• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Rebecca Taig
  • RECIPES
  • ENTERTAINING
  • ABOUT ME
  • SHOP
  • SUBSCRIBE
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
menu icon
go to homepage
  • RECIPES
  • ENTERTAINING
  • ABOUT ME
  • SHOP
  • SUBSCRIBE
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • RECIPES
    • ENTERTAINING
    • ABOUT ME
    • SHOP
    • SUBSCRIBE
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Home » MEALS

    Gluten-Free Stuffed Peppers (Halloween)

    Published: Aug 5, 2022 by Rebecca Taig · This post may contain affiliate links · 1 Comment

    Jump to Recipe Pin Recipe Print Recipe

    This healthy gluten-free stuffed peppers recipe is the perfect meal for any Halloween-themed dinner. Easy and fun to make! Loaded with 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.

    The fall season is in full swing and these delicious gluten-free stuffed peppers are the perfect meal to celebrate on Halloween night.

    Delicious recipes do not have to be boring! Carving out jack-o-lantern faces gives both adults and young kids the opportunity to show off their creativity.

    Hosting an event? These stuffed peppers are a great conversation starter at your next Halloween-themed party.

    For more Halloween hosting ideas, check out my Fall Harvest Charcuterie Board, the Best Pumpkin Bread Ever, Mummy Halloween Rice Krispies Treats, and Chic Neutral Halloween Decor Inspiration.

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • How to make the gluten-free stuffed pepper filling
    • How to carve jack-o-lantern faces on bell peppers
    • Substitutions
    • Expert Tips and Tricks
    • Storage
    • FAQ
    • Recipe
    • Reviews

    Ingredients

    Ingredients for gluten-free stuffed peppers.
    • Ground Beef: 93% grass-fed ground beef is the perfect percentage to use in this recipe. I wouldn't go higher than 85% because of the amount of fat that will need to be drained.
    • Onion: The onion gives this dish a subtle sweetness.
    • Oil: A little bit of oil helps sauté the vegetables.
    • Mushrooms: Provide a meaty texture and flavor.
    • Green Bell Pepper: A small amount of green pepper gives this recipe great flavor.
    • Diced Fire Roasted Tomatoes: They give this recipe a smoky depth of flavor. Just make sure to drain the can, prior to use.
    • Rice: The rice helps bulk up this recipe. You can use any kind of rice including brown, white, or wild.
    • Spices: Salt, garlic, chili powder, cumin, and black pepper spice. This combination spice blend creates a warm tomato taco-like flavor.
    • Cheese: I love using Monetary Jack. Other great cheese options include Cheddar, Mozzarella, Cabot, and Pepper Jack.
    • Orange Peppers: You will need six orange peppers. Keep in mind the size of the peppers. Try to choose peppers that stand on their own and have a long flat side for carving.
    • Cilantro: Optional but delicious. Sprinkle a garnish of cilantro on top of the finished peppers.

    How to make the gluten-free stuffed pepper filling

    A large white skillet with olive oil, diced onions and green pepper.

    In a cast-iron pan or skillet over medium heat, add the olive oil, diced onion, and green pepper. Sauté for 5 to 8 minutes, until tender.

    A large white skillet with vegetables and ground beef.

    Add the ground beef and diced mushrooms to the pan. Cook until the beef is fully browned. Drain any excess fat from the meat mixture as needed.

    A large white skillet with ground beef, vegetables, cooked white rice, and fire-roasted tomatoes.

    Stir in the cooked rice, drained fire-roasted tomatoes, and spices until combined. Turn off the burner.

    A large white skillet of gluten-free stuffed pepper filling.

    Grate ¼ cup of cheese on top of the beef mixture and set the pan aside.

    Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Begin carving the peppers.

    A large white skillet with stuffed pepper filling and grated white cheese.

    How to carve jack-o-lantern faces on bell peppers

    A large orange bell pepper with the top cut off, and a jack-o-lantern face carved on one side with a paring knife next to it.

