Description
Savory Mexican-style Stuffed Bell Peppers bring colorful comfort to dinner tables with layers of zesty ground beef, rice, and melted cheese. Packed with bold flavors and simple ingredients, these peppers offer a delightful meal you can easily craft in your kitchen.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 4 bell peppers
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 cup uncooked rice
Seasoning and Spices:
- 2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp paprika
Additional Ingredients:
- 1 cup tomato sauce
- 1/2 cup diced onions
- 1/2 cup shredded cheese
- 2 tbsp olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F and prepare a baking dish by lightly greasing it with olive oil.
- Thoroughly wash bell peppers and slice off their tops, removing seeds and membranes to create hollow vessels for stuffing.
- In a large skillet, heat olive oil and sauté diced onions until translucent and fragrant.
- Add ground beef to the skillet, breaking it into crumbles and cooking until completely browned and no pink remains.
- Stir in uncooked rice, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and paprika, mixing the ingredients until well combined.
- Pour tomato sauce into the meat mixture, stirring to create a cohesive and flavorful filling.
- Carefully stuff each bell pepper with the seasoned meat and rice mixture, pressing down gently to pack the filling.
- Arrange the stuffed peppers upright in the prepared baking dish.
- Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake for 35-40 minutes until peppers are tender.
- Remove foil, sprinkle shredded cheese over the peppers, and return to the oven for an additional 5 minutes until cheese melts and becomes golden.
- Allow peppers to rest for 5 minutes before serving hot, garnishing with fresh herbs if desired.
Notes
- Pepper Selection Matters: Choose bell peppers with thick, sturdy walls that stand upright and have a flat bottom for stable baking.
- Rice Prep Tip: Rinse uncooked rice thoroughly to remove excess starch, ensuring a fluffy and separate texture inside the stuffed peppers.
- Vegetarian Swap: Replace ground beef with plant-based alternatives like crumbled tofu, lentils, or quinoa for a protein-packed vegetarian version.
- Make-Ahead Magic: Prepare stuffed peppers in advance and refrigerate, then bake when ready to serve, making meal planning easier and more convenient.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 404
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 550 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg