Easy Cheesy Stuffed Bell Peppers
By: Mike, Posted: 2/19/2024
Need an easy dinner that delivers cheesy goodness. Our Easy Cheesy Stuffed Bell Peppers are the perfect idea for dinner that even the kids will love.
Looking for some easy recipe ideas for dinner that will make everyone come back for seconds. Try our Quick and Easy Chicken Tortilla Soup, Not Your Momma’s Beans and Rice, and Jumbo Beef Meatballs they are easy and tasty for any night.
Our Easy Cheesy Stuffed Bell Peppers
When growing up my mom had several dishes that were always on rotation. Her stuffed bell peppers were one of my favorites. Mom always made them with love and from memory. To this day I am not 100 percent sure what she put in her stuffed peppers. When our son turned 6 years old we flew her out to spend some time with the family and I tried my hand at stuffed peppers. The ones that I made were nothing like moms but she loved them and gave me a couple ideas to make them even better. This was the start of what have become our Easy Cheesy Stuffed Bell Peppers.
Ingredients, Substitutions, and Additions
Bell Peppers – Bell peppers are the star of this show. Minda loves red and orange while I love green. Each type of bell peppers gives a different ending flavor. Green bell peppers are not as sweet while red and orange are sweeter.
Meat – We have used ground turkey, beef, pork, and chicken. When using chicken we pan sear it and then dice it. Each type of meat brings its own flavor and texture to the stuffed bell peppers.
Rice – Minda and I have tried using long and short grain rice. Both are good but we prefer using a minute rice. We don’t have to cook the rice beforehand and it comes out of the oven perfect.
Herbs and Veggies – I like adding fresh basil into the mix before stuffing the peppers. I use onion, garlic and chopped up tops of the peppers in the stuffing. Minda and I will sometimes add spinach and zucchini to add some extra veggies.
Dry Seasonings – We like to keep the dry seasonings easy by using salt, pepper and Italian seasonings. Use what you like. Add some fennel seed, onion, or garlic. If you want go in the other direction use some chili powder, cumin, and crushed red pepper.
Sauce – Minda and I love using our Homemade Pasta Sauce in our Easy Cheesy Stuffed Bell Peppers or a 24 oz jar of your favorite pasta sauce is always a great way to go.
Cheese – Nothing beats having cheese sprinkled on top. We like shredding our own cheese off a block. We always have a block of cheddar on hand. Mozzarella, Munster and pepper jack are also great for your Easy Cheesy Stuffed Bell Peppers. We also add some grated parmesan directly to the stuffing.
Broth – We love using a chicken broth in our Easy Cheesy Stuffed Bell Peppers. If you are out of broth, water is perfect. We make sure to put a 1/4 cup of broth in the bottom of the casserole dish. This help add moisture and prevent burning.
Preferred Pairings for Easy Cheesy Stuffed Bell Peppers
What’s easier than set it and forget it? Try some of our amazing Crock-Pot meals. Our French Onion Pot Roast, Savory Crock-Pot Beef Stew, or Fall off the Bone Crock-Pot Ribs are perfect for any meal.
French Onion Pot Roast – I don’t know about you but as the months turn colder, there are certain recipes I start to crave. Pot Roast being one of them, specifically Mike’s French Onion Pot Roast.
Savory Crock-Pot Beef Stew – Looking for an easy savory recipe to add to your dinner rotations? Our Savory Crock-Pot Beef Stew is always a winner for dinner!
Fall off the Bone Crock-Pot Ribs – Craving some Ribs? Check out our Fall off the Bone Crock-Pot Ribs. Perfect for dinner or a hit at your next potluck.
Ingredients for Easy Cheesy Stuffed Bell Peppers
- 3 Green Bell Peppers
- 3 Red or Orange Bell Peppers
- 1.25 lbs Ground Turkey
- 1 medium Onion
- 1 tbs Garlic, Minced
- 2 tbs Basil, Sliced
- 2 cup Minute Rice
- 1.5 cups Chicken Broth
- 3 cups Homemade Pasta Sauce or 1 20 oz Jar Pasta Sauce
- 1/4 cup Grated Parmesan
- 6 oz Shredded Cheddar Cheese
Dry Seas0nings
- 2 tbs Italian Seasoning
- 1 tsp Granulated Onion
- 1 tsp Granulated Garlic
- 1 tsp Salt
- 1/2 tsp Pepper
Directions
Prep Herbs and Veggies: Wash and dry bell peppers (6 Bell Peppers) and basil (2 tablespoons). Cut tops off the bell peppers and set aside. Remove seeds, rinse, and then dry peppers. Remove stems from tops of bell peppers. Dice one onion and tops of the bell peppers into 1/4 inch pieces. Measure out dry seasonings (2 tbs Italian Seasonings, 1 tsp Granulated Onion, 1 tsp Salt, 1/2 tsp Pepper) and place in a small bowl.
