Description
Celebrate Halloween with these festive and delicious Halloween Shredded Chicken & Rice Stuffed Peppers. Tender orange bell peppers are carved like jack-o’-lanterns and filled with a flavorful mixture of shredded chicken, rice, cheese, and spices, making a comforting and colorful main course perfect for fall dinners or holiday gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Peppers
- 4 large orange bell peppers, tops cut off and seeds removed
Filling
- 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
Other
- Olive oil spray
Instructions
- Preheat and prepare peppers: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Using a small paring knife, carefully carve jack-o’-lantern faces into the bell peppers if desired for a festive touch. Set the carved peppers aside.
- Mix the filling: In a large bowl, combine the shredded chicken, cooked rice, shredded cheddar cheese, black beans (if using), salsa, sour cream, chili powder, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Mix everything thoroughly until well incorporated.
- Stuff the peppers: Generously fill each bell pepper with the chicken and rice mixture, packing it tightly but allowing some room at the top.
- Bake the peppers: Place the stuffed peppers upright in a lightly greased baking dish. Spray the tops lightly with olive oil. Cover the dish loosely with aluminum foil and bake for 25 to 30 minutes.
- Finish baking uncovered: Remove the foil and continue to bake the peppers for another 5 to 10 minutes until the peppers are tender and the filling is hot and slightly browned on top.
- Serve: Carefully remove the peppers from the oven and serve warm as a festive and satisfying main dish.
Notes
- For a spicier version, substitute cheddar cheese with pepper jack cheese or add diced jalapeños to the filling.
- Stuffed peppers can be prepped up to one day in advance, covered and stored in the fridge; bake just before serving.
- Feel free to substitute rice with quinoa or cauliflower rice for variation.
- Use low-fat sour cream or Greek yogurt to reduce calories if desired.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 stuffed pepper
- Calories: 360
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 520mg
- Fat: 16g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 26g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
