Description
Jack O’ Lantern Stuffed Peppers are a festive and delicious Halloween-themed dish featuring orange bell peppers carved like pumpkins and filled with a savory ground beef and sloppy joe mixture, topped with melted cheddar cheese. This fun and hearty recipe is perfect for a creative, family-friendly meal that combines the flavors of a classic sloppy joe with the vibrant presentation of stuffed peppers.
Ingredients
Peppers
- 4 large orange bell peppers
Meat Filling
- 1 lb ground beef
- ½ cup yellow onion, finely diced
- 15 oz Manwich Sloppy Joe Sauce (Thick & Chunky works best)
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp ground black pepper (to taste)
Cheese
- 1½ cups cheddar cheese, shredded (divided)
Instructions
- Prep & Carve: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Slice the tops off 4 large orange bell peppers, keeping the stems intact, and scoop out the seeds. Carve small Jack O’ Lantern faces into the front of each pepper using a paring knife. Optionally, dice the carved pepper scraps and set aside to add to the filling.
- Par-Cook the Peppers (Optional): To soften the peppers, either boil them for 3–5 minutes or bake the empty shells in the oven for 10 minutes. After par-cooking, drain the peppers upside down to remove excess moisture.
- Make the Meat Filling: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and brown 1 lb of ground beef together with ½ cup finely diced yellow onion for 6–8 minutes until fully cooked. Drain any excess fat. Stir in 15 oz of Manwich Sloppy Joe Sauce (Thick & Chunky variety recommended), ½ tsp garlic powder, ½ tsp salt, and ¼ tsp ground black pepper. Let the mixture simmer uncovered for 5–7 minutes until it thickens.
- Add Cheese to Filling: Remove the skillet from heat and stir in 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese until melted and incorporated into the meat mixture.
- Stuff, Bake & Serve: Stand the carved peppers upright in an 8×8 baking dish. Fill each pepper with the sloppy joe meat mixture. Sprinkle the remaining ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese on top, then replace the pepper tops as caps. Cover the baking dish with foil and bake at 375°F (190°C) for 25 minutes. Remove the foil and bake an additional 5 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and the peppers are tender. Serve warm.
Notes
- Par-cooking the peppers helps soften them so they bake evenly and are tender.
- Using Thick & Chunky Manwich sauce gives better texture and flavor to the filling.
- Carving faces is optional but adds a fun Halloween touch to the dish.
- You can add the diced pepper scraps into the meat mixture to reduce waste.
- Reheats well in the oven or microwave for quick leftovers.