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Stuffed bell peppers are filled with a savory mix of beef, sausage, rice, and marinara. They’re baked with cheese until tender for a classic, cozy meal.
Flavor: Savory ground beef, tender veggies, and fluffy rice come together in a rich tomato sauce, all topped with golden, melty cheese.
Budget Tip: Replace half of the meat with black or kidney beans. You can stretch the filling further by adding extra rice or veggies and filling some extra peppers.
Prep Note: Depending on the size of your peppers, you might end up with extra filling. It’s great in zucchini boats or as a filling for portobello mushrooms.
Prep Ahead/Freezer: These can be prepared 2 days ahead or prepared and frozen before baking (freezing instructions below).
Easy Ingredients and Add-Ins
Bell Peppers: Choose any color of bell peppers. Green peppers are more earthy in flavor, while red, yellow, or orange peppers are a bit sweeter. Just cut the tops off and remove the seeds.
Meat: Ground beef and Italian sausage add a lot of flavor. You can use just one, or any combination of ground meat, including ground turkey or chicken, ground pork, or turkey sausage.
Rice: Use uncooked long-grain rice. If using cooked rice, simmer in the sauce for just 5 minutes.
Sauce: Use a jar of pasta sauce, or control the flavors and try homemade marinara sauce.
Cheese: Optional, but I love a cheesy topping! Try mozzarella or an Italian blend.
How to Make Stuffed Peppers
Pre-cook the peppers and brown the meat mixture (recipe below).
Add the remaining filling ingredients and cook until the rice is tender.
Fill upright peppers with the meat and rice mixture. Sprinkle with cheese and bake until bubbly.
The sausage adds a lot of flavor, so if you’re replacing it, add ½ teaspoon of extra Italian seasoning, or throw in some extra oregano and parsley, red pepper flakes, or other spices.
Save It for Later
Store leftover stuffed peppers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat peppers in the microwave, air fryer, or stovetop in a pan with a little water at the bottom on medium-low heat.
To freeze, line the baking dish with parchment paper and assemble the peppers as directed without baking. Ensure the filling is cooled and cover tightly with plastic wrap. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and bake as directed, adding 15 minutes to the baking time.
Savory Stuffed Pepper Recipes
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These stuffed peppers are filled with sausage, beef, and rice, baked in marinara, and topped with melty cheese.
Prep Time 20 minutes minutes
Cook Time 1 hour hour
Rest Time 5 minutes minutes
Total Time 1 hour hour 25 minutes minutes
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9×13-inch casserole dish.
Cut off the tops of the bell peppers. Discard the stems, finely chop the tops, and set aside for the sauce. Core the peppers, discarding the membranes and seeds.
To cook the peppers, bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cook the peppers for 5 minutes and then drain them well. Alternatively, air fry the peppers at 400°F for 5 minutes.
For the filling, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef, Italian sausage, diced onion, and minced garlic. Cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until no pink remains. Drain the fat.
Add diced tomatoes with their juices, water, Worcestershire sauce, rice, the diced pepper tops, Italian seasoning, and ¼ teaspoon each salt and black pepper.
Bring the mixture to a boil, reduce the heat to a low simmer, and cover. Cook until the rice is tender, about 15 to 20 minutes, adding more water if needed. Remove from the heat and stir in ½ cup of the marinara. Taste and season with more salt and pepper if desired.
Place 1 ½ cups of marinara sauce in the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Add the peppers, cut-side-up, and divide the rice mixture evenly into the peppers. Spoon the remaining marinara sauce over the top.
Cover tightly with foil, bake for 35 minutes.
Carefully remove the foil and spoon the sauce from the bottom of the dish over the peppers. Top with cheese (if using) and bake uncovered for an additional 10 to 12 minutes or until the peppers are tender and the cheese is fully melted.
Rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Rice: If using cooked rice, skip the water and simmer the rice in the sauce for about 5 minutes. Brown rice should be pre-cooked. Peppers: For firm to tender-crisp peppers, skip the boiling step and bake as directed. I prefer the texture when the peppers are softer. Seasoning: Marinara sauce can vary in salt levels and seasonings. Taste a bit of the filling and add salt to taste. Additional vegetables, such as diced zucchini or chopped mushrooms, can be added to the filling.Calories: 397 | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 19g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 0.5g | Cholesterol: 63mg | Sodium: 980mg | Potassium: 1023mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 4384IU | Vitamin C: 168mg | Calcium: 123mg | Iron: 4mg
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
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