Description
Mexican-style stuffed bell peppers delight palates with savory ground beef, rice, and melted cheese nestled inside colorful peppers. Homemade comfort emerges through simple ingredients and quick preparation, ensuring you savor each delicious bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Fresh Produce:
- 3 large bell peppers, any color
- 1 yellow onion, finely diced
- 3 cloves fresh garlic, minced
Meat & Dairy:
- 1 pound (454 grams) Italian sausage
- 1 cup (240 milliliters/8 ounces) shredded mozzarella cheese
Pantry & Seasonings:
- 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) cooking oil, divided
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) marinara sauce
- 1/2 cup (120 milliliters/80 grams) uncooked long grain white rice
- 3/4 cup (180 milliliters) chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 1/4 teaspoons salt, divided
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and prepare a 9×13-inch casserole dish. Halve bell peppers horizontally, removing stems from top halves. Brush peppers with oil and season with salt and pepper. Pre-bake for 20 minutes to tenderize.
- In a large skillet, brown Italian sausage over medium heat with oil. Add diced onion and minced garlic, cooking until onions turn translucent and release aromatic flavors.
- Incorporate uncooked rice, marinara sauce, seasonings, remaining salt, and chicken broth into the skillet. Bring the mixture to a rolling boil, then reduce heat. Simmer covered for 20 minutes, then let rest for an additional 5 minutes. Fluff rice and mix thoroughly.
- Generously fill each pepper half with the prepared meat and rice mixture. Sprinkle mozzarella cheese on top. Cover loosely with foil and bake for 15 minutes. Remove foil and broil for 2-3 minutes until cheese develops a golden-brown crust.
Notes
- Pepper Prepping Tip Choose bell peppers with flat bottoms to ensure they sit securely in the baking dish without tipping over.
- Sausage Selection Swap Italian sausage with ground turkey or plant-based crumbles for a leaner or vegetarian version that maintains rich flavor profiles.
- Rice Technique Use day-old rice or let freshly cooked rice cool slightly before mixing to prevent soggy filling and maintain perfect texture.
- Cheese Alternatives Experiment with different cheeses like provolone, gouda, or dairy-free options to customize the dish according to dietary preferences and taste.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch, Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 370
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 27 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 18 g
- Cholesterol: 55 mg