Stuffed Bell Peppers
Ingredients
- 3 bell peppers
- 2 Tbsp cooking oil
divided
- 1 lb Italian sausage
- 1 yellow onion
diced
- 3 garlic cloves
minced
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1 1/4 tsp salt
divided
- 1/4 tsp freshly cracked black pepper
- 1 cup marinara sauce
- 1/2 cup uncooked long grain white rice
- 3/4 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella
Directions
- 1
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Wash and dry each bell pepper, then cut the bell peppers in half horizontally. Make sure to cut them as evenly as possible. Using a sharp paring knife carefully cut and remove the stem from the top half of each bell pepper (see picture below). It's okay if there is a small hole left where the stem was removed.
- 2
Place each bell pepper half in a 9×13-inch casserole dish. Brush the bell peppers with 1 Tbsp oil and season with ¼ tsp of salt and ¼ tsp cracked black pepper. Bake the bell peppers in a preheated oven for 20 minutes to soften. After 20 minutes remove the bell peppers from the oven and set aside.
- 3
While the bell peppers are baking, make the filling. Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add 1 Tbsp of oil. Brown the Italian sausage.
- 4
Once the sausage has browned, add the diced onion and minced garlic to the skillet. Continue to sauté over medium heat until the onion is translucent and the garlic is fragrant.
- 5
Next add the uncooked rice, marinara sauce, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, 1 tsp of salt, and chicken broth to the skillet. Stir to combine.
- 6
Place a lid on the skillet, turn the heat up to medium-high, and allow the mixture to come to a full boil. Once boiling, immediately reduce the heat to medium-low and allow the mixture to simmer, without lifting the lid or stirring, for 20 minutes. After 20 minutes, turn the heat off and let it rest, without lifting the lid, for an additional 5 minutes.
- 7
Next remove the lid, fluff the rice, and stir the mixture again to redistribute the ingredients. Begin to fill each bell pepper with the meat filling. Stuff as much filling as you can into each, filling them all the way to the top.
- 8
Top each bell pepper evenly with shredded mozzarella cheese. Loosely place some tented aluminum foil over the top of the casserole dish and bake for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes the bell peppers should be tender but not mushy.
- 9
Now remove the foil and turn the heat on to broil. Broil the stuffed bell peppers for 2-3 minutes or just until the cheese gets a little brown on top. Be sure to watch the bell peppers closely at this step to prevent the cheese from over browning. Garnish with parsley, if desired, and enjoy!
Stuffed Bell Peppers
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Ratings & Reviews
Based on 110 ratings
Rating Breakdown
About this Recipe
Craving a deeply satisfying meal that brings warmth and flavor to your table? These Stuffed Bell Peppers are the quintessential classic comfort food, delivering a hearty, filling dish that’s perfect for feeding a family.
Why This Recipe Works
What makes this Stuffed Bell Pepper recipe truly special is its incredible balance of savory flavors. The robust Italian sausage, fragrant with onion and garlic, combines beautifully with marinara sauce and a blend of Italian seasoning and garlic powder. This thoughtful combination ensures every bite is packed with that familiar, comforting taste you crave.
When you prepare these Stuffed Bell Peppers, expect a delightful interplay of textures and rich aromas filling your kitchen. The bell peppers become wonderfully tender, offering a sweet counterpoint to the savory, spiced Italian sausage and fluffy white rice filling. It's a dish that feels both wholesome and indulgent, finished with a generous layer of melted mozzarella that adds a creamy, cheesy finish. This recipe transforms simple ingredients into a truly satisfying experience, making it a reliable favorite for any evening.
Customization & Variations
While the Italian sausage provides incredible flavor, you can make this recipe your own by exploring variations. Feel free to use any color of bell pepper—red, yellow, or orange all work beautifully and add visual appeal. If you want to boost the vegetable content, consider finely dicing some mushrooms or zucchini into the meat mixture. For a twist on the classic, you could swap the shredded mozzarella for a blend of provolone and parmesan to enhance the Italian profile.
Serving & Context
These hearty Stuffed Bell Peppers are a complete meal on their own, ideal for a cozy family dinner or a weeknight gathering. Serve them alongside a crisp green salad or some crusty garlic bread to soak up any extra marinara sauce. It’s a dish that invites you to slow down and savor every forkful.