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Last Updated on September 23, 2024 by Tracy
These Halloween-themed Mac and Cheese Stuffed Peppers are a fun, protein-packed meal. Creamy pasta stuffed into bell peppers carved like jack-o-lanterns makes for the perfect pre-trick-or-treating dinner! This easy Halloween dinner is ready in 30 minutes. While this post is sponsored by Florida Dairy Farmers, all opinions and the recipe are my own.
Since all the coffee shops have all things pumpkin spice available now, I guess that gives us the green light to talk about fun eats for Halloween. Even though my kids are older, they still enjoy a homemade mac n cheese in an edible bowl…aka bell pepper!
And for those with littles, I know as Halloween night creeps up, you start thinking about trick-or-treating, costumes, and of course, what to feed those hungry little goblins before they head out. This Mac and Cheese Stuffed Peppers recipe is not only festive but also packed with protein from the cheese and milk, making it a great way to fuel up before a night of candy collecting!
We all know Halloween can be hectic, so having a fun and nutritious meal ready before the evening’s excitement begins is a must. The best part? These adorable bell peppers look just like mini jack-o-lanterns, and your kids will love helping carve them and stuffing them with cheesy goodness.
Why This Recipe is Perfect for Halloween Night
Kids love mac and cheese, and this version adds a healthy twist with bell peppers as the “bowls.” The rich, creamy combination of gouda, pepper jack, and cheddar gives it a unique flavor, while the milk and cheese provide the protein needed to keep everyone full and energized. Plus, the bell peppers offer a nutritious veggie boost. If you want to add extra nutrients, diced up an extra pepper and saute it before making the one pot mac n cheese π
Halloween is all about fun, but let’s face it, after a long night of trick-or-treating, we also want to make sure our little monsters are getting something wholesome before diving into the candy stash. This dish ticks all the boxes—it’s festive, fun, filling, and sneaks in some extra nutrition.
How the Kids Can Help in the Kitchen
Getting the kids involved in the kitchen is a great way to make memories while teaching them valuable life skills.
Here are a few simple tasks they can help with:
Carving the peppers: After you cut off the tops of the peppers and clean them out, let your kids use a small knife or pumpkin carving tools (with supervision, of course) to create fun jack-o-lantern faces on the peppers. They’ll have a blast designing their spooky creations! If your kiddos are too young to use a knife, you can have them draw faces on the peppers and you can handle the cutting.
Stirring the pasta: Once the pasta and seasonings are in the pot, kids can help stir the mixture as it cooks. It’s a great way to keep them engaged, and they’ll love seeing the cheese melt into a creamy sauce. Again, supervision is required – what those hot surfaces!
Filling the peppers: After the mac and cheese is ready and you have removed the pot from the heat, let your kids use a spoon to stuff the peppers. It’s a simple task that even the youngest helpers can do, and they’ll feel proud of the part they played in making this super special spooky dinner.
Why You’ll Love It
This recipe is the fun of Halloween and the comfort of mac and cheese in one! It’s easy to prepare, made in one pot, loaded with flavor, and it’s cute! I mean, come on, who doesn’t want to eat dinner out of a pepper Jack-O-Lantern?!
So, before your family heads out to collect their candy this Halloween, serve up these adorable, protein-packed jack-o-lanterns, and I bet they disappear just as fast as the treats! Well, it’ll be close at least π
Storing Leftovers
If you have any leftover one-pot mac n cheese, it can be easily stored for later. Store it airtight container and refrigerate for up to 5-7 days. When you’re ready to enjoy it again, you can reheat it in the microwave or oven.
- Microwave: Warm on microwave-safe dish and heat for 1-2 minutes, or until warmed through.
- Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F, place in an oven-safe dish, cover with foil, and bake for about 15-20 minutes until heated through.
Speaking of leftovers…If you have leftover Halloween candy (and who doesn’t?!) be sure to make this Leftover Halloween Candy Apple Salad.
If you want to make these Jack O Lantern Mac N Cheese Peppers ahead of time, you can also store the mac and cheese separately and stuff the peppers just before serving. That way, everything stays fresh, and the peppers maintain their texture.
Happy Halloween from my kitchen to yours!
Alright, are we ready for my Jack-O-Lantern One Pot Mac N Cheese recipe? Let’s do it!
Jack O Lantern Mac and Cheese Stuffed Peppers
Ingredients
- 1 pound uncooked pasta I used elbows
- 3 cups water
- 2 cups Florida milk – I used whole
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 3 cups your favorite cheeses I used gouda, pepper jack and cheddar
- salt and black pepper to taste
- 6-8 orange bell peppers
Instructions
- Combine the pasta, water, milk, mustard, and seasonings in a large stockpot.
- Heat over medium-high heat, stirring the pasta once every few minutes, until it reaches a boil.
- Continue cooking the pasta, stirring once or twice per minute, until the pasta is al dente. (Cooking time will depend on the shape of pasta that you use, so please keep a close eye on it.)
- Remove pot from heat.
- Remove excess water (if needed). I did not have excess, depending on the type of pasta you used, you may. You do want some left in the pot.
- Add the cheese to the pasta and gently stir until completely melted. If the pasta seems too dry, stir some of the reserved liquid back in as needed.
- Taste and season with salt and pepper if desired.
- Cut the tops off the peppers and reserve. Remove the seeds and membranes. Use a sharp knife to carve a jack-o-lantern face into one side of each pepper.
- Fill each pepper with mac n cheese and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Looking for a fun Halloween breakfast? Check out my Colorfully Eerie Halloween Pancakes.
Be sure to check out Florida Milk for more dairy-licious recipes and follow on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest.
And while you are at it, check out all the recipes on Food Wine Sunshine and follow me on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram for more FOOD WINE AND SUNSHINE.
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