Make Halloween special and healthy with these easy and fun stuffed jack-o'-lantern peppers. Each pepper is carved with a spooky face and filled with a flavorful blend of chili spices, ground beef, mushrooms, onion, fire-roasted tomatoes, and rice.

A picture of a gluten-free orange stuffed pepper with a jack-o-lantern face on a white plate.

Why You Will Love This Stuffed Jack O Lantern Peppers Recipe

The arrival of fall brings with it the perfect excuse to bake gluten-free pumpkin chocolate chip muffins, create spooky mummy rice krispie treats, and make these delightful stuffed jack-o'-lantern peppers! These stuffed peppers are not just a fun Halloween decoration; they make an ideal and easy meal for Halloween night. Crafted with simple ingredients that the whole family will enjoy, each pepper features a carved spooky face and a delicious filling of chili-spiced ground beef, mushrooms, onion, fire-roasted tomatoes, and rice. Here’s why this stuffed pepper recipe will be a hit:

Festive and Fun for Halloween: They bring a playful, spooky element to your Halloween dinner or gathering, acting as both food and decoration.
Easy to Make: This healthy stuffed peppers recipe is straightforward and doesn't require complicated cooking techniques, making it perfect for busy weeknights or getting kids involved.

Ingredients For Stuffed Jack O Lantern Peppers

You'll need the following ingredients to make these jack-o-lantern peppers:

Ingredient Notes

Ground Meat: 93% grass-fed lean ground beef is used in this recipe. I wouldn't go higher than 85% because of the amount of fat that will need to be drained. You can also use ground turkey or ground chicken.
Vegetables: A mix of diced onions, green peppers, and mushrooms adds flavor and helps keep the filling moist.
Oil: A little bit of olive oil helps sauté the vegetables until tender.
Diced Fire Roasted Tomatoes: Adds a smoky depth of flavor. Just make sure to drain the can before use.
Cooked Rice: You can use any kind of precooked rice, including white rice, brown rice, or wild rice.
Spice blend: A combination of salt, garlic powder, chili powder, cumin, and black pepper creates a warm, spicy flavor.
Cheese: For a delicious cheesy touch, Monterey Jack cheese is a fantastic addition to these stuffed peppers. Its mild flavor and melty texture work wonderfully with the filling. Other cheese options include cheddar, mozzarella, and pepper jack.
Orange Peppers: You will need six orange bell peppers. Choose large bell peppers that stand on their own and have a long flat side for carving.
Cilantro: Sprinkle a garnish of cilantro on top of the finished peppers for a pop of color. Fresh parsley works too.

Find the printable recipe card with measurements below.

How To Make Jack-O’-Lantern Stuffed Peppers

Steps for making stuffing pepper filling. Sauté vegetables, brown the beef, add the rice and tomatoes, top with cheese.

Step 1: Sauté the vegetables. Heat the olive oil in a cast-iron pan or large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the diced onion and green pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 to 8 minutes, or until the vegetables become tender.
Step 2: Brown the meat. Add the ground beef and diced mushrooms to the pan. Cook, breaking up the beef with a wooden spoon, until the beef is fully browned. If there's a lot of grease in the pan, carefully drain any excess fat from the meat mixture before moving to the next step.
Step 3: Add the rice, tomatoes, and spices. Stir in the cooked rice, drained fire-roasted tomatoes, and all the spices into the meat and vegetable mixture. Continue stirring until everything is evenly combined. Once mixed, turn off the burner.
Step 4: Add the cheese. Sprinkle ¼ cup of cheese over the beef mixture in the skillet. Stir until the cheese is melted and evenly incorporated. Once combined, set the skillet aside.

How To Carve Jack O'lantern Faces

Carve the bell peppers into jack-o-lantern faces. Stuffed the peppers with beef mixture and bake.

Step 5: Prep and carve bell peppers. With a sharp paring knife, carefully cut off the tops of each bell pepper and set them aside. You'll use these as lids later. Then, reach inside each pepper and remove and discard the core and all the seeds. Finally, carefully carve a jack-o'-lantern face into one flat side of each pepper half. Get creative with your spooky or silly designs!
Step 6: Fill the peppers and bake. Arrange the carved bell peppers upright in a 9x13-inch baking dish. Spoon the beef and rice mixture into each pepper, filling them about three-quarters full. This leaves some space at the top for the cheese you'll add later. Place the reserved pepper tops (stems) back onto the filled peppers as lids. Bake the peppers uncovered in the oven for 30 minutes.
Step 7: Top with cheese. After baking for 30 minutes, carefully take the baking dish out of the oven. Set the pepper tops (stems) aside. Sprinkle the remaining cheese evenly over the top of the filling in each pepper. Place the baking dish back in the oven for another 5 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and slightly golden.
Step 8: Garnish. Serve with freshly chopped cilantro.

A large white baking dish, with stuffed orange peppers and melted cheese.

Three orange pepper with jack-o-lantern cut out faces in a straight line, with the middle peper on a white plate.

Expert Tips

These tips will help with prepping and assembling this easy recipe:

Use microwaved rice. To save some time, you can use microwavable frozen white rice in this recipe. Just be sure to check the ingredient list and make sure rice is the only ingredient in the bag. Prepare the rice according to the package directions before adding it to the skillet with the beef and vegetables. This will speed up the cooking process!
Drain the fire-roasted tomatoes! Before adding the fire-roasted tomatoes to the skillet, it's important to drain them well using a colander. This step removes excess liquid and helps prevent the filling from becoming too watery. Simply pour the canned tomatoes into a colander set over a bowl and let the liquid drain away before adding the tomatoes to the pan.
Use a small knife to carve. When carving the jack-o'-lantern faces into the bell peppers, it's best to use a small paring knife. Its size and sharp point will give you better control and accuracy as you cut out your spooky or fun designs. Take your time and be careful as you carve!

Storage

To Store: Store leftover stuffed peppers in an airtight container for up to 5 days in the fridge.
To Freeze: You can freeze cooked stuffed peppers for up to 2 months.
Oven Reheating:
- Place the frozen or thawed peppers directly in a baking dish.
- Bake at 350°F (175°C) for about 15-20 minutes, or until they are heated through and the filling is hot.
Microwave Reheating:
- Thawed peppers: Microwave for 60-90 seconds, or until heated through.
- Frozen peppers: Microwave for 3-4 minutes, or until heated through.

Three orange peppers with jack-o-lantern faces. One pepper is in the middle on a white place, while the others are off in the distance.

More Halloween Recipes You'll Love

Mummy Rice Krispie Treats: Get ready for a hauntingly good time with these irresistible Mummy Rice Krispie Treats! Imagine the delightful combination of rich brown butter, perfectly melted gooey marshmallows, all topped off with your very own homemade chocolate mummy eyes. They're spooky, they're scrumptious, and they're the ideal treat for your Halloween festivities!
Healthy Snickers Dates Recipe: These bite-sized Healthy Snickers Dates offer the satisfying flavor of a Snickers bar using simple ingredients. Each Medjool date is filled with creamy peanut butter and crunchy peanuts, dipped in melted chocolate, and finished with more peanuts and flaky sea salt. We love making these every year for the Halloween season.

I hope you enjoy these gluten-free stuffed peppers! If you make it, I’d love to hear how they turned out in the comment box below. Your review will help other readers in the community.

Stuffed Jack O Lantern Peppers Recipe For Halloween