Description
These easy stuffed bell peppers are a comforting and colorful dinner made with seasoned ground beef, rice, tomato sauce, and melted cheese. Perfect for busy weeknights, this hearty one-dish meal offers delicious flavor, customizable fillings, and make-ahead convenience for any household.
Ingredients
6 large bell peppers (any color, tops cut off and seeds removed)
1 lb ground beef or ground turkey
1 medium onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup cooked rice (white, brown, or cauliflower rice)
1 can (15 oz) diced tomatoes, drained
1 cup tomato sauce or marinara sauce
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning or dried oregano
1 cup shredded mozzarella or cheddar cheese
Instructions
Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
Cut the tops off the bell peppers, remove seeds and membranes. Optionally, pre-bake the peppers for 10 minutes to soften.
In a skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add onion and garlic; cook until fragrant.
Add ground beef or turkey and cook until browned, breaking it apart as it cooks.
Stir in diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, cooked rice, salt, pepper, and seasoning. Simmer for 5 minutes.
Fill each pepper with the mixture and place upright in a baking dish.
Pour a little extra tomato sauce around the peppers for moisture.
Cover with foil and bake for 25 minutes.
Remove foil, sprinkle with cheese, and bake uncovered for 10–15 minutes until melted and bubbly.
Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
For a lighter version, use ground turkey or cauliflower rice.
Pre-cooking the peppers prevents a crunchy texture.
These peppers freeze and reheat beautifully, making them perfect for meal prep.
You can mix in beans, quinoa, or extra vegetables for added nutrition.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 stuffed pepper
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 720 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 25 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg