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Stuffed Peppers with Beef & Rice (Make-Ahead)

Four colorful Stuffed Peppers with Beef & Rice, topped with melted cheese and fresh parsley, served on a white plate.
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Prepare these ground beef and rice stuffed bell peppers ahead of time for an easy, comforting baked dinner.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 6 large bell peppers
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 medium onion finely diced
  • 3 garlic cloves minced
  • 1 pound lean ground beef
  • 1 ½ cups cooked rice
  • 1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce
  • 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese divided
  • ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • Fresh chopped parsley for garnish

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 9×13 baking dish.
  2. Slice the tops off the bell peppers and remove seeds and membranes. Arrange peppers upright in the baking dish. Remove the stems from the tops of the peppers and dice. Set aside.
  3. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion, reserved chopped peppers and garlic, cooking until softened, about 3 minutes.
  4. Add ground beef to the skillet. Cook until browned, breaking it up with a spoon, about 6–8 minutes.
  5. Stir in cooked rice, tomato sauce, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper. Cook for 2–3 minutes until well combined. Remove from heat and stir in ½ cup mozzarella and all the Parmesan.
  6. Spoon the beef and rice mixture evenly into the prepared peppers.
  7. Cover the dish with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove foil, sprinkle the tops with the remaining ½ cup mozzarella, and bake uncovered for 10–15 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
  8. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve warm.

Notes

  • For this stuffed bell peppers recipe, buy peppers that are round and wide for more filling space.
  • Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for about 3-4 days.
  • You can freeze the baked stuffed peppers for up to 3 months. Thaw them in the fridge overnight before baking them in a 350°F oven until heated through.

Nutrition

Keywords: Stuffed Peppers, Ground Beef, Rice, Baked, Comfort Dinner, Make-Ahead

Find it online: https://www.meltitclean.com/stuffed-peppers-beef-rice-make-ahead/