Don’t let your centerpiece just take up space. Put it to work for your party.
Use this zombie to hold your buffet items.
What can be better than a cool and frightening centerpiece for your party table!
Your guests will be entertained, and a bit freaked out, as they fill their plates and glasses from this adorable buffet!
All your food items will fit in one place around this centerpiece. This allows serving and cleaning up all in one space.

A Zombie Centerpiece No Tricks
Spread the table with a white sheet.
Get an old pair of bluejeans and cut out the thighs. Then add 4 large bins for your main dishes.
An old denim shirt unbuttoned can hold secondary dishes or even some sides.
Stuff the arms with newspaper. Add plastic skeleton hands and have them hold tongs for serving.
Put a bowl for the head. This can serve a hot side dish or some munchies.
You will need these items:
- Large flannel shirt
- Pair of old jeans
- 2 salad or BBQ tongs
- Large plastic bowl
- 2 Rubber Skeleton hands
- Tube or two of fake blood
- Knit cap
INSTRUCTIONS To create the zombie:
- Make holes in the legs of the jeans just large enough to nestle your chafing dishes, aluminum pans or bowls you are servings your food in.
- Lay out your shirt and pants and decorate them with splashes and drips of fake blood.
- Using a large bowl, place it in the knit cap as the head of your zombie. Fill it with sauce, dip, munchies, or punch!
- Place your snack pans of food in the spots prepared in the shirt and pants. If using chafing pans PLEASE be careful of open warming sources.
- Place serving tongs in the hands of your zombies. Arrange other plastic ware, plates, cups, napkins and decorations around the table. Finish with the rest of your food!
NOTES
Thank you to Dennis and Kimberly Fiorini for permission to use their image and idea. Zombie centerpiece part of their Walking Dead party.
You will still have space to add more munchies and even a dessert to the table.
I am even including some recipes and ideas for you menu!
Enjoy.
25 Treats and A Zombie Centerpiece No Tricks
Ingredients
- Large flannel shirt
- Pair of old jeans
- 2 salad or BBQ tongs
- Large plastic bowl
- 2 Rubber Skeleton hands
- Tube or two of fake blood
- Knit cap
Instructions
- Make holes in the legs of the jeans just large enough to nestle your chafing dishes, aluminum pans or bowls you are servings your food in.
- Lay out your shirt and pants and decorate them with splashes and drips of fake blood.
- Using a large bowl, place it in the knit cap as the head of your zombie. Fill it with sauce, dip, munchies, or punch!
- Place your snack pans of food in the spots prepared in the shirt and pants. If using chafing pans PLEASE be careful of open warming sources.
- Place serving tongs in the hands of your zombies. Arrange other plastic ware, plates, cups, napkins and decorations around the table. Finish with the rest of your food!
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition Information is estimated based on the ingredients and cooking instructions as described in each recipe and is intended to be used for informational purposes only. Please note that nutrition details may vary based on methods of preparation, origin and freshness of ingredients used.
Conversion Information We get a lot of requests to help with conversions especially between various countries like Canada, the U.K. and Australia. These tables should help you make those conversions. For your convenience we have included a Conversion Chart.
Disclaimer Unless indicated recipes influenced by cookbooks, magazines or family traditions.
Very creative. TFS
Thanks Clearissa. I thought it was fun. A bit busy though. Have a great week!
Crazy fun!!
Thanks for sharing lat week – hope to see you this week:
You are welcome Jodie! See you there. Enjoy your week.
This is so fun! What a wonderful way to mix snacks and decorations! I bet everyone that sees it loves it!
It actually upsets people!! Next time I am not adding the blood. LOL> I am glad oyu like it. Have a great week.
What a fun way to display your treats! Thanks for sharing with us at The Blogger’s Pit Stop!
Thank you Roseann. I love Bloggers Pit Stop!
I love your Zombie, just perfect for the season! Thanks so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday and have a great week!
Miz Helen
Thnak you Miz Helen. That zombie was a one of a kind at our home. Enjoy your week.
Oh my goodness! I can not even! So very creative though!
Thanks for linking up @LiveLifeWell!
Blessings,
Amy
This made more of the girls cry and refuse to eat at the party. Now the boys on the other hand kept finding ways to take advantage of that! Enjoy your weekend!
