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Jack-o-Lantern Stuffed Peppers Recipe

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4.4 from 5 reviews

Jack-o-Lantern Stuffed Peppers are a festive and flavorful Halloween-inspired dish featuring large orange bell peppers carved like jack-o-lanterns and stuffed with a savory mixture of ground beef, rice, black beans, corn, salsa, and cheddar cheese. Baked to perfection, this recipe makes a fun, colorful, and hearty meal perfect for family dinners or seasonal celebrations.

  • Total Time: 1 hour
  • Yield: 6 servings

Ingredients

Peppers

  • 6 large orange bell peppers

Filling

  • 1 lb ground beef
  • ½ cup yellow onion, diced
  • 2 large garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 cup white rice, cooked
  • 15 oz can black beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1 cup frozen corn
  • 1 cup salsa
  • 1 oz packet taco seasoning (about 3 Tablespoons)
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Cheese

  • 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded (divided into ½ cup portions)

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Peppers: Preheat your oven to 375°F. Slice the tops off the orange bell peppers and set them aside. Remove the seeds and core from each pepper. Using a small knife, carve fun jack-o-lantern faces into each pepper. Stand the peppers upright in a 9-by-13-inch baking dish.
  2. Make the Filling: In a large skillet, brown the ground beef along with the diced yellow onion over medium heat. Cook for approximately 8 minutes until the meat is fully browned, then drain any excess fat. Add minced garlic and taco seasoning to the skillet and cook for an additional minute to release the flavors.
  3. Combine Filling Ingredients: Stir in the cooked white rice, rinsed black beans, frozen corn, salsa, and ½ cup of shredded cheddar cheese into the beef mixture. Season with salt and pepper to taste, mixing everything thoroughly.
  4. Stuff and Bake: Spoon the filling into each carved pepper, filling them evenly. Cover the baking dish with foil and bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes.
  5. Finish Baking: After 30 minutes, remove the foil and sprinkle the remaining ½ cup of cheddar cheese on top of each stuffed pepper. Bake uncovered for an additional 10 minutes, allowing the cheese to melt and become golden.
  6. Serve: Place the pepper tops back on each pepper to complete the jack-o-lantern look. Serve warm and enjoy this savory, festive meal with family or guests.

Notes

  • You can substitute ground beef with ground turkey or plant-based meat for a healthier or vegetarian option.
  • For extra flavor, add a pinch of cumin or smoked paprika to the filling mixture.
  • If you do not have cooked rice prepared, you can cook instant rice or use quinoa as an alternative grain.
  • Make sure to carve the peppers gently to avoid breaking their structure before baking.
  • Leftover stuffed peppers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven or microwave.
  • Author: Daisy
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 40 minutes
  • Category: Main Dish
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Find it online: https://dishiary.com/jack-o-lantern-stuffed-peppers-recipe/