Sausage & Rice Stuffed Pumpkins

Total Time:Prep: 30 min. Bake: 55 min.

By Taste Of Home Editorial Team

Recipe by Andria Peckham, Lowell, Michigan

Tested by Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Updated on Sep. 09, 2022

My children often request this dish. It also adds a great "wow" factor to a festive buffet table.—Andria Peckham, Lowell, Michigan

TEST KITCHEN APPROVED

Sausage & Rice Stuffed Pumpkins

Yield:12 servings
Prep:30 min
Cook:55 min

Ingredients

  • 3 small pie pumpkins (about 2 pounds each)
  • 1/2 pound bulk sweet Italian sausage
  • 1 pound fresh mushrooms, chopped
  • 2 medium onions, chopped
  • 1 medium green pepper, chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 4 cups cooked long grain rice
  • 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided
  • 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
  • 1/4 cup minced fresh parsley
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
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Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 450°. Cut a 3-in. circle around each pumpkin stem. Remove tops and set aside. Remove strings and seeds from pumpkins; discard seeds or save for roasting.
  2. In a large skillet, cook sausage, vegetables and garlic over medium heat 6-8 minutes or until sausage is no longer pink, breaking up sausage into crumbles; drain. Remove from heat; stir in rice, 3/4 cup cheese, eggs, parsley, salt and thyme.
  3. Place pumpkins in a 15x10x1-in. baking pan; fill with rice mixture. Replace pumpkin tops. Bake 30 minutes.
  4. Reduce oven setting to 350°. Bake 25-35 minutes longer or until pumpkin is tender when pierced with a knife and a thermometer inserted in filling reads 160°. Sprinkle remaining cheese over filling. Cut to serve.