Stuffed bell peppers are a classic comfort food, combining tender bell peppers with a flavorful filling of ground beef, rice, and tomato sauce, all topped with melted cheese. This dish is hearty, satisfying, and easy to customize with different ingredients to suit your taste. Whether you’re looking for a nutritious meal or a fun way to use up leftovers, stuffed bell peppers are a fantastic choice.
Ingredients
- 6 bell peppers (any color)
- 1 ½ pounds ground beef
- ½ cup chopped onion
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1 ½ cups cooked white rice
- 15 ounces tomato sauce
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 2 tablespoons chopped parsley (for garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and coat a large baking dish with cooking spray.
- Prepare the peppers
- Slice the tops off the bell peppers and remove the ribs and seeds.
- Place them cut-side down in the baking dish with 1 ½ cups of water.
- Cover with foil and bake for 25 minutes to soften.
- Cook the filling
- Heat olive oil in a large pan over medium heat.
- Add ground beef, season with salt and pepper, and cook for 5-6 minutes, breaking it apart.
- Stir in onion and cook until softened, then add garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
- Mix in rice, tomato sauce, and Italian seasoning. Stir well.
- Add ½ cup of cheese and adjust seasoning.
- Stuff the peppers
- Remove the peppers from the oven and drain the water.
- Turn them over and fill each one with the beef mixture.
- Top with the remaining cheese.
- Bake
- Cover and bake for 20 minutes.
- Uncover and bake for another 10 minutes until the cheese is melted and browned.
- Garnish and serve
- Sprinkle with parsley and enjoy!
This dish is comforting, flavorful, and easy to customize. You can swap the beef for ground turkey or plant-based alternatives, add black beans or corn, or experiment with different cheeses. Would you like a variation, such as a cheesy vegetarian version or a spicy Tex-Mex twist? 😊