What to Eat for the Hunter's Moon

The October full moon casts it's light on the end of harvest season. Wondering what to eat for the hunter's moon? I've got 100 awesome recipe ideas for you.

October is possibly the best time to be a home cook, at least if you have similar tastes to me. It's time to start getting cozy with a bowl of something warm. Fall spices are coming into play, and we get to enjoy all things pumpkin. There was so much deliciousness this month that I had to whittle this this list down from over 380 possible recipes. I can't wait to share them with you.

Spiritual Meaning of the Hunter's Moon

The Hunter's Moon arrives in October and is the last full moon before we enter the dark half of the year at Samhain. Also sometimes known as the blood moon, this lunation gave our agrarian ancestors the light they needed to work into the ever-lengthening nights. Whether they were hunting for game before it became scarce and scrawny or slaughtering livestock they couldn't afford to keep through the winter, this full moon was a reminder to harvest what they needed to survive the winter.

For us, it can be a time to reflect on the resources, both practical and spiritual, that we need to gather so we can thrive through the winter. While there are many benefits to the dark half of the year, the lack of light can also be a challenge to our mental health. Use this full moon to gather up the things that bring you joy and clear away anything that stands in the way of your happiness and comfort.

What's in season at the Hunter's Moon

As the final full moon before the end of harvest season, there's still so much deliciousness to be gathered in October. Pumpkins and apples immediately come to mind, but the list of seasonal ingredients is long. Of course, this will vary based on where you live, so look online or visit your local farmer's market to get a sense of what's in season in your area.

Here are a few seasonal foods to focus on in October.

Beef and poultry are also in season in October.

Aries foods

In 2024, the Hunter's Moon finds its home in fiery Aries. This energy reminds us to turn our attention to ourselves and make sure we're giving from an overflow of energy. It reminds us to take care of ourselves so we can take care of others when needed.

It also opens us up to some truly delicious additions to our October ingredients. Aries foods tend to be fiery and passionate. Here are some of the foods tied to this sign.

• Blackberries
• Chili peppers and spices like cayenne and paprika
• Cinnamon
• Coffee (which for me means kahlua)
• Dark chocolate
• Ginger
• Leeks
• Mango
• Mint
• Mustard
• Onions
• Rosemary
• Thyme

Recipes for the Hunter's Moon

I hope you're hungry. Here are the 100 most popular October-inspired recipes for the hunter's moon. I've got ideas to take you from morning to night, so you can make magick in your kitchen whenever the mood strikes.

Breakfast

The darker mornings remove the pressure to wake up and immediately be productive. Take it slow and treat yourself to something hearty and delicious to keep you warm thorughout the day and fuel you for the hunt.

• Black Pudding Hash - Our ancestors would have been making preserved meat products like black pudding at this time of year.
• Nutella Oatmeal - Add some hazelnut magick to your morning porridge.
• Chorizo & Potato Breakfast Burrito - There's so much flavor in these delicious burritos.
• Breakfast Pot Pie - Ideal for a brunch party, you've got layers of morning goodness.
• Sausage Egg & Cheese Biscuits with Apple Butter - A delicious Southern mash up of sweet and savoury.
• Lemon Poppy Seed Pancakes - Make your own sunshine in the morning.
• Eggs in Purgatory - Perfect for when the Samhain gathering gets a bit wild the night before.
• Spicy Mashed Potato Patties - A deliciously spicy way to use up leftover mash.
• Cayenne Candied Bacon - The perfect sweet and spicy accompaniment to your favorite pancakes.
• Homemade Cinnamon Rolls - A sacred spiral of sweetness.
• Cinnamon Whole Wheat Pancakes with Blackberry Brown Butter Syrup - Blackberries connect us to the underworld, so this is a perfect Scorpio season breakfast.

Soups, Salads, Sandwiches

I want all my meals in the autumn to be cooked in one pot and served in a warming bowl. A salad or sandwich in the side is also acceptable. Find your favorite spoon and dig in.

