With over 300 episodes across 15 seasons, Supernatural went through some big changes throughout the seasons. While some look fondly on season 1’s episodic structure, it is no secret that Supernatural’s decision to change its formula was partly why the show lasted as long as it did.

While some fans maintain that the best episodes of Supernatural happen in the Eric Kripke-era of the show, there are plenty of fantastic episodes in the later seasons. However, despite the prominent fan base and critical acclaim, watching Supernatural can be a daunting task due to the sheer amount of content. Therefore, whether you are looking for a taste before you binge-watch, or simply want to relive the nostalgia, we have whittled it down to just 10 great stand-alone episodes of Supernatural that you can watch without any major references to the overarching story.

10 “Monster Movie”

Season 4, Episode 5

As Supernatural is a show that often features terrifying monsters, with characters often dying grisly deaths, you would not expect an episode to essentially parody iconic monsters from old Hollywood films. However, this is exactly what “Monster Movie” does. Taking a break from the main story arc, Sam and Dean head to Pennsylvania to investigate several murders at Oktoberfest, but what they find is utterly bizarre.

“Monster Movie” offers a comedic episode to Supernatural viewers, breaking up a rather heavy season which introduced Angels into the Apocalypse equation

Presented entirely in black and white, “Monster Movie” offers a comedic episode to Supernatural viewers, breaking up a rather heavy season that introduced Angels into the Apocalypse equation. Posing as FBI agents, Sam and Dean start the episode investigating a string of murders featuring the stereotypical-looking vampire bite (something that does not happen with real vampires in Supernatural). Yet, by the end of season 4, episode 5, the Winchester brothers find themselves chasing a werewolf, a mummy, and moped-driving Dracula himself, while surrounded by lederhosen.

9 “Everybody Loves a Clown”

Season 2, Episode 2

Supernatural season 2, episode 2 provides a classic “monster of the week” type of episode that sees Sam and Dean hunt a ghostly clown. Although there is some discussion of John Winchester’s death and the Yellow-Eyed Demon at the beginning of the episode, the majority of “Everybody Loves a Clown” is centered on a random case. As one of the earliest episodes, it is episodes like this that defined Supernatural.

After venturing to the Roadhouse for the first time, Sam and Dean meet the Harvelles and discover a whole hunter network which they previously knew nothing about. While the Roadhouse’s resident hacker looks over their notes on the Yellow-Eyed Demon, the Winchesters find a case involving a string of clown murders following a circus. The episode presents some fun twists and turns, especially considering its carnival setting, but the overall tone of Supernatural’s “Everybody Loves a Clown” is quite serious, making it a good stand-alone episode example.

8 “Ghostfacers”

Season 3, Episode 13

Stepping away from the typical episodic formula of Supernatural, “Ghostfacers” sees the return of some familiar faces from the previous season. Despite the fact it is not the Ghostfacers’ first appearance in Supernatural, the episode works as a stand-alone due to the way it is presented. Furthermore, the character focus shifting to other people, as opposed to Sam and Dean, makes it a standout among other Supernatural episodes.

Showrunner Eric Kripke wrote “Ghostfacers” to highlight what Supernatural could become should reality TV take over following the 2007–08 Writers Guild of America strike.

“Ghostfacers” sees the whole episode from the perspective of a gritty reality show about hunting the paranormal, complete with shaky cam and night vision. Ed Zeddmore and Harry Spangler return to Supernatural in their second appearance, this time with a whole crew, and their investigation of a haunted manor is suddenly crashed by the Winchesters. The whole episode is quite funny as it shows Sam and Dean from an outsider’s perspective, and the focus being on introducing the Ghostfacers themselves makes it an easy watch without previous context.

7 “Bad Day at Black Rock”

Season 3, Episode 3

Supernatural’s stand-alone episodes tend to be more comedy-focused, as they act as a reprieve from the heavy-hitting episodes throughout the rest of the season. “Bad Day at Black Rock” is no exception. Supernatural season 3, episode 3, sees Sam and Dean finding a cursed rabbit’s foot, which brings the good luck, and then losing it in the same episode, with a lot of physical comedy along the way.

When the Winchesters receive a message that their dad’s secret storage unit has been broken into, Sam and Dean find themselves hanging onto a cursed rabbit foot which grants anyone who touches it good fortune. Elated, Dean immediately abuses Sam’s newfound power. However, a pesky thief called Bella steals the foot and turns their luck sour, putting Sam’s life in danger. Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles excel in the physical comedy of this episode, making it a memorable affair, even if Supernatural wasted Bella’s character in future seasons.

6 “Yellow Fever”

Season 4, Episode 6

One of the most memorable Supernatural episodes of all time is, without a doubt, “Yellow Fever.” The episode has the most bizarre set-up ever, with Dean contracting “ghost sickness,” a disease that will literally scare you to death via hallucinations. “Yellow Fever” brought about one of the most quoted lines in the show, as Dean hilariously breaks down their hunting lives while completely out of his mind, saying, “You know who does that? Crazy people! We… are insane!” “Yellow Fever” even finishes up with a brilliant blooper of Jensen Ackles lip-syncing “Eye of the Tiger.” Check it out below:

When investigating a string of suspicious deaths, Dean starts to experience general anxiety. However, as the episode goes on, Dean becomes more and more agitated, veering into full-blown terror, leading Bobby and Sam to frantically find the cure. “Yellow Fever” is full of memorable scenes, from Dean being chased by an adorable dog to screaming his lungs out at a stray cat, and serves as a perfect lighthearted stand-alone Supernatural episode.

