About this recipe

A festive Halloween twist on a beloved comfort food classic! Orange bell peppers are carved into adorable jack-o'-lantern faces, then stuffed with a hearty, savory filling of seasoned ground beef, rice, tomatoes, and melted cheese. These are as fun to make as they are to eat — a guaranteed hit with kids and adults alike. The filling is simple, satisfying, and deeply flavorful, making this one of those rare recipes that's both a showstopper AND a reliable weeknight dinner.

Instructions

1. 1

   Preheat your oven to ![375°F]. Lightly grease a baking dish with olive oil and set aside.

2. 2

   Using a sharp knife, carefully cut off the top of each orange bell pepper (about 1/2 inch down). Reserve the tops — they'll be the 'lids.' Remove the seeds and white membranes from inside each pepper with a spoon and discard.

3. 3

   Carve a jack-o'-lantern face into the front of each orange bell pepper: use the knife to cut out two triangle eyes, a triangle nose, and a jagged or toothy mouth. Keep the cuts simple — smaller shapes hold up better during baking. Pat the carved peppers dry with a paper towel.

4. 4

   Heat a large skillet over ^[medium-high heat]. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned and no longer pink, about 6–8 minutes. Drain off excess fat, leaving about 1 tablespoon in the pan for flavor.

5. 5

   Reduce heat to ^[medium]. Add the diced yellow onion to the skillet and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 4 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 more minute until fragrant.

6. 6

   Stir in the drained diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, Worcestershire sauce, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and black pepper. Stir well to combine and simmer for 3–4 minutes until the mixture thickens slightly.

7. 7

   Remove the skillet from heat and fold in the cooked rice until evenly distributed. Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt and black pepper if needed. The filling should be moist but not soupy — if it looks too wet, let it sit for a minute to absorb.

8. 8

   Stand the carved orange bell peppers upright in the prepared baking dish (nestle them close together so they support each other). Spoon the filling generously into each pepper, pressing it down gently and mounding it slightly at the top. Sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese over the filling in each pepper.

9. 9

   Place the reserved pepper 'lids' on top of each stuffed orange bell pepper at a slight angle so steam can escape. Add about 1/4 cup of water to the bottom of the baking dish — this creates steam and helps the peppers cook evenly without drying out.

10. 10

    Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil and bake for 25 minutes. Then remove the foil and bake for an additional 10–15 minutes, until the peppers are tender when pierced with a fork and the mozzarella cheese is melted and bubbly. The pepper walls should be soft but still hold their shape.

11. 11

    Remove from the oven and let the peppers rest for 5 minutes before serving — they'll be very hot inside. Carefully transfer each jack-o'-lantern orange bell pepper to a plate with the lid on top for the full effect. Serve immediately and enjoy the Halloween magic!