with fall weddings or end-of-quarter corporate activations. We recommend reaching out 4–6 weeks in advance to secure your preferred date, especially if your event includes custom styling, on-site service, or equipment rentals.

Our team handles every element—from seasonal menu design to service coordination and day-of logistics. Whether your vision is dramatic and theatrical or subtle and seasonal, we’ll bring it to life through food that guests remember long after the last bite.