Description
Deconstructed Stuffed Peppers is a comforting and flavorful one-pan dish that combines ground beef, bell peppers, rice, and a robust tomato sauce infused with Italian herbs. This recipe offers all the classic flavors of traditional stuffed peppers without the hassle of stuffing, making it an easy, delicious meal perfect for weeknights.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Vegetables
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 lb ground beef
- ½ cup diced onion
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 3 cups diced red bell pepper (orange or yellow work too!)
Liquids and Grains
- 2 cup low sodium beef broth
- 15 oz can tomato sauce
- 1 cup dry white rice
Spices and Cheese
- ½ teaspoon dried basil
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon dried parsley
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Heat Olive Oil: In a large sauté pan, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat to prepare for cooking the beef.
- Cook Ground Beef: Add the ground beef to the pan and cook for 10 minutes, using a spatula to break apart the beef evenly until fully browned and cooked through.
- Sauté Onion and Garlic: Add the diced onion and minced garlic to the pan with the cooked beef and sauté for 3 minutes until the onions become translucent and fragrant.
- Add Remaining Ingredients: Stir in diced bell peppers, beef broth, tomato sauce, white rice, dried basil, oregano, parsley, and black pepper. Mix well to combine all flavors. Cover the pan and bring to a boil, which takes about 5 minutes.
- Simmer and Cook Rice: Once boiling, reduce heat to medium, keep the pan covered, and cook for 20-25 minutes. Stir every few minutes until the rice has absorbed most of the liquid and is fully cooked.
- Melt Cheese on Top: Sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese over the mixture. Cover the pan again and cook on low heat until the cheese melts and becomes gooey, about 3-5 minutes. Serve warm.
Notes
- Use low sodium beef broth to control salt levels in the dish.
- Substitute ground turkey or chicken for a leaner protein option.
- Try using brown rice, but increase the cooking time and liquid accordingly.
- Feel free to add additional vegetables such as mushrooms or zucchini for extra nutrition and flavor.
- This dish can be made ahead and reheated; the flavors improve after resting.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Sauté and Simmer
- Cuisine: American, Italian-inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (about 1/4 of recipe)
- Calories: 410 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 430 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg
Keywords: deconstructed stuffed peppers, stuffed peppers, ground beef recipe, one pan meal, easy dinner, bell peppers, rice recipe, Italian herbs, comfort food
