Italian Stuffed Peppers with Ground Beef – A Cozy Family Favorite
Delightful Italian stuffed peppers filled with ground beef and herbs, perfect for family dinners.
Equipment
- - Skillet
- - Baking dish
- Oven
Ingredients
For the Peppers
- 4 pieces Bell Peppers Choose firm ones that stand upright.
- 2.5 teaspoons Olive Oil Best when using extra virgin.
For the Filling
- 1 piece Onion Finely chopped.
- 1 pound Ground Beef 90/10 lean.
- 1.5 teaspoons Italian Seasoning Blended aromatic herbs.
- 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder Adds hint of garlic flavor.
- 0.25 teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes Optional for added heat.
- 1.5 cups Cooked Rice Binds the filling together.
- 0.5 cups Fresh Parsley Chopped.
- 0.25 cups Fresh Basil Chopped.
- 0.5 cups Parmesan Cheese Grated.
- 1.5 teaspoons Salt For flavor enhancement.
For Assembly
- 2 cups Marinara Sauce Provides moisture.
- 1 cup Italian Cheese Blend For topping.
Instructions
Cooking Steps
- Preheat your oven to 375°F.
- Prepare the bell peppers by slicing off the tops and removing the seeds and membranes.
- Spread 1 cup of marinara sauce on the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish.
- Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat, then sauté the chopped onion with a sprinkle of salt until soft, about 3-5 minutes.
- Add the ground beef, cooking until mostly browned, about 5-7 minutes. Stir in salt, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and red pepper flakes.
- Remove from heat and mix in the cooked rice, parsley, basil, ½ cup Parmesan cheese, remaining marinara sauce, and ½ cup Italian cheese blend.
- Fill the prepared bell peppers with the beef and rice mixture, topping each with the remaining cheese blend.
- Cover the dish with foil and bake for 30-35 minutes.
- Uncover and bake for an additional 5-10 minutes.
- Let rest for 2-3 minutes before serving.
Notes
These stuffed peppers are great for meal prep, storing well and tasting even better as leftovers.