• Chilli with Gnocchi - This is a brilliant way to stretch a pot of chili to feed a crowd.
• Chicken Corn Chowder - This pot is fully loaded with chicken, potatoes, and corn.
• Apple Butter & Sharp Cheddar Grilled Cheese - Apples and cheddar are meant for each other.
• Butternut Squash & Carrot Soup - A beautiful blend of spices highlights the sweetness of these veggies.
• Ham & Potato Soup - Serve this in a bread bowl if you want to make it extra awesome.
• Cheddar Corn Soup - Made with chilies for an added kick.
• Roasted Tomato & Mozzarella Salad - The perfect way to use up the last of your garden tomatoes and really bring out their sweetness.
• Leek & Potato Soup - This is my husband's favorite soup. For now.
• Bacon and Egg Salad - If you have to eat salad, it should have a warm dressing made with bacon drippings.
• Bacon Black Bean Chili - A hearty variation on your classic pot of chili.
• Fig Jam Crispy Prosciutto & Brie Grilled Cheese - The flavors and textures here are unbeatable.

Dips & Appetizers

Wether it's game day or a coven gathering, there's nothing like getting the people you love around some delicious food. Put a good drink in their hands, and it's a party.

• Buffalo Chicken Pinwheels - This spicy spirals are awesome for a game day spread.
• Mexican Spinach Dip - Call in the energy of tomatoes and chilies in this creamy dip.
• Pork & Onion Hand Pies - These cute little savoury pies would be so nice for a girl's day in.
• Garlic & Thyme Baked Camembert - One of my coven sisters makes this regularly for date night.
• Jalapeno Hush Puppies - Coming home from the hay ride and need a delicious snack to warm you up? It's this.
• Vegetarian Jalapeno Poppers - Another great game day classic to bring the masculine energy.
• Swiss & Bacon Dip - One of my legendary recipes. You could spread this on a hubcap and people would eat it.
• Pumpkin & Hazelnut Crostini - Looks fancy, but it's totally simple.
• Buffalo Deviled Eggs - There's something about autumn that makes me want to Buffalo everything.
• Cheesy Black Bean Bacon Dip - A variation on a classic bean dip plus bacon.
• Choriz Queso Dip - Chips and queso with a kick.

Dinner

Low and slow is the name of the game as we tip towards winter. There are lots of hearty, warming options here, including a few that are totally achievable on a busy weeknight.

• Spicy Alfredo Sauce - Combine with your favorite pasta and protein for a bit of fire energy.
• Orzo Pasta with Bacon & Peas - This one pot dish brings in the last of the summer sweetness.
• Crispy Honey Chicken - Homemade take out that's sweet and fiery.
• Chicken & Goat Cheese Pasta - Made with fresh rosemary, this dish brings the power of the Sun to the table.
• Cranberry Turkey Meatloaf - Not just for Thanksgiving.
• Pork & Apple Hot Pot - Perfect for a lazy Sunday when you have time to linger in the kitchen.
• Frito Chili Cheese Wrap - Fast food at home is totally awesome, especially when that's the only way to get it.
• Cornbread Chili Casserole - Make this with canned chili for a comforting weeknight dinner.
• Cornish Pasties - This British classic is a bit of a project but makes excellent leftovers.
• Italian Panissa Rice - A slow-cooked pot of absolute awesomeness.
• Picky Eater Chicken Enchiladas - Everyone will love this slightly spicy, totally cheesy concoction.
• Garlic Bread Mac & Cheese - A mash up made in heaven.

Side dishes

Whether you're still using the outdoor grill or slow roasting meats in the oven, you need something a little awesome on the side.

• Cajun Sweet Potatoes - A super simple way to enjoy autumn's best vegetable.
• Maple Glazed Carrots - Ideal for picky eaters (like me) who need a bit of added sweetness to convince them to eat their veggies.
• Spicy Cheese Fries - Honestly, just make extra and skip the main.
• Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Spiced Maple Butter - This is my absolute favorite way to serve sweet potatoes.
• Parmesan Fried Gnocchi - A five minute side dish that's more delicious than it has any right to be.
• Garlic Herb Bread - Homemade garlic bread practically screams I love you.
• Best Ever Mashed Potatoes - I take mashed potatoes very seriously. Try my method and you'll never settle for instant again.
• Loaded Baked Potato Casserole - All the flavors of a steak house baked potato mixed up in one dish.
• English Potato Gratin - Made with mace for a uniquely spiced and creamy side.
• Sweet Potato Gratin - How can you make sweet potatoes more awesome? Bake them in cream and cheese, of course.
• Italian Roasted Potatoes - Made with fresh rosemary for a bit of extra magic and flavor.

Breads

When it starts to get cold outside, bread baking is the best way to warm up the house. When you're stuck indoors, it might as well smell extra awesome in your house.

