A Meal In A Pumpkin Recipe

This Halloween, ditch the usual fare and try this incredibly cute and surprisingly delicious meal served inside a real pumpkin! Perfect for a fun family dinner, this recipe was initially a 'yuck' for me, but it's become a favorite. Kids adore the novelty of eating dinner from a pumpkin. Baking time depends on pumpkin size; I baked a 10-12 lb pumpkin for almost 2 hours – consider that a guideline. Get ready for a memorable and spooky meal!

Prep Time 60 mins

Cook Time 150 mins

Calories 483.8 kcal

Protein 42g

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169

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The Forktionary Kitchen Team

Adapted from Food.com, then tested & standardized by Forktionary.

Ingredients for A Meal In A Pumpkin

1 medium onion, chopped
1 pound ground beef
1 pound Italian sausage, removed from casings
Soy Sauce
Brown Sugar
Mushroom
Cream Of Chicken Soup
Water Chestnuts
Bell Pepper
Jalapeno
Pimentos
1 cup uncooked long-grain rice
to taste Black Pepper
to taste Salt
Creole Seasoning
1 (10-12 lb) pumpkin
lightly coat shortening or cooking spray
1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree
1 (15 ounce) can diced tomatoes
2 cups beef broth
1 tsp dried thyme
1 tsp dried rosemary

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How to Make A Meal In A Pumpkin

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
In a large skillet, brown 1 lb ground beef, 1 medium onion (chopped), and 1 lb Italian sausage (removed from casings) over medium-high heat. Drain off any excess grease.
Cook until beef and sausage are no longer pink. Drain well.
Cut the top off of a 10-12 lb pumpkin and reserve the lid.
Carefully clean out the seeds and stringy pulp from the pumpkin. Rinse well.
Lightly coat the inside of the pumpkin with shortening or cooking spray.
In a large bowl, combine the cooked beef and sausage mixture with 1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree, 1 (15 ounce) can diced tomatoes, 1 cup uncooked long-grain rice, 2 cups beef broth, 1 tsp dried thyme, 1 tsp dried rosemary, salt and pepper to taste.
Spoon the mixture into the prepared pumpkin.
Replace the pumpkin lid.
Wrap the stem and top of the pumpkin tightly with aluminum foil.
Place the pumpkin on a cookie sheet to catch any drips.
Bake for 2-3 hours, or until the rice is cooked through and the pumpkin is tender. Check for doneness with a fork; the rice should be soft. Do not overbake; the pumpkin should not begin to brown significantly.
Let stand for 10-15 minutes before serving. Carefully remove the lid and serve directly from the pumpkin.

Nutrition Information (Approximate per serving)

Sodium

45 g

Sugar

46g

Fat

39g

Carbs

18g

Recipe Categories (Choose a category and find related recipes!)

Main Courses Main Dish / Dinner Beef & Red Meat Ground Beef Recipes Pork Recipes American Fall Recipes Holiday Recipes Baking

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Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to make A Meal In A Pumpkin?

A Meal In A Pumpkin takes about 210 minutes from start to finish — roughly 60 minutes to prepare and 150 minutes to cook.

How many calories are in A Meal In A Pumpkin?

A Meal In A Pumpkin has approximately 483.8 calories per serving, with about 42 g protein, 18 g carbohydrates and 34 g fat.

What ingredients do I need for A Meal In A Pumpkin?

The key ingredients for A Meal In A Pumpkin are Onions, Hamburger Meat, Sausage, Soy Sauce, Brown Sugar, Mushroom. See the full list with measurements above.