Spooky Stuffed Peppers: A Healthy Halloween Dinner

Spooky Stuffed Peppers: A Healthy Halloween Dinner

Halloween is often all about candy, sweets, and sugar overload, but what if you could enjoy a festive, spooky dinner before the trick-or-treating begins? Enter Spooky Stuffed Peppers, a nutritious, Halloween-themed recipe that’s both fun and healthy. By carving orange bell peppers into little jack-o’-lanterns and filling them with a hearty mixture of quinoa, beans, and fall vegetables, you’ll have a meal that’s festive, filling, and packed with nutrients.

These peppers aren’t just fun to look at—they’re filled with seasonal ingredients that bring comfort and health to your dinner table. Quinoa provides a protein-rich base, black beans add fiber, and seasonal veggies like zucchini and carrots offer vitamins and minerals. Plus, you can easily make this recipe ahead of time, so it’s perfect for a busy Halloween evening.

Ingredients:

•   4 large orange bell peppers

•   1 cup cooked quinoa

•   1 can (15 oz) black beans, rinsed and drained

•   1 small zucchini, diced

•   1 medium carrot, grated

•   1/2 cup corn (fresh or frozen)

•   1 small onion, finely diced

•   2 cloves garlic, minced

•   1 can (15 oz) fire-roasted diced tomatoes, drained

•   1 tsp cumin

•   1 tsp smoked paprika

•   1/2 tsp chili powder (optional for spice)

•   1/4 cup shredded low-fat cheese (optional topping, can omit for vegan)

•   Olive oil, salt, and pepper to taste

Directions:

1.      Prepare the peppers: Slice the tops off the bell peppers and remove seeds. Using a small knife, carefully carve jack-o’-lantern faces into the sides of the peppers for a Halloween touch. Set aside.

2.      Make the filling: In a large skillet, heat 1 tbsp olive oil over medium heat. Add onion and garlic, sauté until softened. Stir in zucchini, carrot, and corn, cooking for 3–4 minutes.

3.      Continue the filling: Add black beans, quinoa, and fire-roasted tomatoes. Stir in cumin, paprika, chili powder, salt, and pepper. Cook for another 5 minutes, until everything is heated through and flavors combine.

4.      Stuff the peppers: Spoon the mixture into each hollowed-out bell pepper until full. If desired, sprinkle a little shredded cheese on top.

5.      Bake: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Place peppers in a baking dish, cover with foil, and bake for 25–30 minutes, until peppers are tender. Remove foil for the last 5 minutes if you want a slightly roasted top.

6.      Serve: Let cool slightly and enjoy these festive “jack-o’-lantern” peppers before heading out for Halloween fun.

            This Spooky Stuffed Peppers recipe makes Halloween not just fun, but also nutritious. It’s a great way to balance out the sweet treats that may come later in the night, while still keeping with the festive spirit. Healthy eating doesn’t have to be boring—and these edible jack-o’-lanterns prove it!