Description
Our fun and delicious Jack-O-Lantern Stuffed Peppers are a festive Halloween dinner that the whole family will love!
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 large orange bell peppers
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil (sub avocado oil)
- 2 teaspoons garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup yellow onion, diced
- 1 pound ground turkey
- 1 batch homemade taco seasoning
- 1 tablespoon water
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 large roma tomato, diced
- 1 cup Colby Jack cheese, shredded (sub with dairy-free alternative)
- optional toppings: dairy-free sour cream, salsa, black olives, homemade guacamole
Instructions
- Prep: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a small baking dish non-stick cooking spray, set aside.
- Prepare Jack-O-Lanterns: Take bell peppers, one at a time. Lay flat on its side on a cutting board and cut off the top of the pepper as thin as you can (do not discard). Use a small paring knife to scrape/cut out the seeds and membranes from the inside of the pepper. Then use the same paring knife to carefully cut a jack-o-lantern face into the front of the pepper, just like you would on a pumpkin. Repeat with all peppers and set in the prepared baking dish.
- Bake: Bake the bell peppers (with tops) for approximately 15-20 minutes or until your desired softness.
- Cook Filling: Meanwhile, take a large cast iron skillet and bring to medium-high heat. Add olive oil and swirl to coat the pan. Add 2 teaspoons garlic and let cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add onion and cook until it reduces, about 2-3 minutes. Add ground turkey to brown in the hot pan. Break apart and allow to cook, about 5-7 minutes, or until fully cooked. Add taco seasoning, 1 tablespoon water, 1 tablespoon tomato paste, and diced tomatoes; stir to combine. Taste and adjust seasoning, if desired.
- Stuff Peppers + Cheese: Scoop taco mixture into each pepper. Add about 1/4 cup of shredded cheese on top of each one. Return to the oven to bake until cheese is melted.
- Serve: Enjoy immediately with your desired toppings.
Notes
- Whole30/Paleo Version: simply omit the cheese on top.
- Black Beans + Rice (Vegetarian) Version: Prepare the peppers the same way, but stuff them with some homemade black beans and rice or use a boxed black beans & rice. Stuff each pepper with some black beans & rice, add cheese on top, and serve with your favorite toppings.
- Ground Turkey: option to use ground beef or ground chicken, if you prefer!
- Tomato Paste: I like to use a tube of tomato paste, so I don’t have to open a can only to use one tablespoon.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 stuffed pepper
- Calories: 266
- Sugar: 8.9 g
- Sodium: 130.9 mg
- Fat: 12.8 g
- Carbohydrates: 13.9 g
- Protein: 24.6 g
- Cholesterol: 78.2 mg