Here’s a classic, hearty Stuffed Bell Peppers recipe — flavorful, filling, and easy to customize 🌶️
🌶️ Classic Stuffed Bell Peppers
Ingredients (Serves 4–6)
- 4–6 large bell peppers (any color)
- 1 lb (450g) ground beef (or turkey)
- 1 cup cooked rice (white or brown)
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup marinara or tomato sauce (plus extra for topping)
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella or cheddar cheese
Instructions
1️⃣ Prep the peppers
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Cut tops off peppers and remove seeds/membranes.
- Optional: Parboil peppers in boiling water for 5 minutes if you prefer softer peppers.
2️⃣ Make the filling
- In a skillet, cook ground beef and onion until browned.
- Add garlic and cook 30 seconds.
- Drain excess grease.
- Stir in cooked rice, tomato sauce, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
- Simmer 3–5 minutes.
3️⃣ Stuff and bake
- Spoon filling into each pepper.
- Place in a baking dish standing upright.
- Spoon extra sauce over tops.
- Cover loosely with foil and bake for 30–35 minutes.
4️⃣ Add cheese
- Remove foil, sprinkle cheese on top.
- Bake uncovered another 10–15 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly.
🔥 Variations
- Mexican Style: Use taco seasoning, black beans, corn, and pepper jack cheese.
- Low-Carb: Swap rice for cauliflower rice.
- Vegetarian: Use lentils or quinoa instead of meat.
- Spicy: Add diced jalapeños or red pepper flakes.
Make-Ahead Tip
You can assemble them up to 24 hours ahead and refrigerate before baking.
If you’d like, I can also give you a slow cooker version or an air fryer version.
