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Cozy Jack-o-Lantern Stuffed Peppers: Easy 30-Min Fall Dinner

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Fun and festive jack-o-lantern stuffed bell peppers with a savory filling of ground meat, rice, and cheese. Ready in just 30 minutes, this easy fall dinner is perfect for weeknights or Halloween gatherings.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 large orange bell peppers
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 pound ground beef or turkey (85/15 recommended)
  • 1 cup cooked rice (white, brown, or cauliflower rice)
  • 1 small onion, diced (about ½ cup)
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 can (15 ounces) diced tomatoes, drained (fire-roasted preferred)
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 cup shredded cheese (cheddar, mozzarella, or Mexican blend)
  • ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley or cilantro (for garnish)
  • Sour cream or Greek yogurt (for serving, optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Wash and dry bell peppers. Using a sharp paring knife, carve jack-o-lantern faces into one side of each pepper, cutting all the way through. Leave about ½ inch of space at top and bottom. Cut tops off peppers and remove seeds and membranes with a small spoon. Set aside.
  2. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef or turkey and cook, breaking it up, until browned (5-7 minutes). Drain excess fat. Add diced onion and minced garlic; cook 2 minutes until onion softens.
  3. Stir in drained diced tomatoes, cooked rice, oregano, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. Cook 3 minutes until well combined and heated through. Remove from heat and stir in half the shredded cheese.
  4. Place carved peppers upright in a baking dish. Spoon filling into each pepper, pressing gently, filling to about ¼ inch from top. Sprinkle remaining cheese over tops.
  5. Cover dish loosely with aluminum foil and bake 15 minutes. Remove foil and bake 5-10 minutes more until cheese is melted and bubbly and peppers are fork-tender.
  6. Let rest 2-3 minutes. Garnish with parsley or cilantro and serve with sour cream or Greek yogurt if desired.

Notes

Choose blocky peppers with flat bottoms for stability. Draw faces with a dry erase marker before carving. Don’t overbake—peppers should be tender but still hold their shape. For vegetarian version, swap meat for black beans and mushrooms. Leftovers keep in fridge up to 4 days or freeze up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: stuffed peppers, jack-o-lantern peppers, Halloween dinner, fall dinner, quick dinner, 30-minute meal, bell peppers, ground beef, comfort food

Find it online: https://cooksyla.com/cozy-jack-o-lantern-stuffed-peppers-easy-30-min-fall-dinner/