Description
These Halloween Shredded Chicken & Rice Stuffed Peppers are a festive and flavorful main course perfect for fall dinners. Featuring tender orange bell peppers carved into jack-o’-lantern faces and filled with a savory mixture of shredded chicken, rice, cheese, and spices, this gluten-free recipe is both fun and satisfying.
Ingredients
Scale
Stuffed Peppers
- 4 large orange bell peppers, tops cut off and seeds removed
- 2 cups cooked shredded chicken
- 1 1/2 cups cooked rice
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup black beans (optional)
- 1/2 cup salsa
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Olive oil spray
Instructions
- Prep Peppers: Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Using a small paring knife, carefully carve jack-o’-lantern faces into the bell peppers if desired. Set the peppers aside after carving.
- Mix Filling: In a large bowl, combine shredded chicken, cooked rice, shredded cheddar cheese, black beans (if using), salsa, sour cream, chili powder, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Mix thoroughly until all ingredients are well incorporated.
- Stuff Peppers: Generously stuff each bell pepper with the prepared chicken and rice mixture, filling them evenly to the top.
- Prepare for Baking: Lightly grease a baking dish. Place the stuffed peppers upright in the dish and spray the tops lightly with olive oil to help them brown nicely in the oven.
- Bake Covered: Cover the baking dish loosely with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes, allowing the peppers to soften and filling to heat through.
- Finish Baking: Remove the foil and bake an additional 5 to 10 minutes until the peppers are tender and the filling is hot and slightly browned on top.
- Serve: Remove from oven and serve the stuffed jack-o’-lantern peppers warm, perfect for a festive fall meal.
Notes
- For a spicier version, use pepper jack cheese or add diced jalapeños to the filling.
- These stuffed peppers can be prepped a day in advance and baked just before serving for convenience.
