This Roasted Stuffed Pumpkin is full of scrumptious elements—sausage, apples, cranberries, spinach, pecans, feta cheese, onions, garlic, and recent herbs. The filling combines savory and candy flavors, making it a great dish for a vacation gathering or any event! Serve it alongside Thanksgiving turkey or Christmas ham (or each!).
Stuffed pumpkin
The savory stuffing completely enhances the pure refined sweetness of the pumpkin. This gluten-free recipe is a superb addition to any vacation menu and works splendidly as a fast weeknight meal. I’ve made this stuffed pumpkin numerous instances, and everybody who tries it loves it! I used small pumpkins, halved them, roasted them within the oven, and crammed them with a flavorful sausage-apple combination. This dish has a broad attraction: one stuffed half makes a satisfying but mild weeknight meal and you can even serve it as a aspect. I served it as soon as as a aspect dish to grilled steaks and everybody cleaned their plates! And, after all, it is a improbable addition to the Thanksgiving desk subsequent to the vacation turkey and makes a wonderful aspect dish for Christmas ham similar to this stuffed butternut squash and this apple stuffed acorn squash.
Important elements and substitutions
- Pumpkin – Make certain to decide on an edible pumpkin selection, like pie pumpkin or sugar pumpkin, slightly than a carving pumpkin. Search for a small pumpkin you’ll be able to maintain in a single hand, in regards to the dimension of a medium or giant acorn squash. And in case you don’t have pumpkin readily available, acorn squash works completely in its place!
- Sausage – I used scorching crumbled Italian sausage, however you’ll be able to go for a light model or a traditional pork sausage, like sage.
- Apples – I used Honeycrisp apples. You should utilize every other variety – simply be certain to decide on apples of agency texture in order that they stand as much as cooking. I like to recommend Fuji or Gala.
- Onion and garlic – They’re sautéed with the sausage and supply an important flavorful base! You should utilize any sort of onion—candy, yellow, or white.
- Spinach – I used recent spinach, however frozen spinach can actually be used! Make certain to thaw it and drain it from any liquid. I’d even pat it dry with paper towels. Another choice is kale.
- Dried Cranberries – I used Craisins, soaking them briefly in scorching water to plump them up. You might additionally use dried figs, blueberries, or dried cherries.
- Pecans add crunch and texture. Or, use walnuts or pistachios. If you wish to hold this nut-free, add roasted pumpkin seeds!
Tips on how to make stuffed pumpkin
Right here’s a fast overview of the recipe directions with useful step-by-step images. For the complete, detailed recipe, scroll all the way down to the recipe card.
- Roast the Squash. You’ll want 2 small pumpkins (equivalent to pie pumpkin or sugar pumpkin). Slice every one in half and scoop out the seeds, providing you with 4 halves. Roast them in a preheated oven at 400°F for half-hour.
- Make the Filling. Whereas the squash is roasting, put together the sausage filling. Begin by cooking the onions, garlic, and sausage collectively for about 10 minutes. As soon as the sausage is totally cooked via and the onions have softened, stir in spinach and prepare dinner till wilted. Combine in dried cranberries.
- Stuff the Squash. If needed, reheat the sausage filling on the stovetop, then spoon it into the cavities of every of the 4 pumpkin halves. Prime with toasted pecans and, if desired, with crumbled feta cheese and extra dried cranberries. And similar to that, your dinner is prepared!
Storage and reheating suggestions
- Refrigerate. Retailer leftovers in an hermetic container or zipped plastic bag within the fridge for as much as 4 days.
- Freeze. This dish freezes nicely and could be saved in an hermetic container or freezer bag for as much as 2 months, making it an important possibility for meal prep and make-ahead meals.
- Reheat within the Oven. To reheat, place the stuffed pumpkin in a preheated oven at 350°F for about half-hour, or till the filling is warmed via.
