Description
These Italian stuffed peppers are the perfect mix of old-world comfort and weeknight ease. Sweet bell peppers are roasted to tender perfection, then filled with a savory mix of seasoned ground beef, rice, herbs, and Parmesan cheese. Topped with rich tomato sauce and a layer of gooey mozzarella, this dish is cozy, satisfying, and full of flavor. Whether you’re hosting Sunday dinner or meal prepping for the week, these stuffed peppers are a guaranteed hit.
Ingredients
Scale
- 6 large bell peppers (red, yellow, or green)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- Tops of bell peppers, diced
- 1 lb ground beef (or turkey or sausage)
- 1 ½ cups cooked white rice
- 1 ½ cups tomato sauce (plus extra for baking dish)
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ cup shredded mozzarella (optional)
- Fresh basil or parsley, for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Slice tops off the bell peppers and remove seeds/membranes. Dice the tops for the filling.
- Lightly drizzle peppers with olive oil and bake upright in a baking dish for 15 minutes to soften slightly.
- Meanwhile, heat oil in a skillet. Sauté onion and diced pepper tops until soft. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute.
- Add ground beef and cook until browned. Season with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.
- Stir in cooked rice and 1 ½ cups of tomato sauce. Simmer for 5–6 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in Parmesan cheese.
- Fill each pepper with the meat mixture. Top with a spoonful of tomato sauce and shredded mozzarella if using.
- Pour a little tomato sauce into the bottom of the baking dish. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes.
- Remove foil and bake an additional 10–15 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Let cool slightly before serving. Garnish with fresh basil or parsley.
Notes
- For extra flavor, add a splash of red wine to the filling while simmering.
- Use leftover rice to speed up prep time.
- For a lighter version, use ground turkey or plant-based meat.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 365
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 610mg
- Fat: 17g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 29g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 24g
- Cholesterol: 65mg