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Classic Stuffed Bell Peppers

Gardening Guide: Beautiful Bell Peppers

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Classic Stuffed Bell Peppers

Nothing says home like Classic Stuffed Bell Peppers. Use different colored bell peppers for a vibrant dinner spread, and tailor the filling to suit your taste.

By Norann Oleson

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Classic Stuffed Bell Peppers

Classic Stuffed Bell Peppers

Some dishes never go out of style, and classic stuffed bell peppers are on my top 10 list. It’s such an easy way to showcase my hefty harvest of bell peppers—even the purple peppers! A bell pepper makes the perfect container for whatever hearty and delicious filling you want to add.

You’ll see a lot of stuffed bell pepper recipes that call for parboiling the peppers in advance of baking them. I don’t recommend that; boiling water pulls some of the flavor out of the pepper, making it more of a tasteless shell than a full-flavored package.

Baking and microwaving are common approaches to partially cooking your peppers. You could also roast them or grill them—as long as you don’t overcook them. The idea is to give the peppers a bit of a head start so they aren’t too crunchy once you’ve put the filled peppers into the oven.

Now, I remember my mom making stuffed peppers, and she never boiled, baked, or roasted them ahead of time; they just went into the oven nice and firm, and came out tender-crisp. A lot of it will come down to your preference. If you think you’d rather have your pepper cups on the crunchy side, bake or microwave them for less time, or even skip that step. Experiment and see what works best for you.

Looking for a leaner version, or something without meat? Try ground turkey in place of ground meat. Quinoa and lentils work well as an alternative filling. Just about anything you like will come out tasting fine served in a fresh pepper cup!

I’ve heard that in some families, stuffed peppers are the “fancy” way to finish off leftovers; just mix everything together and bake it in a pepper, and voilà—fancy dinner is served.

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Classic Stuffed Bell Peppers

Classic Stuffed Bell Peppers

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Nothing says home like Classic Stuffed Bell Peppers. Use different colored bell peppers for a vibrant dinner spread, and tailor the filling to suit your taste.

  • Author: Norann Oleson
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 95 minutes
  • Total Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
  • Yield: Serves 6
  • Category: Entrées

Ingredients

Scale
  • 6 bell peppers
  • 2 ribs of celery, finely sliced
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 5 or 6 fresh tomatoes, diced (or one 14.5-ounce can)
  • 1 pound lean ground beef, sausage, or a mix
  • 1 cup cooked basmati rice
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon basil
  • 1 teaspoon oregano
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  2. Brown ground meat in a large pan until it’s almost cooked through, about 5 minutes.
  3. Add celery, onions, and garlic. Cook until vegetables are softened.
  4. Add diced tomatoes and spices. Cook for 15 to 20 minutes.
  5. Add rice and cook until rice is warmed through.
  6. While filling mixture is cooking, clean peppers, cut off the tops, and remove seeds and ribs. Rinse.
  7. Put peppers upright in a glass dish. Bake in oven for 20 minutes at 350 degrees F. (you can also microwave for 5 minutes).
  8. Place partially cooked peppers in a baking dish lined with parchment paper. Make sure the peppers are touching so they support each other as they bake.
  9. Spoon the filling into the peppers, packing it down so it’s not too loose.
  10. Tent foil over the pan and bake for 20 minutes.
  11. If you want to add cheese, remove foil after 15 minutes, sprinkle peppers with shredded cheese, and bake uncovered for 10 more minutes.

Would you like to grow bell peppers? Bell peppers are one of the most popular home gardening crops. And no wonder: with so many varieties to choose, you can grow a whole rainbow in your garden! With the Beautiful Bell Peppers Gardening Guide, you’ll have everything you need to know about growing and enjoying this delicious fruit.

Have you made Classic Stuffed Bell Peppers? What’s your favorite way to fill them? Let us know!

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Tags

home gardening, peppers

Comments
  • Lady Mo P. February 7, 2025

    This is a wonderful article but I’m not going to tell you my secret ingredient, nanny, nanny , boo, boo, and no rice!

    Reply
  • Lara F. April 17, 2024

    I never had these growing up, but my husband loved them. I’ve been playing around since they’re versatile. I’ll use leftover taco meat with rice and cheddar/jack or ground lamb with couscous and feta.

    Reply
  • Connie B. September 12, 2022

    Where does the 1 1/2 cups water fit in this recipe?

    Reply
    • Amanda M. September 23, 2022

      Thanks for the catch, it seems like a typo, the instructions to use 1/4 cup when baking/microwaving is correct.

      Reply
  • Patrick V. April 19, 2022

    WOW now that sound good and taste .

    Reply

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

  • Curator’s Corner
  • Introduction
  • Growing Zones for Bell Peppers
  • Types of Bell Peppers
  • Growing Bell Peppers from Seeds or Seedlings
  • Sun and Soil Requirements for Growing Bell Peppers
  • Planting Bell Peppers in the Ground or in Raised Beds
  • Growing Bell Peppers in Containers
  • Watering, Weeding, and Fertilizing your Bell Pepper Plants
  • Harvesting your Bell Peppers
  • Storing and Preserving your Bell Peppers
  • Dealing with Bell Pepper Diseases
  • Dealing with Bell Pepper Pests
  • Essential Tools and Equipment for Growing and Enjoying Bell Peppers
  • When to Harvest Bell Peppers at Peak Flavor
  • When to Pick Bell Peppers
  • Plant Profiles

  • Alma Paprika Pepper
  • Feher Ozon Pepper
  • Hungarian Magyar Pepper
  • Islander Bell Peppers
  • Chocolate Beauty Bell Peppers
  • Snowball Bell Peppers
  • Yankee Bell Peppers
  • Cupid & Eros Bell Peppers
  • Lunchbox Peppers
  • Classic Bell Peppers
  • Ace Bell Peppers
  • Recipes

  • Paprika Chicken Tacos
  • Classic Stuffed Bell Peppers
  • Paprika Avocado Toast
  • Roasted Paprika Potatoes
  • Paprika Pesto Pasta
  • Roasted Bell Pepper Salad
  • Chicken Salad with Bell Pepper Crunch
  • Rainbow Bell Pepper Hummus Boats
  • Quick Pickled Bell Peppers
  • Additional Articles

  • Nutrition Facts about Bell Peppers
  • Health Benefits and Home Remedies of Bell Peppers
  • Resources about Bell Peppers
  • Bell Peppers Glossary
  • Related Articles

  • How to Grow the Most Flavorful Bell Peppers
  • Keeping Your Bell Peppers Sweet By Avoiding Cross-Pollination

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