Now that it’s October, we finally have a reason to whip up all of our fall favorites. (I mean, we went to pick up a PSL when the Starbucks fall menu dropped in August, but still). And there are two things that perfectly define fall—pumpkins and a warm, cozy meal. Luckily, we’ve come across a TikTok sensation that combines them both: pizza pumpkins!
Trust us when we say this pumpkin-shaped dish will be a major hit at any fall potluck. Here’s how to make ’em.
What are pumpkin pizza bombs?
The pizza pumpkins are pizza bombs shaped like pumpkins. Full of marinara, mozzarella and pepperoni, pizza pumpkins are the perfect appetizer. Especially for fall, thanks to their adorable autumn-themed shape! Plus, who doesn’t adore a gooey pizza cheese pull? Bring a tray to a Halloween party, Friendsgiving, Thanksgiving or any fall gathering, really.
How to Make Pizza Pumpkins
This recipe for pizza pumpkins comes to us courtesy of chef and TikTok creator Genevieve LaMonaca, aka @chefgenevieve. Genevieve walks us through how to create her popular kid-friendly pumpkin-shaped pizza bombs, so you can make them, too:
@chefgenevieve Pumpkin Pizza Bombs🍕🎃 Follow for 30 Halloween inspired recipes Serves 6 Ingredients: 1 can pizza dough sheet (I used Pillsbury) 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese 1/2 cup chopped ham 1/2 cup chopped pepperoni 1/8 cup sliced black olives (optional) 1/4 cup melted Butter 2 cups marinara sauce 1 baby pumpkin (if making pumpkin bowl) In a bowl, combine mozzarella, ham, peperoni, and optional sliced olives. Mix together and set aside Roll out a sheet of pizza dough Cut into 6 portions. Roll each portion into a ball and flatten . Scoop your filling into the center. Pull up the sides of your dough and pinch at the top creating a tight seal. Make sure there are no holes or the cheese will seep through. Cut 3 pieces of butchers twine. Lay it down in a star shape then place your pizza bomb in the center, seam side down. Bring up your twine and double knot at the top. Snip off any excess twine then place your pizza bombs on a parchment lined baking sheet. Brush on some butter and bake in 400°F oven for 16 minutes. Carve a baby pumpkin and add in a bowl to hold the sauce. Once pizza bombs are slightly cooled, snip off the twine and discard. Use twisted pretzels cut in half for the stems. If makingahead of time, simply reheat in a 350°F oven for 10 minutes. Enjoy #halloweenfood #halloweeninspo ♬ Fall October Halloween horror classic(177261) – rareNote
Ingredients
Directions
Step 1: Preheat oven and prep ingredients
Start by preheating your oven to 400°F. Then, add mozzarella, ham, pepperoni and olives (if using) in a bowl and mix. Place the bowl to the side for now.
Step 2: Roll out pizza dough
Next, roll out that sheet of Pillsbury pizza dough with a rolling pin or your hands and slice the dough into 6 to 8 pieces. Do this by rolling each portion into a ball and flattening, or skip the hassle and use a round biscuit cutter to separate the dough.
Do you know? You can freeze pizza dough. Try the best way to store pizza dough for future pizza nights or last-minute cravings!
Step 3:Â Assemble the pizza bombs
Now, place a dollop of marinara sauce and a spoonful of toppings into the center of the flattened dough. Then, pinch the sides of your dough to the top so the ingredients are completely sealed. You’ll need some kitchen twine to wrap up your pizza pumpkins into 6-8 sections. Genevieve advises doing this by placing three pieces of twine in a star shape, seam side down, bringing it up and double knotting it. Snip off any extra twine.
Step 4: Butter and bake the bites
Use a brush to apply some butter to the bites before popping them in the oven on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper for 13-16 minutes.
Step 5: Remove twine
Once the bites are crispy and brown, remove all the twine. For a cute touch, use halved pretzel sticks to add some stems to these pumpkin bites. And voila! The adorable bites are ready to steal the show at your next fall party.
Next Up: Try this pumpkin-shaped baked Brie.
Warm and Cozy Recipes for Fall
Slow Cooker Pot Roast
This melt-in-your-mouth pot roast is the sort of dinner you dream about coming home to all day. Start this recipe in the
slow cooker before you head out to work in the morning and it will braise away to fall-apart tenderness as you go about your day. Then make a pot of egg noodles, or whip up a
quick potato recipe, and dinner is served.
Go to Recipe
Classic French Onion SoupNothing says fall like a warm, savory, extra-cheesy bowl of French onion soup. Though yellow onions are commonly used in this recipe, you can also make it with other
types of onions, like Vidalias, Walla Wallas or Mauis.
For more ideas, check out these cozy
fall soup recipes.
Pepper-Stuffed Pork TenderloinIn this dish, the delicate taste of pork is balanced with a lightly spicy stuffing featuring red bell peppers and a touch of cayenne. For an extra layer of flavor, brush the tenderloin with a
mustard barbecue sauce during the last 5 minutes of cooking, and serve extra sauce on the side.