5 “Roadkill”

Season 2, Episode 16

The early seasons of Supernatural were particularly notable for their “monster of the week” format, but the underlying narrative tended to gradually hint at the overarching plot of the season. For that reason, there aren’t many stand-alone Supernatural episodes in seasons 1 and 2. However, “Roadkill” is one of the few stand-alone episodes of Supernatural that we wish we could forget, just so that we could watch it again for the first time.

"You're like a walking encyclopedia of weirdness." - Dean to Sam

The episode begins slightly differently from other Supernatural episodes in that the death in the opening scene is not technically caused by a supernatural being. After getting into a car crash with her husband, Molly McNamara finds herself lost in the woods. Coming across a road, Molly enlists Sam and Dean for their help in finding her husband. As the episode goes on, “Roadkill” presents a lot of mysteries for Molly and the viewers, as we are left out of the loop, which eventually builds up to one of the best twists seen in Supernatural.

4 “Baby”

Season 11, Episode 4

Supernatural’s stand-alone episodes are not afraid to step outside the box for the show, experimenting with different ways of telling a story. Season 11, episode 4, “Baby,” is the perfect example of this, and for that reason, it is arguably one of the best episodes out of all of Supernatural’s seasons. What makes “Baby” so special is its focus on the Winchester’s beloved car, as the whole episode is told from the point of view of the Impala.

Jensen Ackles revealed that he actually did the 180 Impala drift stunt in the episode after learning it on his lunch break.

While driving to Oregon for a possible victim of a werewolf attack, “Baby” explores various moments in the Impala throughout the Winchesters' days as they travel to the case and work the investigation. The inventive approach to “Baby” delivers some unique and interesting shots, allowing for a new way of telling a story, while cementing Baby’s legacy as an honorary Winchester. Furthermore, the fact that the actors actually did a lot of car stunts in this episode due to the camera setup makes “Baby” all the more interesting.

3 “Regarding Dean”

Season 12, Episode 11

When Dean gets hit by a spell that slowly erases his memory, Sam enlists the help of the witch Rowena to help find the cure. “Regarding Dean” is an interesting episode which really showcases Jensen Ackles’ ability to pull on the heartstrings of fans. The episode is the ideal stand-alone episode of Supernatural as there isn’t much reference to the overarching narrative of the season, because the focus is purely on the case that Dean cannot .

“Regarding Dean” has some funny moments, from Dean riding a mechanical bull called Larry to calling a lamp a “light stick.” However, what starts as a lighthearted situation of Dean forgetting minor things, suddenly turns quite serious, as Dean begins to forget the things that he holds dear, including his own identity. For that reason, “Regarding Dean” is one of the saddest Supernatural episodes that has us in tears, but it also works as the perfect stand-alone character-driven episode with a brilliant performance from Ackles.

2 "A Very Supernatural Christmas"

Season 3, Episode 8

There aren’t a lot of Christmas episodes in Supernatural, so “A Very Supernatural Christmas” already stands out for its plot. As the mid-season finale for season 3, the episode follows Sam and Dean investigating a string of murders by an Anti-Santa, who pulls his victims up a chimney. There is some reference to Dean’s impending death as a result of his Crossroads deal, with the older Winchester stating that this Christmas will be his last, but the general focus of the episode is on the case, making it a good stand-alone.

With Sam and Dean spearing pagan gods with a Christmas tree, the episode maintains its Supernatural allure

“A Very Supernatural Christmas” is the perfect nostalgic episode to watch during the holiday season. With Sam and Dean spearing pagan gods with a Christmas tree, the episode maintains its Supernatural allure, while acting as a bittersweet Christmas-themed episode full of whimsy. The set decorations for “A Very Supernatural Christmas” are fantastic, capturing that festive feel, and the flashbacks to the Winchesters’ childhood reveal enough about the brothers for those who haven’t seen previous episodes for context.

1 “Scoobynatural”

Season 13, Episode 16

Ranking as one of the best stand-alone Supernatural episodes, without a doubt, is season 13, episode 16, “Scoobynatural.” The entirety of this episode plays out separately to any of season 13’s story, requiring absolutely zero context from the rest of the show to understand the plot. The purely self-contained story is a fan-favorite for many Supernatural fans as it showcases the most inventive, creative, and funniest parts of the beloved show.

As reward for fighting a possessed giant stuffed dinosaur, a pawn shop owner gives Sam and Dean a big-screen TV. However, when the Winchesters turn it on in the Bunker, they find themselves sucked into the “A Night Of Fright Is No Delight” episode of Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! as 2D cartoons. In the episode, Sam, Dean, and Castiel forces with the actual Scooby Gang to solve, what turns out to be, a very real ghostly mystery, full of hilariously bizarre moments and light-hearted Supernatural fun, making it a fantastic stand-alone episode.