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Spooky Jack-O-Lantern Stuffed Bell Peppers: Easy Halloween Dinner

Jack-O-Lantern Stuffed Bell Peppers - featured image
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These Spooky Jack-O-Lantern Stuffed Bell Peppers are a fun and hearty Halloween dinner. Carved with jack-o-lantern faces and filled with seasoned rice, ground meat, and melty cheese, they are perfect for a festive meal before trick-or-treating.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 large bell peppers (orange and red work best)
  • 1 lb ground beef or ground turkey (85/15 blend)
  • 1 cup cooked rice (white or brown)
  • 1 small yellow onion, diced (about 1/2 cup)
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes, drained
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella or cheddar cheese (plus extra for topping)
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce (optional)
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano (optional)
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder (optional)
  • Pinch of sugar (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
  2. Wash and dry the bell peppers. Cut the top off each pepper about 1/2 inch from the stem. Save the tops for optional hats.
  3. Remove the seeds and white membranes from inside each pepper. Rinse and pat dry.
  4. Using a paring knife, carve jack-o-lantern faces into the peppers: cut triangles for eyes and a zigzag line for a mouth. Cut all the way through the pepper wall.
  5. Place the carved peppers upright in a 9×13 baking dish. If they wobble, slice a tiny bit off the bottom to create a flat surface.
  6. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the diced onion and cook for 3-4 minutes until translucent. Add the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
  7. Add the ground beef (or turkey) to the skillet. Cook until browned, about 5-7 minutes. Drain excess fat if needed.
  8. Stir in the cooked rice, drained diced tomatoes, smoked paprika, cumin, salt, and pepper. Cook for 2-3 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
  9. Stir in 1 cup of shredded cheese until melted throughout the filling.
  10. Spoon the filling into each carved pepper, packing gently but firmly. Do not overstuff.
  11. Sprinkle the remaining cheese on top of each pepper. Optionally, place the pepper tops back on like hats.
  12. If using the tomato sauce, whisk it together with oregano, garlic powder, and sugar. Pour it around the peppers in the baking dish, not over them.
  13. Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake for 25 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for another 10-15 minutes, until peppers are tender and cheese is bubbly and golden.
  14. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

For a vegetarian version, swap the meat with one can of black beans (rinsed and drained) plus an extra half cup of rice. Use room temperature cheese for even melting. Cut the faces slightly larger than you think you need because peppers shrink as they bake. Choose rounder, squat peppers for better face shapes.

Nutrition

Keywords: Halloween dinner, stuffed bell peppers, jack-o-lantern peppers, easy Halloween recipe, spooky dinner, ground beef stuffed peppers

Find it online: https://jollyfork.com/spooky-jack-o-lantern-stuffed-bell-peppers-easy-halloween-dinner/