• Potato Rolls - I have to ration these out to my husband to make sure I get to eat some as well.
• Garlic & Herb Focaccia Bread - This beautiful bread is made with roast garlic, parsley, and thyme.
• Rosemary Potato Rolls - My absolute favorite for the holidays.
• Smoked Cheddar & Sage Biscuits - A quick bread with smoky, cleansing vibes.
• Cheddar Quick Bread - There's a hint of heat in this bread thanks to some mustard powder.
• Cheddar Habanero Cornbread - Awesome in chili or with butter and honey.
• Corn & Green Onion Biscuits - A simple 3-ingredient soup dipper.
• Bacon Goat Cheese & Green Onion Biscuits - These are hearty and delicious and perfect alongside a bowl of hot soup.
• Skillet Cornbread - This simple cornbread is awesome with a pot of beans or chili.
• Parmesan Oregano Bread - I can't think of anything I'd rather serve with tomato soup.
• Sweet Potato Rolls - Dinner rolls or candy? Just kidding. The sweetness is subtle but irresistible.

Desserts

When the sun goes down, it's time to treat yourself to something sweet. You've been hard at work harvesting and hunting for what you need to be awesome. What if the answer is cake?

• Lavender Cake - What could be more magical than eating flowers?
• 5 Minute Microwave Lemon Cake - Ever had a dessert emergency? This cake has got you covered.
• Mint Chocolate Mousse - Made with mint-infused dark chocolate, this is incredibly rich and indulgent.
• Chocolate Cinnamon Cake - A delicious loaf cake to bring prosperity and happiness.
• Chocolate Orange Cake - It's like a chocolate orange in loaf cake form.
• Peanut Butter Gooey Butter Cake - Peanut butter cup lovers will go mad for this.
• Almond Pastry Puff - This is way more delicious than its 5 ingredients has any right to be.
• Pumpkin Spice Gooey Butter Cake - For pumpkin lovers with a serious sweet tooth.
• Nutella Cheesecake Parfaits - These no-bake treats are fun to make with the whole family.
• Sweet Potato Bread Pudding - A deliciously sweet way to use up stale bread.
• Cinnamon Pull Apart Bread - Layers of sugar and spice pressed into a gooey loaf.

Sweet Treats

Something a little bit sweet in the afternoon will keep you smiling as you go about your busy days.

• Peanut Butter Fudge - Make sure you have people to share this with because you won't be able to stop eating it.
• Double Glazed Chai Spice Muffins - These muffins are light and fluffy and perfectly spiced.
• Crunchy Peanut Butter Cookies - A childhood lunchbox classic.
• Chocolate Chip Cookie Cups - They've got a cute little peanut butter cup nestled right in the center.
• Kahlua Brownies - Give yourself a little energetic kick with a sweet treat with a coffee buzz.
• Stem Ginger Biscuits - Warming ginger helps you call in love and prosperity.
• Sea Salt Chocolate Chip Cookies - Sprinkle on flaky sea salt to protect your happy vibes.
• Chocolate Banana Muffins - A perfect little portable treat to use up any sad bananas in your house.
• Apple Butter - Spread this on anything that stands still long enough throughout the autumn season.
• Caramel Stuffed Apple Cider Cookies - These cookies are ridiculously awesome.
• Pumpkin Scones - I wish I could eat these once a day all month.

Drinks

Whether you're sipping a cocktail by the fire or warming up after a day of running through autumn leaves, wrap your hands around something delicious. These magical libations will help you tune into the Hunter's moon energy.

• Brown Elephant Amarula Cocktail - A mix of kahlua and amarula, this creamy cocktail has a fruity flavor.
• Chaitini - Spiced and sophisticated, this cocktail is autumn in a martini glass.
• Spiced Honey Vodka - I love to drink this warm to light my inner fire.
• Pomegranate Martini - A sexy ode to Persephone.
• Orange & Amaretto Cider - This simple drink is full of fall flavors.
• Spiced Sparkling Cider Cocktail - This gorgeous drink starts with a spiced syrup that you can also add to coffee or chai.
• Pomegranate Margaritas - This drink definitely feels like a party, maybe because I once drank to many at a holiday gathering on the beach.
• Ginger Pomegranate Cocktail - This low-alcohol libation is so refreshing.
• Apple Margarita - Post-apple picking drinks, anyone?
• Carrot Ginger Orange Mimosas - Full moon brunch vibes.
• Vanilla Hot Chocolate for One - Make this in the microwave so you can treat yourself on a regular basis.

Celebrate the Hunter's Moon

I hope the Hunter's Moon helps you find everything you need to thrive in the dark half of the year. May it be extra delicious and fill you up with joy and gratitude.