Easy Stuffed Bell Peppers Recipe

⏱️ Time

Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 35–40 minutes
Total: ~55 minutes

🍴 Serves

4 people

🛒 Ingredients

4 large bell peppers (any color)
1 lb (450 g) ground beef or chicken (or turkey)
1 cup cooked rice (white or brown)
1 small onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup tomato sauce (or crushed tomatoes)
1 tsp Italian seasoning
½ tsp paprika
½ tsp salt (adjust to taste)
½ tsp black pepper
1 tbsp olive oil
1 cup shredded mozzarella or cheddar cheese
Fresh parsley (optional, for garnish)

🔥 Instructions

Preheat oven
Preheat to 190°C / 375°F. Lightly grease a baking dish.
Prepare peppers
Cut tops off bell peppers and remove seeds. Place upright in the dish.
Cook filling
Heat olive oil in a pan.
Sauté onion for 2–3 minutes until soft.
Add garlic and ground meat; cook until browned.
Stir in cooked rice, tomato sauce, Italian seasoning, paprika, salt, and pepper. Simmer 3–5 minutes.
Stuff peppers
Spoon the mixture into each pepper, packing gently.
Bake
Cover loosely with foil and bake 25 minutes.
Add cheese & finish
Remove foil, sprinkle cheese on top, and bake 10–15 minutes until cheese melts and peppers are tender.
Serve
Garnish with parsley and enjoy hot.

🧠 Nutrition (Approx. per pepper)

Calories: 350–400 kcal
Protein: 22–26 g
Carbohydrates: 28–32 g
Fat: 18–20 g
Fiber: 4–5 g

🌰 Nut Information

Naturally nut-free
Safe for nut allergies (always check cheese and sauce labels for cross-contamination)

Q & A

Q: Can I make these vegetarian?
Yes! Replace meat with lentils, chickpeas, or mushrooms.

Q: Can I prepare them ahead of time?
Absolutely. Assemble, cover, and refrigerate up to 24 hours before baking.

Q: Can I freeze stuffed peppers?
Yes. Freeze before or after baking for up to 2 months.

Q: How do I make them low-carb?
Swap rice with cauliflower rice.

Q: Can I use leftover rice?
Yes—this recipe is perfect for leftovers.

🌟 Easy Variations

Mexican-style: Add cumin + chili powder, top with cheddar
Italian-style: Add basil, oregano, and Parmesan
Cheesy lovers: Mix cheese directly into the filling

Author
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Sara Mitchell

Sara Mitchell is an expert restaurant content creator who writes easy-to-read guides about CAVA and other Mediterranean fast-casual chains in the United States. She covers locations, menus, prices, and hours, making it simple for visitors to find nearby restaurants and what to order quickly.

With years of experience in restaurant research and local SEO, Sara creates accurate, user-friendly guides that work for both people and search engines. Her goal is to help users go from search results to their nearest restaurant or menu choice with as few clicks as possible.