Description
Celebrate Halloween with these festive Jack-O’-Lantern Stuffed Peppers. Bright orange bell peppers are carved with spooky faces and filled with a savory mixture of ground beef, seasoned rice, and tomato sauce. Baked until tender and flavorful, these stuffed peppers make a fun and hearty meal perfect for a seasonal dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Stuffed Peppers
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1/2 cup uncooked long grain white rice
- 1 cup water
- 2 cans tomato sauce (8 oz each), divided
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 6 orange bell peppers (or any color you prefer)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to get it ready for baking the stuffed peppers.
- Cook Rice: In a saucepan, bring 1 cup of water and 1/2 cup of uncooked long grain rice to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for about 20 minutes until the rice is tender and the water has been absorbed.
- Brown the Beef: Heat a skillet over medium heat and cook 1 lb of ground beef until fully browned. Drain any excess grease to keep the filling lean.
- Prepare the Peppers: Wash the 6 bell peppers thoroughly. Using a sharp paring knife, carefully carve jack-o’-lantern faces into each pepper. Then slice off the tops and remove the seeds and cores to create space for the filling.
- Make the Filling: In a large bowl, combine the browned beef, cooked rice, 1 can of tomato sauce, 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/4 teaspoon onion powder, and salt and pepper to taste. Mix well. Spoon an equal amount of this filling into each hollowed-out pepper.
- Prepare the Sauce: In a small bowl, mix the remaining can of tomato sauce with 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning to create a flavorful sauce to pour over the peppers.
- Assemble and Bake: Place the stuffed peppers upright in a baking dish. Pour the seasoned tomato sauce evenly over the peppers. Bake in the preheated oven for 1 hour, basting the peppers with the sauce every 15 minutes to keep them moist and infuse flavor, until the peppers are tender.
- Serve: Remove the stuffed peppers from the oven once tender and slightly browned. Serve hot and enjoy your festive Halloween meal!
Notes
- You can substitute ground beef with ground turkey or chicken for a leaner option.
- If you prefer softer peppers, you can pre-roast them for 10 minutes before stuffing.
- For a vegetarian version, replace ground beef with cooked lentils or crumbled tofu.
- Be careful when carving the peppers; use a small, sharp knife and work slowly to create detailed faces.
- Leftover stuffed peppers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven or microwave.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
