Are you craving a delicious, hearty meal that's both incredibly easy to make and guaranteed to impress? Look no further than these Super Simple Stuffed Peppers! Imagine biting into a perfectly roasted bell pepper packed with savory ground beef, fluffy rice, and melted cheese - a mouthwatering combination that will have your family begging for seconds. Whether you're a busy home cook or a culinary novice, this recipe is your ticket to a restaurant-quality dinner with minimal effort and maximum flavor!
Prep Time: 15 mins
Cook Time: 30 mins
Total Time: 45 mins
Cuisine: American
Serves: 4 servings
Ingredients
- 4 bell peppers
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 cup cooked rice
- 1 can diced tomatoes
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 cup shredded cheese
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). This ensures that the oven is hot enough to cook the stuffed peppers evenly.
- While the oven is heating, prepare the bell peppers. Cut the tops off each bell pepper and remove the seeds and membranes. You can choose any color of bell peppers, but red, yellow, or green are commonly used.
- In a large skillet, cook the ground beef over medium heat until browned. Use a wooden spoon to break it up into small pieces as it cooks. This should take about 5-7 minutes.
- Once the ground beef is fully cooked, drain any excess fat from the skillet. Then, add the cooked rice, diced tomatoes (with their juice), Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper to the skillet. Stir everything together until well combined.
- Remove the skillet from heat and stir in half of the shredded cheese, mixing until it’s evenly distributed throughout the filling.
- Stuff each prepared bell pepper with the beef and rice mixture, packing it down gently to ensure they are filled to the top.
- Place the stuffed peppers upright in a baking dish. If they don’t stand well on their own, you can trim the bottom slightly to create a flat base.
- Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes. This will help steam the peppers and cook the filling.
- After 25 minutes, remove the foil and sprinkle the remaining shredded cheese on top of the stuffed peppers. Return to the oven and bake for an additional 5-10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Once done, remove the stuffed peppers from the oven and let them cool for a few minutes before serving. Enjoy your Super Simple Stuffed Peppers!
Tips
- Choose the Right Peppers: Select firm, vibrant bell peppers with flat bottoms for easier standing in the baking dish.
- Prep Hack: If your peppers don't stand upright, carefully slice a thin layer off the bottom to create a stable base.
- Meat Matters: Use lean ground beef (80/20 ratio) for the best flavor and texture. Drain excess fat to prevent greasy filling.
- Rice Tip: Use day-old or slightly cooled rice to prevent the filling from becoming mushy.
- Cheese Strategy: Mix some cheese into the filling and save some for topping to create layers of cheesy goodness.
- Make-Ahead Magic: You can prepare these stuffed peppers in advance and refrigerate until ready to bake - perfect for meal prep!
- Customize Your Filling: Feel free to swap ground beef for turkey, or make it vegetarian with black beans and quinoa.
- Doneness Check: The peppers are done when they're tender and the cheese is golden and bubbly.
Nutrition Facts
Calories: 394kcal
Carbohydrates: g
Protein: g
Fat: g
Saturated Fat: g
Cholesterol: 85mg
