Looking for a fun Halloween dinner that the whole family will actually want to eat? These Jack-O’-Lantern Taco Stuffed Peppers are festive, cheesy and surprisingly easy to make! Orange bell peppers are carved with little jack-o’-lantern faces, then filled with a simple taco mixture of seasoned ground beef, rice, Rotel and melted cheddar.

They’re perfect for a Halloween movie night, an October weeknight dinner or a quick meal before heading out to trick-or-treat. The best part? Everyone can decorate their own with sour cream, salsa and their favorite taco toppings!

Ingredients

• 4 large orange bell peppers
• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 packet taco seasoning
• 1 (10 oz) can Rotel, undrained
• 1 cup cooked rice
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, divided
• ½ cup water

Optional toppings:
Sour cream, salsa, green onions or your favorite taco toppings

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
2. Slice the tops off the bell peppers and remove the seeds and membranes.
3. Using a small sharp knife, carefully carve jack-o’-lantern eyes, a nose and a mouth into one side of each pepper.
4. Brown the ground beef in a skillet over medium heat. Drain any excess grease.
5. Add taco seasoning, Rotel and ½ cup water. Stir and simmer for about 5 minutes.
6. Stir in the cooked rice and ½ cup of the shredded cheddar cheese.
7. Spoon the taco mixture into the carved peppers and place them upright in a baking dish.
8. Top each pepper with the remaining cheddar cheese.
9. Cover loosely with foil and bake for 25 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for another 10–15 minutes, or until the peppers are tender and the cheese is melted.

Serve warm with sour cream, salsa, green onions or your favorite taco toppings.

Serves: 4
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 35–40 minutes