Stuffed Peppers Recipe
I’ve always loved stuffed peppers but I’ve hated the extra step of boiling water and parboiling peppers before baking. So instead, here we pre-bake the peppers (in the same baking dish you’ll already be using to bake the stuffed peppers) while the filling cooks, it’s a no brainer.
Stuffed Peppers Video
Then to make prep faster use leftover rice from a dinner you made the day before if you’ve got some. These are easier to make than you’d think and they make delicious left overs the next day for lunch. Plus how else could we eat a whole pepper in one sitting? A great way to get the the whole family to eat more veggies! Nothing fancy or complicated here, just fresh, flavorful, comfort food tossed and layered together and baked until perfectly tender and tasty.
Ingredients for Stuffed Bell Peppers
Long grain white rice – leftover rice works great if you have some. Bell peppers – if you’d prefer you can make use all green if they’re what’s cheaper. Olive oil – only a little is needed for sauteing. Another neutral oil will work such as vegetable oil. Ground beef – use one that’s 80%+ lean. Yellow onion and fresh garlic – these create a delicious base of flavor, only use fresh. Canned petite diced tomatoes – I like these smaller chunks but standard cut canned tomatoes will work fine. Tomato sauce – if you are looking to reduce sodium in the recipe use no-salt tomato sauce and canned tomatoes. And of course season with less salt. Italian seasoning – I love to use this blend here rather than adding 5 kinds of dried herbs individually. Fresh parsley – this adds lots of fresh flavor. It’s one of my go-to ingredients I always keep stocked. Mozzarella cheese – if you want even more flavor substitute 1/4 cup of the mozzarella for parmesan.
How to Make the Best Stuffed Peppers
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cook rice according to package instructions. Meanwhile, trim about 1/4-inch from tops of bell peppers and then remove stems, ribs and seeds. Fill a baking dish just large enough to fit peppers with about 1/2-inch of water. Place peppers upside down in water, cover tightly with foil and bake 20 minutes.
Meanwhile heat olive oil in a large non-stick skillet over-medium high heat. Add onion and saute 3 minutes. Move onions to one far side of the skillet. Add beef in chunks, season with salt and pepper then let sear until browned on bottom, about 2 – 3 minutes.
Break up beef and toss with onions and continue to cook 2 minutes, add garlic and cook until beef is cooked through about 1 minute longer. Remove from heat, drain off excess fat (I like to tilt skillet to one side and dab up excess fat using tongs and paper towels).
Stir in tomatoes, half of the tomato sauce (about 1/2 cup), cooked rice, parsley, Italian seasoning and season with salt and pepper to taste.
How Long to Cook Stuffed Peppers?
Reduce oven temperature to 350. Turn par-baked peppers upright and fill with beef filling. Pour remaining tomato sauce over peppers. Cover with foil and continue to bake 20 minutes. Remove from oven, sprinkle with cheese, return to oven and bake until peppers have reached desired tenderness, about 10 – 20 minutes (thinner peppers will be done near lesser time thicker near greater). Sprinkle with parsley and serve warm.
Can I Use Brown Rice?
Yes. Brown rice will work great here too, just use the same amount (2 cups cooked).
Can I Use Ground Turkey instead of Ground Beef?
Yes. Ground turkey will work great too (85 – 93% lean). Using the brown rice and ground turkey substitutions are great healthier options here.
Can I Cook the Stuffed Peppers in a Slow Cooker?
Yes, these can also be cooked in a slow cooker. Skip the pre-baking for the peppers, just fill them with the prepared cooked filling and cook in a slow cooker on low heat for about 3 1/2 – 4 hours or until tender, add cheese during the last 10 minutes.
How Can I Make them Mexican Stuffed Bell Peppers?
Swap the Italian seasoning with 1 – 2 Tbsp taco seasoning (omit salt and pepper). Trade the parsley for cilantro. Replace mozzarella with monterey jack or cheddar cheese. Optional, add in some black beans for an extra filler.
Can I Prepare Them Ahead of Time?
You can make prep them up to 1 day in advance, if going that route though I recommend boiling the topless peppers for 5 minutes first. Then stuff them with prepared filling and refrigerate. The following day let rest at room temperature while the oven preheats. Increase baking time by about 10 minutes or so since they’ll be starting out cool.
More Stuffed Pepper Recipes You’ll Love:
Chicken Fajita Stuffed Peppers Unstuffed Pepper Bowls Stuffed Pepper Soup
More Ground Beef Recipes to Try:
One Pan Beef Stroganoff Swedish Meatballs Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls Ground Beef Tacos
