Stuffed Peppers With Ground Beef and Rice

By
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 08/30/24
Prep: 25 mins
Cook: 85 mins
Total: 110 mins
Servings: 6 servings

Stuffed bell peppers make a delicious everyday meal, one that many people consider comfort food. With the classic combination of ground beef and rice, veggies, and melted cheese on top, they are more filling than you might expect.

Stuffed red bell pepper with melted cheese topping on a plate

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For this recipe, you aren't cooking or even browning the beef before you add it to the peppers. Because of that, the beef should be as lean as possible (at least 90/10); otherwise, it may make the filling too greasy when the peppers are baked in the oven. That being said, you can adapt the filling to your liking, replacing the beef with leaner options such as ground turkey or chicken, or change the flavor profile a bit by using a mix of ground Italian pork and ground beef. And when you're shopping for the peppers, look for ones that are large and sturdy; sometimes bell peppers can vary in size and you want ones that can fit the filling. This way when you core and seed them, there's plenty of pepper left.

This tried-and-true recipe is a family favorite. Beef stuffed peppers make for a great meal on their own for a hearty lunch, but if you're serving them for dinner, you might consider a green salad and a loaf of crusty bread. Or if you'd like something warm and starchy, mashed or baked potatoes would amp up the comfort food factor.

Tips for Making Stuffed Peppers Recipe

  • Cook thoroughly - To ensure the peppers are thoroughly cooked, insert an instant-read thermometer into the center of a stuffed pepper. The minimum safe temperature is 160 F for ground beef, pork, or lamb, or 165 F for ground turkey or chicken.
  • Use the right baking dish - Use a baking dish that can accommodate peppers that are closely packed together peppers because they will soften a bit as they cook. You don't want to lose all that hard work with peppers that have fallen over.
  • Halve it - The peppers may also be halved horizontally so you have two halves to fill. You won't have the extra chopped pepper from the tops, but you can chop an extra bell pepper.
What You'll Need to Make This Stuffed Peppers Recipe
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A Nice Big Pot
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A Sturdy Baking Pan
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Ingredients

  • 6 green bell peppers (or choose a combination of colors)

  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter

  • 1/2 cup chopped onion

  • 1/2 cup chopped celery

  • 1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes

  • 1 (8-ounce) can tomato sauce

  • 1 clove garlic, crushed and minced

  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano

  • 1/2 teaspoon dried basil

  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided

  • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper, divided

  • 1 large egg, lightly beaten

  • 1 1/2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce

  • 1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef (90/10)

  • 1 1/2 cups cooked long-grain rice

  • Shredded mild cheddar cheese (about 1/2 to 3/4 cup), optional

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for stuffed peppers with ground beef and rice recipe gathered

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  2. Cut the tops off 6 green bell peppers and rinse them under cold water; remove seeds and cut away the white ribs, which might be bitter. Chop the edible part of the tops and set aside. Place the peppers in a large pot and cover with salted water.

    Bell peppers with tops removed on a cutting board with a knife

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  3. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 5 minutes. Drain and set aside.

    Bell peppers with their tops cut off placed in a Dutch oven and covered with water

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  4. Heat 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil and 1 tablespoon unsalted butter in a large skillet over medium heat until oil is hot and the butter is foamy. Sauté the chopped bell pepper (from the tops), 1/2 cup chopped onion, and 1/2 cup chopped celery for about 5 minutes, or until vegetables are tender.

    Chopped bell peppers, onions, and celery in a large skillet

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  5. Add 1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes, 1 (8-ounce) can tomato sauce, 1 clove garlic (crushed and minced), 1 teaspoon dried oregano, 1/2 teaspoon dried basil, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, and 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper. Bring to a simmer and cook for about 10 minutes.

    Diced tomatoes and tomato sauce added to skillet with chopped vegetables

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  6. In a large mixing bowl, combine 1 large egg (lightly beaten) with the remaining 1 teaspoon salt, remaining 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, and 1 1/2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce. Gently stir to blend; add 1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef, 1 1/2 cups cooked long-grain rice, and 1 cup of the tomato sauce mixture. Mix well.

    Heat the oven to 350 F. 

    Ground beef mixed with egg, rice, and tomato mixture in a glass bowl

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  7. Stuff the peppers loosely with the ground beef mixture and place them in a 13 x 9 x 2-inch baking pan. Pour the remaining tomato mixture over the stuffed peppers. Sprinkle the shredded mild cheddar cheese on top, if using.

    Stuffed peppers in a baking dish topped with chunky tomato sauce

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  8. Bake the peppers for about 45 minutes, or until the meat mixture is thoroughly cooked.

    Baked stuffed peppers with melted cheese topping in a baking dish

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How To Store Stuffed Peppers

  • Cooked stuffed peppers will keep in the refrigerator for 3 or 4 days. Simply heat the oven to 350 and put the peppers in a covered baking dish (in case anything spills out) and reheat for 15 to 20 minutes, or until heated through. You can add more cheese before doing so if you want.
  • Stuffed peppers can also be frozen once they have cooled completely. Transfer them to a rimmed baking sheet and freeze until frozen. Then, wrap each pepper individually in foil, put them in a zip-close bag, and label. When it's time to eat, you can either let them thaw in the fridge first before reheating or put them frozen in a 350 F oven until they're completely heated through, about an hour.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
406 Calories
19g Fat
22g Carbs
36g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6
Amount per serving
Calories 406
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 19g 25%
Saturated Fat 7g 36%
Cholesterol 137mg 46%
Sodium 1130mg 49%
Total Carbohydrate 22g 8%
Dietary Fiber 4g 13%
Total Sugars 5g
Protein 36g
Vitamin C 28mg 139%
Calcium 86mg 7%
Iron 6mg 31%
Potassium 919mg 20%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)