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Healthy Jack-O'-Lantern Stuffed Peppers: Fun Halloween Dinner Idea

Healthy stuffed peppers turn orange bell peppers into jack-o'-lanterns filled with seasoned ground turkey, brown rice, tomato sauce, and mozzarella. Bake them until tender and bubbling for a festive Halloween dinner with a cheesy finish.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Resting 5 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Calories: 420
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the peppers
  • 1 tsp nonstick cooking spray for the baking dish
  • 4 orange bell peppers large
  • 0.25 cup water
For the filling
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 yellow onion small, diced
  • 1 lb ground turkey 93% lean
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning
  • 0.5 tsp kosher salt
  • 0.25 tsp black pepper
  • 1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce
  • 1.5 cups cooked brown rice
  • 1 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella

Equipment

  • 1 9x13 inch baking dish
  • 1 12-inch skillet

Method
 

Prepare the peppers
  1. Preheat the oven to 400°F.
  2. Lightly coat a 9x13-inch baking dish with the cooking spray.
  3. Cut the tops off the peppers, remove the seeds and ribs, and carve simple jack-o'-lantern faces into one side of each pepper.
  4. Arrange the peppers upright in the dish and pour the water around them.
  5. Cover the dish tightly with foil and bake for 15 minutes, until the peppers are just beginning to soften.
Make the filling
  1. While the peppers bake, heat the olive oil in a 12-inch skillet over medium heat and cook the onion for 3 to 4 minutes, until softened.
  2. Add the turkey and cook for 6 to 8 minutes, breaking it into small pieces, until it reaches 165°F.
  3. Stir in the garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper, and cook for 30 seconds.
  4. Stir in the tomato sauce and brown rice, and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, until heated through.
  5. Remove the skillet from the heat and stir in the mozzarella.
Stuff and bake
  1. Carefully uncover the peppers and divide the filling among them.
  2. Bake uncovered for 20 to 25 minutes, until the peppers are tender and the filling is bubbling.
  3. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

For neat jack-o'-lantern faces, carve the peppers before baking and avoid cutting all the way through the backs. Refrigerate leftovers for 3 to 4 days; freezing is suitable. For a dairy-free variation, use dairy-free mozzarella.