Jack-o'-Lantern Stuffed Peppers Recipe

This Jack-o'-lantern stuffed pepper will look impressive, no matter how the filling turns out. While kids might be delighted with the fun appearance, adults will appreciate a more flavorful stuffing. I personally wasnt too happy with the stuffing I used, but feel free to substitute it with your favorite filling recipe for a more satisfying dish. The key is to pick nice, large bell peppers to make carving easier. If you want to add a Halloween touch, you could even add some bucatini "worms" coming out of the eyes or mouth or serve these with a steak knife plunged into the pepper for a fun twist. Either way, this is a great way to serve stuffed peppers with a festive and playful look!

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• 4 large orange bell peppers
• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 cup cooked rice
• 1 cup grated sharp Cheddar cheese
• cup thinly sliced green onions
• 2 tablespoons salted butter, melted
• 2 tablespoons ketchup
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• teaspoon ground black pepper
• 3 pinches cayenne pepper (or to taste)
• 2 cups seasoned tomato sauce, warmed

Directions

1. Step 1: Preheat your oven to 400F (200C). Lightly coat a baking dish with olive oil to prevent sticking.
2. Step 2: Carefully carve faces into the flattest side of each bell pepper, just like a jack-o'-lantern. Remove the tops and discard any seeds and white membrane from the inside of the peppers. Shake out any remaining seeds.
3. Step 3: In a large mixing bowl, combine ground beef, cooked rice, grated Cheddar cheese, green onions, melted butter, ketchup, minced garlic, salt, Worcestershire sauce, black pepper, and cayenne pepper. Stir until the mixture is evenly combined.
4. Step 4: Stuff each prepared pepper with the beef and rice mixture, packing it in tightly. Place the tops of the peppers back on to cover the filling.
5. Step 5: Cover the baking dish loosely with aluminum foil. Set it on a sheet pan to catch any spills while baking.
6. Step 6: Bake the peppers in the preheated oven for about 1 hour, placing them on the upper center rack. After 1 hour, remove the foil and continue baking for an additional 10-15 minutes until the peppers are tender and the ground beef is fully cooked.
7. Step 7: Once done, transfer the stuffed peppers to serving plates. Spoon a few tablespoons of warm seasoned tomato sauce onto each plate, then place the stuffed peppers on top.
8. Step 8: Serve hot with extra sauce on the side for dipping. Enjoy!

Chef's Note: You can experiment with different fillings for this recipe, such as your favorite stuffed pepper mixture or even a meatloaf recipe for a twist.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

• Calories: 613
• Total Fat: 46g (59% Daily Value)
• Saturated Fat: 22g (110% Daily Value)
• Cholesterol: 141mg (47% Daily Value)
• Sodium: 1035mg (45% Daily Value)
• Total Carbohydrates: 22g (8% Daily Value)
• Dietary Fiber: 2g (8% Daily Value)
• Protein: 29g (58% Daily Value)
• Potassium: 787mg (17% Daily Value)

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.