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Delicious Easy Stuffed Peppers with ground beef, rice, and cheese baked to perfection

Easy Stuffed Peppers

A simple and comforting dish that allows everyone to customize their stuffed peppers while keeping the prep and cleanup easy.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Calories: 400
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Peppers
  • 4 large large bell peppers Any color; make sure they can stand up on their own.
For the Filling
  • 1 pound ground beef or turkey
  • 1 cup cooked rice Use leftover rice for best texture.
  • 1 small onion, diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1.5 cups marinara or tomato sauce Adjust based on thickness to avoid watery filling.
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • to taste salt and pepper Season to taste.
For Topping
  • 1.5 cups shredded mozzarella or a mix of mozzarella and cheddar

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Heat oven to 375°F (190°C). Cut the tops off the peppers and remove seeds.
  2. Place peppers in a baking dish, add a splash of water to the bottom, and bake for 12 to 15 minutes.
Cooking the Filling
  1. In a skillet with a little oil, cook the diced onion until translucent, then add minced garlic and ground meat. Brown it thoroughly and drain excess grease.
  2. Stir in the cooked rice, marinara sauce, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Let it simmer for 2 to 3 minutes.
Assembly and Baking
  1. Fill the pre-baked peppers with the meat mixture and cover loosely with foil.
  2. Bake for about 20 minutes. Remove the foil, add cheese, and bake an additional 8 to 10 minutes until melted.

Notes

If your peppers are large, they may need extra baking time to ensure they are tender. For make-ahead options, prep the filling and store it in the fridge for up to 24 hours before baking.