Get ready to serve up the cutest, cheesiest, and most spooktacularly delicious meal for your Halloween celebration! These incredible, from-scratch “Mac-O’-Lantern” and Cheese Bowls are the ultimate festive dinner. We’re talking about a rich, creamy, and unbelievably cheesy homemade macaroni and cheese, all served up inside an adorable, edible jack-o’-lantern made from a sweet orange bell pepper!
This isn’t just a recipe; it’s a guide to your new favorite Halloween tradition. We’ll show you the simple secrets to a perfectly creamy, no-roux cheese sauce and the easy, kid-friendly craft of carving your pepper bowls. This is a show-stopping main course that is as fun to make as it is to eat, and it’s a guaranteed hit with ghouls and goblins of all ages.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Recipe Overview: The Ultimate Spooky & Fun Halloween Dinner
What makes these Mac-O’-Lanterns so spectacularly delicious is their brilliant combination of a classic, comforting meal with a super fun, festive, and edible presentation. The “bowls” are beautiful, sweet orange bell peppers, which are blanched to make them perfectly tender and then carved with spooky jack-o’-lantern faces. The filling is a masterpiece of creamy simplicity: a rich, from-scratch stovetop mac and cheese made with a luscious, no-fuss sauce of cream cheese and cheddar. The entire dish is a stunning, all-in-one meal that is perfect for a fun family dinner before trick-or-treating.
| Metric | Time / Level |
| Total Time | 40 minutes |
| Active Prep Time | 25 minutes |
| Difficulty Level | Easy |
| Servings | 6 |
The “Mac-O’-Lantern’s Guts”: The Essential Ingredients
This iconic party dish uses a handful of simple pantry staples to create its signature comforting and cheesy flavor.
- The “Jack-o’-Lanterns” (The Bell Peppers!):
- For the most authentic “pumpkin” look, it is highly recommended to use medium, orange bell peppers. Look for peppers that have a nice, blocky shape and a flat bottom so that they can stand up straight when you serve them.
- The Creamiest Mac and Cheese:
- The Sauce: This recipe uses a brilliant and super-easy, no-roux sauce method. By reducing the half-and-half on the stove, you concentrate its flavor and richness. Then, room temperature cream cheese is melted in to create an incredibly thick, stable, and extra-creamy base.
- The Cheese: A classic, crowd-pleasing mild cheddar cheese is the perfect choice for a kid-friendly flavor and a beautiful, golden, gooey melt. For the absolute best, creamiest result, it’s always recommended to shred your own cheese from a block.
- The Pasta: A classic, 8-ounce box of elbow macaroni is the perfect, traditional shape for a creamy mac and cheese.
Step-by-Step to the Best Mac-O’-Lanterns
This fun and festive meal is incredibly simple to prepare.
Step 1: Prepare the Jack-o’-Lantern Pepper Bowls
Step 1: First, bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil. While it is heating, prepare an ice bath by filling a large bowl with ice and cold water.
Step 2: Prepare your bell peppers. Carefully slice the tops off your 6 medium orange bell peppers, just like you would for a pumpkin, and set the “lids” aside. Use a small knife and a spoon to remove all the seeds and the white membranes from the inside.
Step 3: Place the hollowed-out peppers and their tops into the boiling water and cook for just 2 to 3 minutes, until they are just tender-crisp.
Step 4: Immediately use a slotted spoon to transfer the peppers to the ice water. This “shocking” step is the secret to a perfectly tender-crisp pepper that still has a beautiful, vibrant orange color. Once they are cool, remove them from the ice bath.
Step 5 (The Fun Part!): Using a small, sharp paring knife, carefully carve your favorite spooky or silly jack-o’-lantern faces into the sides of each of the pepper bowls.
Part 2: Make the Creamiest Stovetop Mac and Cheese
Step 1: Return the large pot of water to a boil. Add your 8 ounces of elbow macaroni and cook according to the package directions until it is al dente. Pro Tip: Just before you drain the pasta, be sure to reserve at least 1 cup of the starchy, salty pasta water. This is a fantastic secret ingredient that will help you create the perfect sauce consistency. Drain the pasta. Step 2: While the pasta is cooking, heat the 1 1/4 cups of half-and-half in a large saucepan over medium heat until it just comes to a simmer. Let it continue to simmer for about 10 minutes, until it has reduced to about 3/4 of a cup. Step 3: Add the 8 ounces of room temperature cream cheese and stir until it has completely melted into the half-and-half. Step 4: Whisk in the 1 1/2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese until all the cheese has melted and the sauce is perfectly smooth and creamy. Step 5: Remove the saucepan from the heat. Add your hot, cooked macaroni to the saucepan and stir to combine. You can stir in a splash of your reserved pasta water to thin the sauce to your desired consistency. Season with salt if needed.
Part 3: Assemble Your Mac-O’-Lanterns
Let the mac and cheese sit for about 10 minutes to thicken slightly. Then, divide the creamy mac and cheese among your carved pepper “bowls.”
Cap each of your Mac-O’-Lanterns with its pepper top “lid” and serve immediately.
Mac-O’-Lantern & Cheese Bowls (The Perfect Halloween Dinner!)
