Healthy Halloween: Jack-o-peppers

Carve faces into the side of a bell pepper for a cute jack-o'-lantern treat you can eat!

October 20, 2023
Orange bell peppers stuffed and carved in the shape of a jack-o-lantern

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon canola oil
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 1 large clove garlic, minced
  • 1 pound lean ground beef
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon ground pepper
  • 1 ½ cups cooked brown rice
  • 1 (8 ounce) can no-salt-added tomato sauce, divided
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
  • 4 large orange bell peppers
 

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  2. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and beginning to brown, about 3 minutes. Add beef, salt and pepper; cook, crumbling with a wooden spoon, just until it loses its pink color, about 5 minutes more. Remove from heat and stir in rice, ¾ cup tomato sauce and parsley.
  3. Meanwhile, cut out stem ends of bell peppers and set aside; scoop out seeds. With a sharp paring knife, cut out a jack-o’-lantern face on one side of each pepper. Place the peppers and tops, cut-side down, in a microwave-safe pie pan. Add ¼ cup water. Microwave on High until tender but firm, 4 to 6 minutes. Empty the water from the dish and turn the peppers cut-side up.
  4. Stuff the peppers with the beef mixture. Spoon the remaining ¼ cup tomato sauce over the peppers. Bake until the mixture is heated through, 20 to 25 minutes. Place the steamed tops back on top of the peppers.
 

Tips

  • To make ahead: Refrigerate filling (Step 2) for up to 2 days. Continue with recipe.
  • Don’t feel like freehand-carving the faces with a knife? Try using a cookie cutter instead. 
 

Nutrition Information

Yield:

4 jack-o-lantern stuffed peppers

 

Amount Per Serving (1 stuffed pepper):

Calories: 383kcal

Carbohydrates: 33g

Protein: 27g

Cholesterol: 74mg

Sodium: 933mg

Fiber: 4g

Calcium: 48mg 

Iron: 4mg 

Magnesium: 79mg 

Potassium: 905mg

Sugar: 6g

   

Recipe © Carolyn Casner for EatingWell

For many, exercising outdoors in the winter can be incredibly enjoyable and beneficial compared to crowded indoor gyms. You just…
There’s no such thing as the perfect time to start your weight loss journey. There will always be another obstacle,…
Maple-roasted sweet potatoes are sure to be a hit at your Thanksgiving meal….