Jack-O'-Lantern Stuffed Peppers (Easy Halloween Dinner)

These Jack-O'-Lantern Stuffed Peppers are a fun and easy Halloween dinner idea! Made with orange bell peppers carved into pumpkin faces and stuffed with seasoned ground beef, rice, and melted cheese, they're perfect for a festive family meal.

This Halloween stuffed peppers recipe is simple to prepare, uses everyday ingredients, and is a great way to make dinner a little more exciting during spooky season.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour
Servings: 6 stuffed peppers

Ingredients

6 large orange bell peppers

1 lb ground beef

1 cup cooked rice

1 small onion, diced

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 tablespoons taco seasoning

1 cup diced tomatoes, drained

½ cup tomato sauce

1½ cups shredded Mexican cheese, divided

1 tablespoon olive oil

Salt and pepper, to taste

How to Make Jack-O'-Lantern Stuffed Peppers

Step 1: Prepare the Peppers

Preheat your oven to 375°F.

Cut the tops off the orange bell peppers and remove the seeds. Save the tops for decoration.

Using a small knife, carefully carve triangle eyes, noses, and spooky smiles into the peppers to make jack-o'-lantern faces.

Step 2: Cook the Filling

Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic, cooking until softened.

Add the ground beef and cook until browned. Drain any excess grease.

Stir in the taco seasoning, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, and cooked rice. Cook for another 3–5 minutes.

Mix in 1 cup of shredded cheese.

Step 3: Stuff the Peppers

Place the carved peppers upright in a baking dish.

Spoon the beef and rice mixture into each pepper and top with the remaining shredded cheese.

Step 4: Bake

Add a splash of water to the baking dish and cover loosely with aluminum foil.

Bake for 25–30 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for another 10–15 minutes, until the peppers are tender and the filling reaches 165°F.

Step 5: Serve

Let the stuffed peppers cool for 5 minutes. Place the pepper tops back on to complete the jack-o'-lantern look.

Serve warm and enjoy!

Make Carving Your Halloween Peppers Easier!

Want to create cute pumpkin faces without spending forever carving? A small stainless-steel pumpkin face cutter set can help you make neat eyes, noses, and spooky smiles in your bell peppers. Choose food-safe cutters sized for small vegetables.

[Shop Pumpkin Face Cutters on Amazon]

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Tips for the Best Halloween Stuffed Peppers

Choose large orange peppers with flat bottoms so they stand upright.

Keep the faces simple to prevent the filling from falling out.

Use leftover cooked rice to save preparation time.

Make them ahead: Prepare the beef filling up to two days in advance and refrigerate until ready to assemble.

Customize the filling: Substitute ground turkey or black beans for ground beef.

How to Store Leftovers

Store leftover stuffed peppers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days.

Reheat in the oven at 350°F until heated through to 165°F, or microwave until hot.

Final Thoughts

These easy Jack-O'-Lantern Stuffed Peppers are a delicious way to celebrate Halloween without spending hours in the kitchen. With cheesy taco-seasoned filling and adorable pumpkin faces, they're perfect for Halloween dinners, family gatherings, and spooky-themed parties.

Save this recipe for your next Halloween celebration!