Halloween BBQ
Pumpkins on the doorstep, a fire pit in the garden, and the smell of spicy chicken in the air — in the US, BBQ has long been part of Halloween. In Amsterdam, more and more people are embracing this tradition. With a few simple choices, you can create an evening that is both thrilling and genuinely delicious.
Below you'll find everything you need for a successful Halloween BBQ in Amsterdam: a heat scale from friendly to 'scary hot,' a spooky menu, presentation tips, and the right drinks to go with it. Also, read our Smoking Wood Guide for extra smoke effect on the grill.
The Heat Scale: From Ghost to Devil
Halloween is all about excitement, and our rubs are perfect for it — from kid-friendly mild to seriously hot for the daring. Make sure to label each dish clearly so no one accidentally bites into the wrong one.
Carolina Gold (825 SHU): the friendly ghost — mild, sweet, and no tricks. Memphis BBQ (2,050 SHU): the little spider — a bit more exciting, but perfectly manageable. Shawarma (845 SHU): the vampire — warm, aromatic, and more dangerous than it seems. Tex Mex (3,920 SHU): the zombie — spicy enough to feel it. Korean (5,450 SHU): the devil — intense and fiery, keep milk handy. Jamaican Jerk (7,020 SHU): the skull — the boss level, with scotch bonnet powder as the base.
A small card with a heat icon for each dish — a ghost for Carolina Gold, a skull for Jamaican Jerk — serves as both a warning and a decoration.
A menu for kids and daredevils alike
A good Halloween BBQ works for everyone simultaneously — from children with their mild plates to adults who seek out the heat.
Spooky drumsticks (kid-friendly): chicken drumsticks with Carolina Gold rub, with the bone wrapped in foil to resemble a handle. Devil's wings (scary hot): chicken wings with Jamaican Jerk or Korean rub, served on a black plate. Zombie fingers (medium): long chicken thighs with Tex Mex rub, presented as fingers with green guacamole as 'monster dip.' Grilled pumpkin (vegetarian): pumpkin slices with Memphis BBQ rub, 20 minutes indirect. Spooky corn (snack): grilled corn on the cob with Tex Mex rub, served upright in glasses. Grilled banana (dessert): banana in its peel with chocolate inside, 5 minutes on the grill, with matcha whipped cream on the side.
Presentation that makes all the difference
Half of a successful Halloween BBQ lies in how you serve it. A few simple tricks can have a big effect.
Black boards: the contrast with the orange-red bark of the rubs stands out. Skull labels: small cards with heat icons, from a ghost to a skull. Orange and black: in napkins, plates, and candles — the colors of the rubs happen to match perfectly. Torch lighting: tiki torches create just the right spooky atmosphere. Pumpkin as a sauce holder: a hollowed-out pumpkin as a bowl for the dip. Smoke effect: a small block of smoking wood on the coals creates spectacular plumes of smoke in the dark.
Drinks to match the mood
The drinks should enhance the Halloween atmosphere, for all ages.
Dark ale or stout: a smoky stout pairs well with the Memphis BBQ rub. Red wine: a full-bodied Shiraz with the spicier rubs. Blackcurrant juice: non-alcoholic, dark in color, sweet-sour in taste. Pumpkin lemonade: orange juice with ginger and a pinch of cinnamon, ideal for the kids. Cold milk: sounds boring, but it's the best antidote after the Jamaican Jerk — casein neutralizes capsaicin.
With Jamaican Jerk and Korean rub, there should always be a jug of cold milk or a bowl of Greek yogurt on the table. Water doesn't help against capsaicin — milk and yogurt do, and at 7,020 SHU, that's not a luxury.
The Rub Kitchen Heat Challenge
Would you rather taste before investing in 100g?
The 3-Evenings Pack gives you 3 sachets of 50g of your choice — enough for three evenings of grilling, without having to buy a large stock immediately. Choose which flavors you want to try yourself.
- → Spicy vs. Mild BBQ Rubs When do you choose which — and how hot dare you go?
- → Which rub suits me? Selection guide based on taste and meat
- → Product Knowledge All ingredients and techniques explained
Ready for the scary hot BBQ?
From mild to monstrous. Freshly mixed to order, free DHL delivery throughout Amsterdam.
💀 Jamaican Jerk · 7,020 SHUStarter Pack · 3 flavors