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white plate with stuffed peppers topped with melted cheese

Southern Stuffed Bell Peppers

Natalia-Flavorful Home
Southern stuffed bell peppers with a warm stuffing of ground beef, rice, tomatoes, and melted cheese. Tasty and colorful comfort-style dinner made with only five main ingredients.
5 from 1 vote
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 6
Calories 701 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup jasmine rice
  • 2 cups water for cooking rice
  • 3 bell peppers large-sized, any color
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 2 cups salsa
  • 1 1/2 cup shredded cheese cheddar or Pepper Jack
  • salt to taste
  • sour cream, optional

Instructions
 

  • Gather the ingredients. Preheat the oven to 400F degrees.
  • Cook rice. Rinse the rice in the mesh colander till water runs clear, add rice to the pot, add water and bring to boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat and simmer covered for approximately 10-15 minutes until all the water is absorbed, don't stir.
  • Prep bell peppers. Wash, cut bell pepper in half lengthwise, remove the seeds and white membrane. Place in the oven-safe dish flat side down and bake for 15 minutes.
  • Cook meat. Preheat cast iron or non-stick pan, add the meat, brown till no longer pink breaking large chunks of meat with the spoon.
  • Combine with rice. Once meat is cooked, add cooked rice and salsa. Stir to combine, taste mixture for salt. 
  • Bake and serve. Take bell peppers out of the oven; they now should be slightly softened. Turn them over, using a large spoon fill the peppers with the meat mixture pressing it down to make sure the peppers are filled tightly. Add shredded cheese on top—Bake for ten more minutes till cheese is slightly golden.

Notes

Choose similar-sized bell peppers to ensure they all bake evenly.
When baking peppers make sure not to add any oil so they can still hold shape when filled with meat.
Make sure that the meat and rice mixture is flavorful, so you’ll really taste it in every bite. Taste if it has enough salt and pepper before stuffing the peppers.
Use cheese that melts easily, such as cheddar or Monterey Jack.
Serve stuffed bell peppers with yogurt or sour cream on top, with a side of salsa to add even more flavor. Garnish with fresh herbs if desired: dill, parsley, basil, chopped green onion.
 

Nutrition

Calories: 701kcalCarbohydrates: 48gProtein: 37gFat: 39gSaturated Fat: 17gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 125mgSodium: 1757mgPotassium: 784mgFiber: 4gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 3293IUVitamin C: 124mgCalcium: 359mgIron: 4mg
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