Jack-o'-Lantern Stuffed Peppers: Spiced Turkey, Rice and Melted Cheese Halloween Dinner

Preheat the oven to 375F (190C). Slice the tops off the peppers and set them aside as lids. Scoop out the seeds and membranes.

Serves 4

Ingredients

• 4 large orange bell peppers
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 pound ground turkey
• 1 small yellow onion, finely diced
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1 cup cooked long-grain rice
• 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 cup corn kernels, fresh or frozen
• 1 cup salsa
• Salt and black pepper to taste
• 1 1/2 cups shredded Monterey Jack or cheddar cheese

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 375F (190C). Slice the tops off the peppers and set them aside as lids. Scoop out the seeds and membranes.
2. Using a small sharp knife, carve a jack-o'-lantern face into one side of each pepper: two triangle eyes, a nose and a jagged grin. Work slowly and keep the cuts simple.
3. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Brown the ground turkey for 5 to 6 minutes, breaking it up with a spoon.
4. Add the onion and garlic and cook for 3 to 4 minutes until softened. Stir in the chili powder, cumin and smoked paprika.
5. Fold in the cooked rice, black beans, corn and salsa. Season with salt and pepper and cook for 2 minutes until everything is hot. Stir in half the cheese.
6. Stand the peppers in a baking dish and spoon the filling inside, pressing gently so the mixture peeks through the carved faces. Top with the remaining cheese.
7. Pour about 1/4 cup of water into the bottom of the dish, place the pepper lids alongside, and bake for 30 to 35 minutes until the peppers are tender and the cheese is bubbling.
8. Serve each pepper with its lid propped on top, letting the melted cheese ooze through the grinning faces.
9. Stuffed peppers have been an American weeknight staple since the early 1900s, when home cooks began filling bell peppers with ground meat and rice. Carving them into jack-o'-lanterns is a modern Halloween twist that turns a comforting Tex-Mex-style dinner into an edible decoration kids and grown-ups both love.

Nutrition (estimated, per serving)

• Calories: 465 kcal
• Protein: 36g
• Fat: 19g
• Carbohydrates: 42g
• Fiber: 9g
• Sugar: 9g
• Sodium: 810mg