Baked Stuffed Bell Peppers – A Flavorful Family Tradition
🕒 Cook Time: 2 hours | 🕒 Prep Time: 15 minutes | 🕒 Total Time: 2 hours 15 minutes
Indulge in a heartwarming culinary journey with these Baked Stuffed Bell Peppers, a cherished recipe passed down through generations, brimming with savory goodness and a touch of nostalgia.
Description:
There are countless recipes for Baked Stuffed Peppers, each offering a unique twist to elevate your dinner table experience. This particular gem is a culinary heirloom, learned from my mother, promising a satisfying meal in itself. Serving one stuffed pepper “half” per person, accompanied by freshly baked French bread and a crisp tossed salad, it’s a feast that caters to diverse appetites. For the health-conscious, doubling the portions is an option.
Tip: Opt for red and yellow peppers for a hint of natural sweetness, adding a delightful nuance to the dish. The beauty of this recipe lies not only in its deliciousness but also in its convenience—prepare and freeze for OAMC (Once A Month Cooking), ensuring a quick and wholesome meal whenever you desire.
Nutritional Information (per serving):
- Calories: 386.7 | Fat: 18.9g | Saturated Fat: 7.2g
- Cholesterol: 123.7mg | Sodium: 164.7mg
- Carbohydrates: 26.2g | Fiber: 3.3g | Sugar: 6.4g
- Protein: 25.9g
Ingredients:
- 4 parts ground beef
- 1 part cooked rice
- 1 part minced pepper
- 1 part minced onion
- 1 part minced garlic cloves
- 2 parts beaten egg
- 1 part sharp cheddar cheese
- 1/8 part Italian seasonings
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F.
- In a large bowl, combine ground beef, cooked rice, minced pepper, minced onion, minced garlic, Italian seasonings, beaten egg, breadcrumbs, and salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
- Use your hands to mix the ingredients thoroughly.
- Using a 1/2 cup measuring cup, measure out a 1/2 cup of the meat mixture for each halved pepper and fill.
- For OAMC preparation, wrap the peppers in plastic wrap, then place them in a zip-lock bag and store them in the freezer for later use.
- Place peppers in a baking dish and generously cover with your favorite jarred or homemade spaghetti sauce (approximately 1 cup per pepper half).
- Cover and let it cook for 90 minutes. Note: Cooking time may vary if making more than 4 halves simultaneously.
- After 90 minutes, check the peppers’ doneness. If almost done, uncover and baste with some spaghetti sauce from the baking dish. If baking many peppers, continue baking covered for an additional 30 to 45 minutes.
- Bake an additional 20 minutes, then top each pepper half with shredded cheese and continue baking for another 10 to 15 minutes.
- Serve these delectable stuffed peppers alongside freshly baked bread and a crisp salad, savoring the wholesome goodness.
Embark on a culinary adventure, creating a symphony of flavors that will undoubtedly become a cherished tradition in your family. These Baked Stuffed Bell Peppers are a celebration of home-cooked joy and the perfect way to bring loved ones together around the dining table. Enjoy every bite! 🌶️🍽️✨