This is FANTASTIC!!! I want to have a party just to do this!!! #trafficjam
Thank you Tracy! I am glad you like the zombie. I hope you get to use it! Have a lovely week!
That zombie is the more original thing I’ve seen! I think I am going to get some of the girls to put this together with me for our Halloween fundraiser potluck lunch! Thanks for sharing at What’d You Do This Weekend?
Wishes for tasty dishes,
Linda
Thank you so much Linda. That is wonderful. Please leave me a photo. I am sure it will be a big hit! Have a lovely week!
This is certainly fun! Thanks for sharing it with SYC.
hugs,
Jann
Thanks Jann. I love Halloween! Have a good evening!
My husband loves this! Thanks for sharing at the What’s for Dinner party! Have a wonderful week and hope to see you at next week’s party too!
I am tickled he did. Too much blood though!
It would certainly help me not to over eat!! LOL
This is a great idea. I’m not very good at thinking up creative ideas like this, but this looks like something I could do!
It is a scarecrow made scary! Enjoy your evening!
Wow Marilyn, this is incredibly creepy and spooky!! Very creative!!!
Thanks Jenna! It was wonderful having a centerpiece as well as room for the food! Enjoy your evening!
This wins Halloween! Pinned it and am going to epically fail recreating it, but it’ll be soooo worth it!
Oh, you can’t fail! You just need your dishes to look like inside body part! Cauliflower makes a better brain though than my meatballs. LOL! Have a great week.
This is so creepy, I can just imagine it at a teenager party with all the gross body part jokes.
Especially the boys!!! Ewww. Thx for the response Leanna. Have a great week!
What a fun Party Treat! Thanks so much for sharing your awesome post with us at Full Plate Thursday and come back soon!
Miz Helen
When I have limited table space for the meal and centerpiece, this comes in handy!!
Perfect for Halloween Marilyn- gross and gruesome but yummy
I never know whether to laugh or scream at this. Have a wonderful week!
Marilyn this is the grossest centerpiece I’ve ever seen – it’s PERFECT!! xx
Thanks Kate! I think the blood though was just too much for the girls. The boys however LOVED it! One kid even grabbed the sausage and chased his sister screaming into the other room. So fun! Enjoy your week.
Such a cute idea! I can see this being super intriguing for guests, and maybe a little scary, lol! Thank you for sharing this spooky and creative centerpiece with us at Fiesta Friday! Have a wonderful weekend!
Thank you Antonia! I loved this, but next time would leave out the blood. The little ones wouldn’t go near it! Enjoy your week.
LOL – cute idea! I’m not sure I could get myself to eat any of the sausage links. Thanks for sharing with Fiesta Friday!
The spaghetti and meatballs for the head are kinda spooky too. Maybe I need to use it as a dessert table? LOL. Have a great week!
That’s the best center piece EVER!!!!! Just briliant
Thank you Michelle. I can’t figure out if I am tickled or weirded out by it! The bllod was a bit much. LOL. Have a great week!
This is very clever! What a fun thing to share at a Halloween party!
Thank you Michelle for sharing your thoughta! Enjoy your week.
Oh my gosh that zombie made me quiver! Thought I was watching Walking Dead. 🙂 Thanks for sharing with SYC.
hugs,
Jann
Thue jury is still out for me. One minute I love it and the next I think I jumped the shark. LOL. Have a great week!
Super creepy! It kind of freaks me out but my kids would totally love it.
It was a bit disconcerting serving the food out of the zombie. But the boys loved it!! Thx.
What an amazing centrepiece, Marilyn! That is so clever! Love all the treats as well. Thank you so much for sharing, and for being a part of the Hearth and Soul Link Party. Hope you are having a great week!
Thank you April for the nice review. Thank you for letting me link it up at Hearth and Soul! Enjoy your week.
hilarious – especially if you did this at a medical office party!
I never thought of a work party! Totally gross. Everyone would like it. Thanks for the idea Sue! Enjoy you week.
What fun. I just love zombies and if I were going to host a Halloween party this would definitely be the centerpiece. Actually, it makes me want to have a party just for the centerpiece. 🙂
I know it did me!! I always fight for room for the food and the centerpiece. This time it wasn’t an issue! Enjoy your week!
