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Italian Stuffed Peppers topped with melted cheese
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Italian Stuffed Peppers

Our Italian Stuffed Peppers have a meaty stuffing bursting with classic Italian flavors, marinara sauce, and cheese all packaged up in a sweet bell pepper!
Course Main Course
Cuisine Italian
Keyword How Do I Make Italian Stuffed Peppers Recipe, How To Make Italian Stuffed Peppers Recipe, Italian Stuffed Peppers, Italian Stuffed Peppers Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings 6 Servings
Calories 664kcal
Author Kathleen

Ingredients

  • 6 bell peppers, any color

Filling:

  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 8 ounces Italian sausage, casings removed
  • 1 1/2 cups yellow onion, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon garlic, minced
  • 1 cup cooked rice
  • 2 cups Mozzarella, shredded
  • 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
  • 1/2 cup prepared marinara sauce
  • 1 large egg, lightly beaten
  • 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Topping:

  • prepared marinara sauce
  • 3/4 cup Mozzarella, shredded
  • 3/4 cup Italian bread crumbs

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350°F.
  • Cut the tops off the peppers removing the interior seeds and ribs. If necessary, cut a thin slice from the bottom of each pepper so they stand upright. 
    How to make Italian Stuffed Peppers, scooping the bell pepper seeds
  • In a large pot of boiling water, parboil the peppers until just tender, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and dry on paper towels.
    How to make Italian Stuffed Peppers, boiling the bell peppers
  • Arrange standing peppers in a baking dish. Set aside.
  • In a large skillet, brown the ground beef, until there is no longer any pink, then remove to a paper towel-lined plate; set aside. Drain off excess fat from the skillet.
    How to make Italian Stuffed Peppers, browning the beef
  • To the same skillet, add the Italian sausage, onion, and garlic and cook until the sausage is cooked through and the onion is soft. Drain off excess fat from the skillet.
    How to make Italian Stuffed Peppers, sauteing onion and beef
  • Add the browned beef back to the skillet. Then add the cooked rice, 2 cups shredded Mozzarella, Parmesan, 1/2 cup marinara sauce, egg, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Mix until evenly combined.
    How to make Italian Stuffed Peppers, adding other ingredients
  • Divide the meat mixture evenly among the prepared peppers. Lightly press the mixture as you fill. 
    How to make Italian Stuffed Peppers, stuffing the bell pepper with the meat mixture
  • Spoon 2 tablespoons of Marinara over the tops of each stuffed pepper. Pour marinara sauce around the peppers into the baking dish just cover the bottom, about 1/2-inch deep.
    How to make Italian Stuffed Peppers, adding the sauce
  • Bake until the peppers are very tender and the filling is heated through for 25 to 30 minutes.
  • Remove from oven. Top each pepper with shredded Mozzarella then Italian bread crumbs.
    How to make Italian Stuffed Peppers, topping it with shredded cheese
  • Turn oven to broil. Place peppers, uncovered under the broiler. Broil until the cheese is melted and bubbly, about 5 minutes. 
  • Transfer the stuffed peppers to a platter, spoon the sauce from the baking dish over and around the peppers. Garnish with parsley and serve immediately.

Nutrition

Serving: 1/6 of the recipe | Calories: 664kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 38g | Fat: 42g | Saturated Fat: 18g | Cholesterol: 158mg | Sodium: 1258mg | Potassium: 779mg | Fiber: 4.5g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 4290IU | Vitamin C: 157.6mg | Calcium: 410mg | Iron: 4.1mg