Description
Looking for a satisfying dinner idea that’s as colorful as it is comforting? These Easy Baked Stuffed Peppers are packed with seasoned ground meat, tender rice, flavorful tomato sauce, and gooey melted cheese — the ultimate all-in-one meal. Perfect for weeknight dinners, meal prepping, or even impressing guests, this dish is both hearty and healthy. It’s also naturally gluten-free and can be easily adapted to suit vegetarian, dairy-free, or low-carb diets. If you’re on the hunt for easy dinner ideas, quick meals, or food ideas that the whole family will love, this is one recipe you’ll come back to again and again!
Ingredients
4 large bell peppers
1 pound ground beef or turkey
1 cup cooked white or brown rice
1 small onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
14.5 ounces diced tomatoes, drained slightly
0.5 cup tomato sauce
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
0.5 teaspoon smoked paprika
Salt and black pepper, to taste
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
2 tablespoons olive oil
Fresh parsley, chopped for garnish
Instructions
1. Slice the tops off the bell peppers, remove seeds and membranes. Level bottoms if needed for standing.
2. Place peppers upright in a baking dish. Optionally, microwave or parboil for a softer texture.
3. In a skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add chopped onion and cook for 3 minutes. Add garlic and cook for 1 more minute.
4. Add ground beef or turkey to the skillet. Cook until browned and cooked through.
5. Stir in rice, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, Italian seasoning, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Let simmer for 5 minutes.
6. Fill each pepper with the mixture, pressing gently. Top with more tomato sauce if desired and sprinkle cheese over each.
7. Cover with foil and bake at 375°F for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake for another 10–15 minutes until cheese is bubbly.
8. Let cool slightly. Garnish with chopped parsley and serve.
Notes
For extra flavor, try adding chopped jalapeños or crushed red pepper to the filling.
You can swap in quinoa or cauliflower rice for a lower-carb option.
This recipe freezes well — make a double batch and freeze extras for quick dinners later.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 stuffed pepper
- Calories: 375
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 550mg
- Fat: 21g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 22g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 24g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
Keywords: easy dinner, baked stuffed peppers, healthy meal, gluten-free, ground beef recipe, family dinner