Go Back
–+ servings
Beef and cheese stuffed peppers

Stuffed Peppers

4.97 from 26 votes
How to make the best stuffed peppers with ground beef, rice, and cheese. A quick and easy stuffed pepper recipe you can make ahead. Healthy!
Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 40 mins
Total: 50 mins
Servings: 8 pepper halves
ReviewPrint

Ingredients
  

  • 4 large bell peppers any mix of colors you like; red is our favorite
  • 1 pound lean ground beef or swap for ground turkey or ground chicken
  • 1 small yellow onion diced
  • 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 2 cups roughly torn fresh spinach
  • 1 can fire-roasted diced tomatoes with juices (15 ounces)
  • 1 cup cooked brown rice or farro, quinoa, cauliflower rice, or orzo (if using orzo, undercook it slightly)
  • 1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
  • 1/2 cup shredded pepper jack cheese or additional cheddar
  • For serving: chopped fresh parsley or cilantro

Instructions
 

  • Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly coat a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick spray. Slice the bell peppers in half from top to bottom down through the stem. Remove the seeds and membranes, then arrange cut side up in the prepared baking dish.
  • Heat a Dutch oven or similar deep, wide skillet over medium-high. Add the beef and onion. With a wooden spoon or spatula, break the meat into small pieces. Cook and stir until the meat is browned and fully cooked and the onion is tender, about 7 minutes. Drain off any excess fat.
    Ground beef in a skillet
  • Stir in the Italian seasoning, cumin, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Let cook for 30 seconds.
  • Stir in the spinach a few handfuls at a time, cooking until it wilts down; this will take between 1 and 2 minutes.
    Spinach being added to a skillet
  • Pour in the can of diced tomatoes along with the juices. Let simmer for 1 minute.
    A pot with ground meat and vegetables
  • Remove the pan from the heat. Stir in the rice (or your grain of choice), 1/4 cup of the cheddar, and 1/4 cup of the pepper jack. Taste and add additional salt and/or pepper as desired.
    Cheese and quinoa being added to a skillet
  • With a spoon, mound the filling inside the peppers, then top with the remaining cheeses. The peppers will be very full.
    Uncooked stuffed peppers in a baking dish
  • Pour a bit of water into the pan with the peppers—just enough to scantly cover the bottom of the pan. I like to put the water in a liquid measuring cup, then carefully pour it around the outside (be careful not to pour it into the peppers themselves).
  • Bake the stuffed peppers uncovered for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the peppers are tender and the cheese is melted. Top with parsley or cilantro. Serve hot.

Notes

  • TO STORE: Refrigerate stuffed peppers in an airtight storage container for up to 4 days.
  • TO REHEAT: Rewarm leftovers in a baking dish in the oven at 350 degrees F.
  • TO FREEZE: Freeze peppers in an airtight freezer-safe storage container for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
  • TO MAKE AHEAD: Cut and core the bell peppers up to 1 day in advance, and refrigerate them in an airtight storage container. Cook the filling as directed up to 1 day in advance. Let cool, then refrigerate it in a separate airtight storage container. Fill and bake peppers as directed just before serving.

Nutrition

Serving: 1pepper half (of 8)Calories: 201kcalCarbohydrates: 14gProtein: 18gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 49mgPotassium: 432mgFiber: 3gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 2916IUVitamin C: 80mgCalcium: 153mgIron: 3mg

Join today and start saving your favorite recipes

Create an account to easily save your favorite projects and tutorials.

Register