Description
Celebrate Halloween with these festive Halloween Shredded Chicken & Rice Stuffed Peppers. Colorful bell peppers are hollowed out and carved like jack-o-lanterns, then filled with a hearty mixture of Mexican rice, shredded chicken, black beans, and cheddar cheese. After a quick boil to soften, they are baked until tender and cheesy, perfect for a spooky and delicious holiday meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables
- 4 bell peppers (orange, green, or your choice of color)
Filling
- 2 cups Mexican rice (cooked)
- 1 shredded chicken breast (cooked)
- 1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Prepare the Bell Peppers: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Rinse the bell peppers, slice off the tops, and hollow out the insides by removing seeds and white membranes. For an extra festive touch, carve a jack-o-lantern face onto each pepper.
- Boil the Peppers: Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Place the hollowed peppers and their tops into the boiling water and cook for about 5 minutes until they are tender but still firm. Remove the peppers and set them aside to cool slightly.
- Mix the Filling: In a large bowl, combine the cooked Mexican rice, shredded chicken breast, black beans, and shredded cheddar cheese. Mix well to evenly distribute all ingredients.
- Stuff the Peppers: Fill each bell pepper with the chicken and rice mixture, packing the filling gently but firmly. For extra cheesiness, sprinkle additional shredded cheddar cheese on top of each stuffed pepper. Replace the tops on the peppers.
- Bake: Arrange the stuffed peppers upright in a baking dish. Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake for 30 minutes or until the cheese has melted and the peppers are tender.
- Serve: Remove from the oven and enjoy these spooky jack-o-lantern stuffed peppers hot, ideal for a festive Halloween gathering.
Notes
- You can use any color of bell pepper you like, orange or green work great to resemble pumpkins.
- Make sure not to overboil the peppers; they should be tender but still hold their shape during baking.
- For added flavor, consider seasoning the rice or adding spices to the filling mixture.
- Use cooked chicken breast shredded by hand or with a fork for best texture.
- This recipe can easily be doubled for larger groups.
