Description

✨ A Halloween dinner that’s spooky, cozy, and totally fun! These carved orange peppers, stuffed with a cheesy beef-and-rice filling, are the edible jack-o’-lanterns your table has been waiting for. Perfect for kids and adults alike, they’re hearty, playful, and guaranteed to spark smiles before the first bite.

Ingredients

Scale

6 large orange bell peppers (flat-bottomed, for carving)
1 lb ground beef (or turkey; lentils for vegetarian)
1 small onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes (fire-roasted = extra flavor!)
1 cup cooked rice (white, brown, or cauliflower)
1 cup shredded cheddar or mozzarella (plus extra for topping)
1 tsp Italian seasoning
½ tsp paprika
Salt & pepper to taste
2 tbsp olive oil

Instructions

1. Prep Peppers: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Slice tops off peppers, remove seeds/membranes, and carve simple jack-o’-lantern faces. Place in a greased 9×13″ baking dish.

2. Cook Filling: In a skillet, heat oil. Sauté onion 3–4 min, add garlic 30 sec. Stir in beef, seasoning, paprika, salt, and pepper. Cook until browned, 5–7 min.

3. Mix It Up: Add diced tomatoes + rice. Stir to combine. Off heat, fold in cheese.

4. Stuff Peppers: Spoon filling into each pepper, packing gently. Top with extra cheese if desired.

5. Bake: Cover with foil. Bake 25 min. Remove foil and bake 10–15 more until peppers are tender and cheese is bubbly.

Prep Time: 15 mins
Cook Time: 35–40 mins

Nutrition

Calories: 360 Cal Per Stuffed Pepper
Carbohydrates: 28g
Protein: 22g