Oh My!! My husband will love this – he’s a zombie fan! Thanks for sharing on the What’s for dinner Link up!
You need to have a zombie party Helen. It is so much fun. Thanks for commenting and have a great week!
OOOH spooky stuff! I just love Halloween!
I love Halloween too Jen! I even had my youngest child on Halloween! Enjoy your weekend.
Pinned it immediately! That centerpiece is outstanding! Thanks for sharing, Marilyn.
Thank you Kimberly! It really is a bit scary on the table. The look on guests faces as they dished up their food was priceless! Thanks for the pin. Have a wonderful weekend.
Marilyn this is too, too funny! Love the creative way you have set the table for Halloween!
Thank you Mary. This Is my only DYI tablescape attempt I will ever post!
haha…so neat! 🙂
I would love for you to share this with my Facebook Group for recipes, crafts, tips, and tricks: https://www.facebook.com/groups/pluckyrecipescraftstips/
Thanks for joining Cooking and Crafting with J & J!
Thanks Jess. I sure will!
Ummm, Marilyn? Is it weird that I’m a little scared? I mean, not really, but kinda? 😀 This is so cool and wonderfully creative! Thanks for sharing with us at Funtastic Friday! Pinning
I am so glad you like it Angie. Being a foodie I don’t get much time to DIY or table scape but this was fun! Have a great week!
I’ve always wanted to try and make one of those zombie centerpieces! Thank you for sharing with us at the To Grandma’s house we go link party – pinned – hope to see you tomorrow when the next party starts!
With your talent Tarah it would be unforgetable! Have a good week.
Love the Zombie Platters – they would’ve been perfect for our TWD night yesterday. Thanks for linking up to the Creative K Kids’ Tasty Tuesday!
Thank Manda. I love how you can change the entire theme using different outfits! Grads, weddings, showers, etc.
So disgustingly clever – I love it! So happy you shared it with us at #FridayFrivolity this week, Marilyn!
Thanks Lisa! I love your party.
This is so creepy, but yet so good at the same darn time. I love it!
Thank you for sharing this with us on the #HomeMattersParty. We hope to see you next Friday at 12 AM EST when we open our doors again.
Thank you Crystal! I rarely show this ghoulish side of me!
Yikes!! My husband (who love Halloween) loved this idea! It’s mighty creepy Marilyn! Sorry it took so long to visit – I’m a tad behind!! Thanks for sharing at the What’s for Dinner link up!
Thanks Helen. I hope all is getting better for you. Your husband sounds like my kind of Halloween lover!
Oh my gosh, that zombie centerpiece is so disgustingly adorable!! Thanks for sharing at Thoughts of Home. 🙂
You are welcome Stacey. I am so glad he “upset” you!
Creepy as all get out but I’d do it in a heartbeat! Thank you for sharing with us this week at Celebrate Your Story, have a great week.
I am tickled you like it Sandra. This is the only “tablescape” or homemade ce terpiece I have ever tried. Pretty pitiful huh?
What a cool idea Marilyn! Last year I did a football stadium for a Super Bowl Party we were attending … it was a lot of work but it turned out awesome. I’m sure your grandkids loved this! xo
Those football stadiums are alot of work! You are very creative to make one of those. My granddaughters reaction was just to laugh and laugh. Her 5 year old boy cousin cried!
Brilliantly disgusting!????
I love this idea!
Thanks Marilyn!
Thanks Michelle. It was a big hit!
Oh my gosh…that is awesome! It would probably freak my kids out but I love it. Thanks so much for sharing your creative idea with us at Share The Wealth Sunday!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts Lisa! It seems the boys LOVE IT while the girls say it’s gross. Either way it is a hit!
That centerpiece is so foul and awful and WONDERFUL 🙂
Thank you! I am happy you found it ghoul worthy! Enjoy your week.
Marilyn you are so creative. Not only can you create delicious dishes, this center piece is perfect for a Halloween Party. Thanks for sharing on Sunday’s Best Linkup.
Thank you Rhonda! Those are such kind words. Have an enjoyable week!
That’s such a great idea, now I know what to do with hubbys old tattered jeans! Thanks so much for joining the DI & DI Link party.
