Description
Jack-o’-Lantern Stuffed Peppers are a festive and hearty dish perfect for Halloween. These orange bell peppers are carved like jack-o’-lanterns and stuffed with a delicious mixture of ground beef, rice, sharp Cheddar cheese, and spices, then baked to tender perfection. Served with seasoned tomato sauce, this dish combines fun presentation with savory flavors for a memorable meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 4 large orange bell peppers
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 cup cooked rice
- 1 cup grated sharp Cheddar cheese
- 0.333 cup thinly sliced green onions
- 2 tablespoons salted butter, melted
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce
- 0.5 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 3 pinches cayenne pepper, or to taste
- 2 cups seasoned tomato sauce, warmed
Instructions
- Prepare Ingredients: Gather all the ingredients needed for the recipe to ensure a smooth cooking process. Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C) and coat a baking dish with olive oil to prevent sticking.
- Carve the Peppers: Using a small knife, carefully cut eyes, nose, and mouth shapes into the flattest side of each bell pepper to create jack-o’-lantern faces. Cut around the seed pods and remove the tops, discarding seeds. Trim off any white membrane inside and shake out remaining seeds. Place the peppers upright in the prepared baking dish.
- Make the Filling: In a large bowl, combine ground beef, cooked rice, grated Cheddar cheese, sliced green onions, melted butter, ketchup, minced garlic, kosher salt, Worcestershire sauce, ground black pepper, and cayenne pepper. Mix thoroughly until all ingredients are evenly incorporated.
- Stuff the Peppers: Evenly stuff each carved bell pepper with the beef mixture, packing gently but firmly. Replace the pepper tops to cover the filling.
- Bake Covered: Loosely cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and place it on a sheet pan to make handling easier. Bake in the center of the preheated oven for 1 hour to allow the filling to cook and the peppers to soften.
- Finish Baking Uncovered: Remove the foil and continue baking for an additional 10 to 15 minutes until the peppers are tender and the ground beef is fully cooked through, with a nice browned top.
- Serve with Sauce: Place each stuffed pepper on a bed of warm seasoned tomato sauce. Serve hot with extra sauce on the side for dipping. Enjoy the festive and flavorful meal!
Notes
- Orange bell peppers give the stuffed peppers their festive jack-o’-lantern appearance, making this dish perfect for Halloween or autumn-themed meals.
- The mixture of savory ground beef, cheese, and rice creates a hearty and satisfying filling.
- Adjust cayenne pepper to control the spiciness according to your preference.
- Ensure peppers are placed upright and stable in the baking dish to prevent filling from spilling out during baking.
- Using a sheet pan under the baking dish can catch any drips and make it easier to handle when removing from the oven.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 stuffed pepper
- Calories: 613 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 1035 mg
- Fat: 46 g
- Saturated Fat: 22 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 22 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 29 g
- Cholesterol: 141 mg
