Description
Celebrate Halloween with these festive Jack-o-lantern Stuffed Bell Peppers, filled with a delicious blend of seasoned ground meat, beans, corn, salsa, and melted cheese. A fun and spooky twist on stuffed peppers that kids will love helping to make, perfect for an easy and colorful fall dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 4-5 large orange bell peppers, preferably with flat bottoms to stand upright
- 1 lb. ground turkey or ground beef
- 1 teaspoon taco seasoning
- 1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 can corn, rinsed and drained or 1 cup frozen corn, thawed
- 1 cup of your favorite salsa
Other Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil (EVOO)
- 2 cups shredded cheese (we used cheddar and pepper jack), divided
Instructions
- Prepare the Bell Peppers: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Wash the orange bell peppers thoroughly, then carefully hollow them out by removing all seeds and membranes to create cups perfect for stuffing.
- Cook the Meat Mixture: Heat 1 teaspoon of EVOO in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground turkey or beef and brown it, breaking up the meat into crumbles. Sprinkle 1 teaspoon of taco seasoning evenly over the meat as it cooks.
- Add Veggies and Cheese: Once the meat is browned and crumbly, stir in the rinsed black beans, corn, salsa, and 1 cup of shredded cheese. Mix well and reduce the heat to low to warm through and combine flavors.
- Carve the Jack-o-Lantern Faces: Using a knife, cut out fun jack-o-lantern faces on each hollowed bell pepper. This step is great for involving kids in the cooking process for some seasonal fun.
- Stuff the Peppers: Spoon the meat and veggie mixture evenly into each carved bell pepper, filling them to the top. Place the stuffed peppers upright on a baking sheet lined with foil or wax paper for easy cleanup.
- Bake the Peppers: Bake the stuffed peppers uncovered in the preheated oven for 20 minutes. This allows the peppers to soften slightly and the filling to heat through.
- Add the Cheese Topping: Remove the baking sheet from the oven and sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of cheese over the top of each stuffed pepper. Return to the oven and bake for an additional 5 minutes or until the cheese is fully melted and bubbly.
- Cool and Serve: Take the stuffed peppers out of the oven and let them cool for about 5 minutes. Serve warm as a festive and hearty meal perfect for Halloween celebrations.
Notes
- Choose bell peppers with flat bottoms so they can stand upright easily for stuffing and baking.
- You can substitute ground turkey with ground beef or any preferred ground protein.
- Use mild or spicy taco seasoning based on your family’s taste preferences.
- For added flavor, consider adding diced onions or garlic to the meat while cooking.
- This recipe can be made ahead and refrigerated before baking; just increase baking time slightly if baking cold peppers.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven or microwave.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 stuffed bell pepper
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 550 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 25 g
- Fiber: 7 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg
