Dinner in a Pumpkin has become a halloween tradition in the Mathuse household. After trick or treating, we come home and tuck into this hearty casserole which cooks right inside a pumpkin as we go to scare the neighbours! My kids look forward to it and know that they can’t eat any of their Halloween candy until they’ve eaten their pumpkin dinner first.
This is super easy to prep too. Simply make a filling from ground beef, onions, mushrooms and walnuts. Mix it together with a can of soup, sugar, soy sauce and rice. Bake in the oven for 90 minutes while the kids are out trick or treating in the neighbourhood!
To make Dinner in a Pumpkin, you will need the following ingredients:
Preheat the oven to 375 °F. Line a baking sheet with foil.
Place the pumpkin on the baking sheet. Slice the top off the pumpkin and clean out the pulp and seeds. Save the lid.
Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Sauté onion and mushrooms in oil.
Add beef and cook until browned. Drain the grease from the pan. Add walnuts and season to taste with salt and pepper.
Mix the soup, sugar, and soy sauce together in a large bowl. Add the cooked beef mixture and cooked rice.
Empty the contents of the bowl into the hollowed out pumpkin and replace the lid.
Place the pumpkin in the center of the oven and bake for one hour and 30 minutes.
Remove the lid of the pumpkin and check that the outside of the pumpkin is a dark orange with tender flesh that can easily be scooped off the sides with a spoon. Bake for an additional 10-15 minutes if it’s not fully cooked.
Place the pumpkin on a serving plate. Stir and scoop off chunks of pumpkin into the casserole to serve.
Dinner in a Pumpkin is a perfect family meal for Halloween. It’s super wholesome and the kids love it too! Please remember to tag #CookMeRecipes if you take pics of your dinner in a pumpkin this Halloween!
I love it! Thanks for sharing recipe!
