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Easy Bell Peppers

Featured in Fast & Flavorful Dinner Recipes.

These savory stuffed bell peppers are a mix of Italian sausage, aromatics, smooth marinara, and fluffy rice baked inside tender pepper halves. Pre-baked for that perfect bite, they're topped with mozzarella, broiled until bubbly, and taste like pure comfort. They're easy on the wallet, great for family meals, and can be prepped early to save time.
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Un'immagine di una donna con i capelli raccolti in una borsa.
Updated on Sun, 30 Mar 2025 00:22:22 GMT
Bright peppers stuffed with seasoned meat, rice, and bubbly cheese, baked just right. Pin it
Bright peppers stuffed with seasoned meat, rice, and bubbly cheese, baked just right. | kyliecook.com

Loaded bell peppers pack the ideal mix of homey warmth and healthy goodness for your evening meal. These bright containers, packed with a tasty combo of Italian sausage, well-made rice, and gooey cheese, turn plain peppers into a standout dinner that'll make everyone want more. The mix of feels - from the soft pepper outer shell to the filling inside - makes a dish that's both eye-catching and yummy.

I've whipped up these stuffed peppers so many times, and they always wow everyone. Just last weekend, my kid who normally stays away from bell peppers ate everything and wanted more. What's my trick? Cooking the peppers a bit first - it gets rid of any sharp taste and makes them just right.

Key Components

  • Bell Peppers: Go for sturdy ones with clear, unspotted skin. Find peppers that can sit up by themselves and match in size so they cook evenly
  • Italian Sausage: This brings all the rich taste. Its fat helps keep everything moist and adds layers of flavor in each bite
  • Long Grain White Rice: It has a light, airy feel that goes great with the meat. Plus it soaks up all those wonderful tastes from the sausage and sauce
  • Fresh Garlic and Onion: These two build your flavor base. Always go with fresh instead of powder for the best results
  • Marinara Sauce: Pick a really good one as it flavors the whole dish. I like those with few extras and no sugar added
  • Mozzarella Cheese: Makes that can't-resist melty top. Fresh works wonderfully, but the bagged kind does the job too
Soft bell peppers filled with rich stuffing, a tasty and good-for-you dinner option. Pin it
Soft bell peppers filled with rich stuffing, a tasty and good-for-you dinner option. | kyliecook.com

Simple Cooking Guide

Get Peppers Ready:
First, cut the tops from your bell peppers and take out all seeds and white parts. Keep those tops and chop up the good pepper parts to add to your mix. Wash peppers with cool water, dry them off, and quick-boil for 3 minutes. Dunk in ice water to cool them down fast.
Mix Up the Stuffing:
Warm a big pan over medium heat. Cook your Italian sausage, breaking it into tiny bits. Throw in chopped onions and diced pepper tops, cooking until onions go clear. Mix in chopped garlic until you can smell it good.
Stack Up Flavors:
Put already cooked rice into the pan. Pour in marinara sauce and spices. Let it bubble for 5 minutes so flavors can mix together.
Put Together and Bake:
Set your partly cooked peppers in a baking dish. Fill each one with lots of meat mix, pushing down lightly. Cover with mozzarella cheese. Wrap with foil and bake at 350°F for 25 minutes, then take off foil and bake 10 more minutes until cheese turns golden and bubbly.

When I was little, my grandma always picked red bell peppers for this dish, saying they were sweeter and had more flavor. After making these for years myself, I can tell she was right - red peppers do add a touch of sweetness that works perfectly with the savory stuffing.

Flavor Balancing Tricks

When adding spices to stuffed peppers, finding the right mix matters. The tomato sauce and Italian sausage already have salt, so start with just a little extra seasoning. Try it as you go to get the perfect taste combo.

