This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.
Not your basic stuffed pepper recipe, carve orange bell peppers into jack o’ lanterns to turn them into Halloween Stuffed Peppers. Better yet, the easy shepherd’s pie filling of ground beef and veggies topped with cheesy mashed potatoes makes this Halloween dinner both tasty and fun!
Why You’ll Love Jack O’Lantern Stuffed Peppers for Halloween Dinner
Delicious Details
- Cuisine Inspiration: Irish and American-inspired
- Primary Cooking Method: Stovetop, Oven
- Dietary Info: Gluten-free
- Skill Level: Easy
Kids and kids-at-heart are going to love this fun Halloween dinner recipe. Carve orange bell peppers like jack o’lanterns, and then fill them with a savory beef and vegetable mixture. Top with fluffy mashed potatoes and cheese then put the pepper tops back on top before baking for a deliciously ghoulish meal. Satisfying, naturally gluten free, and absolutely mouthwatering. Come on, how can you resist? Here’s why you’ll love them…
- Cute or creepy. It’s your choice whether you want to make your jack o’lantern stuffed peppers look sweet or spooky to please your little (or big) trick-ot-treaters before they head out into the neighborhood.
- Simple prep. They may look and sound like a bit of work, but I promise you, this recipe is super easy and can even be prepared in advance if you want to save time on Halloween. Keep reading for all of the details.
- Delicious year-round. As cute as they are, you can definitely make these any time of the year without carving the jack o’lantern faces. This naturally gluten free recipe is always a family favorite!
What You’ll Need
The simple filling is quick and easy. It is based on my favorite shepherd’s pie recipe that uses ground beef in a savory mixture with mixed vegetables and simple gravy. I’m not saying it is 100% authentic, but it is 100% delicious! Scroll down to the recipe card for the full amounts and detailed instructions.
- Orange bell peppers: Obviously you can use any color if you aren’t making Jack O’Lanterns, but the orange color makes them perfect for Halloween dinners since they look like pumpkins.
- Ground beef: I like to use 93% lean ground beef, but use what you prefer.
- Onion
- Garlic
- Tomato paste
- Worcestershire sauce: In the United States, Lea & Perrins is gluten free.
- Beef broth
- Frozen mixed vegetable medley: I like to use the common mix of peas, carrots, corn, and green beans.
- Russet potatoes: Peeled and cut into about 1-inch chunks
- Greek yogurt or sour cream: Either works fine, so use what you have or prefer.
- Milk
- Salt
- Shredded cheddar cheese
Tips and Variations
Here are a few things to keep in mins to streamline preparation and even customize to your tastes and preferences.
- Carve Jack O’Lanterns. Cut the tops off of the peppers horizontally about a half-inch from the top, then remove the seeds and membranes. Keep the tops. Use little paring knives to carve the little jack o’lantern faces.
- Shortcut mashed potatoes. To make this meal as fast as possible, cut the potatoes into small pieces so they boil quickly. The ground beef filling comes together quickly while the potatoes cook.
- Make them all year. No need to carve Jack O’Lanterns. You can just make basic stuffed peppers any time of the year. If not making them for Halloween, I still prefer to use red, orange, or yellow, since they are sweeter than green peppers.
- Use a Different Meat. Feel free to substitute ground turkey or ground chicken, if you prefer a leaner meat.
- Jazz up the Spuds. This recipe uses a very simple and basic mashed potato recipe. Kick up the flavor with cheesy mashed potatoes with bacon or cut the carbs with a cheesy cauliflower mash.
Have Leftover Shepherd’s Pie Filling?
If you don’t need to use up all of the ground beef mixture or decide to make a double batch, try one of these ideas.
- Divide the mixture into ramekins to make Individual Shepherd’s Pies.
- Don’t want to make mashed potatoes? Pile everything into some Shepherd’s Pie Stuffed Potatoes.
- Or turn the recipe into a gameday snack by making Shepherd’s Pie Loaded Fries.
Make it in Advance
Yes, you have several options to make the stuffed peppers ahead of time and reheat them.
- Prepare the recipe entirely and bake it. Then store it in the refrigerator or freezer. If frozen, be sure to thaw in the refrigerator. They can then be reheated in the microwave or in the oven at 350°F for about 15-20 minutes, or until heated through. Note that this will make the peppers a little softer so they may not hold the pumpkin shape as well.
- Prepare everything in advance but don’t bake it. This includes stuffing the peppers. Store it in the refrigerator without baking them. Then just bake before serving, but you may need to add another ten minutes or so to the bake time to ensure it is completely heated through.
- Make just the meat mixture and mashed potatoes ahead. They can also be made a day or two before and stored in the refrigerator, stuffing the peppers just before baking. You can even carve the peppers and store in an airtight container in the fridge. Again, this may require a bit longer in the oven.
Make it a Halloween Meal
Whether you are making a Halloween dinner for the family or preparing a party feast, these jack o’lantern stuffed peppers will fit right in. Here are some serving suggestions.
- Start with appetizers. Get creepy with Steak Bites with Bloody Maria Dipping Sauce or Halloween Baked Potato Skin Pizzas to kick off the meal.
