Halloween Shredded Chicken & Rice Stuffed Peppers (Print version)
Carved orange bell peppers filled with shredded chicken, seasoned rice, black beans, salsa, and cheese for a fun Halloween dinner.
# Ingredients:
For the peppers
01 -
6 medium orange bell peppers
02 -
1 tablespoon olive oil, for the baking dish
For the filling
03 -
3 cups (420 g) cooked shredded chicken
04 -
2 cups (370 g) cooked white or brown rice
05 -
1 can (15 oz / 425 g) black beans, rinsed and drained
06 -
3/4 cup (180 ml) mild salsa
07 -
1/2 cup (120 ml) tomato sauce
08 -
1 teaspoon ground cumin
09 -
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
10 -
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
11 -
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste
12 -
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
13 -
1 1/2 cups (170 g) shredded cheddar cheese, divided
14 -
2 green onions, thinly sliced
15 -
2 tablespoons chopped cilantro, optional
# Instructions:
01 -
Heat the oven to 350°F. Slice the tops off the peppers and remove the seeds and membranes. Use a small sharp knife to carve simple jack-o-lantern faces into one side of each pepper.
02 -
Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the pepper bottoms and tops for 3-4 minutes, then drain cut side down. This softens them enough to bake evenly.
03 -
In a large bowl, stir together the shredded chicken, cooked rice, black beans, salsa, tomato sauce, cumin, smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, pepper, 1 cup of cheddar, and green onions.
04 -
Lightly oil a baking dish. Set the peppers upright and spoon the chicken and rice mixture into each one, filling just to the top. Sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 cup cheddar.
05 -
Place the pepper tops in the dish beside the peppers or set them loosely on top. Cover the dish with foil and bake for 20 minutes.
06 -
Remove the foil and bake for 8-10 minutes more, until the cheese is melted and the filling is hot in the center. Rest for 5 minutes before serving.
07 -
Sprinkle with cilantro if using. Serve warm with extra salsa, sour cream, or avocado on the side.
# Good to know:
01 -
Use cooked chicken, such as rotisserie chicken, poached chicken breast, or leftover roasted chicken.
02 -
Choose peppers with flat bottoms so they stand upright in the baking dish.
03 -
For a milder kid-friendly version, use mild salsa and skip spicy toppings.