Classic stuffed peppers are made with tender green bell peppers filled with seasoned ground beef, rice and tomato sauce, then baked until perfectly tender.
From the recipe collection of Tara Ippolito
Classic stuffed peppers are one of those old school comfort food dinners that never goes out of style. They're hearty, flavorful and made with simple ingredients that the whole family can enjoy.
l love recipes like this because there's nothing complicated or fancy about them. A savory ground beef and rice filling gets tucked inside tender green peppers and baked in tomato sauce for an easy, satisfying dinner.
Why You'll Love It
- Classic Comfort Food - This is the traditional stuffed pepper recipe so many of us grew up eating.
- Simple Ingredients - Everything is easy to find and there are no complicated ingredients involved.
- Hearty & Filling - Ground beef, rice and peppers make this a complete, satisfying meal.
- Great for Leftovers - These reheat beautifully, making them perfect for lunch or dinner the next day.
Ingredients
Heres everything you'll need to make these delicious bell peppers. You can find the full ingredients list along with measurements and instructions on the recipe card below.
- Green Bell Peppers - Large peppers work best because there's plenty of room for the filling.
- Olive Oil - Used to lightly coat the peppers and sauté the onion and garlic.
- Ground Beef - The hearty base of the stuffed pepper filling.
- Onion - Adds lots of flavor to the beef mixture.
- Garlic - Fresh minced garlic gives the filling even more savory flavor.
- Tomato Sauce - Mixed into the beef filling and added to the bottom of the baking dish to keep everything saucy and flavorful.
- White Rice - Cook the rice before adding it to the filling.
- Salt & Pepper - Used to season the peppers and filling.
- Italian Seasoning - Adds a classic blend of herbs to the ground beef.
- Garlic Powder - Gives the filling an extra boost of garlic flavor.
- Parmesan Cheese - Optional, but delicious sprinkled over the peppers before baking.
How To Make It
Heres how to make this delicious meal. You can find the full ingredients list along with instructions on the recipe card below.
Preheat the oven to 375°
- Cut the tops off the bell peppers, take the seeds out and season the inside with salt. Flip them upside down, rub them in a tiny bit of olive oil and lightly salt them again. Place them in the oven for about 5 minutes to soften up a bit.
- In a large skillet sauté the onion and garlic in a little bit of olive oil. Once the onion starts to soften, add the ground beef and season it with salt, pepper, garlic powder and Italian seasoning. Brown the ground beef while breaking it into small pieces. Once the beef is browned, stir in the tomato sauce and let it simmer for just a minute or two before stirring in the cooked rice.
- After the peppers are done, carefully place them standing upright in a baking dish thats been lined with tomato sauce. Spoon the filling into each pepper until it’s stuffed to the top. Sprinkle the top with some Parmesan cheese and place them back into the center rack of the oven for about 20 minutes. Finally let them cool slightly and enjoy.
Pro Tips
- Choose peppers that are relatively similar in size so they cook at about the
same rate. - Look for peppers with flatter bottoms if possible-they'll stand upright more easily in the baking dish.
- Don't skip the quick pre-bake. It gives the peppers a head start so they're tender by the time the filling is heated through.
- Cook the rice before adding it to the beef mixture.
- The extra tomato sauce on the bottom of the baking dish helps keep the peppers moist and gives you some extra sauce for serving.
Variations
You can easily customize these classic stuffed peppers. Swap the ground beef for ground turkey or Italian sausage, use red, yellow or orange bell peppers instead of green, or add shredded mozzarella to the tops during the last few minutes of baking.
Brown rice can also be used in place of white rice.
What To Serve With It
These stuffed peppers are hearty enough to serve on their own, but they're also great with a simple green salad, garlic bread, roasted vegetables or a loaf of crusty Italian bread for soaking up the extra tomato sauce.
Can These Be Made Ahead Of Time?
Yes. Assemble the peppers ahead of time, cover and refrigerate them, then bake when you're ready to serve. You may need to add a little extra baking time if they're going into the oven cold.
Storage & Reheating
Store leftover stuffed peppers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Reheat individual peppers in the microwave until warmed through, or place them in a covered baking dish and warm them in the oven at 350°F.
Classic Stuffed Bell Peppers Recipe
Ingredients
- 6 Large Green Bell Peppers
- 3 Tbs Olive Oil (divided)
- 1 Pounds Ground Beef
- ½ Small Onion, Diced
- 3 Cloves Garlic, minced
- 4 Cups Tomato Sauce
- 1 Cup White Rice, cooked
- Salt and Pepper to taste
- 1 teaspoon Italian Seasoning
- 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
- Parmesan Cheese (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°
- Cut the tops off the bell peppers, take the seeds out and season the inside with salt. Flip them upside down, rub them in a tiny bit of olive oil and lightly salt them again. Place them in the oven for about 5 minutes to soften up a bit.
- In a large skillet sauté the onion and garlic in a little bit of olive oil. Once the onion starts to soften, add the ground beef and season it with salt, pepper, garlic powder and Italian seasoning. Brown the ground beef while breaking it into small pieces. Once the beef is browned, stir in 3 cups of tomato sauce and let it simmer for just a minute or two before stirring in the cooked rice.
- After the peppers are done, carefully place them standing upright in a baking dish thats been lined with 1 cup of tomato sauce. Spoon the filling into each pepper until it’s stuffed to the top. Sprinkle the top with some Parmesan cheese and place them back into the center rack of the oven for about 20 minutes. Finally let them cool slightly and enjoy.
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