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Jack-o-Lantern Stuffed Bell Peppers Halloween dinner

Spicy Jack-o’-Lantern Stuffed Bell Peppers

These festive and flavorful bell peppers are stuffed with a savory mixture of ground turkey, rice, tomatoes, and spices, then baked until tender. Adorned with carved jack-o'-lantern faces, they make for a fun and delicious Halloween-themed meal.
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Prep Time 40 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Servings 4 bell peppers
Calories 450 kcal

Equipment

  • Small, sharp knife
  • Large pan
  • Baking dish
  • Foil
  • Spoon

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients

  • 4 large Bell Peppers orange or yellow
  • 1 medium Onion chopped
  • 3 cloves Garlic minced
  • 1 lb Ground Turkey
  • 1 cup Cooked Brown Rice
  • 1 can Diced Tomatoes 14.5 oz, undrained
  • 1 can Tomato Sauce 8 oz
  • 1 cup Vegetable Broth divided
  • 1 tablespoon Olive Oil
  • 1 cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese divided (optional)
  • 1 teaspoon Salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon Black Pepper
  • 1 teaspoon Cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes
  • Fresh Parsley For garnish (optional)

Instructions
 

Preparation

  • Wash, dry, and cut bell peppers, removing all seeds and white parts. Carefully carve simple jack-o’-lantern faces onto one side of each pepper using a small, sharp knife.
  • Heat olive oil in a large pan over medium heat, then cook chopped onion until soft (5-7 minutes). Add minced garlic and cook for one more minute until fragrant.
  • Add ground turkey to the pan, cook until browned, breaking it up with a spoon, and then drain any extra fat.
  • Stir in cooked brown rice, undrained diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, 1/2 cup vegetable broth, salt, black pepper, cumin, and red pepper flakes. Cook gently for 5-7 minutes, and if using cheese, stir in 1/2 cup until melted.

Baking

  • Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
  • Spoon the prepared filling into each carved bell pepper, being careful not to overfill them.
  • Place the stuffed peppers standing up in a baking dish and pour the remaining 1/2 cup vegetable broth into the bottom of the dish around them.
  • Cover the baking dish loosely with foil and bake for 30 minutes.
  • Remove the foil, and if using cheese, sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup over the stuffed peppers. Bake uncovered for another 15-20 minutes, or until peppers are soft and the cheese is bubbly and golden. Garnish with fresh parsley if desired.

Notes

You can easily substitute ground turkey with ground beef or a plant-based alternative. Adjust the amount of red pepper flakes to suit your preferred spice level. Leftover stuffed peppers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.