A fun and festive Halloween-themed meal, this recipe features creamy macaroni and cheese served inside hollowed-out orange bell peppers that have been carved to look like jack-o’-lanterns. The bell pepper ‘bowls’ are first blanched to make them tender. A simple, rich, and from-scratch cheese sauce is made by reducing half-and-half and then melting in cream cheese and cheddar. This creamy sauce is tossed with cooked elbow macaroni and then spooned into the carved pepper bowls.
Ingredients
- 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)
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil. Prepare a large bowl of ice water.
- Cut the tops off the bell peppers and reserve them. Remove the seeds and membranes from the peppers.
- Using a sharp paring knife, carefully carve a jack-o’-lantern face into one side of each pepper.
- Place the peppers and their tops in the boiling water and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, until just tender. Immediately transfer the peppers to the ice bath to stop the cooking process. Once cool, remove them from the water.
- Return the water to a boil, add the macaroni, and cook for about 6 minutes, until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of the pasta water, then drain the pasta.
- Make the Sauce: While the pasta cooks, heat the half-and-half in a large saucepan over medium heat until it just comes to a simmer. Continue simmering for about 10 minutes, until it has reduced to about 3/4 cup.
- Add the room-temperature cream cheese and stir until melted. Whisk in the shredded Cheddar until the sauce is smooth.
- Remove the sauce from the heat. Add the cooked macaroni and stir to combine. If the sauce is too thick, stir in some of the reserved pasta water to thin it. Season with salt if needed.
- Let the mac and cheese sit for 10 minutes, then divide it among the carved pepper ‘bowls’. Cap each with its pepper top to serve.
Notes
- This is a creative and kid-friendly way to serve mac and cheese for a Halloween dinner.
- Blanching the peppers and then shocking them in an ice bath is a key step that makes them tender enough to eat but still sturdy enough to hold the filling.
- Reserving the starchy pasta water is an important technique for adjusting the consistency of the cheese sauce.
Storage and Make-Ahead Tips
- Make-Ahead: For a super-fast and impressive Halloween dinner, you can get a head start by preparing all your components in advance. The mac and cheese can be made completely up to 3 days ahead of time, and the peppers can be blanched and carved up to 2 days in advance. Store everything in separate, airtight containers in the refrigerator.
- Storage: Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Reheating: When you are ready to eat, you can simply reheat the mac and cheese gently on the stovetop or in the microwave before you fill your pepper bowls.
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Creative Recipe Variations (“Make it Your Own Potion!”)
- Add a Savory Protein: For an even heartier, all-in-one meal, you can stir about 1 cup of your favorite cooked protein, such as shredded rotisserie chicken, browned ground beef, or even some sliced hot dogs, into your finished mac and cheese.
- Make it a “Gory” Mac-O’-Lantern: For a fun and spooky “bloody” look, you can stir a little bit of red food coloring or about 1/4 cup of a smooth tomato sauce into your finished cheese sauce to give the “guts” of your jack-o’-lantern a creepy, reddish-orange color.
- Bake It!: For a more classic, “stuffed pepper” feel, you can place your filled Mac-O’-Lanterns in a baking dish, sprinkle the tops with a little extra cheese and some breadcrumbs, and bake at 375°F for 10-15 minutes, until everything is hot and bubbly.
Enjoy Your Ultimate Spooky & Fun Halloween Dinner!
You’ve just created a truly special dish that is a perfect harmony of fun, classic ingredients and delicious, satisfying flavors. These classic Mac-O’-Lantern and Cheese Bowls are a testament to the power of a simple, creative idea to become an instant family favorite and a treasured holiday tradition. It’s a rewarding and deeply satisfying recipe that is sure to make your Halloween dinner a memorable one.
We hope you enjoy every last, perfect, and cheesy bite!
If you enjoyed making this recipe, please leave a comment below or share it with a friend who loves an easy and impressive meal!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: What is the absolute best way to make a creamy mac and cheese without a traditional flour-and-butter roux?
This recipe uses a brilliant and super-easy secret: cream cheese! By first reducing the half-and-half to concentrate its richness, and then melting in a block of softened cream cheese, you are creating an incredibly thick, stable, and velvety-smooth base for your cheese sauce that is completely foolproof and has a wonderful, tangy flavor.
Q2: Can I make these Mac-O’-Lanterns ahead of time for a Halloween party?
Yes, this is a perfect make-ahead dish! The best method is to prepare the mac and cheese completely and to blanch and carve your peppers. Store them separately in the refrigerator. When your party starts, you can simply reheat the mac and cheese gently on the stovetop and then fill your prepared pepper bowls for serving.
Q3: What is the best and safest way to carve a bell pepper?
The safest way is to use a small, sharp paring knife. After you have blanched the pepper, it will be much softer and easier to carve. Simply use the tip of your knife to gently trace and then cut out your classic, spooky triangle eyes and a jagged mouth. Because the pepper is soft, this is a great and safe activity for older kids to help with!
Q4: Can I freeze the mac and cheese?
Yes, this mac and cheese freezes surprisingly well! Let it cool completely, and then you can store it in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Let it thaw overnight in the refrigerator and then reheat it gently on the stovetop with a generous splash of milk to make it creamy again.
Q5: What is the best kind of bell pepper to use for this recipe?
For this fun, Halloween-themed recipe, an orange bell pepper is the perfect choice because it looks the most like a pumpkin! However, red or yellow bell peppers are also fantastic choices because they are much sweeter and more flavorful when cooked than a green bell pepper.