I love to make Jack-o'-Lantern Stuffed Peppers for my kids every Halloween season.
This recipe is not too intensive and is a great way to put a Halloween spin on a classic meal. Plus, Jack-o'-Lantern Stuffed Peppers are an easy way to get your kids to eat something they otherwise might not want to try.
Some tips for making Jack-o'-Lantern Stuffed Peppers:
When choosing peppers, look for orange peppers with four bumps or lobes on the bottom rather than three so that the peppers stand up more easily. You can also trim the bottom of the pepper so it stands up straight.
Use rice or any of your family's favorite grains or grain blends for stuffing these Jack-o'-Lantern Stuffed Peppers. I used a harvest grain mixture with Israeli couscous, quinoa, and other assorted grains.
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Jack-o'-Lantern Stuffed Peppers
- 1 cup rice or grain mixture
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 1 Tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 4 orange bell peppers
- 8 oz can tomato sauce
- 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
- Olive oil and cooking spray
- Salt and pepper to taste
Preheat the oven to 425˚F.
Cook the rice or grain mixture according to the package instructions.
Heat olive oil in a large skillet. Cook the onions until soft, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and beef to the pan and cook until the meat is brown. Season with salt and pepper.
Drain off any excess grease, and then add the tomato sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and the rice or grains to the pan. Mix well.
Meanwhile, use a sharp paring knife to cut the tops off your peppers. Set the tops aside and remove the seeds and core. Then, use the same knife to cut jack-o-lantern faces on the peppers.
Lightly oil the peppers and pepper tops with olive oil or cooking spray, then put them into an oven-safe baking dish. Fill each pepper to the top with the beef and grain mixture.
Bake the stuffed peppers in the oven for 20 minutes. Remove the peppers from the oven, add cheese to the top of each pepper, and return to the oven for 10-15 more minutes.
Enjoy your spooky Halloween dinner!
Variation: Instead of the rice and meat mixture, fill the peppers with spaghetti. My kids call this meal "Pumpkin Guts"!
