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Jack-o’-lantern Stuffed Peppers

Three Jack-o'-lantern stuffed peppers on a plate, filled with meat and topped with melted cheese.
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Carve bell peppers into festive jack-o’-lanterns and stuff them with seasoned ground beef and rice for a fun Halloween dinner.

Ingredients

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  • 4 large orange bell peppers
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1/2 tsp dried oregano
  • 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
  • 1 (15 oz) can tomato sauce
  • 1 cup cooked rice
  • 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
  2. Cut off the tops of the bell peppers and remove the seeds and membranes. Carve jack-o’-lantern faces into the peppers.
  3. Place the carved peppers cut-side up in a baking dish. You can use small balls of foil or crumpled paper towels to help them stand upright if needed.
  4. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and onion and cook until browned, breaking up the meat. Drain off any excess grease.
  5. Stir in garlic, salt, pepper, oregano, and red pepper flakes (if using). Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
  6. Stir in tomato sauce and cooked rice. Bring to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes.
  7. Spoon the beef and rice mixture into the carved bell peppers.
  8. Top each pepper with shredded cheddar cheese.
  9. Pour about 1/2 inch of water into the bottom of the baking dish around the peppers.
  10. Cover the baking dish loosely with foil.
  11. Bake for 30-40 minutes, or until the peppers are tender and the cheese is melted and bubbly. Remove foil for the last 10 minutes if you want the cheese to brown.

Notes

  • For a make-ahead option, prepare the filling and stuff the peppers up to a day in advance. Store covered in the refrigerator. Bake as directed, adding a few extra minutes to the cooking time.
  • You can substitute ground turkey or a vegetarian crumbles for the ground beef.
  • For a spicier kick, add more red pepper flakes to the filling.

Nutrition

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