Stuffed Bell Peppers Mediterranean Style (Print Version)

Tender bell peppers stuffed with savory meat and rice, baked in rich tomato sauce with melted cheese topping.

# What You'll Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 4 large bell peppers (red, yellow, or green), tops cut off, seeds removed
02 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced

→ Meats

04 - 14 oz ground beef or turkey

→ Grains

05 - 3/4 cup cooked rice (white or brown)

→ Dairy

06 - 1 cup shredded mozzarella or cheddar cheese, divided
07 - 2 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese

→ Sauces & Liquids

08 - 2 cups tomato sauce
09 - 2 tbsp olive oil

→ Seasonings

10 - 1 tsp dried oregano
11 - 1 tsp dried basil
12 - 1/2 tsp paprika
13 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

→ Optional

14 - 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
15 - 1/4 cup breadcrumbs

# How To Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F.
02 - Cut tops off bell peppers and remove seeds and membranes. Set aside.
03 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and cook 3-4 minutes until softened. Add garlic and cook 1 minute more.
04 - Add ground beef or turkey, breaking it up as it cooks, until browned and cooked through, about 6-7 minutes.
05 - Stir in cooked rice, 1/2 cup shredded cheese, Parmesan, oregano, basil, paprika, parsley if using, salt, and pepper. Mix well.
06 - Pour half the tomato sauce into the bottom of a baking dish large enough to hold the peppers.
07 - Fill each bell pepper with the meat and rice mixture, pressing down gently to pack. Place peppers upright in the prepared dish.
08 - Spoon remaining tomato sauce over the stuffed peppers.
09 - Cover baking dish with foil and bake for 35 minutes.
10 - Uncover, sprinkle remaining shredded cheese and breadcrumbs if using over tops, and bake 10-15 minutes more until cheese is golden and peppers are tender.
11 - Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes before serving.

# Top Tips:

01 -
  • Everything cooks in one pan except the quick stovetop prep, making cleanup surprisingly manageable for such an impressive looking dinner
  • The peppers become sweet and tender while holding their shape, creating little edible bowls that keep the filling moist and flavorful
  • Leftovers reheat beautifully for lunch the next day, sometimes tasting even better when the flavors have had more time to meld together
02 -
  • If your peppers wobble in the dish, crumple small pieces of foil and tuck them around the bases to keep them upright during baking
  • The filling might seem like too much, but pack it in firmly since it shrinks slightly as the cheese melts
  • Letting them rest for even a few minutes makes a huge difference in how neatly they come out of the peppers
03 -
  • Pre cook your rice slightly underdone since itll finish absorbing moisture in the oven, keeping the filling from getting mushy
  • Warm your tomato sauce slightly in the microwave before pouring it, cold sauce can shock the peppers and affect their cooking time
Go Back