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Cheesy Ground Beef Stuffed Peppers

Cheesy ground beef stuffed peppers with melted golden brown cheese topping

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A cozy, family-friendly dinner featuring bell peppers stuffed with a savory ground beef and rice filling, all topped with a blanket of melted cheese. Perfect for meal prep and a guaranteed comfort food win on busy weeknights.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 large bell peppers (any color), halved lengthwise and seeded
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 pound lean ground beef (90/10)
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce
  • 1 cup cooked long-grain white rice
  • 1 1/2 cups shredded Italian cheese blend, divided
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • Fresh parsley or basil, chopped, for garnish

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Place pepper halves cut-side up in a 9×13 inch baking dish.
  2. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and cook for 4-5 minutes until soft. Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
  3. Add ground beef to the skillet, breaking it up. Cook until no pink remains, about 6-8 minutes. Season with salt, pepper, oregano, paprika, and thyme.
  4. Pour in tomato sauce, stir to combine, and simmer for 2-3 minutes. Remove from heat.
  5. Stir the cooked rice and 1 cup of the shredded cheese into the beef mixture. Taste and adjust seasoning.
  6. Generously spoon the filling into each pepper half, mounding it slightly. Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup of cheese evenly over the tops.
  7. Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil. Bake for 25 minutes.
  8. Remove foil and bake for an additional 8-12 minutes, until peppers are tender and cheese is bubbly and golden.
  9. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh herbs if desired.

Notes

For best results, use cooked rice. Letting the peppers rest after baking ensures a perfect cheese pull. For meal prep, assemble and refrigerate unbaked peppers for up to 2 days, or freeze for up to 3 months.

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