Beef and Brown Rice Stuffed Peppers (Print-Friendly Version)
Bell peppers hold a cooked beef, brown rice and tomato filling under melted cheddar Jack. Pre-softening the empty peppers avoids relying on a short final bake to tenderize thick walls.
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House placeholder — AdSense units launch here# Ingredients You’ll Need:
01 - 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil or avocado oil
02 - 1 medium onion, diced
03 - 2-3 garlic cloves, minced
04 - 1 pound lean ground beef
05 - 1½ cups cooked brown rice
06 - 14.5 ounces diced tomatoes, one can
07 - 1 tablespoon tomato paste
08 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
09 - 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
10 - Kosher salt and pepper, to taste
11 - 7 large bell peppers, top and core removed
12 - 1 cup shredded cheddar jack cheese
13 - Freshly chopped parsley, for garnish
14 - Hot water, a shallow layer for the empty peppers’ first bake
# How to Make It:
01 - Heat the oven to 375°F. Remove pepper tops, seeds and membranes. Stand peppers in a deep baking dish with a small amount of hot water around them, cover and bake until beginning to soften; start checking around twenty minutes.
02 - Meanwhile heat oil in a skillet and soften onion. Add garlic briefly, then ground beef. Break it into small pieces and cook to 160°F; drain excess fat.
03 - Stir in cooked brown rice, tomatoes, tomato paste, oregano and paprika. Simmer until there is no large watery pool. Taste and season with salt and pepper.
04 - Divide warm filling among peppers without packing tightly. Return to the oven, covered, until pepper walls are tender to your preference and the filled centers reach 165°F. Allow additional time for large peppers.
05 - Scatter cheese over the peppers and bake uncovered just until melted. Rest briefly, lift with support beneath each pepper, and finish with parsley.
# Extra Suggestions:
01 - No. Measure one and a half cups after cooking. Uncooked brown rice will not finish in this filling’s baking time.
02 - Large pepper walls can remain firm when the filling is already hot. The separate first bake lets you check the vegetable texture directly.
03 - Pepper sizes vary. Divide filling before packing any pepper and serve a small amount separately if needed.
04 - The listed tablespoon gives a pronounced smoked flavor. Measure it separately so it is not confused with the teaspoon of oregano.