- Reheat within the Microwave. Reheat within the microwave in 30-second intervals, till heated via. Alternatively (and this may be a faster possibility), take away the sausage-apple filling, microwave each the filling and pumpkin individually, then restuff the pumpkin earlier than serving.
What to serve with stuffed pumpkin
Pumpkin pairs splendidly with a wide range of easy sides, equivalent to Autumn greens like Brussels sprouts, carrots, or inexperienced beans. It additionally goes nice with roasted or mashed potatoes. Listed here are my high suggestions:
- Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon, Toasted Pecans, and Dried Cranberries
- Simple Scalloped Potatoes with Garlic, Thyme, and Parmesan Cheese
- Tacky Baked Asparagus with Gruyere cheese, Garlic, and Bacon
- Inexperienced Beans with Pine Nuts
- Mashed Potatoes with Roasted Garlic
Extra pumpkin recipes
- Creamy Pumpkin Gnocchi with Spinach and Sausage (30-Minute, One-Pan)
- Apple Pumpkin Bundt Cake
- Pumpkin Ravioli with Brown Butter Sauce and Pecans
Different Thanksgiving recipes you would possibly like
- 50 Greatest Thanksgiving Recipes (The Full Vacation Menu)– When you’re searching for a whole Thanksgiving menu that options all the things: Fall-inspired vacation appetizers, aspect dishes, salads, foremost programs, pasta recipes, desserts, and even breakfast.
- 60 Greatest Thanksgiving Aspect Dishes– in case you’re wanting just for aspect dish recipes so as to add to your vacation feast!
- 30 Greatest Thanksgiving Salads – When you’re searching for festive, colourful, and recent Thanksgiving salads.
- 40 Greatest Meatless Thanksgiving Recipes – this menu options MEATLESS, VEGETARIAN vacation foremost dishes and aspect dishes, and you will not miss the meat with this menu!
Stuffed Pumpkin with Sausage and Apples
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Components
Roasted Pumpkin
- 2 small pumpkins about 6 inches extensive
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ¼ teaspoon salt or extra
- freshly floor coarse black pepper
Apple Sausage Filling
- 1 small onion diced
- 5 cloves garlic finely chopped
- 19 oz scorching Italian sausage crumbled
- 5 oz recent spinach
- 2 giant apples cored and diced into small cubes
- ½ cup dried cranberries
- ½ cup pecans toasted
- ½ cup crumbled feta cheese optionally available
- recent thyme
Directions
Roast the Pumpkin
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Preheat the oven to 400°F (204°C). Use edible pumpkin (equivalent to sugar pumpkin or pie pumpkin), not the carving variety.
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Take away the surface stem (if current) and slice every pumpkin in half. Use a spoon to scoop out the seeds and any fibrous strands. Brush the within and lower sides of the 4 pumpkin halves with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
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Place the pumpkin halves lower aspect down on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Roast for 30-40 minutes on the bottom rack or till the pumpkin is delicate and simply pierced with a fork from the surface.
Make the Apple-Sausage Filling
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Whereas the pumpkin roasts, put together the filling.
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Warmth a big skillet over medium warmth and add the crumbled sausage, chopped onion, and garlic. Prepare dinner for about 10 minutes, stirring often, breaking apart the sausage, till the sausage is totally cooked and the onions are softened.
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Add the spinach and stir till it wilts. Stir in dried cranberries.
Stuff the Pumpkin
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Be aware: I extremely advocate utilizing toasted pecans. Right here is methods to toast uncooked pecans: Unfold them out in a single layer on a baking sheet and toast them within the preheated oven at 350°F for about 10 minutes, simply till they darken barely.
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As soon as the pumpkin is roasted, take away it from the oven and switch the halves lower aspect up.
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Stuff every pumpkin half with the apple-sausage combination, then high with toasted pecans and, if desired, feta cheese and extra dried cranberries. End with a sprinkle of recent thyme.
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If wanted, reheat the stuffed pumpkins on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet within the oven for about 10 or quarter-hour.
Vitamin
