Halloween is one of my favorite times of the year. While my kids were growing up I loved planning their costumes. I usually made their costumes or we went thrift store shopping to put something together.
Then as they got older it gave me an excuse to be a big kid myself. We would decorate the house with all sorts of scary things. Skeletons, zombies, tombstones, bats and spiders. We had a smoke machine and the scary sounds playing when the neighborhood kids would come to trick or treat. We would dress in costume and loved seeing if we could scare them.
Oh, don't worry, we didn't scare the little ones.
But from Jr High up they were fair game!
When I saw we were doing a Halloween themed Sunday Supper. I had to think really hard. My first reaction was to do something really creepy or gross. Last year I made Goblin Eggs (think moldy looking green deviled eggs...YUM!!). I also came up with the Vampire Kiss Martini.
I decided to go back, waaaaaaay back, to the beginning, when Halloween was about watching all of the cute Halloween shows with my kids, carving pumpkins, and trick or treating. It wasn't spooky ghouly in those days. It was just tons of family fun, and "It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown" was one of our favorite shows! It just didn't feel like Halloween until we watched it together.
So it just seemed natural to come up with something that would bring those memories to a dish. I have been wanting to bake squash and this just seemed like the perfect opportunity to do it. I did some searching on the internet for stuffed pumpkin recipes. Who knew there would be so many??
I ended up choosing a recipe by Dorie Greenspan. She explains that this was a recipe given to her by a friend and that it is ever changing and evolving. I loved the "bones" of the recipe, and knew where I wanted to change it just a tad to suit our tastes and needs.
I had no doubt that it would be good. With 96% of 125 reviews saying they would make it again, I figured I was pretty safe.
Kevin and I, however, were NOT prepared for exactly how good this dish would be!
Like blow your mind good!
The combination of the sweet herbed sausage and the salty tang of the cheese with the slight sweetness of the pumpkin meat? Ahhhh-mazing!!
I can't wait to make it again. It is perfect for a holiday meal, and has that serious WOW factor!
adapted from
Sausage Stuffed Pumpkin
Published 10/26/2013
Ingredients
- 1 pumpkin, about 3 pounds
- Salt and freshly ground pepper
- 1/2 pound Italian Sausage
- 1 envelope (6 ounces) stuffing (I used Mrs Cubbison's)
- 4 ounces Gruyère cheese, cut into 1/2 inch cubes
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese plus more for sprinkling on top
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup fresh chives, chopped
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme, chopped
- 1/3 cup heavy cream
- Pinch of freshly grated nutmeg
Instructions
- With the rack in the center of the oven, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Brown the sausage in a skillet breaking into bits with a wooden spoon.
- Cut a cap out of the top of the pumpkin at a 45 degree angle. You want to cut off enough of the top to make it easy for you to work inside the pumpkin. The same as you would for a jack-o-lantern. Remove the seeds and strings from the cap and inside the pumpkin. Generously salt and pepper the inside of the pumpkin, and put it in a cast iron skillet or in a pot.
- Toss the bread, cheese, garlic, sausage, and herbs together in a bowl. Season with salt and pepper—you probably won't need much salt because of the cheeses, but taste to be sure. Spoon the mix into the pumpkin, pack it down a bit. The pumpkin should be well filled. Stir the cream with the nutmeg and some salt and pepper and pour it into the pumpkin.
- Put the cap in place and bake the pumpkin for about 90 minutes, the flesh of the pumpkin should be tender enough to be pierced easily with the tip of a knife. Remove the cap and sprinkle with a bit of Parmesan cheese. Cook an additional 20 to 30 minutes, so that the liquid can bake away and the top of the stuffing can brown a little.
Prep Time: 00 hrs. 15 mins.
Total time: 2 hrs. 25 mins.
Tags: beef, chive, garlic, Gruyere cheese, heavy cream, Holiday Dishes, Italian sausage, Main Dishes, Parmesan cheese, pumpkin, thyme, Halloween, Thanksgiving,
Here are some more fabulous recipes for your Halloween dining pleasure!

Join the #SundaySupper conversation on twitter each Sunday. We tweet throughout the day and share recipes from all over the world. Our weekly chat starts at 7:00 pm EST. Follow the #SundaySupper hashtag and remember to include it in your tweets to join in the chat. Check out our#SundaySupper Pinterest board for more fabulous recipes and food photos.
COCKTAILS
- Bloody Maria by La Cocina de Leslie
- Heads Will Roll Cocktail by Noshing with The Nolands
- Wicked Pomegranate Blueberry Sangria by The Messy Baker
SWEETS AND DESSERTS
- Snickers Fudge by I Run for Wine
- Halloween Pumpkin Chocolate Parfaits by Daily Dish Recipes
- White Chocolate Monster Munch by That Skinny Chick Can Bake
- Soft and Chewy Chocolate Candies by What Smells So Good?
