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Fun Jack-O-Lantern Stuffed Bell Peppers: Best Halloween Recipe

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A festive and kid-friendly Halloween dinner featuring orange bell peppers carved into Jack-O-Lanterns and stuffed with a savory mixture of ground turkey, rice, marinara sauce, and cheese.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 large orange bell peppers
  • 1 lb ground turkey or chicken
  • 1 cup cooked white rice
  • 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 cup marinara sauce
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • Olive oil for sautéing
  • Fresh basil or parsley for garnish (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Wash peppers and cut off the top quarter to create a lid. Remove stems, seeds, and membranes. Place hollowed peppers upright in a 9×13 inch baking dish.
  2. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Sauté diced onion for 3-4 minutes until translucent, then add garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
  3. Add ground turkey to the skillet. Break it up and cook until browned, draining excess fat if necessary.
  4. Reduce heat to low. Stir in cooked rice, marinara sauce, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Mix well and taste to adjust seasoning.
  5. Spoon the filling into each pepper, packing gently but leaving about half an inch of space at the top.
  6. Carve eyes, nose, and mouth into the front of each pepper using a small knife or cookie cutters.
  7. Sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese generously over the top of each stuffed pepper.
  8. Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil and bake for 25 minutes.
  9. Remove foil and bake for another 10-15 minutes until cheese is bubbly and golden, and peppers are tender.
  10. Let cool for 5 minutes before serving warm with fresh basil or parsley.

Notes

[‘Ensure peppers have a flat bottom to sit upright; if not, cut a small slice off the bottom.’, ‘Drain excess fat from the meat to prevent a soggy filling.’, ‘Orange peppers are sweeter and tenderize better than green peppers.’, ‘Can be frozen unbaked for up to 3 months; add 10-15 minutes to baking time if cooking from frozen.’, ‘For a vegetarian version, substitute meat with lentils or plant-based ground meat.’]

Nutrition

Keywords: Halloween recipe, stuffed peppers, Jack-O-Lantern, kid-friendly dinner, ground turkey, healthy family meal, festive cooking

Find it online: https://sizzlesprout.com/fun-jack-o-lantern-stuffed-bell-peppers-best-halloween-recipe/