Name: Jack O'Lantern Stuffed Peppers With Black Rice
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 50 min
Total time: 70 min
Ingredients: 3 cups cooked black rice (1 cup dry makes the perfect amount ); 5 large orange bell peppers (or other colors); 1 Tablespoon oil (optional); 1 medium onion, chopped; 1 jalapeno pepper, seeds removed, diced (optional); 5 cloves garlic, minced; 2 teaspoons chili powder (the blend, not pure chile powder); 1¼ teaspoons dried oregano; 1 teaspoon ground cumin; 1 (15 oz) can diced fire-roasted tomatoes; 1 teaspoon fine sea salt; 1 (15 oz) can black beans, drained and rinsed (use "spicy" seasoned beans if you can find them); 5 ounces shredded vegan cheese (about 1¼ cups; see Notes for sub); black pepper (to taste); fresh or pickled jalapeno, avocado, chopped cilantro

Jack O'Lantern Stuffed Peppers make the perfect fun and festive Halloween dinner! The filling is easy to customize and shows off the beautiful color and chewy texture of black rice (aka forbidden rice). Combined with creamy black beans, melty vegan cheese, and Tex-Mex spices, these peppers are a healthy, family-friendly meal that turns dinner into part of the celebration!

Stuffed peppers and a fork full of the black bean and black rice filling resting on a plate.

How cute are these Halloween stuffed peppers? But most importantly, they're delicious! Something about the combination of black rice, which has a lightly nutty flavor and a chewy texture, and naturally creamy black beans turned out even better than expected!

The recipe is totally versatile, too. You can swap the black rice for wild rice, quinoa, or pretty much any other grain or variety of rice you have on hand! And instead of black beans, go with lentils or another type of bean, add crumbled tofu or tempeh, plant-based ground beef, etc.

You can also customize the flavors however you like! Since the filling is heated on the stove, it's easy to taste as you go and make adjustments before stuffing the peppers.

Even though I included one jalapeno pepper (plus the usual Tex-Mex spices), we thought the filling was fairly mild. Spiciness is very subjective, though! So feel free to dial the spices up or down depending on how much heat you like or if you're making these for kiddos with sensitive taste buds.

Ready to make your own tasty Jack O'Lantern peppers for dinner? Let's do it!

How to Make Halloween Stuffed Peppers

Here's an overview of the process with some step-by-step photos. You'll find the full written recipe just below this section.

Showing how to carve the peppers plus ingredients needed on a wood board.

Start by gathering your ingredients and cooking the black rice. Then prepare the peppers by slicing off the tops with a paring knife. Remove the seeds and membranes from the tops (the jack o'lantern lids) and insides of the peppers.

Carving eyes, nose, and mouth in an orange pepper with a paring knife.

With the paring knife, carefully carve the Jack O'Lantern faces. Triangular shapes for the eyes and nose are easy, but if your knife is sharp and small enough, you can try other shapes, too.

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Now it's time to par-bake the peppers. Stand them upright in a baking dish, and add ⅓ to ½ cup water. This is just enough to create some steam and help soften the peppers. Cover with foil and bake at 375°F for 20 minutes while you prepare the filling.

Sauteed onion and spices with diced tomatoes.

In a large saute pan, cook the onion and jalapeno for about 5 minutes, then add the garlic and dry spices and seasonings. Stirring frequently, cook for 1 minute, then add the can of diced tomatoes. Let this simmer and reduce for 2-3 minutes.

Black beans and black rice added to the skilleet.

Add the black beans to the pan, and cook until hot. Fold in the cooked black rice and ¾ cup shredded vegan cheese. Stir well and cook for another minute or two so the cheese begins to melt. Taste for seasoning.

When the peppers have finished par-baking, remove from oven and let cool for a few minutes. Carefully dump out any liquid that collected in the bottom of each pepper, as well as any water remaining in the dish. This keeps the peppers from getting soggy.

Stuffed peppers standing up in a dish before being baked in the oven.

Stuff each pepper with filling, mounding it up slightly. Cover the dish with foil again, and bake for another 15 minutes or until the peppers are tender.

Melt the remaining cheese in the microwave with a splash of water. Heat in short burts about 12-15 seconds, stirring in between. Spoon melted cheese on top of each pepper before serving.

Flavor Variations

Make 'em spicy: Keep the Tex-Mex seasonings and add another jalapeno (include the seeds for extra heat). Kick it up even more with spicy salsa, dried chipotle flakes, or some chipotle in adobo sauce.
Optional add-ins: cilantro, lime juice, and a drizzle of vegan queso.
Mediterranean: Swap the black beans for chickpeas or cannellini beans and the black rice for quinoa or farro. Season with oregano, basil, garlic, and lemon juice.
Optional add-ins: chopped spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, kalamata olives, and vegan feta cheese.
Southwestern or BBQ: Include a smoky and sweet BBQ sauce and some corn.
Optional adds: TVP taco meat, tofu sausage crumbles, or black lentils for extra protein. This lentil taco meat would also be great!

Three halloween stuffed peppers on a plate topped with cheese and jalapeno.

Helpful Tips

Flat bottomed peppers: If possible, choose peppers that will stand upright. If they're just slightly tilted, you can carefully trim the "humpy" parts to make the bottoms more level. Just be careful not to cut all the way through.
Carving the faces: Keep your Jack O'Lantern features small and far enough apart so that the peppers won't tear open or collapse as they soften in the oven.
Make-ahead: Prep the filling up to two days in advance and store in the fridge.
Serving idea: Arrange the finished peppers on a bed of greens or black rice "graveyard style" for halloween parties!

I hope you enjoy these cute and spooky stuffed peppers! If you try the recipe, be sure to comment below and let everyone know!