Introduction
Are you ready for a Halloween dinner that’s not only incredibly fun and festive but also ridiculously delicious and super easy to make? Get ready to meet your new favorite spooky season tradition: Ghost Mini Taco Pies! Imagine a crispy, cheesy taco filling nestled inside adorable, flaky pastry “ghosts,” all baked to golden perfection. These little savory pies are bursting with all your favorite taco flavors, but in a cute, individual package that kids (and adults!) will absolutely adore. They’re the perfect balance of playful creativity, comforting flavors, and busy weeknight ease, making Halloween dinners for family a breeze!
These Ghost Mini Taco Pies are fantastic on their own as a fun family dinner, a spooky lunch idea, or even as part of a Halloween cheese tray or party spread. Their individual nature makes them perfect ghost party food ideas. You can serve them with all your favorite taco toppings on the side, like salsa, guacamole, sour cream, or extra shredded lettuce for a fresh crunch. They’re a complete meal in a cute, hand-held package!
Full Recipe: Ghost Mini Taco Pies
Let’s whip up some spooky deliciousness!
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 lb ground beef or ground turkey
- 1 packet taco seasoning (or 2 tbsp homemade taco seasoning)
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 (15-ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 cup frozen corn
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, plus extra for decorating
- 2 sheets refrigerated pie crusts (or puff pastry for flakier Ghost Hand Pies)
- 1 egg, beaten (for egg wash)
- Optional: small black olive slices or edible googly eyes for ghost faces
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Lightly grease a muffin tin.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef or turkey and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned. Drain any excess fat.
- Stir in the taco seasoning and water. Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat and cook for 3-5 minutes until the liquid has mostly absorbed.
- Remove the skillet from the heat and stir in the rinsed black beans, frozen corn, and 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese. Mix well.
- Unroll the pie crusts onto a lightly floured surface. Using a 3-4 inch round cookie cutter (or the rim of a glass), cut out circles. You should get about 6-8 circles per sheet.
- Gently press half of the pie crust circles into the prepared muffin tin cups, forming a cup.
- Spoon the taco meat filling into each pie crust cup, filling them generously.
- For the “ghosts,” use the remaining pie crust circles. With a small knife or a smaller ghost-shaped cookie cutter, cut out ghost shapes. You can also just cut rough ghost outlines freehand!
- Place a ghost pastry on top of each filled pie. Crimp the edges of the bottom crust and the ghost top together slightly to seal, or just press the ghost gently onto the filling.
- Brush the tops of the ghost pies with the beaten egg wash.
- Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until the pastry is golden brown and the filling is bubbly.
- Once out of the oven, immediately place small black olive slices or edible googly eyes onto the “ghosts” to create faces (the heat will help them stick). You can also add a tiny piece of extra shredded cheese as a ghostly mouth!
- Let cool for a few minutes before carefully removing from the muffin tin and serving.
- Prep time: 20 minutes
- Cook time: 15 minutes
- Total time: 35 minutes
- Servings: 12 mini pies
- Calories (per mini pie, estimated): Approximately 250-300 kcal (varies with meat choice)
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Super Fun & Festive: These adorable ghost hand pies are a fantastic way to celebrate Halloween and make dinner exciting!
- Kid-Friendly Meal: A perfect example of fun family dinner ideas kids will actually want to eat. They’ll love helping to make the ghost shapes!
- Quick & Easy: Using pre-made pie crusts and seasoned ground meat makes this a breeze for busy weeknights.
- Customizable Flavors: Easily adapt the filling to your family’s preferences (spicier, more veggies, different cheese).
- Individual Portions: Great for parties or easy serving, each person gets their own spooky little taco pie.
These Ghost Mini Taco Pies are a playful take on classic savory hand pies, a concept that exists in various forms across many cultures. Think empanadas or Cornish pasties! The idea of encasing a flavorful filling in a portable pastry shell is universally appealing, and here, we’re giving it a distinctly American, taco-inspired Halloween twist. It’s all about making food fun and accessible!
Serving Suggestions
- Serve with bowls of your favorite taco toppings: salsa, guacamole, sour cream, shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, or pickled jalapeños.
- Pair with a side of Mexican rice or a simple black bean and corn salad.
- Offer a fun “Halloween Taco” bar where everyone can customize their ghostly creation!
- These also make fantastic spooky lunch ideas for school lunchboxes (if packed carefully).
Pro Tips for Success
- Don’t Overfill: Be careful not to overfill the pie crust cups, or the filling might bubble out during baking.
- Chill Pastry: If your pie crust gets too warm and sticky while you’re working with it, pop it back in the fridge for 10-15 minutes to firm up.
- Ghost Shapes: For easy ghost shapes, you can find small ghost cookie cutters online or at craft stores around Halloween. If free-handing, remember: imperfect ghosts are the cutest!
- Egg Wash for Shine: The egg wash isn’t just for golden color; it also helps the ghost decorations stick better.
Storage & Reheating
- Storage: Leftover Ghost Mini Taco Pies can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Reheating: Reheat in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for about 10-15 minutes, or until warmed through and the crust is crispy again. You can also microwave them, but the crust won’t be as crisp.
- Freezing: These ghost hand pies freeze well! Once baked and cooled, flash freeze them on a baking sheet until solid, then transfer to a freezer-safe bag or container for up to 2 months. Reheat from frozen in the oven.
Closing Paragraph
I hope these Ghost Mini Taco Pies bring some extra joy and spooktacular fun to your Halloween season! They’re such a delightful way to make mealtime an adventure, and they’re so versatile you’ll find yourself making them long after the pumpkins are put away. Get creative with your ghost faces and your fillings, and make them truly your own!
If you whip up these fun family dinner ideas, please share your creations! I’d love to see your ghostly masterpieces. Leave a comment and a rating below!
🎀 Final Thoughts
Honestly, these little ghosties just make me smile! There’s something so wonderfully charming about food that’s both delicious and playful. These Ghost Mini Taco Pies are the perfect recipe for creating special memories with your family in the kitchen. Happy haunting and happy eating!