Ready to conjure up the most adorably spooky and unbelievably delicious dinner for your Halloween celebration? A festive meal that is so much fun to make, it’s the perfect activity to do with your little ghouls and goblins? These incredible, from-scratch-tasting “Ghostly” White Pizzas are the ultimate Halloween treat! We’re talking a crispy, chewy pizza crust, shaped like a friendly ghost and topped with a rich, creamy, and garlicky three-cheese white sauce that is completely boo-tiful.
This isn’t just a recipe; it’s a guide to your new favorite Halloween tradition. We’ll show you the simple secrets to shaping the perfect ghost and how to create a luscious, from-scratch white pizza that the whole family will love. This is the kind of satisfying, interactive meal that makes the holiday even more fun and memorable.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Recipe Overview: The Ultimate Spooky & Fun Halloween Dinner
What makes these Ghost Pizzas so spectacularly fun is their brilliant, easy-to-make design and their classic, crowd-pleasing flavor. This recipe is a masterpiece of festive simplicity. The “ghosts” are individual, personal-sized pizzas, made from a convenient, store-bought pizza dough that is cleverly stretched into a ghostly shape. The “sauce” is a rich, creamy, and savory white pizza sauce, made from a simple blend of ricotta and Parmesan cheese. The entire ghost is then blanketed in gooey, melted mozzarella and given two spooky black olive “eyes.”
| Metric | Time / Level |
| Total Time | 35 minutes |
| Active Prep Time | 20 minutes |
| Difficulty Level | Easy |
| Servings | 4 ghost pizzas |
The Ghost’s Anatomy: The Essential Ingredients
This iconic party dish uses a handful of simple shortcuts to create its signature cheesy flavor and spooky look.
- The “Ghost” (The Pizza Dough!):
- Prepared Pizza Dough: Using a 1-pound ball of your favorite store-bought pizza dough is a fantastic shortcut that makes this a perfect, super-fast weeknight meal. Be sure to let it sit out at room temperature for about an hour before you begin—this will relax the gluten and make the dough much easier to stretch into your spooky ghost shapes without it springing back.
- The “Ghostly” White Sauce:
- The Cheeses: This is a classic and foolproof combination for a rich and creamy white pizza. A base of smooth, mild ricotta cheese is mixed with salty, nutty Parmesan and a touch of Italian seasoning.
- Garlic Oil: A simple brush of garlic-infused olive oil on the crust before baking is a brilliant trick that adds a fantastic, savory, and aromatic flavor to every bite.
- The Cheesy Blanket & “Eyes”: A generous sprinkle of shredded, low-moisture mozzarella cheese provides that perfect, gooey, and classic “cheese pull.” Two simple slices of a pitted black olive are all you need to bring your spooky ghosts to life!
Step-by-Step to the Best Ghost Pizzas
This fun and festive meal is incredibly simple to prepare.
Step 1: Shape Your Pizza Ghosts and Par-Bake the Crusts
Step 1: First, preheat your oven to a very hot 450°F (232°C). Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper.
Step 2: Divide your 1-pound ball of pizza dough into 4 equal pieces.
Step 3 (The Fun Part!): Working with one piece of dough at a time on a lightly floured surface, roll and stretch the dough into an 8- to 9-inch oval. Transfer the oval to your prepared baking sheet. Gently pull and stretch one end of the dough to one side to create a tapered, wavy “tail” for your ghost. Repeat this process with the remaining dough, putting two ghosts on each of your baking sheets.
Pro Tip: Don’t worry if all your ghosts look slightly different—it just gives them more personality!
Step 4: In a small bowl, mix together the 1 tablespoon of olive oil and the 1 finely grated garlic clove. Evenly brush this mixture over your 4 ghost crusts. Sprinkle them with a total of 1/2 teaspoon of salt and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper.
Step 5: Bake the plain crusts for 10 to 12 minutes, rotating the pans halfway through, until the crusts are a beautiful golden brown and set.
Part 2: Top and Bake Your Spooky Creations
Step 1: In a small bowl, mix together the 1 cup of ricotta cheese, the 1/3 cup of grated Parmesan, and the 1/2 teaspoon of dried Italian seasoning. Step 2: Spread this ricotta mixture evenly over your par-baked ghost crusts, stopping about 1/2-inch from the edge. Step 3: Sprinkle each ghost with the 1 1/2 cups of shredded mozzarella. Step 4: Return the pizzas to the oven and bake for about 5 more minutes, until the ghosts are hot and the cheese has completely melted and is bubbly. Step 5: Place two black olive slices on each ghost to create the “eyes.”
Transfer the hot ghost pizzas to individual plates and serve them immediately.
Ghost Pizzas (Perfect for Halloween!)
An easy and festive recipe for individual, ‘scary’ ghost-shaped white pizzas, perfect for a fun Halloween meal. The recipe uses prepared pizza dough, which is stretched and shaped into a ghost form. The dough is first par-baked with a simple garlic-oil spread. It is then topped with a creamy mixture of ricotta and Parmesan cheeses, followed by a layer of shredded mozzarella. The pizzas are baked until the cheese is melted and bubbly, and finished with two black olive slices for the ghost’s eyes.