Pumpkin Bisque with Smoked GoudaYour house will start to smell like autumn as this rich, cheesy soup bubbles on the stove. The Gouda cheese adds a delightful smokiness that makes this pumpkin soup taste nice and cozy for sweater weather.
My Brazilian FeijoadaA stick-to-your-ribs supper by way of Brazil,
feijoada is stew made with chunks of pork shoulder and beef short ribs, simmered in the slow cooker until the meat is fall-apart tender. Serve this with a basket full of
pão de queijo, a
Brazilian cheese bread made with tapioca flour.
Slow-Simmered Burgundy Beef StewThis hearty beef and Burgundy wine stew is a staple dish at every French bistro. It's so simple to make, this recipe should be a staple dish at your house, too! When choosing a wine to cook with, buy something that won't break the bank but is still good enough to drink. Start with our picks for the
best boxed wines.
Meatball Submarine CasseroleSaucy meatball subs are just as delicious (and a lot less messy!) when baked into a hearty casserole. This recipe uses frozen meatballs as a time saver, but you can also make these
quick and simple meatballs if you'd prefer something more homemade.
For more ideas, check out these comforting
fall casserole recipes.
Spicy Touchdown ChiliWhen the leaves start changing, it's
football season! Whether you're cheering on the local team on a Friday night or spending Sunday in front of the TV, this beef, sausage, bacon and bean chili is sure to make you lots of friends on game day.
Quick Golden Squash SoupThis delectable soup will make your whole house smell like fall, and it takes only about 30 minutes to get it on the table. It can be difficult to
cut up a winter squash, so if time is an issue—or if you're not confident in your
knife skills—paying a little extra for precut butternut squash is worth it.
Italian Hot DishThis easy baked pasta dish tastes like a glorious mash-up of baked ziti and Philly cheesesteaks. It's also easy to adjust the recipe to accommodate your personal tastes or picky eaters. Not much for mushrooms or green peppers? Swap them out for other vegetables you like (try eggplant). Mix up the meat with some crumbled Italian sausage, or use ground chicken or turkey instead.
Apple Cider Pork ChopsThese pork chops are a must for fall dinners, no matter the size of the crowd! The recipe is easy to double when company pops in. Try serving the pork chops with
mashed potatoes or
buttered egg noodles to soak up more of that delicious sauce.
Stuffed Pepper SoupThere's no doubt that
stuffed pepper recipes are amazing but they can take more time than you have to spare on a busy weeknight. This easy soup recipe, which is a
one-pot wonder, fixes that problem—bringing you all the flavors you're craving with fewer dishes to wash.
Caribbean Curried ChickenIf you can't find a bottled version of the
mojo criollo marinade this chicken recipe calls for (it's a Cuban marinade made with garlic, sour orange juice and cumin), use our
guide to making marinades to help you come up with your own special recipe.
BBQ Chicken and Apple Bread PuddingBread pudding is the epitome of comfort food and is simply too good to reserve only for dessert. This sweet and savory twist on the classic—featuring
boxed cornbread mix, chopped barbecue chicken, tart green apples and gooey Monterey Jack cheese—is a delicious way to enjoy an old favorite.
Carrot Soup with Orange & TarragonA pretty orange color, a delicious hint of citrus and a garden-fresh flavor make this soup feel like something truly special, yet still simple enough to enjoy any night of the week. Try sprinkling individual bowls with fresh tarragon before serving.
Sausage-Stuffed Acorn SquashAcorn squash gets the sweet-and-savory treatment when it's stuffed with sausage, onion, spinach and cranberries. Cooking the squash in the microwave makes this pretty fall dinner quick enough to make on a busy weeknight.
Moroccan Braised BeefCurry powder is a blend of up to 20 spices, herbs and seeds. Add a pinch of curry to your favorite soups, stews, salads and even rice for an exotic flavor. In this Moroccan stew, begin with 2 teaspoons of curry, then add more to your taste.
Crunchy Almond Turkey CasseroleThis comforting cream of mushroom soup-based turkey and rice casserole gets a surprising crunch from the addition of almonds and water chestnuts. Serve this hearty dish alongside a simple,
seasonal salad.
Saucy Italian RoastThis easy slow-cooker dinner relies on a few store-bought shortcuts to make setting-and-forgetting even easier, including using canned mushrooms and spaghetti sauce. Use this simple hack to
make store-bought pasta sauce taste homemade!
Beef Roast DinnerBecause this healthy dish is slow-cooked, you can use less expensive roasts with results as mouthwatering as the more costly cuts. Change up the veggies for variety, nutrition or to suit your tastes! For starters, swap out some of the potatoes for sweet potatoes, or another root vegetable like
celeriac.
