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Fun Halloween Peppers

Category: Tasty Vegetarian Meals Made Simple

Turn orange bell peppers into cute jack-o'-lanterns! Prepped with a zesty filling of turkey, rice, beans, and spices, these peppers bake into a tender and festive meal. Topped with gooey, melty cheese, they're fun, healthy, and totally Halloween-ready!
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Emily Watson
By Emily Watson Emily Watson
Last updated on Tue, 15 Apr 2025 20:54:13 GMT
Orange bell peppers carved as jack-o'-lantern faces and filled with baked toppings, served with green accents. Pin
Orange bell peppers carved as jack-o'-lantern faces and filled with baked toppings, served with green accents. | thefamilycooks.com

Time to spook up your dinner with these fun Halloween Stuffed Peppers! These jack-o-lantern bell peppers aren't just cute to look at—they're packed with a tasty filling that'll make your whole family ask for seconds.

WHAT YOU'LL NEED

  • Orange Bell Peppers: 8 peppers, emptied and cut with spooky faces.
  • Olive Oil: 2 tablespoons to cook your onions.
  • Diced Yellow Onion: 2 1/4 cups, roughly 1 onion, for added taste.
  • Ground Turkey or Chicken: 1 pound, making the dish nice and filling.
  • Minced Garlic: 1 tablespoon, around 3 cloves, for extra flavor.
  • White Basmati Rice: 1 1/2 cups, cooked as the package says.
  • Black Beans: 1 can (15.5 ounces), washed and drained for more nutrition.
  • Tomato Sauce: 1 can (15 ounces), to bind everything together.
  • Dried Oregano: 1 teaspoon, adding that Italian touch.
  • Dried Basil: 1 teaspoon, for more depth.
  • Kosher Salt: 1/2 teaspoon, just enough to bring out flavors.
  • Black Pepper: 1/4 teaspoon, according to preference.
  • Shredded Cheese: 3/4 cup, cheddar or colby jack, melted on top.

COOKING STEPS

Step 1:
Turn your oven on to 400 degrees F.
Step 2:
Slice the tops off each pepper. Grab a small knife and scoop out the insides, then carve funny faces on one side. Put them in a 9x13-inch baking dish.
Step 3:
Pour olive oil into a big skillet over medium heat. Toss in your chopped onions and stir now and then for about 5 minutes.
Step 4:
Throw in your ground meat and garlic. Cook for 5 more minutes, breaking the meat apart as it cooks.
Step 5:
Mix in your already cooked rice, beans, tomato sauce, spices, salt, and pepper. Let it cook 3-5 more minutes until the sauce thickens a bit. Take it off the heat.
Step 6:
Fill each pepper with plenty of your mixture and sprinkle cheese evenly on top.
Step 7:
Add 1 1/2 cups water to the bottom of your dish. Bake without covering for 10 minutes, until cheese bubbles and peppers start to soften.

How to Serve and Store

  • Enjoy these peppers hot with some fresh herbs sprinkled on top.
  • They taste great with a simple salad or some crusty bread on the side.
  • Keep any extras in a sealed container in your fridge for up to 3 days. Just warm them up before eating again.

Chef-Inspired Tricks

  • Gordon Ramsay says throw in some just-cut herbs for amazing taste.
  • Rachael Ray thinks a little hot sauce makes everything better.
  • Ina Garten always reminds us not to skimp on seasoning the filling.

MIX IT UP

  • Switch rice for quinoa or farro if you're feeling fancy.
  • Go for pepper jack cheese to add some heat to your dish.
  • Skip the meat completely and load up on beans and veggies for a plant-based version.

Halloween Stuffed Peppers

Celebrate Halloween with these stuffed peppers filled with veggies, rice, and turkey. They're a tasty and easy-to-make treat everyone will love!

Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
25 mins
Total Time
45 mins
By Emily Watson: Emily Watson

Recipe Category: Vegetarian

Skill Level: Intermediate

Cuisine Type: American

Makes: 8 Serves (8 filled peppers)

Dietary Preferences: Gluten-Free

What You’ll Need

01 8 orange bell peppers, whole.
02 2 cups cooked white basmati rice.
03 1 medium yellow onion, diced (about 2 1/4 cups).
04 2 tablespoons olive oil for cooking.
05 3 minced garlic cloves (equal to 1 tablespoon).
06 16 ounces (1 pound) of ground turkey or your choice of ground chicken.
07 15 ounces of tomato sauce (1 can).
08 Rinsed and drained black beans, 15.5 ounces.
09 1 teaspoon each of dried basil leaves and oregano.
10 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper.
11 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt to taste.
12 3/4 cup of shredded colby jack or cheddar cheese.

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 01

Set your oven to 400°F and let it heat up.

Step 02

Slice off the tops of the peppers carefully. Use a small knife to clear out seeds and any white parts from the inside. Then, carve fun jack-o-lantern faces on one side. Arrange peppers upright in a baking pan (9x13 works great).

Step 03

Warm some olive oil over medium heat in a large pan. Toss in the diced onions and stir now and then for 5 minutes.

Step 04

Add your ground turkey (or chicken) along with the minced garlic. Break up the meat into pieces as it cooks. Let it go for another 5 minutes until browned.

Step 05

Combine the rice, black beans, tomato sauce, salt, pepper, oregano, and basil in the pan with the meat. Let everything simmer for 3 to 5 minutes, giving time for the sauce to soak in a bit. Take it off the heat.

Step 06

Pack each pepper with the filling. Sprinkle an even amount of shredded cheese on the tops.

Step 07

Pour about 1 1/2 cups of water into the bottom of the baking pan. Bake without covering for 10 minutes or until the cheese melts and the peppers are starting to soften.

Additional Notes

  1. Customize the jack-o-lantern faces on the peppers however you like.
  2. Ground beef or even plant-based meat are great substitutes for turkey or chicken.
  3. These can be stuffed early and baked when you're ready to enjoy!

Nutritional Information (Per Serving)

These details are for guidance only and don't replace medical advice.
  • Calories: 320
  • Fats: 10 g
  • Carbohydrates: 45 g
  • Proteins: 20 g