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Fun Halloween Stuffed Peppers

Featured in Meatless meals that satisfy.

These playful stuffed orange peppers are carved like jack-o'-lanterns for a festive Halloween vibe. Inside, there's a tasty mix of seasoned ground turkey, black beans, rice, and melted cheese. Baking brings all the flavors together, while the cheese adds a beautiful melted finish. It’s a festive dinner idea that's both healthy and fun, perfect for the spooky season.
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alicia in the kitchen
Updated on Sun, 08 Jun 2025 12:22:59 GMT
Orange bell peppers with jack-o'-lantern faces, topped with cheese and green stems on a tray. Pin it
Orange bell peppers with jack-o'-lantern faces, topped with cheese and green stems on a tray. | tasteofsavor.com

Bring some spooky fun to your table with these Halloween-themed stuffed peppers. They look just like little jack-o-lanterns and are packed with a hearty, tasty filling that’ll keep everyone full and happy.

INGREDIENTS

  • Shredded Cheese: 3/4 cup, go with cheddar, colby jack, or your favorite kind for a gooey finish.
  • Black Pepper: 1/4 teaspoon, just enough for a bit of heat.
  • Kosher Salt: 1/2 teaspoon, to make everything taste better.
  • Dried Basil: 1 teaspoon, to kick up the flavor.
  • Dried Oregano: 1 teaspoon, adds something herby and nice.
  • Tomato Sauce: 1 can (15 ounces), makes the filling saucy and moist.
  • Black Beans: 1 can (15.5 ounces), rinse and drain for fiber and bite.
  • White Basmati Rice: 1 1/2 cups, cooked how the package says.
  • Minced Garlic: 1 tablespoon or 3 cloves, gives a tasty punch.
  • Ground Turkey or Chicken: 1 pound for that meaty, filling base.
  • Diced Yellow Onion: 2 1/4 cups (about 1 onion) for sweet flavor.
  • Olive Oil: 2 tablespoons, for getting those onions sizzling in the pan.
  • Orange Bell Peppers: 8, hollowed out, with faces carved to look like jack-o-lanterns.

INSTRUCTIONS

Step 7:
Pour 1 1/2 cups water into your baking dish under the peppers, pop everything in the oven uncovered for about 10 minutes so the cheese melts and peppers get tender.
Step 6:
Spoon your filling into the carved peppers and shower with cheese on top, making sure each gets an equal scoop.
Step 5:
Toss in your cooked rice, black beans, tomato sauce, oregano, basil, salt, and pepper. Let it all cook together for another 3–5 minutes, so the rice soaks up some sauce. Pull it off the heat when it’s looking good.
Step 4:
Add the ground turkey or chicken and the garlic to the pan. Cook for 5 minutes, breaking up any big chunks of meat.
Step 3:
In a big skillet, get your olive oil hot over medium heat. Add the onions and stir while they soften for about 5 minutes.
Step 2:
Slice the pepper tops off, pull the insides out, and make fun faces on the front with a small knife. Line up the peppers in a 9x13 inch pan.
Step 1:
Get your oven warming up at 400°F.

Serving and Storage Tips

  • After warming these up with some fresh cilantro or parsley on top, they’re all set to serve.
  • Pair with garlic bread or a crunchy side salad for a complete meal.
  • Stash any extras in a sealed container in the fridge for up to three days. Warm them up in the microwave or oven before eating.

Tips from Famous Chefs

  • Gordon Ramsay likes to toss in fresh herbs for the brightest flavors.
  • Rachael Ray thinks a splash of hot sauce gives the filling a great kick.
  • Ina Garten says don’t skimp on seasoning the stuffing.

VARIATIONS

  • Try out other grains like farro or quinoa if you want to mix things up from rice.
  • You could go for spicy cheese like pepper jack for something different.
  • Want to skip the meat? Fill with more beans and veggies for a totally plant-powered meal.

Halloween Stuffed Peppers

Craft these Halloween stuffed peppers for a fun night in! Filled with turkey, rice, and beans, they’re flavorful and festive.

Prep Time
20 Minutes
Cook Time
25 Minutes
Total Time
45 Minutes
By: Alicia

Category: Vegetarian

Difficulty: Intermediate

Cuisine: American

Yield: 8 Servings (8 peppers stuffed)

Dietary: Gluten-Free

Ingredients

01 8 bell peppers in orange.
02 1 pound ground chicken or turkey (16 ounces).
03 2 tablespoons of olive oil.
04 1 tablespoon finely chopped garlic (roughly 3 cloves).
05 2 1/4 cups chopped onion, yellow (about one onion).
06 1 (15.5-ounce) can of black beans, drained and rinsed.
07 1 teaspoon dried basil.
08 3/4 cup shredded cheese (cheddar or colby jack).
09 1 teaspoon dried oregano.
10 1 1/2 cups of cooked white basmati rice (follow package directions).
11 1 (15-ounce) can of tomato sauce.
12 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper.
13 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt.

Instructions

Step 01

Turn your oven on and set it to 400°F.

Step 02

Slice off the tops of the peppers. Carve whatever jack-o-lantern-style faces you’d like on one side. Pull out the seeds and inner ribs with a paring knife, and place them in a 9x13-inch pan.

Step 03

Warm olive oil in a big frying pan on medium heat. Add the onions and stir them around occasionally for about 5 minutes.

Step 04

Toss in the garlic and ground meat. Keep cooking for another 5 minutes, breaking the meat up with a spoon or spatula as it browns.

Step 05

Stir the rice, black beans, tomato sauce, oregano, basil, salt, and pepper into the skillet. Cook over heat for 3–5 minutes so the rice can soak up some of the sauce. Remove from heat.

Step 06

Fill each pepper generously with the mixture and sprinkle shredded cheese evenly on top.

Step 07

Pour about 1 1/2 cups water at the bottom of the dish, then pop it uncovered into the oven for 10 minutes. The cheese should melt, and the peppers will soften a little.

Notes

  1. You can cut different faces on the peppers so every one looks fun and unique.
  2. Feel free to swap out the turkey or chicken for any meat you like better.
  3. You can prep these peppers early and then bake them when you're ready.

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

It is important to consider this information as approximate and not to use it as definitive health advice.
  • Calories: 320
  • Total Fat: 10 g
  • Total Carbohydrate: 45 g
  • Protein: 20 g