🎃 Easy Made Stuffed Bell Pepper Jack-O’-Lanterns – Spooky & Fun

Stuffed Bell Pepper Jack-O’-Lanterns ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (Kids and grown-ups alike can’t stop smiling—and eating!)
🧀 Cheesy | 🍅 Savory | 💀 Festively Fun

Bring a little trick and treat to your dinner table with these Stuffed Bell Pepper Jack-O’-Lanterns! Sweet orange bell peppers become edible pumpkins, carved with grinning faces and filled with a hearty, cheesy beef and rice mixture. They’re adorable, delicious, and surprisingly easy to make—perfect for a Halloween party or a family night in before trick-or-treating.

Why You’ll Love These Stuffed Bell Pepper Jack-O’-Lanterns

⏱️ Prep Time: 20 minutes
🔥 Cook Time: 30 minutes
🍽️ Serves: 6
💰 Cost: Around $12
✨ Flavor: Cheesy, tomatoey, and cozy with a spooky twist
💡 Perfect For: Halloween dinner, themed parties, or kid-friendly meals

Ingredients – Wholesome and Wickedly Good

• 1 lb ground beef (or turkey for a lighter version)
• 6 orange bell peppers (medium size, firm)
• 1 cup cooked rice (white or brown)
• 1 small onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 (15 oz) can diced tomatoes (drained)
• 1 cup shredded cheddar or pepper jack cheese
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Olive oil, for cooking

Optional: chopped parsley for garnish

How to Make Stuffed Bell Pepper Jack-O’-Lanterns

Step 1: Prep and Carve Your Peppers

Cut off the tops of each bell pepper (keep the “lids”!) and remove the seeds and membranes.
Using a small paring knife, carefully carve jack-o’-lantern faces—triangles for eyes, and jagged smiles work best.

Step 2: Cook the Filling

In a skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat.
Add onion and garlic, sautéing until fragrant. Add ground beef and cook until browned. Drain excess fat.
Stir in tomato paste, diced tomatoes, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
Mix in cooked rice and half the cheese. Stir until combined and melty.

Step 3: Stuff the Peppers

Spoon the beef mixture evenly into each carved pepper. Top with the remaining cheese.
Place the “lids” back on top.

Step 4: Bake Until Perfectly Tender

Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
Arrange the stuffed peppers upright in a baking dish with about ½ cup water in the bottom (to steam them).
Cover loosely with foil and bake for 25–30 minutes, until the peppers are tender and the filling is hot and bubbly.

How to Serve These Adorable Jack-O’-Lanterns

🎃 Arrange on a platter with a sprinkle of parsley “grass.”
🧙 Serve with a side of mashed potatoes or garlic bread for a full spooky meal.
👻 Add a drizzle of tomato sauce “blood” for a fun Halloween touch.

What Halloween Hosts Are Saying

“These were a total hit at our Halloween dinner—too cute to eat… almost!”
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – Lena S.

“My kids LOVED carving their own peppers and filling them. Dinner was a party!”
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – Carla M.

“So festive and flavorful. Perfect mix of cozy comfort food and Halloween spirit.”
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – Drew H.

FAQ – Stuffed Bell Pepper Jack-O’-Lanterns

Stuffed Bell Pepper Jack-O’-Lanterns – Festive, Flavorful, and Frightfully Fun

Turn your dinner table into a Halloween masterpiece with these Stuffed Bell Pepper Jack-O’-Lanterns! Each bright orange bell pepper is carved into a smiling pumpkin face, then stuffed with a hearty blend of seasoned ground beef, rice, tomatoes, and melted cheese. They’re spooky on the outside, comforting on the inside — the ultimate way to celebrate the season with a meal that’s both playful and delicious.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 40 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr

Servings: 6 servings

Course: Main Dish

Cuisine: American

Calories: 320

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

  

For the Jack-O’-Lantern Peppers

• 6 large orange bell peppers
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• Salt & pepper to taste

For the Filling

• 1 lb ground beef or ground turkey
• 1 small onion finely diced
• 2 cloves garlic minced
• 1 14.5 oz can diced tomatoes
• 1 cup cooked white rice
• 1 cup shredded cheddar or pepper jack cheese
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• ½ tsp paprika
• Salt & pepper to taste
• ½ cup tomato sauce plus extra for topping

Equipment

• Sharp knife (for carving)
• Large skillet
• Baking dish
• Foil
• Spoon for stuffing

Method

 

Prepare the Peppers

1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. Slice off the tops of the bell peppers and remove seeds and membranes.
3. Using a small knife, carefully carve Jack-O’-Lantern faces into the sides. Brush the outsides lightly with olive oil and season with a pinch of salt and pepper.

Cook the Filling

1. In a large skillet, cook ground beef over medium heat until browned. Drain excess fat.
2. Add onion and garlic; cook 2–3 minutes until fragrant.
3. Stir in diced tomatoes, cooked rice, tomato sauce, Italian seasoning, paprika, salt, and pepper. Simmer 5–7 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and mix in half of the shredded cheese.

Stuff the Peppers

1. Fill each pepper with the meat and rice mixture. Place them upright in a lightly greased baking dish. Spoon a little extra tomato sauce on top of each pepper, then sprinkle with the remaining cheese.

Bake

1. Cover loosely with foil and bake for 25 minutes. Remove foil and bake an additional 10–15 minutes, until the peppers are tender and the cheese is melted and bubbly.

Serve

1. Let cool slightly before serving so the faces hold shape. Serve with a side salad or garlic bread for a festive Halloween dinner!

Notes

Make ahead: Prepare the filling a day in advance and refrigerate. Stuff and bake when ready to serve.

Spooky tip: Use red or yellow bell peppers for variety and carve different expressions for fun!

Vegetarian version: Swap the beef for cooked quinoa or black beans.

Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven or microwave.

💡 Note:

For extra flavor, mix in a little hot sauce, corn, or black beans to the filling—or top with sour cream before serving.

Round out your Halloween table with Cristal Recipes’ Cauliflower “Brain” Dip — a ghoulishly good appetizer that’s as eerie as it is delicious