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

Spooky Jack-O-Lantern Stuffed Bell Peppers - featured image
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These Spooky Jack-O-Lantern Stuffed Bell Peppers are a fun and festive Halloween dinner that kids and adults will love. Savory ground beef, rice, and cheese are stuffed into orange bell peppers carved with jack-o-lantern faces, then baked to perfection.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 large orange bell peppers
  • 1 pound ground beef (85/15)
  • 1 cup cooked white rice
  • 1 small yellow onion, diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 can (15 ounces) diced tomatoes, drained
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1/4 cup tomato sauce or salsa

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Bring a large pot of water to a boil.
  2. Wash the bell peppers and pat them dry. Cut a small circle around the stem on the top of each pepper, remove the stem, and scoop out the seeds and membranes.
  3. Blanch the peppers in boiling water for 3 to 4 minutes. Remove with tongs and let cool on a cutting board.
  4. Once cool enough to handle, use a paring knife to carve small triangles for eyes and a mouth (about 1/2 inch wide).
  5. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add diced onion and cook for 3 to 4 minutes until soft. Add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
  6. Add ground beef and cook until browned, about 6 to 8 minutes. Drain excess fat if needed.
  7. Stir in chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. Cook for 1 minute. Add drained diced tomatoes and tomato sauce (or salsa). Simmer for 2 minutes, then remove from heat.
  8. In a large mixing bowl, combine the beef mixture with cooked rice and half of the shredded cheese. Stir until evenly distributed.
  9. Spoon the filling into each carved pepper, packing gently but firmly. Leave a little room at the top for cheese.
  10. Place stuffed peppers in a 9×13-inch baking dish. Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes.
  11. Remove foil, sprinkle remaining cheese over the tops, and bake uncovered for another 10 to 15 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly.
  12. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving. Serve face-side up.

Notes

Choose squat, round orange bell peppers for the best pumpkin look. Don’t skip blanching—it softens the peppers for easier carving. If peppers wobble, slice a thin piece off the bottom to create a flat surface. For a vegetarian version, swap ground beef for plant-based crumble or cooked lentils. Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or frozen for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: Halloween dinner, stuffed bell peppers, jack-o-lantern peppers, ground beef, rice, cheddar cheese, festive dinner

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