Dinner

Old Fashioned Stuffed Bell Peppers Recipe

ByCharlotte Montgomery December 29, 2025December 29, 2025

Introduction

Old Fashioned Stuffed Bell Peppers are a comforting classic that combines savory ground beef, flavorful rice, and tender green peppers. This simple one-pot meal is packed with rich tomato sauce and herbs, making it perfect for a satisfying family dinner.

The image shows a red cooking pan filled with eight stuffed green bell pepper halves. Each pepper half contains a thick layer of cooked rice mixed with ground meat, topped unevenly with a layer of reddish tomato sauce. The stuffed peppers sit in a shallow layer of red tomato sauce at the bottom of the pan. The background features a soft white marbled texture and a light linen cloth draped beside the pan. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

1 pound ground beef
1 large onion, chopped
1 (28 ounce) can tomato sauce, divided
1 1⁄4 cups water, divided
1 (1 ounce) envelope garlic & herb salad dressing mix
1 cup white minute rice, uncooked
4 large green peppers, halved
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Step 2: In a large skillet or shallow Dutch oven over medium heat, cook the ground beef and chopped onion. Stir occasionally until the meat is fully cooked and browned with some caramelized bits for extra flavor.
Step 3: Stir in 1 cup of tomato sauce, 1 cup of water, and the garlic & herb salad dressing mix. Increase the heat to high and bring the mixture to a boil.
Step 4: Add the uncooked minute rice, stir well, cover with a lid, and remove from the heat. Let it stand for 5 minutes to let the rice absorb the liquid.
Step 5: While the rice stands, slice the bell peppers in half lengthwise and remove the stems and seeds.
Step 6: In the bottom of a 9 x 13 baking dish, mix the remaining tomato sauce, remaining 1/4 cup water, garlic powder, and salt and pepper to taste.
Step 7: Arrange the pepper halves in the sauce mixture like little boats.
Step 8: Spoon the meat and rice mixture evenly into each pepper half. Cover the dish with foil or a lid.
Step 9: Bake at 400 degrees F for 35 to 40 minutes, until peppers are tender and cooked through.
Step 10: Before serving, spoon some of the tomato sauce over the stuffed peppers for extra moisture and flavor.

Tips & Variations

For a vegetarian option, substitute the ground beef with cooked lentils or chopped mushrooms.
Adding shredded cheese on top of the stuffed peppers before baking creates a delicious melty crust.
Use red, yellow, or orange bell peppers for a sweeter flavor and colorful presentation.
If you prefer softer peppers, you can blanch them briefly in boiling water before stuffing.

Storage

Store leftover stuffed peppers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently in the microwave or oven until warmed through. This dish can also be frozen for up to 2 months; thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

How to Serve

A stuffed green bell pepper cut in half lies on a white plate with a white marbled texture background. The pepper forms the bottom layer, filled with a mix of cooked rice and ground meat that has a brown and slightly crumbly texture, forming the middle layer. The top layer shows a generous spoonful of thick red tomato sauce spread over the rice and meat, also pooling slightly around the pepper on the plate. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use regular rice instead of minute rice?

Yes, but you will need to cook regular rice separately before mixing it with the meat, as it requires a longer cooking time than minute rice.

How can I make this recipe spicier?

Add a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes or a dash of hot sauce to the meat mixture for some heat. You can also use spicy sausage instead of ground beef.