The Juiciest Stuffed Peppers

Ingredients

• 4 bell peppers (any color, tops removed and seeds scooped out)
• 1 lb ground beef (lean (90/10) recommended)
• 1.5 cup cooked rice (white or brown rice)
• 1 onion (finely diced)
• 3 clove garlic (minced)
• 15 oz tomato sauce (divided (half for filling, half for baking))
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• 1 tsp salt (plus more to taste)
• 0.5 tsp black pepper
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (for topping)
• 0.5 cup beef broth (poured into the bottom of the baking dish)

Steps

1. 1

   Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Prepare the bell peppers by cutting off the tops, removing the seeds and membranes, and rinsing them thoroughly.

2. 2

   In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, cooked rice, diced onion, minced garlic, half of the tomato sauce (about 7.5 oz), Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper.

3. 3

   Mix the filling ingredients by hand or with a large spoon until well combined, ensuring the rice and meat are evenly distributed.

4. 4

   Stuff each prepared bell pepper generously with the meat and rice mixture, pressing down slightly to pack it in.

5. 5

   Place the stuffed peppers upright in a 9x9 inch baking dish or a small casserole dish so they fit snugly.

6. 6

   Pour the remaining tomato sauce over the tops of the peppers and pour the beef broth into the bottom of the dish to provide moisture.

7. 7

   Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil. Bake in the preheated oven for 35 to 40 minutes, or until the peppers are tender.

8. 8

   Remove the foil and sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the tops of the peppers.

9. 9

   Return the dish to the oven uncovered and bake for an additional 5 to 10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.

10. 10

    Let the peppers rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow the juices to settle.

Notes

For a leaner version, you can substitute ground turkey for the ground beef. If you prefer softer peppers, you can pre-steam the empty pepper shells for 5 minutes before stuffing.

Nutrition per serving

• main course
• stuffed peppers
• ground beef
• baked
• dinner
• comfort food
• gluten-free