This is the quintessential stuffed bell peppers recipe I grew up on, with bell peppers stuffed with seasoned ground beef, rice, and melty cheese, always a hit! They bring back so many memories.
Prep time: PT15M
Cook time: PT35M
Rating
4.97 stars (153 reviews)
Keywords
bell peppers, ground beef
Ingredients
4-6 bell peppers (use any color – green, yellow, red, orange)
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 lb ground beef (450g - you can also use ground turkey, chicken, pork, sausage, tofu, or other similar)
1 medium onion (chopped)
1 jalapeno pepper (chopped (optional, for spicy))
5 cloves garlic (chopped)
14.5 ounces fire roasted tomatoes ((canned - or use diced tomatoes or tomato sauce))
1 cup shredded cheese (cheddar, mozzarella, or a blend – I LOVE pepperjack for myself)
1 tablespoon paprika
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried basil
Salt and pepper to taste
1 cup cooked rice (white, brown, or wild rice)
For Garnish. Fresh chopped parsley, red pepper flakes
Categories
Main Course
Cuisine
American
Steps
Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C) and bring a pot of water (enough to cover the bell peppers) to a boil.
Wash the bell peppers, cut off the tops, and scoop out the insides. If needed, slice a small part off the bottom of the peppers so they will stand upright. (NOTE: Chop the extra bell pepper tops to cook later with the onion - discard the stem.)
Blanch the bell peppers for 5 minutes to slightly soften. (Alternative, you can roast the peppers for 20 minutes to soften).
Set the softened peppers into a lightly oiled baking dish.
Heat the oil in a large pan to medium heat and add the onions, chopped pepper tops, and jalapeno (if using). Cook for 5 minutes to soften.
Add the garlic and cook 1 minute, or until the garlic becomes fragrant.
Add the ground beef and cook 5-6 minutes, breaking apart as you go, until cooked through.
Add the fire roasted tomatoes, seasonings, and cooked rice. Stir together and remove from heat.
Stir in half of the shredded cheese until incorporated.
Stuff each pepper with the meat filling mixture, then top each with the remaining shredded cheese.
Roast the stuffed peppers for 15-20 minutes, or until the peppers are tender to your preference, and the cheese is nice and bubbly.
Cool slightly, garnish, and serve.
Nutitrion
Serving Size: 1 serving
Calories: 534 kcal
Carbohydrates: 29 g
Protein: 30 g
Fat: 33 g
Saturated Fat: 13 g
Trans Fat: 1 g
Cholesterol: 103 mg
Sodium: 419 mg
Sugar: 9 g
Unsaturated Fat: 16 g
Reviews
Michelle on 2026-03-30 (5 stars): Made these tonight - Came out excellent! Vegan version ;-) Subbed vegan hamburger (Gardein) and vegan cheese (Violife-cheddar). Soooooo delicious! Great recipe and easy to follow :-)
Mark Schumaker on 2026-03-28 (5 stars): Hey Mike! Mark here. I saw your stuffed pepper recipe today (from 2023-24) while looking for dinner ideas. Followed your recipe exactly and man it turned out good. My family and I thank you!
Kim on 2026-03-24 (5 stars): Delish! I changed a few things. I used ground turkey, used Ben's rice pouch chicken and herb flavor, shredded Colby jack cheese. I only used 1/2 tablespoon of paprika, 3 cloves of sliced garlic
April Z on 2026-03-02 (5 stars): Excellent recipe and always a huge hit with my friends and family. I’ve made these several times and made some tweaks occasionally depending on what I’m in the mood for and the time I have. I have added a can of drained and rinsed black beans, substituted the rice with quinoa, and used taco seasoning instead of the spices in the recipe. I also prefer to cut the peppers in half vertically. They tend to make smaller portions which I prefer and reheat better than when I just cut the top off and stuff them.
Sean Weston on 2026-03-02 (5 stars): How much would I have to change the recipe if I triple the serving size
Jamie on 2026-02-26 (5 stars): Let this be known. I NEVER comment on the recipes I try. Not because I don’t want to or they don’t work out, but because I simply forget🤷♀️ THESE Stuffed Bell Peppers are SPECTACULAR. I made them for my mom on my first try and I blew her away. Presently this is my FOURTH time making this meal. It is SO easy! This is coming from the girl who lit the microwave on fire from forgetting to put the water in (ADHD at its finest)🥴 You are an amazing cook and your recipes are to DIE for! You deserve all the admiration for your chef skills😭 Again, thank you so much for a wonderful, home cooked meal to add to my collection 🥰
Kathryn K on 2026-02-25 (5 stars): 5 STARS!!! Absolutely the best recipe for Stuffed Peppers I have ever made! We loved it so much!!! Adding the cheese into the mix was new to us and we all agreed it was a game changer. SO DELISH!!! I used a cheddar mix and am going to try Monterey Jack next time. I also love how you describe adding the ingredients and how to make it all come together with ease. Thank YOU!!!
Tina on 2026-02-20 (4 stars): This Guy Knows FLAVOR!! Thanks Sir I’m enjoying these stuffed peppers!!!!!!!!!
Constance on 2026-02-14 (5 stars): This is a fabulous recipe! My entire family loves it.