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Easy Jack-O-Lantern Stuffed Peppers for Halloween Dinner

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These Spooky Jack-O-Lantern Stuffed Peppers are a fun, delicious Halloween dinner that comes together in about 45 minutes. Carved orange bell peppers are filled with a smoky, savory mixture of ground meat, rice, black beans, corn, and cheese, then baked to perfection.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 6 large orange bell peppers
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 pound ground beef or ground turkey (85/15 beef recommended)
  • 1 cup cooked brown rice or white rice
  • 1 small yellow onion, diced (about 1 cup)
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 can (15 ounces) black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes, drained (fire-roasted recommended)
  • 1 cup corn kernels (frozen, thawed)
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese or Mexican blend cheese
  • Optional: small triangles of cheddar or mozzarella for teeth

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Cut the tops off each pepper about 1/2 inch from the top and set aside. Scoop out all seeds and membranes. Rinse and pat dry.
  2. Using a small paring knife, carve jack-o-lantern faces into one side of each pepper (triangle eyes, jagged mouth, optional nose). Cut mouth opening slightly larger than needed.
  3. Optional but recommended: Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Drop carved peppers in for 3-4 minutes, then transfer to an ice bath. This softens them slightly.
  4. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground meat and cook, breaking it up, until browned (6-8 minutes). Drain excess fat. Add diced onion and cook 3-4 minutes until softened. Stir in minced garlic and cook 30 seconds until fragrant.
  5. Sprinkle smoked paprika, cumin, chili powder, salt, and pepper over the meat mixture. Stir well. Add drained black beans, diced tomatoes, corn, and cooked rice. Stir and cook 2-3 minutes. Adjust seasoning if needed.
  6. Place carved peppers upright in a baking dish. Spoon filling into each pepper, pressing gently to pack. Do not overstuff. Spoon any extra filling around the peppers in the dish.
  7. Sprinkle shredded cheddar over the top of each stuffed pepper (about 2-3 tablespoons per pepper).
  8. Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake for 25 minutes. Remove foil and bake another 10-15 minutes until peppers are tender and cheese is bubbly and golden. For extra color, broil for the last 2 minutes.
  9. Let peppers rest in the dish for 5 minutes before serving. Serve warm with carved faces facing up.

Notes

Blanching the peppers ensures even cooking. Carve faces after cutting tops off for stability. Use a melon baller for easy seed removal. Toast rice beforehand for extra flavor. Cover with foil for first 25 minutes to prevent cheese from burning.

Nutrition

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

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