Halloween Jack O'Lantern Stuffed Peppers

I enjoy food art anytime, but especially around holidays. I did bunnies last spring, and for Halloween, we're having Jack O'Lantern Stuffed Peppers.  If your peppers lean, trim bottom of pepper to level them. I'm including a lean beef and whole-wheat bread stuffing for the Jack O'Lanterns, but feel free to substitute your favorite stuffing. Ground turkey or chicken can be substituted for the beef.  For vegetarians and vegans, try a mix of beans, like black bean and pinto beans, with bread crumbs or brown rice. I personally like topping with cheese and tomato sauce. 

 

 

 

 Have fun with the presentation. Kids love what looks gross to most adults!  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jack O'Lantern Stuffed Peppers

Use organic when available. Serves 6

 Prep Time: 25 mins    Cook Time:  1 hr   Total Time:  1 hr 25 mins

Ingredients

• 6 orange bell peppers
• 1 pound lean ground beef, chicken, or turkey
• 1 egg
• 4 slices whole wheat bread, cubed or 1 cup cooked brown rice
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1 small tomato, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• ½ cup chili sauce
• 1 tbsp yellow mustard
• 3 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• salt and pepper to taste 
• optional grated cheddar cheese
• optional serve with favorite tomato or Marinara sauce 

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease an 11x17-inch baking dish
• Wash peppers, & cut jack-o'-lantern faces into peppers with a sharp paring knife, making triangle eyes and noses, and pointy-teeth smiles; slice off tops of peppers, and scoop out seeds and cores - save cut out parts of peppers
• Mix together ground beef, egg, bread cubes, onion, pieces of pepper, tomato, garlic, chili sauce, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper in a bowl
• Stuff peppers lightly with beef stuffing, and place them into the prepared baking dish so they lean against each other
• Bake in the preheated oven until peppers are tender and the stuffing is cooked through and juicy, about 1 hour
• Optional sprinkle grated cheddar on top of peppers for last 5 minutes of baking, serve with Marinara sauce
    

 

 

 

 

 

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