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Easy Jack-o-Lantern Stuffed Bell Peppers: Best Halloween Dinner

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Fun and festive Halloween dinner featuring bell peppers carved like jack-o-lanterns and stuffed with a savory ground beef and rice filling. Ready in about 45 minutes with simple ingredients.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 large orange bell peppers
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 pound ground beef (80/20 blend)
  • 1/2 pound Italian sausage (casings removed)
  • 1 cup cooked rice (white or brown)
  • 1 small onion, diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 can (15 ounces) diced tomatoes, drained
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese, plus extra for topping
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • Optional: black olives or black beans for faces

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
  2. Cook your rice if you haven’t already; you need about 1 cup of cooked rice.
  3. Wash and dry the bell peppers. Cut a small circle around the stem, about 1.5 inches in diameter, and remove the stem and seed pod. Shake out loose seeds. Carve jack-o-lantern faces into the peppers using a small paring knife.
  4. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and Italian sausage (if using). Break up the meat and cook until browned, about 5-7 minutes. Drain excess fat, leaving about 1 tablespoon.
  5. Add the diced onion to the skillet and cook for 3-4 minutes until soft. Add the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
  6. Add the drained diced tomatoes, cooked rice, Worcestershire sauce, oregano, salt, and pepper to the skillet. Stir and cook for 2-3 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning.
  7. Remove the skillet from heat and stir in 1 cup of shredded mozzarella until melted.
  8. Place the carved peppers upright in a 9×13-inch baking dish. Spoon the filling into each pepper, packing gently. Top each with extra shredded cheese (about 2 tablespoons per pepper).
  9. Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 25 minutes.
  10. Remove the foil and bake for another 10-15 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the peppers are tender. Optionally, broil for the last 2 minutes for a golden top.
  11. Let the peppers rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

For cleaner faces, pre-roast empty pepper shells at 375°F for 5-7 minutes before carving. The filling can be made up to 2 days ahead. To freeze, assemble unbaked peppers and freeze for up to 3 months; thaw overnight and bake as directed, adding 10 minutes to covered time.

Nutrition

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

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