Description
These Stuffed Bell Peppers with Cheese are a delicious and satisfying meal that combines flavorful ground beef or turkey with rice, marinara sauce, and gooey melted cheese, all baked inside colorful bell peppers. Easy to make, these cheesy stuffed peppers are perfect for a weeknight dinner or entertaining guests.
Ingredients
Scale
Bell Peppers:
- 4 large bell peppers (any color)
Stuffed Filling:
- 1 lb (450g) ground beef or turkey
- 1 cup cooked rice
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 1/4 cups marinara or tomato sauce, divided
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Garnish:
- Chopped parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Prepare the peppers: Cut the tops off the bell peppers, remove the seeds and membranes, and brush lightly with olive oil. Place them upright in a baking dish.
- Make the filling: Sauté onion and garlic, then brown the ground meat. Add rice, seasonings, and 1 cup of marinara sauce. Simmer until combined.
- Stuff the peppers: Fill each pepper with the meat mixture. Top with remaining marinara sauce, mozzarella, and Parmesan cheese.
- Bake: Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove foil and bake for another 10–15 minutes until cheese is bubbly.
- Serve: Let the peppers rest for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with parsley if desired.
Notes
- You can substitute quinoa for rice or use a plant-based meat alternative for a vegetarian version.
- Try adding chopped spinach or mushrooms to the filling for extra veggies.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 stuffed pepper
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 710mg
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 23g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 27g
- Cholesterol: 80mg
