Classic Stuffed Bell Peppers with Beef, Rice, and Mozzarella Recipe
This Classic Stuffed Peppers recipe features large bell peppers filled with a savory mixture of lean ground beef, cooked rice, aromatic onions, garlic, and tomato sauce, then baked to tender perfection and topped with melted mozzarella cheese. A comforting and hearty meal perfect for family dinners.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Yield: 6 stuffed peppers (serves 4-6) 1x
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
For the Filling
- 1 Tbsp. olive oil
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 1 lb. lean ground beef
- ½ tsp. salt
- ½ tsp. black pepper
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cups cooked rice
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 2 cups tomato sauce
For the Peppers
- 6 large bell peppers
- ½ cup tomato sauce (for topping)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven. Set your oven to 350°F (176°C) to ensure it’s fully heated by the time you finish preparing the ingredients.
- Cook the filling mixture. In a large skillet over medium heat, warm the olive oil. Add the chopped onion and sauté for 2-3 minutes until softened. Add the lean ground beef, salt, black pepper, and minced garlic. Stir occasionally and cook for 6-7 minutes until the beef is fully browned and cooked through. Drain excess fat. Mix in cooked rice and 2 cups of tomato sauce. Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper if needed.
- Prepare the bell peppers. Cut a thin slice off the stem end of each bell pepper to create an opening. Remove seeds and membranes inside. To stabilize peppers, slice a thin layer off the bottom if they wobble, allowing them to stand upright.
- Stuff the peppers. Fill each prepared bell pepper with the beef and rice mixture. Arrange the stuffed peppers standing upright in a 9×13 inch baking dish.
- Bake the peppers. Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 40-45 minutes, until the peppers are tender. You can check tenderness by inserting a toothpick near the top of a pepper—if it slides through the skin easily, they are ready.
- Add tomato sauce and cheese. Remove the peppers from the oven and spoon a heaping tablespoon of tomato sauce on top of each stuffed pepper. Evenly sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese over all the peppers.
- Finish baking. Return the baking dish to the oven and bake an additional 5 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Remove from the oven and allow to cool slightly before serving.
Notes
- You can use ground turkey or chicken as a leaner substitute for beef.
- For a vegetarian version, substitute the meat with cooked lentils or a plant-based meat alternative.
- Feel free to add chopped vegetables such as mushrooms or zucchini to the filling for extra nutrition and flavor.
- If you want a spicier variation, add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the beef mixture.
- Leftovers keep well in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and can be reheated in the oven or microwave.
Keywords: stuffed peppers, ground beef recipe, baked peppers, classic stuffed peppers, family dinner
