These Jack-O’-Lantern Stuffed Peppers turn a healthy dinner into a festive Halloween celebration that’s as fun to make as it is to eat. Bright orange bell peppers are carved with jack-o’-lantern faces, then filled with a hearty mixture of seasoned ground beef, fluffy rice, black beans, and sweet corn kernels. The southwestern-spiced filling gets topped with melted cheddar cheese that creates a deliciously gooey finish, making this a dish that’s both nutritious and entertaining for kids and adults alike.
Jack-O’-Lantern Stuffed Peppers
Recipe by Daily Disher
Jack-O'-Lantern Stuffed Peppers feature orange bell peppers carved with spooky faces and filled with seasoned ground beef, rice, black beans, corn, and melted cheddar cheese.
Course: Main
/Cuisine: Mexican
/Difficulty: Medium
Servings
4
Prep time
30 minutes
Cooking time
40 minutes
Calories
350 kcal
1 hour 10 minutes
Ingredients
4 large orange bell peppers
1 cup cooked rice
½ pound ground beef
1 cup black beans, drained and rinsed
½ cup corn kernels
1 cup salsa
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
to taste salt and pepper
Directions
1.
Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190 degrees Celsius) and prepare a baking dish by lightly greasing it.
2.
Carefully cut the tops off the orange bell peppers and remove the seeds and membranes, creating a hollow cavity inside.
3.
Using a small knife, carve jack-o'-lantern faces into one side of each bell pepper, being careful not to cut through completely.
4.
In a skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef until it is no longer pink, then drain any excess fat.
5.
Combine cooked beef, rice, black beans, corn, salsa, chili powder, cumin, salt, and pepper in a large mixing bowl.
6.
Fill each carved pepper with the beef and rice mixture, packing it tightly to ensure even cooking and thorough flavor.
7.
Place the filled peppers upright in the prepared baking dish, arranging them so they are slightly touching each other.
8.
Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes, until peppers are tender.
9.
Remove the foil and sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese over the top of each pepper, then bake for an additional 5 to 10 minutes.
10.
Let the stuffed peppers cool slightly before serving, as the filling will be very hot immediately after baking.
Nutrition Facts
Total number of serves:
4 servings
Calories:
350kcal
Cholesterol:
0mg
Sodium:
620mg
Potassium:
400mg
Sugar:
8g
Protein:
6g
Calcium:
60mg
Iron:
2mg