- Add more mains. Get the fall vibes going with Fettuccine Pumpkin Cauliflower Alfredo or Butternut Squash Pizza.
- Make some sides. While you are prepping potatoes, save some for Loaded Mashed Potato Spider Web Casserole. Or toss a salad with Maple Balsamic Vinaigrette.
- Don’t forget dessert. You can go with a fall favorite like mini pumpkin custards or these fun and easy Witches’ Brew Halloween Cupcakes.
Jack O’Lantern Shepherd’s Pie Stuffed Peppers
These easy and spooky Jack O'Lantern Stuffed Peppers will turn heads for Halloween dinner. Better yet, the savory shepherd's pie filling and cheesy mashed potatoes make them both tasty and fun!
Servings: 6
Ingredients
- 4-6 orange bell peppers See Note*
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1/2 medium onion, chopped (roughly 1/2 cup)
- 1 garlic clove, crushed or minced
- 3/4 cup tomato paste (one 6-ounce can)
- ¼ cup Worcestershire sauce
- 1 ½ cups beef broth
- 4 cups frozen mixed vegetable medley, thawed (about two 10 oz. packages)
- 1 pound russet potatoes peeled and cut into about 1 inch chunks
- ¼ cup Greek yogurt or sour cream
- ¼ cup milk
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, divided
Instructions
- Slice the top off of each of the peppers and reserve. Remove the seeds and, if desired, use a paring knife to carve a jack o’lantern face into each pepper.
- Heat a skillet over medium heat, add the ground beef, onion, garlic, and a pinch of salt and pepper and cook, breaking up the meat, until it is browned. Drain any excess grease. Stir in the tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, and beef broth. Add vegetables, bring to a simmer, and cook for 10-15 minutes or until thickened slightly. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- While the meat is cooking, place the Idaho® potatoes and a pinch of salt into a pot of cold water, cover, and bring to boil. Remove cover and boil for 10-12 minutes, until fork tender. Drain and return to the pot, add 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese, Greek yogurt or sour cream, milk, and salt. With potato masher or hand mixer, mash to desired consistency.
- Preheat your oven to 350°F.
- Divide the meat mixture between the peppers, then top with the mashed Idaho® potatoes and remaining cheese, and place in a glass baking dish.
- Bake for 30-45 minutes, or until heated through, peppers are tender and cheese and potatoes are slightly browned.
Notes
If you don’t want to make stuffed peppers, you can divide the beef and potato mixtures into ramekins and bake for 25-30 minutes at 350°F.
Nutrition Facts
Jack O'Lantern Shepherd's Pie Stuffed Peppers
Amount Per Serving (1 stuffed pepper)
Calories 407
Calories from Fat 99
% Daily Value*
Fat 11g17%
Saturated Fat 6g30%
Cholesterol 67mg22%
Sodium 1222mg51%
Potassium 1598mg46%
Carbohydrates 47g16%
Fiber 9g36%
Sugar 11g12%
Protein 31g62%
Vitamin A 10595IU212%
Vitamin C 178.4mg216%
Calcium 242mg24%
Iron 5.9mg33%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Disclaimers: Please discuss your individual dietary needs (i.e. gluten free) with a physician. Even when not specified, be sure to verify all ingredients are gluten free, if needed, by reading labels on all packaging and/or confirming with the manufacturer this varies by brand and can change at any time. Nutrition information shown is an estimate and not guaranteed to be accurate.
Did you make this?
Leave a rating below and tag @cupcakesandkalechips on Instagram and hashtag it #cupcakesandkalechips
How far in advance can I do these?
Having 40 people for a party…
Thank you ahead of time
You can definitely make these a day or two before and either bake them the day of the party or reheat them. You can also get the filling and potatoes prepared in advance and stuff the peppers right before baking.
These were so yummy! My son and his girlfriend were here unexpectedly, but there was plenty for all of us, with two left over. They were fun to make, and will be going into the year-round rotation, sans face carving, of course. 🙂
I’m so happy to hear that you all enjoyed the recipe, Marcia!
These look amazing! What do you usually pair them with as a side?
Thank you, Brittani!
I like to serve them with a side garden salad or some fruit salad.
Hello – I just found your site today … it is amazing! I LOVE your Jack-O-Lantern Stuffed Peppers. I have reposted onto my blog … and referred them back to you … hope you don’t mind … but I wanted to share the word of your great creativity! If you want me to remove … just let me know. Thanks again for sharing … I will be making them with my kids this Friday.
Thanks for your kind words!
Made this recipe tonight for my family, carved one of the peppers into a pumpkin for my 8-year-old. So yummy. Used ground turkey in place of the beef. Thanks for sharing!
Great idea to swap out the turkey! Glad you enjoyed them and had fun with them!
I could totally see the orange ones as Jack-o-Lanterns and the green ones as Frankenstein monsters! Now I just have to come up with something for the red ones…
Ooooh, love the Frankenstein idea! How about red devils?
Oh goodness, these are Adorbs! Nice filling too, pinning and making it this months board cover!
Oh wow, thanks!!
These are cute! Plus I think they’d be delicious any time of year. I think I need to give it a go.