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Cozy Jack-O-Lantern Stuffed Bell Peppers: Easy Fall Dinner

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These Cozy Jack-O-Lantern Stuffed Bell Peppers are a fun and delicious fall dinner, featuring savory ground beef and Italian sausage filling, tender bell peppers carved with smiling faces, and melted cheese. Perfect for Halloween parties or cozy nights in.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 large bell peppers (orange or yellow preferred)
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 small yellow onion, finely diced (about 1 cup)
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 pound ground beef (85/15)
  • 1/2 pound ground Italian sausage (mild or sweet)
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 can (15 ounces) tomato sauce
  • 1 cup cooked white or brown rice
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (plus extra for topping)
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • Small paring knife or tiny cookie cutters (for faces)
  • Extra shredded mozzarella (for filling carved areas)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). If you don’t have leftover rice, cook 1 cup of dry rice in 2 cups of water.
  2. Wash the bell peppers, slice off the tops about 1/2 inch from the stem, and remove all seeds and membranes. Chop the tops and set aside for the filling if desired.
  3. Using a sharp paring knife or cookie cutters, carve triangle eyes and a jagged smile into each pepper, cutting all the way through the pepper wall.
  4. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the diced onion and cook for 3-4 minutes until soft. Add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
  5. Add ground beef and Italian sausage, breaking it up with a wooden spoon. Cook until browned, about 6-8 minutes. Drain excess fat, leaving a little for flavor.
  6. Sprinkle oregano, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper over the meat. Stir and cook for 1 minute.
  7. Pour in the tomato sauce and stir. Let it simmer for 3-4 minutes until slightly thickened.
  8. Remove the skillet from heat. Stir in cooked rice, 1 cup of mozzarella, and Parmesan cheese until well combined. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
  9. Place the carved peppers upright in a baking dish. If they wobble, trim a thin slice off the bottom. Spoon the filling into each pepper, packing gently but firmly, mounding slightly at the top.
  10. Sprinkle remaining mozzarella over the tops and fill the carved areas with extra cheese. Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 25 minutes.
  11. Remove the foil and bake for another 10-15 minutes, until the cheese is bubbly and starting to brown, and the peppers are tender when pierced with a fork.
  12. Let the peppers rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

For extra tender peppers, parboil the carved peppers in boiling water for 3 minutes before stuffing. The filling can be made up to 2 days in advance. Don’t overstuff the peppers to prevent splitting. Use a spoon to gently push out cut pieces from the carved faces. Baking covered for the first 25 minutes is essential for tender peppers.

Nutrition

Keywords: stuffed bell peppers, jack-o-lantern peppers, fall dinner, Halloween dinner, stuffed peppers, cozy dinner, ground beef, Italian sausage, bell peppers, easy dinner

Find it online: https://spoonmira.com/cozy-jack-o-lantern-stuffed-bell-peppers-easy-fall-dinner/