I love this idea! It is great for any holiday or kids party. I was thinking of making a princess one for my granddaughters birthday next month!
The Zombie centerpiece is hilarious. Not only does it work for Halloween but it is perfect if you throw a Walking Dead party. What a clever idea.
What could be done at a Walking Dead party! I may need to throw one. Can you see the wheels turning over here? LOL what fun! Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Marilyn this is the cutest most creative food centerpiece EVER! I love it!
Thanks Sinea! I have had alot of mixed reactions with this. But Halloween is supposed to fun!
Thank you for sharing with us at #JoyHopeLive!
You are welcome Mary! Have a great week.
Great collection of treats, and the buffet layout is kinda spooky, lol, perfect for Halloween! I hope you enjoyed yours! We were on the road for a band competition, so no costumes or trick or treating for us this year!
Thanks Nikki. The little boys loved it.
This looks fun but scary! Thanks Marilyn for sharing this fun Halloween idea with us at #AnythingGoes.
Thank you Sue! See you soon
Great zombie feast – Thanks for linking up to Pin Worthy Wednesday, I have pinned your post to the Pin Worthy Wednesday Pinterest Board.
Thanks Amber Jane! Have a great week.
What a fun, clever idea for food display! My daughter would definitely be freaked out, haha! Thanks for sharing on the Shine Blog Hop!
Thanks Tiffany! I will be on the party trail Monday! Girls are so different than boys.
There are some delicious looking recipes. Looking forward to trying out a few. Thanks for sharing with us at the Merry Monday Link Party! Hope to see you again on Sunday night!
Thanks Tiffany! I will be on the party trail Monday!
Thank you for sharing at the Thursday Favorite Things blog hop
You are welcome Betty!
What a fabulously fun post! Thanks for bringing all these ideas over to Throwdown Thursday!
Thank you so much! I really enjoy your party Frugal Housefrau.
The zombie buffet looks fun! Thanks for sharing this on MMM! 🙂
Cathy
Thanks Cathy! I will see you Monday. Happy Halloween!
Super fun idea! Pinned and tweet. Thank you for being a part of our party. I hope to see you on Monday at 7 pm, because we love to party with you! Happy Halloween~Lou Lou Girls
Thanks Kim! See you Monday!
That dead body blew my mind. 😛
Awesome stuff, Marilyn. Thank you for putting all these recipes together and sharing them on #tiptuesday.
Have a fabulous weekend!
You are welcome Debbie! It is the one time of year I can be “gross”! Have a great week.
LOVE this!!! How clever!! I know lots of kids that would absolutely love this! Thanks so much for linking up with Fabulous Foodie Fridays. xx
Thanks Lucy! The boys really get a kick out of it! Have a great week. Good to see you back.
Oh Marilyn I’m not sure I could eat that zombie!!! Thanks for sharing this with us at #WednesdaysWisdom.
Oh, Sue! It’s the food in the serving platters in the zombie! Thanks for the comment.
Wow, how fab is the zombie centre piece! That would look amazing at a Halloween party for kids or adults, and so easy to make too 🙂
Thanks for linking up to #AnythingGoes
Debbie
I never have room for decorations on my table after I get all the food set up. This turned out so great and the bous just went crazy! Of course they had to go after each other with the tongs!
All the ideas are incredible… I will definitely try some of the at home with the kids!!! Love your post!! thanks for linking every week #Alittlebitofeverything
Thanks Iveth! Bloggers are so e of the best recipe creators! I have tried some of these and they are awesome. Let me know how it goes. Have a great Halloween!
OMG! My 8 year old would get the biggest kick out of that. He would say, “Eww, this is so gross and at the same time, this is so cool!” I love the little buffet look of it too! Visiting from #alittlebitofeverything
Thanks Michelle for coming by and letting me know! I had two boys and it is so cute how they love all that grossness! Have a great day!
You too!
Wishing dry weather for your son to trick or treat!
Thanks! I do hope it stops raining by then 🙂
Hahaha…this cracked me up! How neat!
Thanks for joining Cooking and Crafting with J & J!
Thanks Jess. I always have so much food I never have the room for decorations. This is killing teo birds with one stone!