Stuffed bell peppers are a delicious and cheap dinner option for when you want something filling and healthy. You’ll love this easy stuffed peppers recipe any night of the week.
Bell peppers are one of the cheapest veggies you can buy (when they’re in season). We like to catch them when they’re $1 each, but sometimes we even find them for 50 cents! Everything else this recipe requires is fairly affordable as well, making this a frugal meal full of delicious possibilities for your budget.
Stuffed Peppers With Rice
I originally got this recipe from my beloved Betty Crocker cookbook, but over time I have adapted it to suit my own tastes before finally settling on this winner of a dinner. While the original recipe was good, we really feel like this variation is perfect.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- This recipe is very versatile. So if you don’t have a certain item on hand, substitute something else! For instance, I rarely buy 15 oz cans of tomato sauce, so I use diced tomatoes instead. Also, you can use garlic powder and even onion powder in place of the fresh items.
- You can remove the meat. If you’re not big meat eaters, halve the meat and replace it with more rice. You can even use brown rice for a healthier version.
- The filling freezes nicely. I like to make a double batch and freeze half, so that meal prep is that much shorter next time.
Stuffed Peppers Ingredients
Bell peppers– You will need 6 large bell peppers for this recipe. You can use any color you have on hand (or whatever is cheapest).
Ground beef- 1 pound of ground beef will be cooked up and used in the filling.
Onions– You only need 2 tablespoons of finely chopped onion in the filling.
Rice– To streamline the process, use 1 cup of already prepared and cooked rice. Measure 1 cup of dry rice, make according to the package directions, and then use in the filling.
Salt– Use 1 teaspoon of salt to help bring the flavors together well.
Garlic– Adding in 1 clove of finely chopped garlic will give us a nice subtle flavor.
Tomato sauce- You will need 1 15-ounce sized can of tomato sauce. I have used diced tomatoes instead and still had success.
Cheese– You’ll want 3/4 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese for the topping.
How to Make Stuffed Bell Peppers
Cut a thin slice from the stem end of each pepper. Remove seeds and membranes; rinse.
Cook peppers in enough boiling water to cover for 5 minutes; drain.
Cook ground beef and onion in a skillet, frequently stirring, until beef is browned; drain.
Stir in salt, garlic, cooked rice, tomatoes, or 1 cup of tomato sauce. Heat through.
Stuff each pepper with hamburger mixture; stand upright in the baking dish. Pour remaining sauce over peppers. {I don’t do this.}
Cover with foil; cook in 350 degrees F oven for 45 minutes. Uncover; cook 15 minutes longer.
Remove from oven and sprinkle with shredded mozzarella cheese.
Enjoy!
Stuffed Bell Peppers
Ingredients
- 6 large bell peppers
- 1 lb ground beef
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped onions
- 1 cup cooked rice measured dry, before cooking
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 clove 1 clove garlic finely chopped
- 1 can {15 oz} tomato sauce
- 3/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Cut thin slice from stem end of each pepper. Remove seeds and membranes; rinse. Cook peppers in enough boiling water to cover for 5 minutes; drain.
- Cook ground beef and onion in a skillet, stirring frequently, until beef is browned; drain. Stir in salt, garlic, cooked rice, and tomatoes or 1 cup of the tomato sauce. Heat through.
- Stuff each pepper with hamburger mixture; stand upright in baking dish. Pour remaining sauce over peppers. {I don’t do this.} Cover with foil; cook in 350 degree F oven for 45 minutes. Uncover; cook 15 minutes longer. Remove from oven and sprinkle with shredded mozzarella cheese.
- Enjoy!
Nutrition
Should peppers be cooked before stuffing?
Yes, cooking the bell peppers to some degree before adding in the filling will help to make the process faster. We choose to boil our bell peppers because it’s quick and easy. This softens the bell pepper just enough so that they are easier to cut and serve later.
Which bell pepper is best for stuffing?
You can use any color of bell pepper, but you should really aim to find ones with a flat round base because they will stand in the baking dish a lot more easily and without tipping over.
How do you tell when stuffed peppers are done?
You will know that your stuffed bell peppers have finished cooking when the bell pepper has softened, and the filling has been fully warmed through.
Here are some Main Dish Recipes to add to your collection
- TORTILLA SOUP WITH BLACK BEANS
- BLT PASTA SALAD
- BEST COPYCAT CHICK-FIL-A NUGGETS
- CHEESY GRILLED PINEAPPLE CHICKEN
- PUMPKIN FETTUCINE ALFREDO
- EASY ZUCCHINI PASTA
- CHICKEN ENCHILADA CASSEROLE
- COPYCAT CHICK-FIL-A MAC AND CHEESE
- CROCKPOT HOT HONEY CHICKEN SANDWICHES
- SLOW COOKER PHILLY CHEESESTEAK SLOPPY JOES
- CHICKEN AND STUFFING CASSEROLE
- CHICKEN PINEAPPLE TACOS
Stuffed bell peppers are a delicious and cheap dinner option for when you want something filling and healthy. You’ll love this easy stuffed peppers recipe any night of the week.
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