#Dining - Classic stuffed peppers

It’s no secret that we’re big fans of stuffed peppers here at Delish. Strong enough to hold their shape, bell peppers are large enough to hold a decent amount of filling while taking to a variety of flavors—they're the perfect vessel for countless combinations and ingredients. This versatile meal is not only simple to make, but feeds families big and small, making it a cheap & easy weeknight dinner legend. While I love to see all our experiments with countless variations, this classic, straight-forward recipe is hard to beat. Make it as-is using all my tips and tricks, then use it as a jumping-off point to get creative and make create your own dream stuffed peppers.

YIELDS:

6 serving(s)

PREP TIME:

20 mins

TOTAL TIME:

1 hr 30 mins

CAL/SERV:

419

Ingredients

1/2 c. uncooked white or brown rice

2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling

1 medium yellow onion, chopped

3 cloves garlic, finely chopped

2 Tbsp. tomato paste

1 lb. ground beef

1 (14.5-oz.) can diced tomatoes

1 1/2 tsp. dried oregano

Kosher salt

Freshly ground black pepper

6 bell peppers, tops and cores removed

1 c. shredded Monterey jack

Chopped fresh parsley, for serving

Directions

Step 1

Preheat oven to 400°. In a small saucepan, prepare rice according to package instructions.

Step 2

Meanwhile, in a large skillet over medium heat, heat oil. Cook onion, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 7 minutes. Stir in garlic and tomato paste and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute more. Add ground beef and cook, breaking up meat with a wooden spoon, until no longer pink, about 6 minutes. Drain excess fat.

Step 3

Stir in rice and diced tomatoes; season with oregano, salt, and pepper. Let simmer, stirring occasionally, until liquid has reduced slightly, about 5 minutes.

Step 4

Arrange peppers cut side up in a 13"x9" baking dish and drizzle with oil. Spoon beef mixture into each pepper. Top with cheese, then cover baking dish with foil.

Step 5

Bake peppers until tender, about 35 minutes. Uncover and continue to bake until cheese is bubbly, about 10 minutes more.

Step 6

Top with parsley before serving.