Print

Cheesy Ground Beef Stuffed Peppers: Easy 30-Minute Dinner

cheesy ground beef stuffed peppers - featured image
Print Recipe

These cheesy ground beef stuffed peppers are a quick, forgiving, and flexible weeknight dinner. Ready in 30 minutes, they combine tender bell peppers with a savory beef and rice filling, topped with melted cheddar cheese.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 large bell peppers (any color)
  • 1 pound ground beef (80/20)
  • 1 cup cooked rice (white, brown, or cauliflower)
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1/2 cup tomato sauce
  • 1/2 cup diced onion
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley (optional, for garnish)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
  2. Prepare the peppers: Slice the tops off each bell pepper (about 1/2 inch from the top) and remove the seeds and white membranes. If the peppers won’t stand up straight, trim a thin slice off the bottom—just don’t cut through. Set the peppers upright in your baking dish.
  3. Brown the beef: Heat your skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it apart with a spatula, until browned—about 5 to 6 minutes. Leave about a tablespoon of fat for flavor; spoon off excess if needed.
  4. Sauté the aromatics: Add the diced onion to the skillet with the beef and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, until softened. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds more.
  5. Mix the filling: Remove the skillet from heat. Stir in the cooked rice, tomato sauce, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Mix until well combined. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
  6. Stuff the peppers: Spoon the filling evenly into each pepper, pressing down gently to pack it in. Leave a little room at the top for the cheese.
  7. Add the cheese: Sprinkle the shredded cheddar over the top of each pepper, dividing it evenly.
  8. Bake covered: Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes.
  9. Bake uncovered: Remove the foil and bake for another 8 to 10 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbly and starting to brown. For extra color, broil for the last 2 minutes, watching closely.
  10. Rest and serve: Let the peppers sit in the dish for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh parsley if desired.

Notes

Use leftover rice for best texture. For extra moisture, spoon a little tomato sauce into the bottom of the baking dish before adding the peppers. To make ahead, assemble without baking, cover, and refrigerate for up to 24 hours; add 5-10 minutes to covered baking time. Freeze unbaked or baked for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: stuffed peppers, ground beef, cheesy, quick dinner, weeknight meal, bell peppers, cheddar, rice

Find it online: https://avabowls.com/cheesy-ground-beef-stuffed-peppers-easy-30-minute-dinner/