Prep Ahead Tricks

  • Fix the whole dish up to the baking part, cover it well, and keep in the fridge for up to a day
  • Put on an extra 10-15 minutes of cooking time when starting from cold
  • The tastes grow even better during this sitting time

Leftover Ideas

  • Cut up any extra stuffed peppers to fill an omelet
  • Chop and mix with more sauce for topping pasta
  • Put chopped peppers on top of a baked potato for a filling meal

Smart Cooking Advice

  • Brown rice in the pan before cooking for extra nutty taste
  • Use bunched up foil in the dish to hold up peppers that won't stand straight
  • Let peppers sit for 5-10 minutes after cooking so the filling can set right

Through many years of cooking this dish, I've grown to love it not just for how good it tastes but how it brings folks together. There's something about a stuffed pepper that makes people happy - maybe it's how they look, or maybe it's just comfort food magic. Whatever it is, this dish has earned its spot in my regular cooking lineup, and I bet it'll find a place in yours too.

Filled bell peppers, a warm dish with tasty stuffing and stretchy cheese on top. Pin it
Filled bell peppers, a warm dish with tasty stuffing and stretchy cheese on top. | kyliecook.com

Frequently Asked Questions

→ Can these be prepped ahead of time?
Yep, you can stuff them a day ahead, refrigerate, and bake when you're ready.
→ Which bell peppers are best?
Any color works. Green is cheaper, but red, yellow, or orange offer a sweeter taste.
→ Is there a swap for Italian sausage?
Sure! Use ground turkey, beef, or even plant-based meat if you'd like.
→ Do these freeze well?
Absolutely! Keep them frozen for up to 3 months. Just thaw in the fridge before reheating.
→ What goes well on the side?
They're filling alone, but pair great with salad or a slice of garlic bread.

Stuffed Bell Peppers

Soft bell peppers packed with a tasty mix of sausage, rice, and marinara, all topped with melty mozzarella.

Prep Time
15 Minutes
Cook Time
50 Minutes
Total Time
65 Minutes
By: Kylie

Category: Weeknight Heroes

Difficulty: Intermediate

Cuisine: American

Yield: 6 Servings (6 pepper halves stuffed)

Dietary: ~

Ingredients

→ Fresh Produce

01 1 yellow onion, diced finely
02 3 cloves of fresh garlic, chopped fine
03 3 large sweet peppers, any color you prefer

→ Meat & Dairy

04 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese
05 1 pound of Italian sausage

→ Pantry Items

06 1 cup of marinara sauce
07 3/4 cup of chicken broth
08 2 tablespoons of cooking oil, split
09 1/2 cup of uncooked white rice (long grain)

→ Seasonings

10 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder
11 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning
12 1/4 teaspoon of cracked black pepper
13 1 1/4 teaspoons of salt, split up

Instructions

Step 01

Set your oven to 350°F to heat up. Cut the peppers horizontally in half, removing the stems from the top portion. Put them cut-side up in a casserole dish, drizzle with 1 tablespoon of oil, sprinkle on 1/4 teaspoon each of salt and pepper, and let them bake for 20 minutes to soften.

Step 02

As the peppers cook, warm 1 tablespoon of oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the Italian sausage and cook it through. Toss in the onion and garlic and stir until the onion smells sweet and turns see-through.

Step 03

Into the skillet, pour the rice, marinara, seasonings, remaining salt, and broth. Turn up the heat until it bubbles, then lower and cover. Let it simmer for 20 minutes. Once done, leave covered for 5 minutes, then fluff the rice and stir to blend.

Step 04

Stuff the softened pepper halves with the meaty rice mixture and sprinkle cheese over the tops. Cover them lightly with foil and bake for another 15 minutes. Take off the foil and broil for 2-3 minutes, just until the cheese is golden.

Notes

  1. You can make the stuffing in advance and fill the peppers later when you're ready to bake.
  2. If you'd like, swap the sausage for ground turkey or beef.
  3. Don't take your eyes off the broiler! The cheese can go from perfect to burnt quickly.

Tools You'll Need

  • A casserole dish (9x13-inch)
  • Large skillet with a cover
  • Cutting board and sharp knife
  • Foil for covering

Allergy Information

Please check ingredients for potential allergens and consult a health professional if in doubt.
  • Includes dairy (mozzarella cheese)
  • Could contain gluten (check the sausage ingredients)

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

It is important to consider this information as approximate and not to use it as definitive health advice.
  • Calories: 454
  • Total Fat: 33 g
  • Total Carbohydrate: 22 g
  • Protein: 18 g