3 Of Our Favorite-Ever Spooky Fast Food Items

Are you sick of Halloween yet? If you were, it’d be very understandable: We’ve been talking about it for months already, and in the coming weeks, we’ll be talking about it even more. But hey, it’s not entirely our fault – judging by the fact that most people want Halloween candy to be available year-round, there’s a seemingly insatiable desire for all things spooky, and that’s been the case for a while. 

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One lesser-known site of said desire, though, is in fast food chains, which have traditionally been a little less spooky than the candy aisles this time of year. That said, in the past, there have been some pretty fun contributions to the Halloween of it all from the likes of McDonald’s, Burger King, and Papa John’s (as well as plenty of others). 

McDonald’s Boo Buckets

You can’t really discuss Halloween-themed fast food products without talking about Boo Buckets – and while they’re not TECHNICALLY food items in and of themselves, they’re still one of the most famous spooky contributions from the fast food industry out there. 

Also known more simply as its Halloween Pails, McDonald’s Halloween buckets first appeared in 1986, giving kids a cylindrical receptacle for their Happy Meals that also doubled as something to put their trick-or-treat candy in. They were so popular that they’ve been a near-yearly staple ever since, and while they briefly disappeared towards the end of the 2010s, they returned in 2022, 2023, and 2025. Rumor has it that they’ll be coming back once more for their 40th anniversary; stay tuned for more. 

Papa John’s Jack-o’-lantern Pizza

Simple, but effective. Papa John’s Jack-o’-lantern pizza first officially appeared in 2019 (although it had been available before then in certain places), and it’s exactly what it sounds like: A pizza shaped like a jack-o’-lantern, with pepperoni rimming the outside and forming a smiley face in the middle. It was both eye-catching and (apparently) popular enough to come back each year since then – although anecdotally, people have pointed out that its construction can sometimes leave a little to be desired. 

Burger King’s Ghost Pepper Whopper

A burger that, so far, has only made two appearances, the Ghost Pepper Whopper was an ambitious move from Burger King – and one that didn’t embarrass the chain, although it didn’t completely stick the landing. The Ghost Pepper Whopper tried to go big on the spice, with spicy queso, crispy jalapeño pieces, and ghost pepper cheese. Although those heat levels left quite a bit to be desired and the burger didn’t quite live up to its own promise, people still loved this thing, and it remains one of BK’s more successful seasonal items. 

The Ghost Pepper Whopper first dropped in 2022, and it made a comeback in 2023. Since then, though, it’s been gone; 2024 saw Burger King release Wednesday’s Whopper, complete with a purple bun, and in 2025, we got the Jack-O-Lantern Whopper. The affection for the Ghost Pepper Whopper still runs deep, though. You’ve still got a couple of weeks to line it up, Burger King!