Here is the list of stuffed pepper recipes! We've rounded up the best collection, including vegan, seafood, and meat-stuffed peppers. Keep reading for more delicious and simple recipes that'll make weeknight dinners a breeze!
For a long time, I used to grab pre-made peppers from the stores. But once I started making them myself, these flavorful stuffed peppers have become a regular part of our family dinners. They're delicious, satisfying, and-best of all-super easy to make(also these jalapeno recipes).
I keep making them more often, but with different ingredients and flavors each time. It's no wonder that every time my family and I try a new dish.
I'd honestly love to hear from you and your readers-how often do you make stuffed peppers? Do you love them as much as I do?
Why We All Love This Recipe
⭐️It's budget-friendly & Flavorful.
⭐️Leftover-friendly, toss in leftover cooked rice, ground meat, or roasted veggies.
⭐️Colorful and impressive, these are not only tasty but also pretty!
15 Best Stuffed Pepper Recipes
How To Build The Basic Stuffed Peppers
- Choose Peppers: Bell peppers are the most popular; they have more space for stuffing and can hold their shape well. And if you love a little smoky depth, go for poblano peppers. Banana peppers and Cubanelle peppers are also excellent choices for rich peppery flavors.
- Protein: Next, choose your protein, such as ground beef, turkey, chicken, sausage, or lamb. Or choose plant-based options like tofu, chickpeas, lentils, or mushrooms.
- The Grains: You can go with classic choices like white or brown rice. Or choose quinoa, barley, oats, bulgur, or cauliflower rice.
- Veggies: Onions, spinach, corn, zucchini, potato, squash, and even cauliflower bits all work beautifully.
- Seasoning: Paprika, black pepper, cumin, oregano, crushed red pepper, Italian seasoning, cilantro, thyme... a good seasoning for the stuffed peppers.
- The Sauce: Tomato-based sauces are a classic for a reason. I love using fire-roasted diced tomatoes for that smoky depth, but plain diced tomatoes or marinara sauce work as well.
- Toppings: Shredded cheddar, mozzarella, or feta are the go-tos. Breadcrumbs add a nice crunch, and fresh herbs like parsley, basil, or cilantro sprinkled on top for a fresh look.
How To Make The Basic Stuffed Peppers
Once you've picked your ingredients, making stuffed peppers is easy.
- Prepare the peppers: Slice and core them. You can blanch, bake, or use them raw, where blanching softens them slightly, while baking brings out their sweetness. Use based on your texture preference.
- Sauté your filling: In a skillet, toss in your cooked protein, grains, veggies, and seasonings.
- Stir in the sauce: Add your tomato sauce and let it simmer until the mixture is moist.
- Stuff the peppers: Spoon the filling into each pepper and sprinkle cheese(optional) on top.
- Bake: Arrange the stuffed peppers in a baking dish. And bake it in the preheated oven until the cheese melts or the edges of the pepper turn slightly charred.
- Garnish and serve: Sprinkle with fresh herbs like parsley or cilantro and serve hot.
Frequently Asked Questions
Absolutely! They'll keep well in the freezer for up to three months. When you're ready to eat, just reheat in the microwave or oven. For more details, you can check out our complete guide on how to freeze stuffed peppers.
Yes, you sure can! For a vegan version, try using lentils, tofu, beans, or mushrooms as your protein. If you're missing that cheesy flavor, a sprinkle of nutritional yeast does the trick.
Yes, for this recipe, we're using pre-cooked rice. Since the peppers don't need a long time in the oven, we want to make sure everything inside is already cooked.
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