Print

Easy Halloween Mummy Stuffed Peppers: Best Spooky Dinner Idea

Easy Halloween Mummy Stuffed Peppers - featured image
Print Recipe

These Easy Halloween Mummy Stuffed Peppers turn a stressed-out weeknight into a memory with adorable mummy faces made from bell peppers, mozzarella cheese bandages, and black olive eyes. A quick, kid-approved dinner that’s perfect for Halloween without the fuss.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 lb ground beef (80/20 works best)
  • 1 cup cooked white rice
  • 1 small onion, finely diced (about ½ cup)
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • ½ teaspoon chili powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce
  • ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese (optional)
  • 4 medium bell peppers (any color)
  • 8–10 mozzarella cheese sticks
  • 12–16 black olives, whole (pitted)
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil (optional, for brushing peppers)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
  2. Cook the filling base: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it apart, until browned (about 5-6 minutes). Drain excess fat, leaving about 1 tablespoon. Add diced onion and cook 2-3 minutes until softened, then add minced garlic and cook 30 seconds until fragrant.
  3. Season the filling: Stir in smoked paprika, cumin, chili powder, salt, and black pepper. Cook for 1 minute to toast spices. Pour in tomato sauce and let simmer 2-3 minutes until slightly thickened.
  4. Add the rice and cheese: Remove skillet from heat. Stir in cooked rice until well combined. If using cheddar cheese, fold it in now. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
  5. Prep the peppers: Cut tops off each bell pepper (about ½ inch from top). Remove seeds and membranes. Trim a tiny slice off the bottom if needed so peppers stand upright.
  6. Stuff the peppers: Spoon filling into each pepper, packing gently but firmly. Fill to the top. Place stuffed peppers in a 9×13-inch baking dish.
  7. Create the mummy bandages: Cut each mozzarella cheese stick lengthwise into 3-4 long strips (about ¼ inch wide). Starting at the bottom of each pepper, wrap cheese strips in a crisscross pattern, leaving a small gap near the top for eyes.
  8. Add the eyes: Press two black olives into the exposed pepper near the top of each mummy.
  9. Bake covered: Cover baking dish with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes.
  10. Uncover and finish: Remove foil and bake for another 10-15 minutes until peppers are tender and cheese is golden and bubbly. Optionally broil 1-2 minutes for extra browning.
  11. Rest before serving: Let mummy peppers sit in dish for 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

Don’t overcook the peppers; the sweet spot is 20 minutes covered plus 10-15 minutes uncovered. Use room-temperature cheese sticks for easier wrapping. Pre-cut cheese strips in advance if cooking with kids. Don’t skip the foil cover—it steams the peppers. Make extra filling if feeding a crowd; filling freezes well. For a vegetarian version, swap ground beef with cooked lentils or plant-based crumbles. For a low-carb option, replace rice with riced cauliflower.

Nutrition

Keywords: Halloween stuffed peppers, mummy peppers, spooky dinner, kid-friendly Halloween, easy weeknight dinner, stuffed bell peppers, ground beef recipe

Find it online: https://lindabake.com/easy-halloween-mummy-stuffed-peppers-best-spooky-dinner-idea/