    Cut off (and reserve) the top of each pepper.

    Remove and discard the cores and seeds.

    Using a sharp paring knife, carve a Jack O'Lantern face into each pepper.

    A large white ceramic baking dish with up-right orange bell  peppers stuffed with a meat mixture.

    Place the peppers upright in a 9x13 inch baking dish along with the pepper tops.

    Fill the peppers with the beef mixture, about ¾ full, leaving room for the cheese at the end. Return the tops to the peppers.

    Place the baking dish in the oven uncovered for 30 minutes.

    A large white ceramic baking dish with up-right orange bell peppers, fully baked, with cheese on top and cilantro to garnish.

    After 30 minutes, remove the peppers from the oven and set the stems aside.

    Top each pepper with the remaining cheese. Return the pan to the oven for 5 more minutes.

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

    Top off the stuffed peppers with freshly chopped cilantro.

    Garnish and serve! 

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

    Substitutions

    This recipe is super versatile and can be adjusted to fit your needs.

    • Vegan and Vegetarian - The beef can be replaced with a 1–15oz can of black beans drained and rinsed. Use a dairy-free cheese substitute.
    • Paleo and Whole30 - Swap out the rice with cauliflower rice. Adjust seasonings as needed.
    • Leaner Meat - You can use shredded chicken, ground turkey, or bison for leaner meat options.
    • Dairy-Free - Leave off the cheese or use any dairy-free cheese substitute.

    Expert Tips and Tricks

    These expert tips will help make prepping and assembling easy!

    • Use Microwaved Rice - To save on time, we use a bag of frozen rice and microwave prior to use.
    • Not Halloween? Skip carving the cute little jack-o-lantern faces. This recipe is delicious all year round.
    • Drain The Fire-Roasted Tomatoes! Make sure to properly drain the fire-roasted tomatoes using a colander.
    • Use A Paring Knife - For better control and accuracy, cut the jack-o’-lantern faces with a small pairing knife.

    Storage

    After you’ve made the recipe above, you can store them in airtight containers for up to 5 days in the fridge. You can also freeze them for up to 2 months.

    To reheat, you can place the frozen or thawed peppers directly in the oven and bake at 350° F for about 15-20 minutes.

    Microwave thawed peppers for 60-90 seconds and frozen peppers for 3-4 minutes.

    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.

    FAQ

    Do you have to boil peppers before stuffing them?

    No boiling in this recipe! Some recipes recommend boiling the peppers prior to stuffing to help soften them, but we find that it makes the peppers too soggy.

    What if I have filling leftover?

    Depending on how big your peppers are you may have leftover filling. You can serve the extra filling on the side or slice up another pepper to stuff.

    We store the leftover filling in the refrigerator and heat it up the next day as is, to eat straight from the bowl.

    Should you cover stuffed peppers when baking?

    It depends on how long your stuffed peppers are baking, but you do not have to cover the peppers for this recipe.

    How do you know when stuffed peppers are done?

    Bake until the stuffed peppers are softened but not mushy, which is 35-40 minutes. The filling is already prebaked so no need to worry about uncooked meat.

    Can stuffed peppers be made ahead of time?

    These stuffed peppers are great for meal prep! You can prepare the unbaked peppers or just the filling a day ahead of time, and bake when ready to use.

    Remember to leave off the cheese topping until the end. Store the unbaked stuffed peppers in a covered 9x13 inch baking pan. Pull out the baking pan when ready to use and bring it to room temperature for 15 minutes. Pre-heat the oven and bake as directed.

    A stuffed orange bell pepper with the top cut off, and a fork pulling out beef and cheese.

