When it comes to cozy comfort food, nothing beats a tray of stuffed peppers fresh out of the oven. They’re warm, melty, and full of flavor like a hug in food form. These Cheesy Stuffed Peppers are made with tender bell peppers stuffed with seasoned ground beef, onions, garlic, tomatoes, rice, and two kinds of cheese.

It’s one of those recipes that feels special but is actually really easy to throw together and it’s a great way to use up leftover rice from the night before.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Cheesy and hearty: Each bite is packed with gooey melted cheese and savory flavor.
• Budget-friendly: Simple ingredients like ground beef, rice, and peppers make this meal filling without breaking the bank.
• Make-ahead friendly: You can prep the filling or even stuff the peppers the day before and bake when ready.
• Great for leftovers: These reheat beautifully for lunch the next day!

Cheesy Stuffed Peppers

Yield: 6-8

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes

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Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef
• 6-8 peppers, any color
• 1 large yellow onion, finely diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 cup cheddar, shredded
• 1 cup low-moisture mozzarella, shredded (or more cheddar)
• 14 oz peeled, ground tomatoes
• 2-3 cups cooked white rice (leftover is perfect here)
• 1 1/2 tsps onion powder
• 1 1/2 tsps garlic powder
• Salt and pepper
• Chopped fresh parsley to garnish

Instructions

1. Start boiling large pot of water. Cut off tops of peppers, slice bottoms of peppers just enough so they can stand flat, remove seeds. Dice pepper tops, set aside.
2. Parboil peppers 4-5 minutes. Remove from water to dry and cool.
3. Preheat oven 350°F. Over medium heat, to a large frying pan add olive oil and garlic. Sauté until fragrant then add pepper, tops, and onions. Cook until softened.
4. Add ground beef, mix into peppers/onions. Cook through. Mix in crushed tomatoes and seasonings. Allow to cook for 5-7 minutes.
5. If using cold, leftover rice, mix in now. If using fresh rice, remove from heat and mix in. Off the heat mix in mozzarella and 3/4 cup of cheddar.
6. Stand peppers in baking dish. Stuff peppers with beef mixture. Top with cheddar. Bake 18-20 minutes. Optional- turn oven to high broil. Broil for 2-3 minutes to brown the cheese. Garnish and enjoy!