Jack-o’-Lantern Buffalo Chicken Peppers
Jack-o’-Lantern Buffalo Chicken Peppers are orange bell peppers carved like Halloween pumpkins and filled with creamy buffalo chicken, cream cheese, ranch seasoning, and melted cheese. This easy baked Halloween appetizer is cheesy, festive, and perfect for parties or family dinners.
Ingredients
For the buffalo chicken filling
- 2 cups cooked shredded chicken
- 4 ounces cream cheese softened
- ½ cup buffalo wing sauce plus more for serving
- 1 tablespoon ranch seasoning mix
- ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
- ¼ cup sliced green onions
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder optional
For the jack-o’-lantern peppers
- 6 medium orange bell peppers
- ¾ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- Cooking spray or olive oil for the baking dish
Optional toppings and dips
- Ranch dressing
- Blue cheese dressing
- Crumbled blue cheese
- Extra buffalo sauce
- Sliced green onions
- Sliced jalapeños
- Chopped parsley or cilantro
- Celery sticks and carrot sticks
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 190°C / 375°F. Lightly grease a 23 x 33 cm / 9 x 13-inch baking dish with cooking spray or olive oil.
- In a large bowl, combine the shredded chicken, softened cream cheese, buffalo sauce, ranch seasoning, cheddar cheese, green onions, black pepper, and garlic powder, if using. Stir until the filling is evenly mixed.
- Cut the tops off the orange bell peppers. Remove the seeds and white membranes from inside the peppers.
- Use a small sharp paring knife to cut triangle eyes, a triangle nose, and a simple mouth into the front of each pepper to create jack-o’-lantern faces.
- Stand the peppers upright in the prepared baking dish. Carefully trim a very thin slice from the bottom of any pepper that will not stand upright.
- Spoon the buffalo chicken mixture evenly into the peppers. Do not overfill.
- Sprinkle the mozzarella cheese over the top of each stuffed pepper.
- Cover the baking dish loosely with foil. Bake for 15 minutes.
- Remove the foil and bake for 5 to 7 more minutes, until the cheese is melted and lightly golden and the filling is hot.
- Let the peppers rest for 5 minutes. Serve warm with ranch dressing, blue cheese dressing, celery, carrots, and extra buffalo sauce.
Notes
- Rotisserie chicken: Use rotisserie chicken for the quickest preparation.
- Make it mild: Choose mild buffalo sauce and add 1 to 2 tablespoons ranch dressing to the filling.
- Make it spicy: Use hot buffalo sauce, pepper jack cheese, cayenne pepper, or sliced jalapeños.
- Mini appetizer version: Use mini bell peppers cut in half and bake for 10 to 12 minutes.
- Vegetarian option: Replace chicken with shredded jackfruit, plant-based chicken, chickpeas, or finely chopped mushrooms.
- Make ahead: Prepare the filling up to 24 hours in advance. Add extra baking time if baking from cold.
- Storage: Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours and enjoy within 3 to 4 days.foodsafety+1
- Food safety: Cook chicken and reheat chicken leftovers to 74°C / 165°F.foodsafety+1