Ingredients
- 1 pound prepared pizza dough
- All-purpose flour, for rolling
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 clove garlic, finely grated
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella (about 6 ounces)
- Pitted black olives, sliced, for decorating
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 450°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Divide the pizza dough into 4 equal pieces. On a lightly floured surface, roll and stretch each piece into an 8- to 9-inch oval.
- Transfer the ovals to the prepared baking sheets (2 per sheet). Pull one end of each oval to one side to create a tapered, ghost-like tail.
- In a small bowl, mix the olive oil and grated garlic. Brush this mixture over the 4 ghost-shaped doughs. Sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon of salt and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper.
- Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, rotating the pans halfway through, until the crusts are golden and set.
- While the crusts bake, mix the ricotta, Parmesan, and Italian seasoning together in a small bowl.
- Remove the par-baked crusts from the oven. Spread the ricotta mixture over the ghosts, leaving a 1/2-inch border.
- Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella over the ricotta mixture.
- Return the pizzas to the oven and bake for about 5 more minutes, until the cheese has melted and is bubbly.
- Place two black olive slices on each ghost for the eyes. Serve immediately.
Notes
- This is a fun, creative recipe that is very easy to make using store-bought pizza dough.
- Par-baking the crust before adding the wet cheese toppings is a key step to ensure the dough is cooked through and not soggy.
- Rotating the baking sheets during the bake helps the pizzas to cook and brown evenly.
Storage and Make-Ahead Tips
- Make-Ahead: For a super-fast and impressive Halloween dinner, you can get a head start by preparing all your components in advance. The ricotta sauce can be mixed, the cheese can be shredded, and your olives can be sliced. Store everything in separate, airtight containers in the refrigerator.
- Storage: Store any leftover pizza, well-wrapped, in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Reheating: The absolute best way to reheat pizza and bring back its original crispy crust is on a baking sheet in a hot 375°F oven for about 5-8 minutes, or in an air fryer.
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Creative Recipe Variations (“Make it Your Own Potion!”)
- Make it a “Bloody” Ghost Pizza: For a spookier, more ghoulish look, you can substitute the white ricotta sauce with an equal amount of your favorite red pizza or marinara sauce.
- Add a “Monster” Topping: If you’re not a fan of a plain cheese pizza, feel free to add some of your favorite toppings, like some slices of pepperoni or some cooked and crumbled sausage, to make a monstrously delicious meal.
- Use a Different “Ghost” Base: If you’re very short on time, you can use a large, flour tortilla or a piece of naan bread as the base for your ghost pizzas. Simply cut them into a ghost shape before you begin!
Enjoy Your Ultimate Spooky & Fun Halloween Dinner!
You’ve just created a truly special dish that is a perfect harmony of fun, classic ingredients and delicious, satisfying flavors. These classic “Ghost Pizzas” are a testament to the power of a simple, creative idea to become an instant family favorite and a treasured holiday tradition. It’s a rewarding and deeply satisfying recipe that is sure to make your Halloween dinner a memorable one.
We hope you enjoy every last, perfect, and cheesy bite!
If you enjoyed making this recipe, please leave a comment below or share it with a friend who loves an easy and impressive meal!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: What is the absolute best way to shape pizza dough into a ghost without it tearing?
The number one secret is to make sure your pizza dough is at room temperature before you begin. Cold pizza dough is very stiff and will tend to spring back and tear easily. By letting your dough sit on the counter for about 30-60 minutes, you are allowing the gluten to relax, which will make it wonderfully soft, pliable, and easy to stretch into your perfect, spooky ghost shape.
Q2: Can I make these Halloween pizzas ahead of time for a party?
This pizza is at its absolute best when it is baked and served fresh. However, you can save a ton of time by preparing your ricotta sauce, shredding your cheese, and even shaping your raw pizza dough ghosts on the baking sheets ahead of time. Simply cover the shaped dough with plastic wrap and keep it in the refrigerator until you are ready to bake.
Q3: What is the secret to a crispy pizza crust at home?
The secret is high heat and par-baking. It is crucial to preheat your oven to the absolute highest temperature it can go. This recipe also uses the brilliant trick of par-baking the plain crust first with the garlic oil. This is the key that sets the crust and ensures that it will be perfectly crisp and not soggy, even with a creamy ricotta topping.
Q4: Can I make this recipe vegan?
Yes! To make this recipe vegan, simply be sure to use a brand of pizza dough that does not contain any eggs or dairy. Then, you can substitute the cheeses with an equal amount of your favorite brand of dairy-free ricotta, Parmesan, and shredded mozzarella substitutes.
Q5: What can I use instead of ricotta for the white pizza sauce?
If you’re not a fan of ricotta, you can create a delicious white pizza sauce by using a simple base of extra-virgin olive oil and a generous amount of minced garlic. You can also use a classic, creamy Alfredo sauce as the base for your ghosts.