Description
This Old Fashioned Stuffed Bell Peppers recipe features tender green peppers filled with a savory mixture of ground beef, onion, tomato sauce, and seasoned rice, baked to perfection in a flavorful tomato broth. A classic comfort food that’s easy to prepare and perfect for a hearty family dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Filling
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 1 cup tomato sauce (from the 28-ounce can)
- 1 cup water (from the 1 1/4 cups total)
- 1 (1 ounce) envelope garlic & herb salad dressing mix
- 1 cup white minute rice, uncooked
- Salt and pepper to taste
Peppers and Sauce
- 4 large green bell peppers, halved lengthwise, stemmed and seeded
- Remaining 1 1/4 cup tomato sauce (approximately 1 1/4 cups minus 1 cup used in filling)
- Remaining 1/4 cup water
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit to prepare for baking the stuffed peppers.
- Cook Beef and Onion: Heat a large skillet or shallow Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the ground beef and chopped onion. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the meat is thoroughly cooked and nicely browned with caramelized bits forming, which add flavor.
- Add Sauces and Seasoning: 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.
- Prepare Rice: Stir in the uncooked white minute rice. Immediately cover with a lid and remove the skillet from heat. Let it stand for 5 minutes to allow the rice to absorb the liquid and cook.
- Prepare Peppers and Sauce Base: While waiting, slice the green peppers in half lengthwise and remove the stems and seeds. In a 9×13 inch baking dish, combine the remaining tomato sauce, 1/4 cup water, garlic powder, and salt and pepper to taste. This will act as a flavorful base sauce.
- Fill Peppers: Place the pepper halves cut side up in the sauce-filled baking dish. Spoon the meat and rice mixture evenly into each pepper half, filling them generously.
- Cover and Bake: Cover the dish tightly with foil or a lid. Bake in the preheated oven at 400°F for 35 to 40 minutes until the peppers are tender and the filling is heated through.
- Serve: Remove from the oven and spoon some of the tomato sauce from the bottom of the baking dish over the stuffed peppers before serving. Enjoy warm.
Notes
- Using a shallow Dutch oven instead of a baking dish can make this recipe a convenient one-pot meal.
- Caramelizing the ground beef and onions adds extra depth of flavor through browning.
- Minute rice cooks quickly by absorbing liquid after removing from heat—don’t skip the resting step.
- Adjust seasoning of the sauce and filling with salt and pepper to your preference.
- Green bell peppers are traditional, but you can substitute with red, yellow, or orange peppers for a sweeter flavor.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: stuffed bell peppers, baked stuffed peppers, ground beef recipe, classic stuffed peppers, easy dinner recipe, comfort food
