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Deconstructed Stuffed Peppers Recipe

4.7 from 61 reviews

Deconstructed Stuffed Peppers is a hearty and flavorful one-pan meal that captures the essence of classic stuffed peppers without the hassle of stuffing. Ground beef, tender bell peppers, aromatic herbs, and rice are cooked together in a savory tomato and beef broth sauce, then topped with melted mozzarella cheese for a comforting, cheesy finish.

Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 lb ground beef
  • ½ cup diced onion
  • 1 tablespoon minced garlic
  • 3 cups diced red bell pepper (orange or yellow work too!)
  • 2 cups low sodium beef broth
  • 15 oz can tomato sauce
  • 1 cup dry white rice
  • ½ teaspoon dried basil
  • ½ teaspoon dried oregano
  • ½ teaspoon dried parsley
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Instructions

  1. Heat olive oil: In a large sauté pan, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat to prepare for cooking the ground beef and vegetables.
  2. Cook ground beef: Add the ground beef to the pan and cook for 10 minutes, breaking it apart with a spatula as it cooks until browned and fully cooked through.
  3. Sauté onions and garlic: Add diced onions and minced garlic to the cooked beef and sauté for 3 minutes until fragrant and softened.
  4. Add remaining ingredients and combine: Stir in diced bell peppers, beef broth, tomato sauce, dry white rice, dried basil, oregano, parsley, and black pepper. Mix everything well to combine thoroughly.
  5. Simmer covered: Cover the pan and bring to a boil, which takes about 5 minutes, then reduce heat to medium and continue cooking covered for 20-25 minutes. Stir every few minutes until almost all the liquid is absorbed and rice is thoroughly cooked.
  6. Top with cheese and melt: Once the rice is cooked, sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese evenly on top. Cover the pan again and cook over low heat until the cheese is melted and gooey.

Notes

  • Feel free to use orange or yellow bell peppers instead of red for a colorful dish.
  • Use low sodium beef broth to control salt content.
  • Stir occasionally during simmering to prevent rice from sticking to the pan.
  • For a vegetarian version, substitute ground beef with plant-based protein and use vegetable broth.
  • This recipe is perfect for a quick weeknight dinner with minimal cleanup.

Keywords: deconstructed stuffed peppers, ground beef recipe, one-pan meal, stuffed pepper skillet, easy dinner recipe