Firehouse ChiliThis recipe was written by a
real firehouse chef that used to prepare meals for 10 men, so if you're looking for a recipe that will keep a crowd good and full, this authentic firehouse chili may very well be the one!
Blue Cheese-Mushroom Stuffed TenderloinThis recipe is a great choice for a special occasion—or any night when you find yourself in the mood to be fancy. Filled with a savory stuffing, the sliced tenderloin looks and tastes like a specialty dish from an upscale restaurant.
Stuffing Crust Turkey PotpieFor a faster, more flavor-packed way to get potpie to the table, skip the standard rolled
double pie crust and follow this recipe instead. Boxed stuffing mix and broth make a press-in crust that's easy as, well, potpie!
Stout & Honey Beef RoastHere's a heartwarming slow cooker meal that's ideal for chilly days and hectic nights. Honey, beer and seasonings make the sauce different and oh so good. If you have leftover stout after making this roast, use it in one of these
recipes to make with Guinness, which will work with any brand of stout beer.
Braised Herb Pork ChopsThese herb-packed braised pork chops are great for entertaining; the recipe comes together quickly and then spends 2 hours in the oven, giving you plenty of time to relax with your guests.
Best Ever Mac & CheeseThis mac and cheese has a sauce loaded with three different cheeses that bubble and ooze as it bakes in the oven. A crispy, buttery bread crumb topping provides textural contrast; for a more flavorful "oomph," replace the bread crumbs with crushed
pork rinds, crushed potato chips or Ritz crackers.
Land of Enchantment PosoleThis posole recipe gets its name from
New Mexico's whimsical state nickname, "The Land of Enchantment." You'll find this
Dutch oven dinner as enchanting as the state; this spicy stew of pork shoulder, hominy, jalapenos and smoky Southwestern spices is bound to become a new family favorite.
Pumpkin Harvest Beef StewComfort food manages to get even more comforting in this pumpkin-spiced riff on hearty beef stew. This recipe is written for a slow cooker, but if you'd prefer your stew to spend the day simmering on the stove and filling your house with aromas, make this recipe in a
Dutch oven instead.
Turkey Sausage-Stuffed Acorn SquashThis couldn't-be-simpler dinner is so stunning, it makes any night of the week feel like something special. Each stuffed acorn squash is a full meal in itself, so side dishes aren't
really necessary. If you'd like to put something else on the table, it's hard to go wrong with
garlic bread.
Hominy Beef ChiliHunker down for the night and get cozy with this filling chili. Loaded with beef chuck roast and convenient staples, such as diced tomatoes, green chilies and seasonings, it's a satisfying supper that would be yummy served with a side of warm
homemade tortillas or
tortilla chips for dipping.
Spicy Pork & Green Chili VerdeBy using quick-cooking pork tenderloin instead of a braising cut like pork shoulder, this pork chili is ready to eat in less than an hour. Brimming with poblano and sweet red peppers for a hearty kick, serve this chili with some cooling sour cream, Monterey Jack cheese and tortilla chips.
North African Chicken and RiceMoroccan food is heavily spiced with a mixture of interesting ingredients and exciting flavor combinations that may be new to you. This simple slow-cooker chicken dish mixes bold spices like cinnamon, chili powder and turmeric with salty olives and tart lemons.
Porcini Mac & CheeseThe secret ingredient to this luscious mushroom mac and cheese is beer; specifically, a seasonally-brewed
pumpkin beer, which adds a special touch of fall flavor. As delicious as fontina is, this mac and cheese recipe would work just as well with Gouda, Gruyere or Colby cheese.
Mom’s White LasagnaInstead of the
classic lasagna combo of pasta, cheese and marinara sauce, this white lasagna layers its pasta with sausage, a velvety wine-based cream sauce, and four types of cheese: cheddar, cottage cheese, Gouda and cream cheese. Serve alongside something acidic that can cut through all the cream, like a simple, vinegary
Italian salad.
Apple-Roasted Pork with Cherry Balsamic GlazeTurn an ordinary pork loin into an impressive dinner party-worthy dish by adding roasted apples,
caramelized onions, bright balsamic vinegar and whole pitted cherries. If you have fresh cherries, then by all means use them, but flash frozen cherries work just as well!
Baked Pumpkin Goat Cheese Alfredo with BaconIn this recipe, curly
cellentani pasta gets tossed with a quick and easy pumpkin cream sauce that's been mixed with creamy goat cheese, then baked with a topping of additional cheese and crispy bacon. Could this be the most craveable
fall pasta dish ever? Possibly.
Turkey Curry with RiceIf you've got lots of leftover turkey but are tired of Thanksgiving-inspired riffs on leftovers, try this easy curry recipe with carrots, cauliflower, creamy coconut milk and mango chutney. Serve this on top of a
big bowl of rice or with a side of
homemade naan bread.
After these dinner recipes, you'll want to enjoy a fall dessert with any of these
fall baking recipes.
Updated: Jan. 02, 2024
