Deconstructed Stuffed Peppers Recipe
Deconstructed Stuffed Peppers is a comforting, flavorful one-pan dish that combines the classic taste of stuffed bell peppers without the hassle of hollowing out peppers. Ground beef, diced bell peppers, aromatic herbs, and rice are simmered together in a savory tomato and beef broth sauce, then topped with melted mozzarella cheese for a cheesy finish.
- Author: Ruby
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Sautéing and Simmering
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Low Salt
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 cup 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
- Heat the Oil: In a large sauté pan, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat to prepare for cooking the beef.
- Cook the Ground Beef: Add the ground beef to the pan and cook for about 10 minutes, breaking it apart with a spatula to ensure it cooks evenly and browns nicely.
- Sauté Onions and Garlic: Once the beef is browned, add the diced onions and minced garlic to the pan. Sauté together for 3 minutes until the onions soften and the garlic becomes fragrant.
- Add Remaining Ingredients: Stir in the diced bell peppers, beef broth, tomato sauce, dry white rice, dried basil, oregano, parsley, and black pepper. Mix well to combine all flavors.
- Bring to a Boil: Cover the pan and bring the mixture to a boil, which should take about 5 minutes. This helps the rice start cooking evenly.
- Simmer Covered: Once boiling, reduce the heat to medium. Cook covered for 20-25 minutes, stirring every few minutes until nearly all the liquid is absorbed and the rice is tender.
- Add Mozzarella Cheese: Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese over the top. Cover the pan again and cook over low heat until the cheese fully melts, creating a creamy, cheesy layer.
Notes
- For a vegetarian version, substitute ground beef with cooked lentils or plant-based ground meat.
- You can use any color bell peppers: red, orange, or yellow to vary the sweetness.
- Stir occasionally during simmering to prevent rice from sticking to the pan.
- If you prefer a creamier texture, add a splash of milk or cream before adding the cheese.
- Adjust seasoning according to taste, especially if not using low sodium broth.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of recipe (about 1.5 cups)
- Calories: 410
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 410mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0.2g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
Keywords: deconstructed stuffed peppers, stuffed pepper recipe, easy stuffed peppers, one pan dinner, ground beef stuffed peppers, cheesy stuffed peppers