Stovetop
Ground Pork
Jack-o-Lantern Stuffed Bell Peppers
Halloween dinner handled. These Jack-o’-Lantern Pork Stuffed Peppers turn a simple weeknight meal into something festive, fun, and full of flavour. Savoury pork filling, carved bell peppers, and just enough spooky-season energy to make dinner feel like part of the celebration.
Prep:
20 minutes
Cook:
45 minutes
Serves:
3
Best Cuts:
Cooking Method:
Ingredients
- 1 lb (454 g) ground pork
- 3 orange bell peppers
- 2 tbsp (30 mL) butter
- 1 medium onion, finely diced
- 1 tsp (5 mL) salt
- ½ tsp (2.5 mL) black pepper
- 2 cups (500 mL) marinara sauce
- 1 cup (100 g) grated Parmesan cheese
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Slice the tops off the orange peppers and remove the seeds and membranes. Carefully carve Jack-o’-Lantern faces into each pepper.
Step 2
Melt the butter in a large frying pan over medium heat. Add the diced onion and cook for 5–7 minutes until softened and lightly golden.
Step 3
Add the ground pork to the pan. Season with the salt and black pepper, breaking up the meat with a spoon. Cook until the pork is fully cooked, about 6–8 minutes.
Step 4
Fill each pepper with the pork mixture and place them upright in a baking dish. Bake for 25 minutes.
Step 5
Remove the peppers from the oven. Spoon the marinara sauce over and inside each pepper, then top with the grated Parmesan cheese.
Step 6
Return the peppers to the oven and bake for another 10–15 minutes, until the cheese is melted and lightly golden and the sauce is bubbling.
Step 7
Let the peppers rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Calories: 620, Protein: 42 g, Carbohydrates: 25 g, Fat: 37 g, Fibre: 5 g, Sodium: 1,020 mg
TIP:
Choose peppers with a flat bottom so they stand upright while baking. Freshly grated Parmesan melts more smoothly and adds the best flavour. Leftovers can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven or microwave.
