Name: EASY STUFFED BELL PEPPERS: Perfect 30 Minute Dinner
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 55 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 6 bell peppers; 1 pound ground beef; 1 cup cooked rice; 1 cup tomato sauce; 1/2 cup chopped onion; 1 teaspoon garlic powder; 1 teaspoon salt; 1/2 teaspoon black pepper; 1 cup shredded cheese

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You have to imagine this gorgeous colorful dinner that is actually good for you and so filling. I first whipped this up on one of those super busy Tuesdays when I was running around and needed something fast but real. My family loved it so much that now we have it every single week. You are going to love how easy it is to throw together and how the flavors just come alive in the oven. We use fresh veggies and lean protein so it is a perfect balanced meal for everyone at the table.

Why You Will Love These Easy Stuffed Bell Peppers

I am telling you that you will love this recipe because there is hardly any prep work at all. It is my favorite way to use up that extra rice or random veggies sitting in the crisper drawer. The mix of savory beef and those sweet peppers is a total classic that never gets old. Since we use beef instead of pork the dish remains light but still keeps you full. Plus you can totally play around with the spices to make your family happy.

Ingredients for Easy Stuffed Bell Peppers

6 large bell peppers in any color you like
1 pound of lean ground beef
2 cups of cooked white or brown rice
1 small onion that you have diced up small
2 cloves of garlic minced
1 can of tomato sauce about 15 ounces
1/2 cup of beef broth which I use instead of wine to keep things moist
1 teaspoon of dried oregano
1 teaspoon of salt and 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper
1 cup of shredded cheddar or mozzarella cheese

How to Make Easy Stuffed Bell Peppers

Making this meal is a really simple process where you just prep the peppers and mix up your filling. You are going to brown the meat first because that gives it the best texture and flavor. Then you just stuff those peppers and let your oven do all the heavy lifting. It only takes about 15 minutes to get everything ready and then it bakes for about 35 to 40 minutes.

Preparing the Peppers and Filling

First thing you do is preheat your oven to 375 degrees. Cut the tops off your peppers and scoop out all the seeds and the ribs from the inside. If your peppers are wobbly and wont stand up just slice a tiny bit off the bottom to make them flat. In a big skillet brown your ground beef over medium heat until there is no pink left. Drain off any extra grease then stir in your onions and garlic until they get soft. Add in your cooked rice and half of that tomato sauce along with the beef broth and spices. Mix it all up until it looks great.

Baking Instructions

Stand your peppers up in a baking dish and spoon that beef and rice mix into each one until they are nice and full. Pour the rest of your tomato sauce over the tops. I like to pour a little bit of water into the bottom of the dish to help the peppers steam while they cook. Cover the whole thing tight with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Then take the foil off and sprinkle your cheese on top and bake for another 5 or 10 minutes until the cheese is all melty and the peppers are tender.

Tips for Success with Easy Stuffed Bell Peppers

Try to pick peppers that are about the same size so they all finish cooking at the same time
If you like your peppers really soft you can boil them in water for about 3 minutes before you stuff them
Make sure your rice is already cooked before you mix it with the meat
You can use ground chicken or turkey instead of beef if you want something even leaner

Common Questions About Easy Stuffed Bell Peppers

Can I freeze these peppers

You totally can freeze them either before or after you bake them. If you do it before just wrap them really well in plastic wrap and foil. They stay fresh for about three months. Just let them thaw in the fridge overnight before you put them in the oven.

What are the best peppers to use

Bell peppers are the way to go. The red and orange ones are a bit sweeter while the green ones have a more earthy taste. Just pick whatever your family likes to eat.

How do I prevent the filling from being dry

Using beef broth and tomato sauce really helps keep everything juicy. Also keeping the foil on for the first part of the baking time traps the steam inside so the meat and rice dont dry out on you.

Nutritional Information for Easy Stuffed Bell Peppers

Calories 340 kcal
Protein 24g
Carbohydrates 28g
Fat 14g
Fiber 4g
Sodium 650mg