Dinner can start to feel rushed, especially when the same few meals keep showing up on the table. Stuffed bell peppers with ground beef are a simple way to make weeknight dinner feel hearty without turning it into a long cooking project.
The stuffed bell peppers with ground beef recipe uses tender bell peppers filled with seasoned ground beef, rice, onions, tomato sauce, and melted cheese. It is warm, filling, and easy to adjust with what you already have in the kitchen.
Why This Recipe Works for Busy Nights
Stuffed bell peppers with ground beef look like a full dinner, but the steps are simple. You cook the filling in a nonstick skillet, spoon it into hollowed bell peppers, top everything with shredded cheese, and bake until the peppers are tender.
A rice cooker can help save time because the rice can cook while you prepare the beef mixture. A bell pepper corer also makes prep faster, especially when you are making several peppers at once.
Helpful Kitchen Tools
For this recipe, you may want:
- A baking dish for holding the peppers upright while they bake.
- A nonstick skillet for browning the ground beef and onions.
- A bell pepper corer to remove the tops, seeds, and inner ribs quickly.
- A rice cooker to prepare rice with less effort.
- Shredded cheese for a melted, golden topping.
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Stuffed Bell Peppers With Ground Beef Recipe
Ingredients
For the peppers
- 4 large bell peppers, any color
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 cup cooked rice
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup tomato sauce
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste, optional
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup shredded cheese, such as cheddar, mozzarella, or Monterey Jack
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoons chopped parsley, optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F.
- Slice the tops off the bell peppers and remove the seeds and inner ribs. A bell pepper corer makes this step quicker and cleaner. Place the peppers upright in a baking dish.
- Heat olive oil in a nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the diced onion and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, until softened.
- Add the ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it apart with a spoon as it cooks. Drain excess grease if needed.
- Stir in the garlic, tomato sauce, tomato paste, cooked rice, Italian seasoning, paprika, salt, and black pepper. Let the mixture simmer for 3 to 5 minutes so the flavors come together.
- Spoon the beef and rice filling into each bell pepper. Pack the filling gently, but do not press it down too tightly.
- Cover the baking dish with foil and bake for 25 minutes.
- Remove the foil, sprinkle shredded cheese over the tops, and bake for another 10 to 15 minutes, until the cheese is melted and the peppers are tender.
- Let the peppers rest for 5 minutes before serving. Add chopped parsley on top if desired.
Easy Recipe Tips
- Use cooked rice to keep the baking time short. Leftover rice works well, and rice cooked earlier in a rice cooker makes the recipe easier on a busy night.
- For softer peppers, bake them empty for 10 minutes before adding the filling. For firmer peppers, fill them raw and bake as directed.
- Use red, yellow, or orange bell peppers if you want a sweeter flavor. Green bell peppers have a stronger, slightly sharper taste.
Simple Variations
- For a spicier version of Stuffed Bell Peppers With Ground Beef, add diced jalapeños, chili powder, or crushed red pepper to the beef mixture.
- For a lower-carb version, replace the rice with cauliflower rice.
- For a richer filling, stir a little shredded cheese directly into the beef and rice mixture before stuffing the peppers.
- For a meal prep option, assemble the stuffed peppers earlier in the day, cover the baking dish, and refrigerate until dinner time.
What to Serve With Stuffed Bell Peppers
Stuffed bell peppers with ground beef are filling enough to serve on their own, but they also pair well with a simple side salad, roasted vegetables, garlic bread, or steamed green beans.
For a cozy family dinner, serve them with extra tomato sauce spooned over the top and a little more melted cheese.
Storage and Reheating
Store leftover stuffed peppers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
To reheat, place them in a baking dish, cover with foil, and warm at 350°F until heated through. You can also microwave individual portions for a quicker lunch.
Final Thoughts
Stuffed bell peppers with ground beef are a dependable weeknight dinner because they are hearty, flexible, and easy to prepare with basic kitchen tools. With a baking dish, nonstick skillet, rice cooker, and shredded cheese, you can turn a few simple ingredients into a warm dinner that feels complete without taking over your evening.