Stuffed Bell Peppers

  • Level: Easy
  • Yield: 4 to 6 servings
  • Total: 1 hr 35 min
  • Active: 45 min
Advertisement

Ingredients

6 bell peppers, any color

4 tablespoons olive oil, plus more for drizzling 

8 ounces lean ground beef 

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

1 onion, finely diced 

2 cloves garlic, chopped

1 medium zucchini, finely diced 

4 Roma tomatoes, seeded and finely diced 

Red pepper flakes, as needed 

1 cup cooked long-grain and wild rice 

1 1/2 cups grated pepper Jack cheese 

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
  2. Cut the tops off the peppers. Remove and discard the stems, then finely chop the tops; set aside. Scoop out the seeds and as much of the membrane as you can. Place the peppers cut-side up in a baking dish just large enough to hold them upright.
  3. Heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the beef, season with salt and pepper and cook, breaking up the lumps, until the meat is cooked through and just beginning to brown, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove to a paper towel-lined plate to get rid of the fat.
  4. Wipe out the skillet and add the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil. Add the onions and chopped peppers and cook until beginning to soften, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the garlic and zucchini and cook for another minute. Add the tomatoes and season with salt and a pinch or 2 of red pepper flakes. Cook until everything is heated through, then stir in the beef and rice. Taste and adjust the seasoning. Stir in 1 cup of the cheese.
  5. Fill the peppers with the rice mixture and top each with a sprinkle of the remaining 1/2 cup cheese. Pour a small amount of water into the bottom of the baking dish and drizzle the peppers with a little olive oil. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake until the peppers are soft and the cheese is melted and lightly browned, another 15 to 20 minutes.

Let's Get Cooking!

Sign up for the Recipe of the Day newsletter to receive editor-picked recipes,tips and videos delivered to your inbox daily. Privacy Policy

Thanks for subscribing to the Recipe of the Day newsletter. Check out all our other great newsletters from Easy Recipes, Healthy Eating Ideas and Chef Recipe Videos.

We're sorry, there was an error signing you up. Please try again later.

Advertisement

Lauren C.

I loved the veggie content of these peppers, but after reading reviews made a few mods to boost flavor. I added garlic and onion powder when browning the meat. I wanted to use the full pound of beef, so I did half a zucchini and two tomatoes. Added smoked paprika and oregano to the mixture, as well as about a cup of marinara and a tablespoon of tomato paste. Used Mexican cheese because that’s what I had. Mixture tasted great going in, smoked paprika goes a long way, and had some leftover mixture which will be great for lunches. Love that this version has a higher veggie content than a traditional meat and rice, and a few simple mods can help flavor profile.

See All Reviews