Looking for a quick and easy weeknight meal, then look no further than these Beef Stuffed Bell Pepper recipe! It’s an easy recipe that you can customize depending on what your favorite flavors are and what you have on hand! Not only is it delicious to make for dinner, but these stuffed bell peppers are great for make-ahead meals and freezer meal preps!
Why You’ll Love…
These Stuffed Bell Peppers are so easy to make, you really just throw everything into a pan, before stuffing your peppers with and baking in the oven! Within 30 minutes, you’ll have a delicious and filling dinner! Not to mention it’s a great recipe to make ahead for the freezer! It’s a great dish that the whole family will love!
Spice Mix
To make this recipe easy, I like to use a taco or fajita spice mix from the store! There are a ton of options that you can find at your local grocery store, even some that are low sodium or sodium free if that’s important to you!
If you want tomato your own spice mix you can combine a teaspoon of cumin and paprika followed by 1/2 teaspoons of oregano, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder! Then add in salt and black pepper to taste! This is a great spice mix that I use whenever I’m making any tacos, stuffed peppers, or even adding to a chili! It’s really up to you and what works best with you and your kitchen!
If you like this spice mix, you should try out my crockpot Pumpkin Chili! It’s full of delicious veggies and a perfect meal to make on a Sunday and enjoy all week!
Substitutions and Additions
This stuffed pepper recipe is perfect for making for a crowd because you can customize it depending on what you have on hand and who’s eating it! Here are a few other options to change up this recipe to fit your tastebuds!
Cooked Rice – I love using microwave cilantro lime rice for this recipe because it’s quick and easy! You can really use whatever leftover rice you like! Or you can add in white rice, cauliflower rice or even brown rice!
Meat Options – I like to use ground beef for this recipe, but you can use ground turkey, ground chicken, sausage or any kind of meat alternative! You can also add in black beans and veggies to make this a vegetarian dish!
Peppers – Depending on your spice tolerance, you can use whatever peppers you like! From large bell peppers, to poblanos, or even zucchini if that’s easier for you!
Spice Mixes – Depending on the spice mixture that you use, you can change the flavor of the dish! You can add more heat by adding cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes! Or if you want these to be more herby, you can add more cilantro and lime zest!
Equipment Needed:
Large Pan – I like to use a large sauce pan because it will get pretty full after we add in the rice and beef!
Large baking sheet – You can use a large baking sheet with parchment paper to reduce anything sticking to the pan! You can also use a large baking pan or rectangle pan to bake them in as well!
You can shop all my favorite tools here! This website uses Affiliate links which may earn commission at no extra cost to you. Each item is one I use or a similar item.
Ingredient List:
See Recipe Card for Full Details
Step by Step Instructions:
Step 1. Add The Bell Peppers To The Pan And Sprinkle With Salt And Pepper. Roast For About 15 Minutes.
Step 2. In A Pan, Add Ground Beef, Onion, Garlic And Spice Mix.
Step 3: Then Add In Rice, Bell Pepper Tops, Tomatoes, And Corn to the beef mixture.
Step 4. Add Filling To Roasted Bell Peppers And add cheese to the top of the peppers.
Storage Instructions:
Store any leftover stuffed peppers in an airtight container in the fridge for about 3-4 days!
The best part of this recipe is that these peppers are even better the next day! I love making a big batch on Sunday and snacking on them for the rest of the week!
If you want to freeze them, leave out the cheese and store them in an airtight container for about 2-3 months! Melted cheese can have a weird texture when it gets reheated, so I like to leave that part out! You can add the cheese back when you’re reheating them in the oven! I like to store these in a freezer safe container, like an aluminum baking dish! Then you can just throw it away when you’re done! You can find these at most grocery stores!
Helpful Tips and Tricks
If you’re using bell peppers, you can cut them one of two ways: 1, you can just cut the tops off and scoop out the seeds! They stand up better and you can pack more filling into each pepper! 2, you can cut each pepper in half and then they lay on their sides! I like this option if you were trying to feed a crowd because you essentially double the amount of peppers you make!
To serve these, I like to top them with a dollop of sour cream, some pico de Gallo or salsa, a squeeze of lime juice, and some cilantro! These are perfect to serve with some tortilla chips for a bit of crunch! These are kind of like a chili, where the toppings really take this dish to the next level!
Feel free to substitute whatever flavors you like best for these stuffed Bell peppers! You can use Mexican rice instead of cilantro rice, add beans, or leave out the corn! It’s a great recipe to customize depending on what you like best!
These easy stuffed Bell peppers are such a great weeknight meal because they’re easy to make and there’s minimal clean up! It’s a great dish to make for busy weeknights when you want something easy but something that still tastes delicious and feels healthy!
Cheers!
-Holly Michelle
How to Make Beef Stuffed Bell Peppers (with rice)
Ingredients
- 8 Bell Peppers
- 1 tablespoon Olive Oil
- 1 Onion
- 2 cloves Garlic
- 1 pound Ground beef
- 1 packet Spice mix
- 1 can Crushed Tomatoes 14 ounces
- 1 can Charred Corn drained
- 1 package Microwavable Rice
- 1 cup Shredded Mexican Cheese Mix
- Salt and Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
- Cut the top of the peppers off and remove seeds. Place in a square baking dish and sprinkle with salt and pepper.8 Bell Peppers, Salt and Pepper
- Bake peppers for about 15 minutes. Cook rice in the microwave following package directions.1 package Microwavable Rice
- While the peppers bake, cut up the onion and saute in a pan with olive oil.1 tablespoon Olive Oil, 1 Onion
- After about 5 minutes, add in garlic and ground beef.2 cloves Garlic, 1 pound Ground beef
- Cook the beef until it's all browned, then add in the spice mix and cook for about a minute.1 packet Spice mix
- Add in crushed tomatoes, drained corn, and rice. Stir together.1 can Crushed Tomatoes, 1 can Charred Corn
- Remove peppers from the oven and carefully fill with mixture. Top with cheese and place back in the oven for 5 minutes.1 cup Shredded Mexican Cheese Mix
- If there's any leftover filling, add that to a plate and then top with peppers.
- Enjoy!
What goes in the spice mix?
You can just use a fajita or taco spice mix from the store!