Description
Sizzling Mexican-inspired Taco Stuffed Peppers bring bold southwestern flavors to your dinner table. Colorful bell peppers packed with seasoned ground beef, rice, and melted cheese create a delightful meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 1 pound (453 grams) lean ground beef (93/7 blend recommended)
- 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar jack cheese
Vegetables and Bases:
- 6 bell peppers (any color)
- 1 onion, diced
- 14.5 ounces (411 grams) can diced tomatoes
- 18 ounces (510 grams) can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 15 ounces (425 grams) can corn, drained and rinsed
- 2 cups cooked brown rice
Seasonings:
- 1 taco seasoning packet
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Heat oven to 350°F, preparing a welcoming environment for vibrant bell peppers.
- Halve peppers lengthwise, meticulously removing seeds and inner membranes. Arrange cut-side up in baking dish, lightly coating with olive oil.
- Quickly pre-roast peppers for 5 minutes, softening their crisp texture.
- In a skillet, sauté diced onions with garlic powder, chili powder, salt, and pepper until aromatics release their fragrant essence.
- Introduce ground beef to the skillet, thoroughly browning while breaking meat into delicate crumbles.
- Incorporate diced tomatoes, black beans, corn, cooked brown rice, and taco seasoning. Blend ingredients harmoniously, adjusting seasoning to taste.
- Generously stuff pepper halves with savory meat mixture, creating deliciously overflowing pockets of flavor.
- Encase baking dish with foil, allowing peppers to steam and meld flavors for 10 minutes.
- Unveil peppers, crown with shredded cheddar jack cheese, and return to oven. Bake uncovered for 15 minutes until cheese transforms into a molten, golden blanket.
- Present piping hot, embellished with optional garnishes like tangy sour cream, fresh cilantro, or a zesty lime squeeze.
Notes
- Customize peppers by selecting vibrant, uniformly sized bell peppers for consistent cooking and attractive presentation.
- Enhance flavor by using lean ground beef or substituting with ground turkey or plant-based meat alternatives for healthier options.
- Optimize rice texture by using day-old or slightly cooled rice to prevent mushiness and maintain distinct grains in the filling.
- Make ahead by preparing filling and peppers in advance, then refrigerating and baking just before serving to save time during meal preparation.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 10 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg