Halloween Stuffed Jack O Lantern Peppers Recipe
- Cook Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Diet: High-Protein
Ingredients
Scale
- 6 large orange bell peppers
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1 cup cooked white or brown rice
- 1 small yellow onion, finely diced
- 1 jar (24 oz) marinara or pasta sauce
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- Step 1: Preheat and Prep the Oven Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a large baking dish or 9×13-inch pan with cooking spray or a little olive oil to prevent sticking.
- Step 2: Carve the Pepper Faces Wash the orange peppers and pat them dry. Carefully slice off the tops (keep them for “lids”). Remove the seeds and the white ribs from the inside. Using a small, sharp paring knife, carefully carve triangle eyes and a jagged mouth into one side of each pepper, just like you would with a pumpkin.
- Step 3: Sauté the Aromatics and Meat Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the diced onion and cook until softened, about 3-4 minutes. Add the ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it up with a spoon as it cooks. Drain any excess fat from the pan.
- Step 4: Create the Filling Lower the heat to medium. Stir in the cooked rice, half of the marinara sauce, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Let it simmer for 2-3 minutes so the flavors meld together. Remove from heat and stir in half of the mozzarella cheese.
- Step 5: Stuff the Jack O Lanterns Carefully spoon the beef and rice mixture into each carved pepper, pressing down gently to fill them to the top. Stand the peppers upright in your prepared baking dish.
- Step 6: Add Sauce and Bake Pour the remaining marinara sauce into the bottom of the baking dish around the peppers. This creates a “lava” effect and keeps the peppers moist. Cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil and bake for 30-35 minutes until the peppers are tender.
- Step 7: Final Melt and Serve Remove the foil. Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella cheese over the top of the filling in each pepper. Place the pepper “lids” back on top or to the side. Bake for another 5-10 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Serve warm!