    Recipe

    Gluten-Free Stuffed Peppers (Halloween)

    Recipe Author : Rebecca Taig
    Diet :Gluten Free
    This healthy gluten-free stuffed peppers recipe is the perfect meal for any Halloween-themed dinner. Easy and fun to make! Loaded with chili spices, ground beef, mushrooms, onion, fire-roasted tomatoes, and rice.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine American
    Prep Time 25 mins
    Cook Time 35 mins
    Carve Time 20 mins
    Total Time 1 hr 20 mins
    Servings 6 people
    Calories 316 kcal
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients
      

    • 6 large orange peppers
    • 1 pound ground beef
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • ½ large onion, diced into ¼-inch pieces
    • ½ green pepper, diced into ¼-inch pieces
    • 1 cup mushrooms, diced into ¼-inch pieces
    • 1 15-ounce can diced fire-roasted tomatoes, drained
    • 1½ cups cooked white rice
    • 2 teaspoons chili powder
    • 1 teaspoon cumin
    • ½ teaspoon paprika
    • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
    • ¾ cup Monterey Jack cheese, divided
    • chopped cilantro, for garnishing

    Instructions
     

    To Make The Filling

    • In a cast-iron pan, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the diced onion and green pepper. Sauté for 5 to 8 minutes.
    • Add the ground beef and diced mushrooms to the pan. Cook until the beef is fully browned. Drain any excess fat as needed.
    • Stir in the cooked rice, drained fire-roasted tomatoes, and spices until combined. Turn off the burner.
    • Grate ¼ cup of cheese on top of the beef mixture and set the pan aside. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Begin carving the peppers.

    Carving The Peppers

    • Cut off (and reserve) the top of each pepper. Remove and discard the cores and seeds. Using a sharp paring knife, carve a Jack O'Lantern face into each pepper.

    Bake The Stuffed Peppers

    • Place the peppers upright in a 9x13 inch baking dish along with the pepper tops. Fill the peppers with the beef mixture, about ¾ full, leaving room for the cheese at the end. Return the tops to the peppers. Place the baking dish in the oven uncovered for 30 minutes.
    • After 30 minutes, remove the peppers from the oven and set the stems aside. Top each pepper with the remaining cheese. Return the pan to the oven for 5 more minutes.
    • Top the stuffed peppers with a sprinkle of fresh cilantro. Garnish and serve! 

    Notes

    Helpful Tips For The Best Gluten-Free Stuffed Peppers
    • Use Microwaved Rice - To save on time, we use a bag of frozen rice and microwave prior to use.
    • Not Halloween? Skip carving the cute little jack-o-lantern faces. This recipe is delicious all year round.
    • Drain The Fire-Roasted Tomatoes! Make sure to properly drain the fire-roasted tomatoes using a colander.
    • Use A Paring Knife - For better control and accuracy, cut the jack-o’-lantern faces with a small pairing knife.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1pepperCalories: 316kcalCarbohydrates: 24gProtein: 22gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0.5gCholesterol: 62mgSodium: 543mgPotassium: 727mgFiber: 5gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 5566IUVitamin C: 219mgCalcium: 141mgIron: 3mg
    Pin Recipe
    Did You Make This Recipe?Share your recipe photos with me @rebecca.taig
    Did You Enjoy This Recipe?Please give it a star rating in the comments below. Thank you!

    More MEALS

    • Easy Roasted Cranberry Chicken
    • Gluten-Free Chili (Sweet Potato and Black Bean)
    • Gluten-Free Chicken Pot Pie (with Biscuits)
    • Salmon topped with an orange maple glaze on a bed of rice and micro greens. Two slices of oranges are used for decoration.
      Orange Maple Glazed Salmon

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Sue Taig says

      October 28, 2020 at 3:49 pm

      5 stars
      Delicious and so cute.

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I'm Rebecca! RebeccaTaig.com is an online destination for healthy gluten-free recipes, hosting inspiration, and seasonal decor.

    More about me →

    Reader Favorites

    • Healthy Date Snickers
    • Bacon Wrapped Stuffed Dates with Goat Cheese
    • Honey Garlic Baked Chicken Wings
    • Gluten-Free Chocolate Lava Cakes

    Subscribe Here!

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up Here! for emails and updates

    Contact Me

    • Contact

    As a Reward Style affiliate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright ©2022 RebeccaTaig.com