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Fun Spooky Stuffed Bell Peppers: 5 Easy Halloween Dinner Ideas

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These fun spooky stuffed bell peppers are a quick, easy, and festive Halloween dinner. Filled with savory ground beef, rice, and spices, then topped with melted cheese and decorated with olives and peppers for a spooky face.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 large bell peppers (green, red, or yellow)
  • 1 pound 80/20 ground beef
  • 1 small yellow onion, finely diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 cup long-grain white rice (uncooked)
  • 1 cup tomato sauce or marinara
  • 1/2 cup low-sodium beef broth
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • Shredded mozzarella cheese
  • Black olives, sliced into circles
  • Red pepper or jalapeño, cut into thin strips

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C) and grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.
  2. Wash bell peppers, slice off the top 1/2 inch, and scoop out seeds and membranes to create hollow cups. Place upright in the baking dish.
  3. In a skillet over medium-high heat, brown the ground beef, breaking it up with a spoon. Drain excess grease if necessary.
  4. Add diced onion and minced garlic to the skillet; sauté for 2-3 minutes until translucent.
  5. Stir in uncooked rice, tomato sauce, beef broth, smoked paprika, cumin, oregano, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 2 minutes.
  6. Spoon the meat mixture into each pepper, packing it down slightly but leaving room at the top. Top generously with shredded mozzarella cheese.
  7. Bake for 25-30 minutes until peppers are tender-crisp and cheese is bubbly and golden.
  8. While baking, slice olives for eyes and peppers for mouths. Once baked, place toppings on the melted cheese to create spooky faces.
  9. Let cool for 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

For a stable base, slice a tiny bit off the bottom of each pepper so they stand upright. If you prefer softer peppers, you can parboil them for 3-4 minutes before stuffing. To freeze, bake for only 10 minutes to set the cheese, cool completely, wrap individually, and freeze for up to 2 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: Halloween dinner, stuffed bell peppers, spooky food, family friendly recipes, easy weeknight meals, ground beef recipes, gluten-free dinner

Find it online: https://bakebeam.com/fun-spooky-stuffed-bell-peppers-5-easy-halloween-dinner-ideas/