Description
Elevating the classic stuffed bell pepper dish, our Cheesy Beef and Rice Stuffed Bell Peppers recipe is a surefire way to satisfy your comfort food cravings. Packed with a flavorful ground beef and rice filling, topped with melted mozzarella cheese, and baked to perfection, these stuffed peppers are a family-friendly meal that’s sure to become a new favorite.
Ingredients
4 large bell peppers: Red, green, yellow, or orange, your choice.
1 lb (450g) lean ground beef: Cooked until browned.
1 medium onion: Chopped.
2 cloves garlic: Minced.
2 cups cooked rice: Any preferred type.
1 cup tomato sauce: Canned or homemade.
1 tablespoon Italian seasoning: A blend of dried herbs.
1.5 cups shredded mozzarella cheese: Divided.
Salt and pepper: To taste.
Chopped parsley: For garnish.
Instructions
1. Preheat the Oven: Start by preheating your oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. Cook the Beef: In a skillet, cook the ground beef along with the chopped onion and minced garlic until the beef is browned and the vegetables are softened. Drain any excess fat.
3. Mix the Filling: In a large bowl, combine the cooked beef mixture with the cooked rice, tomato sauce, Italian seasoning, 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese, salt, and pepper. Stir everything together until well incorporated.
4. Stuff the Peppers: Carefully spoon the beef and rice filling into the hollowed-out bell pepper halves, arranging them in a baking dish.
5. Bake the Stuffed Peppers: Cover the baking dish with foil and bake the stuffed peppers for 30 minutes. Then, remove the foil, top the peppers with the remaining 1/2 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese, and bake for an additional 10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
6. Garnish and Serve: Finally, sprinkle the baked Cheesy Beef and Rice Stuffed Bell Peppers with chopped parsley and serve hot.
Notes
Feel free to customize the filling by adding vegetables like corn, black beans, or zucchini. You can also replace the ground beef with lentils or quinoa for a vegetarian option.
- Prep Time: 15-20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30-40 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American/Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 stuffed pepper
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 70mg