Put an entertaining twist on a traditional savory pie for Halloween—how about biscuit cups stuffed with a spicy ground beef mixture and topped with little jack-o’-lantern cheese faces? These little bites are not only a great way to celebrate the holiday, but they’re also a lot of fun and quite simple to prepare.
What You’ll Need
10 servings Preparation time: ~25 minutes Cooking time: ~35 minutes Total time: ~1 hour
Ingredients:
- 1 ½ lbs (≈ 680 g) ground beef
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1 Tbsp chili powder
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp garlic powder
- 1 (15-oz) can tomato sauce
- 1 cup shredded carrot
- 1 (6-oz) can chopped black olives, drained
- 1 (12-oz) can refrigerated biscuit dough
- 10 slices American cheese
(Note: The original recipe is here adapted and re-written for clarity and originality.)
Step-by-Step Directions
1. Pre-heat and prepare muffin cups
Pre-heat your oven to 400 °F (≈ 200 °C). Grease 10 standard muffin cups with a little bit of butter, oil or use a cooking spray.
2. Cook the beef filling
Ground beef and onions are added to a large skillet over medium heat. The beef should be browned and crumbled after about ten minutes, so keep stirring from time to time. Drain the fat and then add chili powder, cumin, salt, garlic powder, tomato sauce, shredded carrot, and olives. Bring the mixture to a simmer, then cover and cook for about 20 minutes, or until the carrot is tender and the sauce has thickened. Stir occasionally.
3. Bake the biscuit cups
Take each biscuit and separate it from the rest on a lightly floured surface. Rolling it out into about a 4-inch circle. Take each circle and press it into a muffin cup that has already been prepared so that the cup shape is created. Bake them in the preheated oven until the biscuit cups are lightly browned (about 10 minutes). Then, take them out of the muffin pan and place them on a baking sheet.
4. Create the jack-o’-lantern cheese tops & fill
First, make one circle out of each American cheese slice that is approximately 3 inches in diameter. Next, with a sharp paring knife, make a simple jack-o’-lantern face on each circle. Cut the leftover cheese from your carving work into small pieces and mix the chopped cheese with the ground beef mixture. Stuff the biscuit dough with the beef-cheese mixture and then put a carved cheese circle on top of each filled cup.
5. Final bake for melting
The biscuit cups filled with the cheese and beef mixture should be put back into the oven. Just until the cheese starts to melt, and softens, the subsequent baking is required (about 3-5 minutes). Serve warm.
Serving & Tips for Best Results
- There is no better time to eat them than right after baking when the biscuit cups are still crisp and the cheese is nicely melted.
- To get a lighter version of this dish, you can replace partially the ground beef with lean ground turkey or add more finely chopped vegetables.
- If you want to spice up the flavor, a little Worcestershire sauce or one teaspoon of smoked paprika will do the trick by adding more depth to the taste of the beef mixture.
- The carved cheese faces are fun for kids and make the dish festive—feel free to personalise with different expressions or use cheddar pieces for colour variation.
Nutrition Snapshot (per serving)
- Energy: ~406 kcal
- Total fat: ~26 g
- Carbohydrates: ~22 g
- Protein: ~21 g
(Just like in other recipes, the actual nutrition will depend on the brands and exact portions used.)
Why This Works for Your Halloween Menu
- Nice and neat: The cheese “pumpkin face” on top is what impresses most at a glance and instantly gives you the vibe of the holiday.
- Customisable without limits: By changing the filling, cheese, or biscuit base, you can adjust the recipe to meet any dietary requirements or flavour preferences.
- Perfectly portioned: As individual servings, they are great for a party or buffet—no cutting needed.
- Well-rounded: Along with the carrot, the treat also has protein and a fun way of presenting it all in one.
Final Thoughts
Octopus-shaped meatloaf with a side of mashed potato eyes might be neat, but not quite as versatile as these ground beef biscuit cups with jack-o’-lantern cheese faces. Whether you’re throwing a Halloween bash, making a family dinner with a theme, or just wanting to add a little fun to your meal plan for the week, these will do the trick. They’re not too hard to make, so you can still have a treat on a weekday, and they’re just right for a party with kids and adults alike.
Have fun making the scary, and happy cooking!
