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Classic Ground Beef Stuffed Bell Peppers

A hand holding a yellow stuffed pepper cut in half, revealing a savory ground meat and rice filling topped with melted cheese.
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Make satisfying, home-style stuffed bell peppers filled with seasoned ground beef and rice, then bake them until tender under a layer of melted cheese.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 large bell peppers (any color)
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 small yellow onion, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 cup cooked white rice
  • 1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce, divided
  • 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Lightly grease a baking dish.
  2. Prepare the peppers: Cut the tops off the bell peppers and remove the seeds and membranes. Place the hollowed peppers cut-side up in the prepared baking dish.
  3. Cook the filling base: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned. Drain off any excess fat.
  4. Season the meat: Stir in the minced garlic, oregano, basil, salt, and pepper. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
  5. Combine the filling: Remove the skillet from the heat. Stir in the cooked rice and 1/2 cup of the tomato sauce. Mix well.
  6. Stuff the peppers: Spoon the meat and rice mixture evenly into the hollowed bell peppers.
  7. Bake covered: Pour the remaining 1/2 cup of tomato sauce into the bottom of the baking dish around the peppers. Cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil. Bake for 40 minutes.
  8. Uncover and cheese: Remove the foil. Top each stuffed pepper with shredded mozzarella cheese. Return the dish to the oven, uncovered, and bake for an additional 10 to 15 minutes, or until the peppers are tender and the cheese is melted and bubbly.

Notes

  • Use a mix of ground beef and ground turkey for a slightly lighter filling.
  • For extra flavor in the filling, substitute 1/4 cup of the tomato sauce with beef broth.
  • If you prefer softer peppers, cover them with foil for the entire cooking time, skipping the final uncovered step.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://kitchenslang.com/stuffed-peppers-classic-ground-beef-recipe/