A Halloween Feast: Dinner Served in a Pumpkin!
When it comes to Halloween, there’s no better way to impress your friends, and family (and celebrate the season) than by serving an “entire meal inside a pumpkin.” We did this for years at the farm and it was a tradition we looked forward too.
“Dinner in a Pumpkin” is a hearty casserole baked directly inside a hollowed-out pumpkin. As it cooks, the pumpkin softens slightly, infusing your meal with its subtle sweetness and earthy aroma. It’s rustic, comforting, and perfectly themed for a Halloween or fall gathering.
THIS RECIPE IS PERFECT FOR….
- Halloween family dinners
- Fall gatherings or potlucks
- Pumpkin-themed parties
- Mini pumpkins, they make adorable individual servings.
INGREDIENTS YOU WILL NEED…
- 1 medium pumpkin (about 8–10 inches in diameter)
- Ground beef, turkey, or sausage
- Small onion
- Bell Pepper
- Rice or Quinoa
- Cream of Mushroom (or Chicken) soup
- Soy Sauce or Worcestershire Sauce
- Shredded cheese (optional)
- Salt, pepper, and garlic to taste
Make sure you choose a pumpkin that sits flat and has thick, even walls. Sugar pumpkins or pie pumpkins work best.
Once dinner’s done, your pumpkin can even serve as compost or garden décor. Sustainable and spook-tacular!
Scroll down below for the complete recipe and ENJOY!!
Ingredients
- 1 medium pumpkin (8–10 inches wide)
- 1 lb ground beef or sausage
- 1 diced onion
- 1 diced bell pepper
- 1 can cream of mushroom or chicken soup
- 2 cups cooked rice (or quinoa)
- 2 tbsps soy sauce
- 1 cup shredded cheese (cheddar or mozzarella)
- Salt, pepper, garlic powder to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Cut the top off the pumpkin and scoop out seeds and strings.
- In a skillet, cook ground beef, onion, and bell pepper until browned. Drain fat.
- Stir in soup, rice, soy sauce, and seasonings.
- Spoon the mixture into the cleaned pumpkin and top with cheese.
- Place the filled pumpkin on a baking sheet lined with foil.
- Bake for 1–1.5 hours, until the pumpkin flesh is tender.
- Serve by scooping out both filling and soft pumpkin — it’s edible and delicious!