- Candy Corn Puppy Chow by Pies and Plots
- Pumpkin Dirt Pudding Graveyard Parfaits by Neighborfood
- Candied Pumpkin (Calabaza en Tacha) by Magnolia Days
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- Frozen “Boo” Nana Pops by Momma’s Meals
CUPCAKES, COOKIES AND MORE
- Bourbon Caramel Glazed Pumpkin Donuts by Girl in the Little Red Kitchen
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- Soft Apple Cider Cookies by Killer Bunnies, Inc
- Spooky Cookies by Basic N Delicious
- Spiced Pumpkin Bomb Cupcakes by My Other City By the Bay
- Cinnamon Rolls à la Great Pumpkin by Ninja Baking
- Trick or Beet Brownies by Foxes Love Lemons
- Caramel Surprise Witches’ Hat Cupcakes by Hot Momma’s Kitchen Chaos
- Dark and Stormy Gingerbread by girlichef
- {Flourless} Monster Cookie Dough Dip by Cupcakes & Kale Chips
- Monster and Mummy Cupcakes by Hip Foodie Mom
- Pumpkin Cut-out Cookies by Take A Bite Out Of Boca
- Candied Pumpkin Cheese Cake with Maple Cream by Vintage Kitchen Notes
- Easy Chocolate Pumpkin Cupcakes by The Dinner-Mom
- Zombie Cupcakes by Treats & Trinkets
APPETIZER, MAIN MEALS
- Green Tomato Chilli by Jane’s Adventures in Dinner
- It’s the Great Stuffed Pumpkin by Bobbi’s Kozy Kitchen
- Mummy Calzone by Curious Cuisiniere
- Pumpkin Soup by Juanita’s Cocina
- Pizza Bones by Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
- Sincere Pumpkin Patch Spicy Cheese Ball by Food Lust People Love
- Spooky Stew by Happy Baking Days
- Bloody Rice by Crazy Foodie Stunts
- Ghost Flatbread Pizzas by Family Foodie
- Witch Hats by A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
Join the #SundaySupper conversation on twitter each Sunday. We tweet throughout the day and share recipes from all over the world. Our weekly chat starts at 7:00 pm EST. Follow the #SundaySupper hashtag and remember to include it in your tweets to join in the chat. Check out our#SundaySupper Pinterest board for more fabulous recipes and food photos.
Would you like to join the Sunday Supper Movement? It’s easy. You can sign up by clicking here → Sunday Supper Movement.
Looks really yummy!! Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteGlad you like it Kathya!
DeleteThis is such a great idea. I can't wait to try this recipe.
ReplyDeleteI hope you do!!
DeleteI totaly love this idea! What a fun dinner and perfect for serving at Thanksgiving.
ReplyDeleteYes, I Would kill for double ovens again so I could make several of these while the turkey is cooking!
DeleteSausage and pumpkin is such a perfect combination. I love the sweet and savory together. And what a stunning presentation!
ReplyDeleteYes with the cheese and sausage and pumpkin the flavors were amazing!
DeleteHaha, I love the title. This is adorable!
ReplyDeleteThanks Kim :)
DeleteWow for both flavor and looks!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Dorothy!
DeleteI've made this recipe before so can vouch for its deliciousness! Perfect for Halloween!
ReplyDeleteIt really did catch me off guard. I figured it would be good, but no where as good as it turned out to be!
DeleteGreat meal for entertaining - it must make quite a centrepiece!
ReplyDeleteNext time I want to make individual ones.
DeleteI had the same dilemma this year...I went back and forth and back and forth, wanting to make something scary. In the end, my dish wasn't scary at all. I do love the sound of this stuffed pumpkin, it sounds delicious.
ReplyDeleteThanks Heather! It always feels like it should be scary for Halloween right?
DeleteOMG - I met Dorie last month at the IFBC. She was the keynote speaker and even gave me recommendations for our honeymoon. In my notes from her session, I wrote down that I must make this recipe. I love that you made it!!!! I haven't gotten around to it yet because I am scared.
ReplyDeleteI was supposed to go to the IFBC but ended up not going :( I would have loved to meet her!
DeleteA smoke machine, that's so great! I bet your kids had the time of their life. This is the ultimate pumpkin dinner Bobbi! Gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteYa, I am really just a big kid at heart!
DeleteThis is such a great idea, I love the presentation!
ReplyDeleteThanks Shaina!
DeleteI have never had this before but what a fantastic delicious idea!!
ReplyDeleteI am already craving it again!
DeleteStep aside bread bowls, a pumpkin bowl is the new hot thing!! How tasty too.
ReplyDeleteOh yes! And so much healthier!!
DeleteWowee, that looks awesome
ReplyDeleteThanks Sarah!
DeleteThis sounds delicious. What a unique way to use pumpkin!
ReplyDeleteI am so glad you like it!
DeleteOh my gosh, Bobbi - this looks SOOOOO GOOD! It's supposed to be really rainy and cold here in Michigan for tomorrow night's trick or treaters - I'm sure they'd all love to come home to these!
ReplyDeleteYes, nice and warm and oh so good!
DeleteWhat a perfect way to serve a meal this season! Thanks for sharing it!
ReplyDeleteSo glad you like it Cindy!
DeleteSuch a great idea! Would be wonderful at a fall party!
ReplyDeleteI would love to make mini ones for a party.
Delete