Fresh From The OCW Recipe Collection
Jack-O'-Lantern Stuffed Peppers
Grinning orange peppers filled with seasoned beef, rice, tomato, and melted cheese are festive enough for Halloween and hearty enough for dinner.
Ingredients
- 4 large orange bell peppers
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1/2 cup diced onion
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup cooked rice
- 1 cup tomato sauce
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, divided
- 1/4 cup sliced green onions
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350°F and lightly grease a baking dish.
- Cut the tops from the peppers and remove seeds and membranes. Carefully carve jack-o’-lantern faces into one side.
- Heat oil in a skillet. Cook beef and onion until browned and tender; drain.
- Add garlic and seasonings and cook 30 seconds.
- Stir in rice, tomato sauce, 3/4 cup cheese, and green onions.
- Fill peppers, place upright in the dish, top with remaining cheese, and replace tops.
- Cover loosely with foil and bake 25 minutes. Uncover and bake 10 minutes more, until tender.
OCW Kitchen Tip: Choose peppers with relatively flat sides and level bottoms. They are easier to carve and less likely to tip.
Recipe source: Adapted from Jack-o’-Lantern Stuffed Peppers by Allrecipes.