Best Halloween Mac O Lantern Recipes

Mac-O-Lantern and Cheese Bowls image

Provided by Food Network Kitchen

Categories main-dish

Time 40m

Yield 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 6

Kosher salt
6 medium orange bell peppers
8 ounces elbow macaroni
1 1/4 cups half-and-half
8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
4 ounces mild Cheddar, shredded (about 1 1/2 cups)

Steps:

Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil. Fill a large bowl with ice water.
Cut the tops off the peppers and reserve. Remove the seeds and membranes. Put the peppers and the tops in the boiling water and cook until just tender, 2 to 3 minutes. Plunge the peppers into the ice bath. Once cool, remove them and use a sharp knife to carve a jack-o-lantern face into one side of each pepper.
Return the water to a boil, add the macaroni and cook until al dente, about 6 minutes. Reserve 1 cup of the pasta water and drain (don't rinse the pasta).
Heat the half-and-half in a large saucepan over medium heat until it just comes to a simmer. Continue simmering until reduced to about 3/4 cup, about 10 minutes. Add the cream cheese and stir until melted. Whisk in the Cheddar until all the cheese is melted and the sauce is smooth.
Off the heat, add the macaroni to the saucepan and stir to combine. Stir in some of the reserved pasta water to thin the sauce if needed. Season with salt if needed. Let sit for 10 minutes, then divide the mac and cheese among the peppers and cap each with a pepper top.

Mac-O'-Lantern image

Provided by KGCOOK

Time 40m

Yield 4 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 7

1 (8 ounce) can pizza sauce, divided
1 (7 1/4 ounce) package macaroni and cheese mix
1 lb 93% lean ground beef, cooked, drained, and divided
1 egg, lightly beaten
1/2 teaspoon dried basil leaves
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded

Steps:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Cook macaroni according to package directions.
Remove and set aside 1/4 cup pizza sauce.
Combine prepared macaroni, half the ground beef, remaining pizza sauce, garlic powder, egg, and basil.
Spoon evenly into a 9 inch pie plate.
Sprinkle with cheese.
Combine remaining meat with the reserved pizza sauce.
Use to create a jack-o'-lantern face on top of the casserole.
Bake 15 minutes.
Let stand 5 miutes before serving.
Serve with salad.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 435.8, Fat 12.4, SaturatedFat 5.6, Cholesterol 133.2, Sodium 676.5, Carbohydrate 41.1, Fiber 2.8, Sugar 6.1, Protein 37.9

Halloween Mac-O'-Lantern image

Provided by Kelly Williams @WildfloursCottageKitchen

Categories Beef

Number Of Ingredients 9

1 box - macaroni and cheese, i prefer velveeta shells and cheese
1 lb. - lean ground beef or ground turkey, can sub ground italian sausage and omit extra seasonings
1 - (8 oz.) can pizza sauce, divided in half, (12 oz. just fine, too)
1 egg - beaten
1/2 tsp. - oregano
1/4 tsp. - basil
1/4 tsp. - garlic powder
1/2-1 - cup shredded mozzarella, as much as you'd like
2 - green olive or carrot slices, optional

Steps:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cook and drain ground beef. Cook and prepare mac 'n cheese according to package directions. Remove and set aside 1/4 cup pizza sauce. Into the prepared macaroni, stir in 1/2 the cooked beef, and the rest of the ingredients EXCEPT the cheese. Spoon evenly into a 9" pie dish. Sprinkle with cheese. Combine rest of meat with reserved pizza sauce and use to create a jack-o-lantern face on top of the casserole. Decorate further to your heart's desire. (Whole long chives can be placed on first to create the pumpkin divisions/lines.)
*This can also be made with your favorite spaghetti sauce, salsa, marinara, taco sauce or taco seasoning mix prepared to packet directions.