Stuffed Pepper Jack O’ Lanterns – Looking for a fun and festive Halloween food idea? Look no further than Scary Good Food Stuffed Pepper Jack O Lanterns! These delicious and spooky peppers are sure to please kids and adults alike.

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To make Scary Good Food Stuffed Pepper Jack O’ Lanterns, Start with 4 orange bell peppers.  Use orange bell peppers for the most authentic jack-o-lantern look.

Slice the top off making a lid.  Then remove the seeds and membrane.   Now simply carve jack-o-lantern faces into orange bell peppers. 

Be creative with your jack-o-lantern faces. Use a paring knife to carve out simple or elaborate designs. If you’re not comfortable carving jack-o-lantern faces, you can use cookie cutters to cut out shapes from the peppers.

Now bring a large pot of water to a boil and add the pepper and their lids.  Make sure they are fulling covered.  Boil for 3 minutes, then drain and rinse with cool water.  Don’t overcook the peppers or they will become mushy!

Now heat a large skillet and add one pound of ground beef.  This is also tasty using ground turkey.  Break the beef into small pieces as it cooks.  Add one half cup of chopped onion.

Continue to stir as the onions and beef cook.  Once the meat is nicely browned.  I take several paper towels and carefully soak up the fat. 

Next add one clove of garlic that has been finely chopped.  You could use 1 teaspoon of garlic powder if you prefer.  Let the garlic cook and release its flavor for about 30 seconds. For a spicier filling, add a pinch of cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes to the ground beef mixture.

This is going to be soooo scary good!

Add 1 teaspoon of salt.  Next you will add 2/3 of  14.5 oz. Can of chopped tomatoes.  Add one cup of cooked rice.  Prepare your rice ahead of time using the package’s instructions.

Now stir that in and let the mixture heat thoroughly.

Now it is time to stuff your jack o lantern peppers with the meat and rice mixture.  Next top the stuffed peppers with the remaining chopped tomatoes.  Then sprinkle 3/4 cup of shredded cheddar cheese over the top.  Yum these are looking good!

Cover your dish and Bake the peppers in a 350F preheated oven for 10 minutes.  Then remove the cover and continue to bake for 15 minutes or  until the filling is cooked through and the peppers are tender.

• To make the stuffed peppers ahead of time, assemble them as directed but do not bake. Cover and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) and bake the stuffed peppers for 30-35 minutes, or until the peppers are tender and the filling is heated through.

Enjoy! Serve your Scary Good Food Stuffed Pepper Jack O Lanterns at your next Halloween party or as a fun and healthy family meal. They’re sure to be a hit!

Recipe

Stuffed Pepper Jack O’ Lanterns – Scary Good Food

4 orange bell peppers

1 pound ground beef

1/2 cup chopped onion

1 garlic clove, minced

1 (14.5 ounce) can chopped tomatoes 

1 cup cooked rice

3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

Cut the tops off the bell peppers and remove the seeds and ribs. Carve jack-o-lantern faces into the peppers. Place into a large pot of boiling water for 3 minutes. Then remove and rinse in cool water.

In a large skillet, brown the ground beef over medium heat. Drain off any excess grease. Add the onion and garlic to the skillet and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.

Stir in the tomatoes, cooked rice, and season with salt and pepper to taste.

Spoon the filling into the bell peppers. Place the bell peppers in a baking dish. Top with the cheese and bake for 20-30 minutes, or until the peppers are tender and the filling is heated through.

Serve immediately.