It truly doesn’t get easier than this Mexican-influenced Stuffed Bell Peppers recipe! Made with just a few simple ingredients, this 25-minute meal is a tasty and healthy dish that is sure to become a household staple.
Looking for a quick and easy way to get your veggies in? Look no further than this super simple Stuffed Bell Peppers recipe!
This shortcut recipe uses whole peppers hollowed out and stuffed with seasoned ground beef, prepared Spanish rice, and Colby jack cheese to create a quick and comforting dinner. They can be served alone as a healthy, balanced meal, or add a few side dishes to round out a full meal.
This recipe is easily dressed up or down to match almost any occasion. Serve them on their own for a quick lunch or paired with a few of your favorite sides as a casual Sunday dinner.
Kids love this recipe because of the fun presentation and adults appreciate the extra serving of veggies. Trust me, no one will be able to resist the sweet, savory, spicy, flavors of this ultimate comfort dish!
Why I Recommend This Recipe
- This recipe is so simple you probably have almost all the ingredients already.
- Easy to prepare on even the busiest of weeknights!
Ingredient Notes
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- Ground Beef – I prefer 80/20 ground chuck for any recipe requiring ground beef. It has a high fat content which means more flavor. If you prefer leaner beef, that’s fine. Ground turkey and ground chicken also substitute well.
- Prepared Spanish Rice – If you have a favorite homemade recipe, that’s perfect! Otherwise, use either a boxed mix (such as Zatarain) or a ready-to-use brand like Ben’s Original Ready Rice Spanish Flavor (90 seconds microwave cooking time).
- Colby Jack Cheese – Any mild, creamy cheese works. Monterey Jack is also perfect.
- Bell Peppers – They’re the star of the show, so make sure the ones you choose are free of blemishes and wrinkles and feel heavy for their size. Green, purple, red, yellow, and orange all work equally well.
- Spices – A mixture of salt, ground black pepper, garlic powder, cumin, and red pepper flakes provides the seasoning for the beef.
The complete ingredient list with detailed measurements is included in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
How to Make Easy Stuffed Bell Peppers
- In a frying pan over medium heat, add the ground beef together with the salt, pepper, garlic, cumin, and red pepper flakes. Cook until no pink remains in the ground beef. Drain and discard any excess fat.
- While the meat is cooking, prepare the peppers by slicing the top off of each and removing the seeds and ribs from the insides.
- Divide the beef mixture evenly between the prepared peppers.
- Top the beef with prepared Spanish rice.
- Sprinkle a generous amount of cheese on top of each.
- Broil on high until everything is heated through and the cheese is bubbly.
How to Serve
Because these scrumptious bell peppers are brimming with a mixture of protein, carb, and fat, this dish makes a well-rounded meal on its own. However, if you’d like to add a few sides, I recommend serving Mexican or Tex-Mex side dishes such as chips and salsa, refried bean dip, or my Mexican Street Corn Salad.
Storing Leftovers
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. To reheat, simply pop a pepper in the microwave or the air fryer and heat until it’s warmed through.
May be frozen, well-wrapped, in a freezer-safe container for up to two months. Keep in mind that frozen bell peppers become mushy when thawed so they won’t retain any of their fresh crispness.
Tips and Tricks
- Having a hard time getting your peppers to stand up? Try cutting them in half length-wise, then stuff and broil them.
- You can easily prepare the recipe ahead of time and store it in the fridge. Remove from the fridge about 30 minutes before you’re ready to cook. Then broil as directed until heated through.
- I used a casserole dish for the recipe, but it can just as easily be prepared on a cookie sheet or baking pan.
Recipe Variations
- Spice up the recipe even more by adding extra red chili flakes, some chipotle chili powder, or tabasco sauce to your ground beef mixture.
- Skip the layering and simply mix the ground beef, Spanish rice, and cheese together in the skillet before stuffing the filling into the peppers.
- Change the flavor profile from Mexican to Italian by swapping the spices for an Italian seasoning blend with basil, rosemary, thyme, marjoram, oregano, garlic, and onion powder.
Questions About Stuffed Bell Peppers
You can easily make these stuffed peppers keto-friendly by swapping out the rice for quinoa, riced cauliflower, lentils, or chickpeas.
This is completely up to you! If you prefer veggies that are a bit softer, then steam or microwave the peppers for a few minutes before stuffing and broiling. If you prefer a fresh crispness, simply make the recipe as written.
The sky is the limit when it comes to stuffing bell peppers! Try adding chopped veggies such as carrots, tomatoes, rutabagas, squash, zucchini, or turnips, use ground turkey or chicken instead of beef, and add extra cheese.
Have a question or thought to share?
If you have a question about the recipe or if you’ve made it and want to share how it turned out, I would truly enjoy hearing from you. Just scroll down to leave a comment or add your star rating.
Thank you for stopping by. It means a lot to have you here.
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Easy Stuffed Bell Peppers
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef (or ground turkey or chicken)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 6 bell peppers
- 1 cup Colby jack cheese
- 2 cups prepared Spanish rice (recommend Ben's Original Ready Rice, Spanish Style)
Instructions
- In a frying pan over medium heat, add the ground beef together with the salt, pepper, garlic, cumin, and red pepper flakes. Cook until no pink remains in the ground beef. Drain and discard any excess fat.
- While the meat is cooking, prepare the bell peppers by slicing the top off of each and removing the seeds and ribs from the insides.
- Divide the beef mixture evenly between the prepared peppers.
- Top the beef with the prepared Spanish rice.
- Sprinkle a generous amount of cheese on top of each pepper.
- Broil the stuffed peppers on high until everything is heated through and the cheese is bubbly. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- Make these stuffed peppers keto-friendly by swapping out the rice for quinoa, riced cauliflower, lentils, or chickpeas.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Reheat in the microwave or air fryer until warmed through.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information is calculated by software based on the ingredients in each recipe. It is an estimate only and is provided for informational purposes. You should consult your healthcare provider or a registered dietitian if precise nutrition calculations are needed for health reasons.
— This post was originally published on April 21, 2016. It has been updated with new photos and additional information.
I’m Lana Stuart, an award-winning cookbook author, food blogger, and lifelong cook raised deep in Southwest Georgia. I started Lana’s Cooking in 2009 to share the tried-and-true recipes I grew up with. Around here, the food is full of flavor, the traditions run deep, and there’s always room at the table.
do you have a simple recipe for chicken and dumplings
Shirley – you can find my Chicken and Dumplings recipe at this link: http://www.lanascooking.com/chicken-and-dumplings/ I can’t say that it’s simple, but it’s definitely delicious!
That looks like a great easy supper. A little rice on the side to soak up all of the delicious juices would be a good addition.
I really like that easy clean up idea about lining the pan with foil!
Miss P
Stuffed peppers are such the perfect dinner idea and yours look delicious!
Thanks, Sues! And thanks so much for being such a consistent, long-time reader. It’s much appreciated!
Love these peppers. Don’t make them often, but after your post I probably will. You make it look soooo easy.
Would you believe Bill doesn’t like these! I make them for myself when he goes out of town :-)