Description

Classic stuffed bell peppers filled with seasoned ground beef, aromatic spices, tender garlic, and savory tomatoes, topped with melted cheese. A comforting, family-friendly meal that’s easy to customize with your choice of meat or plant-based protein.

Ingredients

Scale

4–6 bell peppers (any color: green, yellow, red, or orange)
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 lb ground beef (or ground turkey, chicken, pork, sausage, tofu, or other protein)
1 medium onion, chopped
1 jalapeño pepper, chopped (optional, for spice)
5 cloves garlic, chopped
14.5 ounces fire roasted tomatoes (canned; can substitute diced tomatoes or tomato sauce)
1 cup shredded cheese (cheddar, mozzarella, blend, or pepper jack)
1 tablespoon paprika
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried basil
Salt and pepper to taste
1 cup cooked rice (white, brown, or wild rice)

For Garnish:
Fresh chopped parsley, red pepper flakes

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
Cut tops off bell peppers and remove seeds. Set aside.
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion, jalapeño (if using), and garlic; sauté until softened.
Add ground beef and cook until browned and cooked through. Drain excess fat if needed.
Stir in fire roasted tomatoes, paprika, oregano, basil, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 5 minutes.
Remove from heat and mix in cooked rice and half of the shredded cheese.
Stuff each bell pepper with the beef and rice mixture, then place in a baking dish.
Top each pepper with remaining cheese.
Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove foil and bake an additional 10 minutes until cheese is melted and peppers are tender.
Garnish with fresh parsley and red pepper flakes before serving.

Notes

For a vegetarian version, replace meat with cooked lentils or crumbled tofu.

Substitute ground beef with any protein you prefer.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Category: Main Course
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Keywords: stuffed peppers, ground beef peppers, baked peppers, family dinner recipe