Name: Spooky Ghost Halloween Pizza Recipe
Prep time: 1 h 30 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 1 h 45 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: Store-bought pizza dough, Pillsbury pizza crust, or homemade dough; Pizza sauce; Shredded mozzarella cheese; Sliced mozzarella cheese (thicker slices for 3D ghosts, thinner for flatter ones); Black olives (for eyes and mouths); Pepperoni slices (optional); 2 ¼ tsp active dry yeast; 1 ½ cups warm water; 4 cups all-purpose flour; 2 tbsp olive oil; 1 tsp salt; 1 tsp sugar

Jump to Recipe· 4.8 from 50 reviews

Hey there! If you’re looking to add a little spooky fun to your dinner table this Halloween, you’re going to love this Spooky Ghost Halloween Pizza Recipe. It’s a delightful mix of delicious homemade (or store-bought) pizza dough, melty mozzarella ghosts, and those tiny black olive eyes that just bring the pizza to life. If you’ve ever wanted to turn dinner into a festive event the whole family will adore, stick around. This recipe is fan-freaking-tastic, super simple, and perfect for busy moms who want a little Halloween magic without fuss.

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Why This Recipe Works

Easy & Fast: Using store-bought dough or Pillsbury crust means you can whip up this spooky pizza in under 30 minutes.
Fun & Festive: The mozzarella ghosts and olive faces turn a regular pizza night into a Halloween party on a plate.
Adaptable: Whether you go homemade or grab a crust, this recipe lets you decide how much time and effort you want to put in.
Kid-Friendly: My kids love helping cut the cheese ghosts and decorating — it’s a simple way to get them excited about dinner.

A round pizza with a thick golden crust on a white plate, placed on a wooden board over a white marbled surface, topped with melted golden cheese and red tomato sauce beneath. There are nine white ghost-shaped cheese figures spaced evenly on the pizza, each with black olive pieces for eyes and mouths, giving them playful facial expressions. The background shows small orange pumpkins and some containers near a window, adding a cozy, autumn feel. The photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

This Spooky Ghost Halloween Pizza Recipe works because the ingredients are simple and straightforward, but they play off one another beautifully. Fresh mozzarella makes the stars of the show — the ghosts — look creamy and melt perfectly, while black olives add that striking contrast for eyes and mouths. Whether you’re using store-bought dough or making your own, the crust serves as the perfect canvas for all the spooky toppings.

Pizza dough: Store-bought for convenience, or homemade if you want that fresh-from-scratch vibe.
Pizza sauce: Classic tomato sauce provides the perfect tangy base to balance the cheese.
Shredded mozzarella cheese: This melts evenly to give you that gooey cheesy layer below the ghosts.
Sliced mozzarella cheese: Thicker slices create adorable 3D ghost shapes; thinner slices keep them flatter and delicate.
Black olives: These make the best spooky eyes and mouths — just slice them small and let the creativity flow.
Pepperoni slices (optional): If you or your family like a little meat, these add a savory burst without stealing the spotlight.
Active dry yeast (homemade dough): Essential for that perfectly risen crust if you decide to go homemade.
All-purpose flour (homemade dough): Provides structure and chewiness to your dough.
Olive oil (homemade dough): Adds moisture and helps the crust crisp beautifully.
Salt and sugar (homemade dough): Balance flavor and help activate the yeast.

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Note: You’ll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Tweak to Your Taste

I’m all about making recipes my own, and with this Spooky Ghost Halloween Pizza Recipe, you can easily switch things up. Sometimes, I swap out the olives for tiny pieces of roasted red pepper to make red-eyed ghosts, or I add some thin basil leaves for color. If you prefer a meatier pizza, pepperoni or even sausage works great. Feel free to experiment — the ghosts are the star, but you get to play with the supporting cast!

Vegetarian Variation: Leave out pepperoni and load up on veggies like bell peppers or mushrooms. My kids loved this when we made a “haunted garden” pizza last year.
Gluten-Free: Use pre-made gluten-free pizza dough or crust; just watch your baking times closely since GF crusts can cook faster.
Cheese Swap: Try provolone or a mix of mozzarella and cheddar for a different flavor but keep mozzarella for your ghost shapes.
Spicy Kick: Add a pinch of red pepper flakes to your pizza sauce or sprinkle cinnamon sticks for a warm Halloween twist — it’s a fun surprise!

Step-by-Step: How I Make Spooky Ghost Halloween Pizza Recipe

Step 1: Preheat and Prepare Your Dough

Start by preheating your oven to 475°F (245°C). If you’re using store-bought or Pillsbury pizza dough, simply roll it out on your pizza pan to the desired size. For homemade dough, after letting it rise, punch it down and roll it out on a floured surface. Getting a nicely shaped circle … well, it’s part science and part fun — so don’t stress if yours isn’t perfect. Just aim for an even thickness so it bakes uniformly.

Step 2: Spread the Sauce Evenly

I usually grab a ladle or a large spoon and spread the pizza sauce around the dough, leaving about an inch or so of crust exposed. This way, you get that beautiful golden crust border that looks gorgeous and gives you something to hold onto without sauce running everywhere.

Step 3: Layer Your Cheese

Sprinkle a generous layer of shredded mozzarella over the sauce first — this base layer helps everything else stick. Then, the fun begins: using sliced mozzarella, cut out your ghost shapes. The thicker the slices you use, the puffier and more 3D your ghosts will look once baked. For some of the ghosts, I keep the cheese thin to give a sort of “floating ghost” effect. Lay these cutouts onto the pizza — don’t worry if they overlap a bit; they’ll melt into cute ghosts!

Step 4: Add Olive Features

Slice black olives into tiny circles or slivers and place them on your mozzarella ghosts to create eyes and little mouths. This step truly personalizes each ghost’s expression — my kids love giving our ghosts silly, scary, or surprised faces.

Step 5: Bake It Up

Pop the pizza in the oven and bake for about 10-15 minutes until the crust is golden and the cheese is overly melty and bubbly. It’s super tempting to peek, but try to wait so you get that beautiful golden crust. Once it’s out of the oven, I usually add the mozzarella ghost shapes on top if I want them to look extra defined — they’ll soften slightly from the heat but hold their spooky shapes perfectly.

Step 6: Cool, Slice, and Serve

Let your spooky masterpiece cool for just a few minutes — this helps the cheese set so your slices don’t slide all over the place. Then slice it up and watch everyone’s faces light up. Halloween dinner? Nailed it!

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Pro Tips for Making Spooky Ghost Halloween Pizza Recipe

Use Thick Mozzarella Slices: For ghosts that really pop off the pizza, thicker slices keep a lovely 3D shape after baking.
Add Olive Faces After Baking: Placing eyes and mouths after baking preserves the shape and avoids olives drying out in the oven.
Don’t Overload Your Pizza: Less is more here; too many toppings can weigh down the crust and ghosts.
Let Dough Rise Properly: If going homemade, give the dough plenty of time to rise to avoid a dense crust.

How to Serve Spooky Ghost Halloween Pizza Recipe

A pizza with a golden-brown crust is shown with one slice being lifted by a woman's hand, pulling long strings of melted white cheese. The pizza has a base layer of red tomato sauce covered with a smooth layer of melted cheese. On top, there are four white ghost-shaped cheese pieces, each with two small black eyes. The background shows a warm fire inside a dark oven, and the pizza is on a white marbled surface. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Garnishes

I love adding fresh basil leaves to the finished pizza — it brightens the flavor and adds a splash of green that contrasts with the white ghosts. Sometimes I sprinkle a little chili oil or drizzle some garlic-infused olive oil for an extra tasty kick.

Side Dishes

Since this is a pizza-centric meal, I usually keep sides light. A fresh mixed green salad with a zesty vinaigrette or some crispy roasted baby potatoes works beautifully. For a true Halloween touch, I sometimes whip up a pumpkin soup or serve carrot sticks shaped like little pumpkins or witches’ fingers.

Creative Ways to Present

You can get playful with presentation by serving the pizza on a wooden board with Halloween-themed plates and napkins. I’ve also made mini spooky ghost pizzas for a party by cutting the large pizza into bite-sized ghost shapes — they always vanish fast! If you’re feeling crafty, use tiny olive slices to spell out messages like “Boo” or “Happy Halloween” on the pizza crust edge.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Leftover Spooky Ghost Halloween Pizza keeps well in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days. I usually place parchment paper between slices to prevent sticking and keep those cute mozzarella ghosts intact.

Freezing

I’ve frozen leftover pizza wrapped tightly in foil and then in an airtight bag. When you’re ready to enjoy it, thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat for best texture. The ghosts soften a bit after freezing but still look adorable.

Reheating

To reheat and keep the crust crisp, I pop slices in the oven at 350°F for 7-10 minutes rather than microwaving. This way, the cheese melts back into its melty goodness without turning rubbery, and the ghosts keep their shape.

FAQs

Can I use other cheeses besides mozzarella for the ghosts?

While mozzarella works best because of its melting qualities and color, you could try provolone or even slices of white cheddar. Just keep in mind that mozzarella’s mild flavor and soft melt make it ideal for ghost shapes that hold during baking.
Is it better to add the olive eyes before or after baking?

I recommend adding olives after baking to keep their color vibrant and avoid them drying out. However, if added before, they still work but may lose some moisture and look less fresh.
How can I make this recipe quicker for a busy weeknight?

Using a store-bought pizza crust and pre-shredded cheese cuts prep time drastically. You can also prep mozzarella ghosts ahead of time and store them in the fridge so they’re ready to pop on the pizza.
Can I make mini spooky pizzas for kids’ parties?

Absolutely! Just scale down the dough size and make smaller mozzarella ghost shapes. Mini pizzas are a big hit at parties and great for portion control.

Final Thoughts

This Spooky Ghost Halloween Pizza Recipe is one of my favorite ways to combine the joys of cooking with festive fun. It’s approachable enough for busy nights but special enough to make Halloween dinner feel like a celebration. I hope you’ll find the same joy making (and eating!) these cheesy ghosts as my family does every year. Give it a try — I promise it’s a deliciously spooky hit that everyone will remember!