Italian Stuffed Peppers
A delightful and hearty dish featuring bell peppers filled with a savory mixture of ground beef, cheese, and Italian seasonings.
Ingredients
For the Peppers
- 4-6 pieces bell peppers, halved lengthwise with the ribs and seeds removed
- 1 tablespoon olive oil for brushing the peppers
- Kosher salt Kosher salt to taste
- Fresh cracked pepper Fresh cracked pepper to taste
For the Filling
- 1 tablespoon olive oil remaining oil for cooking
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 6 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1 pound ground beef
- 24 oz. spaghetti sauce
- 8 oz. Lifeway Farmer cheese (or ricotta cheese)
- 1/4 cup basil pesto
- 8 oz. shredded mozzarella
- Grated Parmesan Grated Parmesan for garnish
- Fresh chopped parsley Fresh chopped parsley for garnish
Instructions
Preparation
- Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Slice the bell peppers in half lengthwise and remove the ribs and seeds.
- Place the peppers cut side up in a large baking dish. Brush with 2 teaspoons of olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
- Bake the peppers in the oven for about 5 minutes.
Cooking the Filling
- In a large sauté pan, heat the remaining tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat.
- Add the diced onion with a few pinches of salt and pepper, cooking for about 4 minutes while stirring frequently.
- Add the minced garlic and Italian seasoning to the pan, cooking for an additional 1 minute.
- Next, add the ground beef, browning the meat while crumbling it with a spatula until it’s fully cooked.
- Stir in the spaghetti sauce, adjusting the seasoning with salt and pepper to taste.
Assembly and Baking
- In a small bowl, mix the farmer cheese (or ricotta) with the basil pesto.
- Spoon the meat mixture evenly into each halved pepper, followed by the pesto cheese mixture.
- Top each pepper with shredded mozzarella.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes until the filling is warmed through and the peppers are tender-crisp.
- Let the stuffed peppers sit for about 5 minutes before serving.
Serving
- Garnish with grated Parmesan and freshly chopped parsley. Enjoy your meal!
Notes
You can use a mix of cheeses for extra flavor. Add cooked rice or quinoa to the meat mixture for added texture. For spiciness, consider adding red pepper flakes to the beef mixture. Adjust seasoning to your taste.