Cauliflower Rice–Stuffed Peppers

Cauliflower Rice–Stuffed Peppers

Dinner
60 min
4 servings
374 kcal / serving

These stuffed peppers with cauliflower rice are a low-carb alternative to traditional stuffed peppers. Use a mix of bell peppers for variety.

Ingredients

  • 4 largebell peppers (about 2 pounds)
  • 2 cupssmall cauliflower florets
  • 2 tablespoonsextra-virgin olive oil, divided
  • salt plus 1/2 teaspoon, divided
  • ground pepper plus 1/4 teaspoon, divided
  • ½ cupchopped onion
  • 1 poundlean ground beef
  • 2 clovesgarlic, minced
  • ½ teaspoondried oregano
  • 1can no-salt-added tomato sauce
  • ½ cupshredded part-skim mozzarella

Directions

  1. 1

    Preheat oven to 350ºF.

  2. 2

    Slice off the stem ends of 4 bell peppers. Cut the flesh from the stem and chop. You should have about 1 cup. Scoop out seeds from the pepper cavities. Bring about an inch of water to a boil in a large pot fitted with a steamer basket. Steam the peppers until they start to soften, about 3 minutes. Remove the peppers from the pot and set aside.

  3. 3

    Pulse 2 cups cauliflower in a food processor until broken down into rice-size pieces. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the cauliflower rice and a pinch each of salt and pepper. Cook, stirring, until softened and starting to brown, about 3 minutes. Transfer to a small bowl.

  4. 4

    Wipe out the pan. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon oil, the chopped bell pepper and ½ cup onion. Cook, stirring, until starting to soften, about 3 minutes. Add 1 pound beef, 2 cloves garlic, ½ teaspoon oregano and the remaining ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Cook, stirring and breaking up the beef with a wooden spoon just until no longer pink, about 5 minutes. Add 8 ounces tomato sauce and the cauliflower rice; stir to coat.

  5. 5

    Place the peppers upright in an 8-inch-square baking dish. Fill each pepper with a generous 1 cup of the cauliflower rice mixture. Top each pepper with 2 tablespoons cheese.

  6. 6

    Bake until the filling is heated through and the cheese is melted, 20 to 25 minutes.