Description
Jack O’Lantern Stuffed Peppers are a festive and savory Halloween dish featuring orange bell peppers carved with spooky faces and filled with a flavorful mixture of ground beef or turkey, rice, tomatoes, and spices. Baked to tender perfection and topped with melted cheddar cheese, these stuffed peppers make a fun and delicious centerpiece for any autumn gathering or family dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Peppers
- 6 large orange bell peppers
- Small sharp knife for carving
- Fresh parsley for garnish
- Extra cheese for topping
Filling
- 1 lb ground beef or turkey
- 1 cup cooked white rice
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes, drained
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup tomato sauce, divided
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prepare peppers: Cut the tops off the orange bell peppers and remove the seeds and membranes. Using a small sharp knife, carefully carve jack-o’-lantern faces on one side of each pepper. Set the carved peppers aside.
- Cook rice: If you haven’t already, cook 1 cup of white rice according to the package directions and set it aside to cool slightly.
- Brown meat: Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef or turkey and cook until browned, breaking it into small pieces, about 5-7 minutes. Drain the excess fat from the pan.
- Add vegetables: Add the diced onion to the skillet with the meat and cook until softened, about 4 minutes. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for an additional minute until fragrant.
- Combine filling: Stir in the cooked rice, drained diced tomatoes, half of the shredded cheddar cheese, half of the tomato sauce, dried oregano, paprika, cumin, salt, and pepper. Mix everything well and cook for another 2-3 minutes to blend the flavors.
- Stuff peppers: Stand the carved peppers upright in a baking dish. If needed, trim the bottoms slightly so they sit stable. Fill each pepper generously with the meat and rice mixture and top each with the remaining shredded cheddar cheese.
- Add sauce: Pour the remaining tomato sauce around the peppers in the baking dish. Add 1/2 cup water to the dish to create steam during baking.
- Cover and bake: Cover the baking dish tightly with foil and bake in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for 35-40 minutes, or until the peppers are tender.
- Final touches: Remove the foil for the last 5 minutes of baking to allow the cheese to lightly brown and bubble. The carved jack-o’-lantern faces should remain visible, with melted cheese topping.
- Serve: Let the stuffed peppers cool for 5 minutes. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve with the carved faces facing outward for a festive presentation.
Notes
- You can substitute ground turkey for ground beef for a leaner option.
- Use cooked rice from a previous meal to save time.
- Adjust spices to your taste; add more paprika or a pinch of chili powder for extra heat.
- Be careful while carving the peppers to avoid cutting yourself—using a small sharp knife is recommended.
- If the peppers are difficult to stand upright, a small slice off the bottom can help stabilize them in the baking dish.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: stuffed peppers, jack o'lantern peppers, Halloween recipe, ground beef stuffed peppers, baked stuffed peppers, festive dinner
