Description
This Best Stuffed Peppers recipe features colorful bell peppers filled with a savory mixture of ground beef or turkey, cooked rice, tomatoes, and Italian seasonings, all baked to perfection with a cheesy topping. It’s a comforting and hearty meal that’s perfect for family dinners or meal prepping.
Ingredients
Scale
Peppers
- 6 bell peppers (any color)
Filling
- 1 lb ground beef or ground turkey
- 2 ¼ cups uncooked white rice, cooked
- 15 oz can diced tomatoes
- 8 oz can tomato sauce (¾ cup)
- ¾ cup finely chopped yellow onion
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (¼ cup set aside for topping)
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1 ½ teaspoons minced garlic
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to get it ready for baking the stuffed peppers.
- Prepare Peppers: Slice the tops off the bell peppers and carefully remove the seeds and membranes. Set the hollowed peppers aside.
- Cook Meat: In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the ground beef or turkey and cook until browned, breaking it apart as it cooks to ensure even cooking.
- Sauté Aromatics: Add the chopped onion, minced garlic, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning to the skillet with the meat. Cook for 2-3 minutes until the onion is softened and fragrant.
- Mix Filling: Stir in the cooked rice, diced tomatoes with their juices, and tomato sauce. Mix everything well and simmer for 5-7 minutes to combine the flavors.
- Stuff Peppers: Pack each bell pepper tightly with the meat and rice mixture. Arrange the stuffed peppers upright in a baking dish to keep their shape while baking.
- Add Cheese: Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese evenly on top of each stuffed pepper.
- Bake Covered: Cover the baking dish with foil and bake for 25 minutes, allowing the peppers to cook through and the flavors to meld.
- Bake Uncovered: Remove the foil and continue baking for an additional 10-15 minutes until the cheese on top is melted, bubbly, and slightly golden.
- Serve: Serve the stuffed peppers hot, garnished with extra cheese if desired, for a delicious and satisfying meal.
Notes
- You can substitute ground turkey for ground beef for a leaner option.
- Use any color of bell pepper to add visual appeal and varied flavor.
- Leftover stuffed peppers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven or microwave.
- For extra flavor, try adding some chopped fresh herbs like parsley or basil to the filling.
- Make sure to cook the rice beforehand as the recipe uses cooked rice in the filling.
