Old Fashioned Stuffed Bell Peppers

These old fashioned stuffed bell peppers are packed with ground beef and seasoned rice in a rich tomato sauce. The stuffed peppers are baked until each one is super tender, and every bite explodes with flavor. It's one of my favorite weeknight recipes you'll be dying to make again and again!

My Take On An Old Fashioned Stuffed Bell Pepper Recipe

These stuffed bell peppers are a recipe my wife and I always whip up when we want a healthy meal that's actually delicious.

This recipe is made with a mixture of juicy ground beef or pork, tender onion, and fluffy seasoned rice. Everything's stuffed into bell peppers and topped with a savory tomato sauce before being baked in the oven.

Sounds delicious, right? Well, it is, and the finished stuffed peppers recipe is full of flavor and textures like no other.

I love to serve stuffed peppers with this white chicken chili with cream cheese or calamari steak for a super hearty meal, but they're packed with so much goodness that the peppers make a meal all by themselves.

Why This Recipe Works

Easy to make. It may look like a lot of steps to make this stuffed peppers recipe, but I promise it's shockingly simple. 

It's healthy. This stuffed pepper recipe is packed with protein and has tons of veggies. It's a really healthy meal, but you'd never guess it since it tastes so delicious!

Customizable. These stuffed peppers are so easy to customize however you want. Add in extra veggies, switch up the meat, or top the whole thing with shredded cheese. The options are endless!

Ingreidents

Another reason my wife and I love making this recipe is it comes together with a handful of pretty basic ingredients. We typically have a few of them on hand and will just have to do a quick grocery run.

Check out what you need to make stuffed peppers with rice:

• 6 medium bell peppers
• 1 lb. ground pork (or ground beef)
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1 cup rice
• 1 chicken bouillon cube
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 28 oz. tomato sauce
• 2 tbsps. all-purpose flour
• 3 tbsps. olive oil

You can use most of these ingredients to make my stuffed pepper casserole. It's another one of my favorite stuffed pepper recipes, so you'll want to give that a try next!

How To Make Old Fashioned Stuffed Peppers

1. Prep work: Heat the oven to 350°F (175°C) lightly grease a baking dish with nonstick cooking spray and set it aside. Cut the tops off the bell peppers and remove the seeds.

2. Cook the ground meat: In a large skillet set over medium heat, heat a tablespoon of olive oil and fry the diced onions and ground pork or ground beef. Cook the meat, breaking it apart until it's browned on all sides.

3. Cook the rice: To the same skillet, add the rice and chicken bouillon cube. Stir to combine, then add 1 cup of water. Bring this to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the rice has almost doubled in size.

4. Stuff the peppers: Place the bell peppers in the prepared casserole dish and spoon the meat mixture into the peppers. Make sure to stuff each pepper evenly with the meat and rice mixture.

5. Make the tomato sauce: In the same skillet, heat two tablespoons of olive oil. Then add flour and whisk until there are no lumps. Add the tomato sauce and mix well. If the sauce looks too thick, add some water. Pour the sauce over the peppers and put the lid on the baking dish.

6. Bake and serve: Bake the peppers for 40 minutes, then remove the lid and bake uncovered for 10-15 minutes or until the peppers are fork tender. Pour the remaining tomato sauce over the stuffed peppers and serve warm. Enjoy!

My Tips To Make The Best Recipe

• I like to use a combination of red bell peppers and green bell peppers to add a pop of color. Just remember green peppers have a slightly less sweet taste than red bell peppers.
• Use any type of meat you want. Ground turkey, ground chicken, or even ground Italian sausage will work great.
• Sometimes I'll use creamy tomato soup in place of tomato sauce for a richer, more creamy sauce.
• Top the peppers with shredded cheese before baking to add a cheesy element. We do this every now and then, and it's a delicious addition.
• Use leftover cooked rice for a more convenient recipe.

How I Recommend Storing Stuffed Bell Peppers

In the fridge: Store leftover stuffed peppers in an airtight container and keep them in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.

In the freezer: Allow leftover peppers to cool completely, then transfer them to a freezer-safe container and freeze stuffed peppers for up to 3 months.

Reheating: When I want to eat the leftover peppers, I just put them in a baking dish and bake at 350°F for 10 minutes or until the peppers are fully reheated. Alternatively, you can microwave the peppers in 20-second intervals until warm. Allow frozen peppers to thaw overnight in the fridge or add more reheating time.

More Recipes

• Ground beef and potato casserole
• Cheesy chicken Rotel casserole
• Pinto beans and rice
• Stick of butter rice
• Stuffed shells with meat