Description
This stuffed peppers recipe is a go-to dinner idea when you need something easy, hearty, and full of flavor. Juicy bell peppers are filled with a savory mixture of ground beef, cooked rice, tomato sauce, herbs, and topped with melted cheese. It’s perfect for meal prep, family dinners, or impressing guests. Whether you’re after a quick dinner idea or need a healthy, balanced comfort food, this easy recipe fits the bill beautifully.
Ingredients
1 ½ pounds ground beef
1 cup cooked white rice
4 large bell peppers (any color), tops cut off and seeds removed
1 small onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 ½ cups tomato sauce
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella or cheddar cheese
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.
2. Cut the tops off the bell peppers and remove seeds and membranes. Place them upright in the prepared dish.
3. In a large skillet over medium heat, sauté the onions and garlic until softened (about 3 minutes).
4. Add the ground beef to the skillet. Cook until browned, breaking it up with a spatula. Drain excess fat if needed.
5. Stir in the cooked rice, tomato sauce, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 2–3 minutes to blend flavors.
6. Spoon the mixture evenly into each bell pepper, packing it slightly.
7. Top each pepper with shredded cheese. Cover the dish with foil.
8. Bake covered for 30 minutes. Then remove foil and bake another 10–15 minutes until cheese is bubbly and lightly golden.
9. Garnish with chopped parsley and serve warm.
Notes
For extra tenderness, pre-cook the bell peppers for 5 minutes in boiling water before stuffing.
Make it spicy by adding red pepper flakes or diced jalapeños to the beef mixture.
Easily make this low-carb by swapping rice with riced cauliflower.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 stuffed pepper
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 780mg
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 24g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 80mg
Keywords: stuffed peppers, ground beef recipes, easy dinner, healthy meal prep, baked stuffed peppers