Sauté Veggies and Brown Ground Turkey: In a large pan add 1 tbs oil and bring to temperature over medium high heat. When the oil ripples stir in diced onion and bell pepper. Sauté for 7 to 10 minutes. Add in garlic (1 tablespoon, minced) and cook for 1 minute. Stir constantly to prevent burring. Remove sautéed veggies and place into a bowl. Coat pan with remaining oil (2 tablespoons) and stir in ground turkey (1.25 pounds). Cook for 10 to 12 minutes or until browned. Mix in sautéed veggies and dry seasoning and stir until combined.
Preheat Oven, Make Stuffing, and Stuff Bell Peppers: Preheat oven to 350°. Stir in Homemade Pasta Sauce (3 cups), 1 and 1/4 cup chicken broth, basil, and parmesan cheese (1/4 cup) into the ground turkey and veggies. Bring mixture to a boil. Once boiling stir in minute rice (2 cups) then turn off heat. Pour remaining chicken broth (1/4 cup) into the bottom of casserole dish. Use a spoon to stuff bell peppers and place into the casserole dish. Cover casserole dish with aluminum foil.
Bake, Dish, and Enjoy: Place casserole dish on center rack in oven and bake for 45 minutes. Remove from oven and take off foil. Sprinkle cheddar cheese (6 ounces) evenly on top of bell peppers. Bake for an additional 10 to 15 minutes or until cheese is melted. Remove from the oven and plate. Serve and Enjoy!
Hi, We are Mike and Minda. Thank you for stopping to take a look at our Kick’n Kitchen! We are a husband and wife team that have a love for food and cooking. Come with us on our journey of rediscovering recipes from our youth and find new recipes to fall in love with.
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Easy Cheesy Stuffed Bell Peppers
6
servings15
minutes1
hour30
minutesNeed an easy dinner that delivers cheesy goodness. Our Easy Cheesy Stuffed Bell Peppers are the perfect idea for dinner that even the kids will love.
Ingredients
3 Green Bell Peppers
3 Red or Orange Bell Peppers
1.25 lbs Ground Turkey
1 medium Onion
1 tbs Garlic, Minced
2 tbs Basil, Sliced
2 cup Minute Rice
1.5 cups Chicken Broth
3 cups Homemade Pasta Sauce or 1 20 oz Jar Pasta Sauce
1/4 cup Grated Parmesan
6 oz Shredded Cheddar Cheese
3 tbs Oil
- Dry Seasonings
2 tbs Italian Seasonings
1 tsp Granulated Onion
1 tsp Granulated Garlic
1 tsp Salt
1/2 tsp Pepper
Directions
- Prep Herbs and Veggies: Wash and dry bell peppers (6 Bell Peppers) and basil (2 tablespoons). Cut tops off the bell peppers and set aside. Remove seeds, rinse, and then dry peppers. Remove stems from tops of bell peppers. Dice one onion and tops of the bell peppers into 1/4 inch pieces. Measure out dry seasonings (2 tbs Italian Seasonings, 1 tsp Granulated Onion, 1 tsp Salt, 1/2 tsp Pepper) and place in a small bowl.
- Sauté Veggies and Brown Ground Turkey: In a large pan add 1 tbs oil and bring to temperature over medium high heat. When the oil ripples stir in diced onion and bell pepper. Sauté for 7 to 10 minutes. Add in garlic (1 tablespoon, minced) and cook for 1 minute. Stir constantly to prevent burring. Remove sautéed veggies and place into a bowl. Coat pan with remaining oil (2 tablespoons) and stir in ground turkey (1.25 pounds). Cook for 10 to 12 minutes or until browned. Mix in sautéed veggies and dry seasoning and stir until combined.
- Preheat Oven, Make Stuffing, and Stuff Bell Peppers: Preheat oven to 350°. Stir in Homemade Pasta Sauce (3 cups), 1 and 1/4 cup chicken broth, basil, and parmesan cheese (1/4 cup) into the ground turkey and veggies. Bring mixture to a boil. Once boiling stir in minute rice (2 cups) then turn off heat. Pour remaining chicken broth (1/4 cup) into the bottom of casserole dish. Use a spoon to stuff bell peppers and place into the casserole dish. Cover casserole dish with aluminum foil.
- Bake, Dish, and Enjoy: Place casserole dish on center rack in oven and bake for 45 minutes. Remove from oven and take off foil. Sprinkle cheddar cheese (6 ounces) evenly on top of bell peppers. Bake for an additional 10 to 15 minutes or until cheese is melted. Remove from the oven and plate. Serve and Enjoy!
