Description
These Jack-o-lantern Stuffed Bell Peppers are a festive and fun Halloween-themed dinner option that combines brightly colored bell peppers with a flavorful mixture of seasoned ground turkey or beef, black beans, corn, salsa, and melted cheese. Perfect for families looking to delight kids with a playful presentation while enjoying a hearty, balanced meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Bell Peppers
- 4-5 large orange bell peppers, preferably with level bottoms to stand upright
Meat and Seasonings
- 1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil (EVOO)
- 1 lb. ground turkey or ground beef
- 1 teaspoon taco seasoning
Vegetables and Canned Goods
- 1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 can corn, rinsed and drained or 1 cup frozen corn, thawed
- 1 cup of your favorite salsa
Cheese
- 2 cups cheese, divided (cheddar and pepper jack cheese recommended)
Instructions
- Prepare Bell Peppers: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Wash the orange bell peppers thoroughly and carefully hollow them out, removing all seeds and membranes to prepare them for stuffing.
- Cook the Meat Mixture: Heat 1 teaspoon of extra virgin olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground turkey or beef and cook until browned and crumbly, stirring frequently. Sprinkle 1 teaspoon of taco seasoning over the meat as it cooks for flavor.
- Add Beans, Corn, Salsa, and Cheese: Once the meat is cooked, reduce the heat and mix in the rinsed black beans, drained corn, 1 cup of salsa, and 1 cup of cheese (a combination of cheddar and pepper jack works well). Stir to combine and heat through gently.
- Create Jack-o-Lantern Faces: Using a small knife, cut fun jack-o-lantern faces into the hollowed orange bell peppers. This step can be a fun activity for children to participate in depending on their age and skill.
- Stuff the Peppers: Spoon the meat and vegetable mixture into each bell pepper, filling them evenly. Arrange the stuffed peppers standing upright on a baking sheet lined with foil or wax paper for easy cleanup.
- Bake: Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake the stuffed peppers uncovered for 20 minutes to heat thoroughly and soften the peppers slightly.
- Add Remaining Cheese and Finish Baking: Remove the baking sheet from the oven. Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of cheese over the stuffed peppers. Return them to the oven and bake for an additional 5 minutes or until the cheese has melted and is bubbly.
- Serve: Take the stuffed peppers out of the oven and allow them to cool for 5 minutes before serving. Enjoy this festive and tasty dish with family and friends!
Notes
- Choose bell peppers that can stand upright to prevent the stuffing from spilling during baking.
- Use ground turkey for a leaner option or ground beef for a richer flavor.
- Adjust the taco seasoning amount to your taste preference or use homemade seasoning if preferred.
- Salsa flavor can be mild or spicy depending on your family’s tolerance.
- Mix cheeses or use any melting cheese of your choice such as mozzarella or Monterey Jack if desired.
- Carefully supervise children while cutting faces into peppers as knife use is involved.
- Covering the baking sheet with foil or wax paper makes cleanup easier.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated and reheated but are best eaten fresh.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 stuffed bell pepper
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 6g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 65mg
