Ground Beef Stuffed Peppers are a healthy dinner filled with beef, tomatoes, pinto beans, rice, and layered with cheese.
Best Stuffed Peppers Recipe
I made a stuffed bell peppers recipe that's a little sloppy joe-esque. It has a savory ground beef filling, but I added pinto beans for added fiber and protein and cook brown rice and mozzarella cheese to make it a complete family meal. It definitely could be a stand alone dinner but if you're wondering what to pair with stuffed peppers, a green salad or Soft Fluffy French Bread would work wonderfully.
Ingredients for ground beef stuffed peppers:
- 4 bell peppers - any color
- Ground beef or turkey
- Pinto beans
- Tomatoes - canned or fresh
- Mozzarella cheese - shredded
- Worcestershire sauce
- Spices
How to make Ground Beef Stuffed Peppers
- Prepare rice according to package directions.
- Start by cooking the ground beef and diced onions in a large frying pan over medium/high heat, 5-7 minutes until beef is no longer pink and onions are soft.
- Add pinto beans, tomatoes, worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, vinegar, and brown sugar. Simmer 10 minutes on low heat to blend flavors.
- Meanwhile slice bell peppers in half and remove seeds and steam for 4-5 minutes in a microwave, until semi-soft.
- Assembly time: place peppers into baking pan and begin by layering with first with cheese (extra goodness), then rice, then ground beef filling, then cheese on top.
- Bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes until cheese is melted and peppers are soft.
How do you keep stuffed peppers from getting soggy?
I use a combination of a filling that is not overly saucy and brown rice in the bottom of the peppers which helps absorb any extra juices. White rice may also be used.
Do you have to cook ground beef before stuffing peppers?
For this recipe method, yes. I find it takes less time and the peppers don't overcook and become mushy this way.
Remember to tell me how it went if you tried them, and Pin the image below the recipe to save it for later. 💚
Ground Beef Stuffed Peppers
Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked brown rice ( about 1 cup rice, 1-¾ cups water)
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1 yellow onion medium
- 1 (15 oz) can pinto beans
- 1 (15 oz) can diced tomatoes
- 1 (8 oz) can tomato sauce (or half of 15 oz. can)
- 1/4 cup worcestershire sauce
- 1/4 cup white vinegar
- 1 Tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 8 green peppers
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- optional: chopped green onions for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare brown rice according to package directions.
- While rice is cooking: In a large skillet over medium heat, cook ground beef and diced onion 5-7 minutes until browned/no pink left and onions are soft, stirring to break ground beef into small pieces. (Measure spices during this time to decrease prep time) Drain excess grease.
- Add pinto beans, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, worcestershire sauce, vinegar, and all spices (brown sugar, garlic & onion powder, salt & pepper). Turn to low heat and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, and prepare the bell peppers.
- Prepare bell peppers by slicing in half once down the middle lengthwise and removing seeds and stem to make a boat shape. To decrease cooking time in the oven, steam in the microwave by placing upright lengthwise in a microwave safe container, adding ½ cup of water to the bottom, covering and cooking for 4 minutes. The peppers should be semi-soft (not crunchy but not mushy).
Assemble the stuffed peppers:
- Preheat the oven to 350 F.
- Place peppers open side up in a 9x13 baking dish. Layer the bottom of the peppers with 2 Tb shredded mozzarella cheese (about 1 cup between 8 peppers).
- Scoop ¼ cup rice into the bottom of each pepper, then ½ cup ground beef mixture into each pepper. Last, layer the remaining cheese evenly over the peppers, adding more as desired.
- Bake at 350 F. for 15-20 minutes until cheese is melted, filling is heated through and peppers are soft. Optional: sprinkle chopped green onion on tops of peppers to serve.
Nutrition
PIN THIS IMAGE TO SAVE THE RECIPE:
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