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Cozy Stuffed Bell Peppers Recipe Easy Ground Beef Rice Cheese Dinner

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A comforting and easy stuffed bell peppers recipe featuring ground beef, rice, and cheese, perfect for a quick and cozy dinner.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 large bell peppers (any color, red or yellow preferred for sweetness)
  • 1 pound lean ground beef (85% lean)
  • 1 cup white rice, uncooked (jasmine or long grain)
  • 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 cup tomato sauce
  • 1 to 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar or mozzarella cheese (or a mix)
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • ½ teaspoon dried oregano
  • A handful fresh parsley, chopped (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
  2. Rinse 1 cup of rice under cold water until water runs clear. In a medium saucepan, combine rice with 2 cups water and a pinch of salt. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for about 15 minutes until water is absorbed and rice is tender. Remove from heat and let sit covered for 5 minutes.
  3. Cut the tops off each bell pepper and remove seeds and membranes. Trim bottoms slightly if needed to stand upright. Set aside.
  4. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chopped onion and cook until translucent, about 4 minutes. Stir in minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
  5. Add ground beef, break up with a spoon, and cook until browned and no longer pink, about 6-8 minutes. Drain excess fat if necessary.
  6. Season beef mixture with salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, and dried oregano. Mix well.
  7. Stir cooked rice and tomato sauce into the beef mixture. Heat through for about 2 minutes.
  8. Spoon the beef and rice filling into each bell pepper, packing gently but not overfilling. Place stuffed peppers upright in a baking dish.
  9. Sprinkle shredded cheese evenly over the stuffed peppers.
  10. Bake uncovered for 25-30 minutes until peppers are tender and cheese is bubbly and golden. If browning too quickly, loosely cover with foil halfway through baking.
  11. Remove from oven and let cool for a few minutes. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley if desired before serving.

Notes

Rinse rice to avoid mushy texture. Drain excess fat from beef to prevent greasiness. Trim pepper bottoms just enough to stand upright without holes. Use similar sized peppers for even cooking. Cheese seals in moisture and adds a golden crust; add halfway through baking to avoid over-browning if preferred. Let dish rest a few minutes after baking for easier handling and better flavor melding.

Nutrition

Keywords: stuffed bell peppers, ground beef, rice, cheese, easy dinner, cozy meal, weeknight dinner, comfort food

Find it online: https://evabake.com/cozy-stuffed-bell-peppers-recipe-easy-ground-beef-rice-cheese-dinner/