10/20/2026
Chicken in a Pumpkin 🍗
A whole roasted pumpkin filled with juicy chicken drumsticks, seasoned with salt, black pepper, sweet paprika, garlic powder, and olive oil. Everything slowly roasts in the oven, allowing the chicken to become tender and flavorful while the pumpkin softens and develops a delicious, naturally sweet flavor.
It’s a rustic autumn dish with a beautiful presentation, made with simple ingredients and no unnecessary additions. Perfect for a family dinner!
📝 Ingredients:
- 1 large edible pumpkin;
- 8–10 chicken drumsticks;
- salt, to taste;
- ground black pepper, to taste;
- sweet paprika, to taste;
- garlic powder, to taste;
- Olive oil.
👩🍳 Instructions:
Prepare the pumpkin. Cut off the top to create a lid. Remove the seeds and stringy pulp, leaving the flesh intact. Brush the inside of the pumpkin with olive oil.
Season the chicken. In a separate bowl, combine the chicken drumsticks with olive oil, salt, ground black pepper, sweet paprika, and garlic powder. Rub the seasoning thoroughly into the chicken to ensure every piece is evenly coated.
Fill the pumpkin. Arrange the seasoned chicken drumsticks inside the hollowed pumpkin and put the lid back on.
Brush the outside. Brush the entire outside of the pumpkin, including the lid, with olive oil.
Bake. Place the pumpkin in a sturdy oven-safe baking dish or roasting pan. Bake in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for approximately 3–3.5 hours, until the pumpkin is tender and the chicken is fully cooked.
My only additional suggestion: Place the pumpkin on a sturdy baking tray before filling it, so you won’t have to lift or move it once it’s heavy. The pumpkin will become very soft during roasting, and the tray will make it much easier to handle.
Enjoy this beautiful, hearty autumn dinner!
