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Chef John's Classic Stuffed Bell Peppers

Chef John's Classic Stuffed Bell Peppers feature tender green peppers brimming with a rich mix of rice, beef, and spicy Italian sausage, rounded out by Parmigiano-Reggiano. Each bite balances hearty, meaty depth with a bright tomato base and a hint of heat. Serve for a cozy weeknight dinner or a comforting weekend meal that satisfies everyone at the table.

  • Prep30 mins
  • Cook1 hr 20 mins
  • Serves8
  • DifficultyMedium
Chef John's Classic Stuffed Bell Peppers
  1. 1

    Gather all the ingredients.

  2. 2

    Bring the rice and water to a boil in a saucepan over high heat. Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until the rice is tender and the liquid is absorbed, 20 to 25 minutes. Set the cooked rice aside.

  3. 3

    Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).

  4. 4

    To make the sauce: Cook the onion in the olive oil over medium heat until the onion starts to soften, about 5 minutes. Transfer half of the cooked onion to a large bowl and set it aside.

  5. 5

    Stir the marinara sauce, beef broth, balsamic vinegar, and red pepper flakes into the skillet with the cooked onion; cook and stir for 1 minute.

  6. 6

    Pour the sauce mixture into a 9x13-inch baking dish and set it aside.

  7. 7

    Combine the ground beef, Italian sausage, diced tomatoes, Italian parsley, garlic, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper in the bowl with the reserved onions; mix well. Stir in the cooked rice and Parmigiano Reggiano. Stuff the bell peppers with the beef and sausage mixture.

  8. 8

    Place the stuffed bell pepper halves in the baking dish over the tomato sauce; sprinkle with the remaining Parmigiano-Reggiano, cover the baking dish with aluminum foil, and bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes.

  9. 9

    Remove the aluminum foil and continue baking until the meat is no longer pink, the bell peppers are tender, and the cheese is browned on top, an additional 20 to 25 minutes. Serve hot and enjoy!

About This Recipe

Chef John's Classic Stuffed Bell Peppers is an Italian dinner recipe made with 18 ingredients. It takes about 1 hr 50 mins, serves 8, and is rated medium. Key ingredients include Balsamic Vinegar, Beef Broth, Black Pepper, and Cayenne Pepper. Each serving provides about 670.99 kcal, and is a good source of protein.

Recipe Questions

What is Chef John's Classic Stuffed Bell Peppers?
It is an Italian recipe made with 18 ingredients, usually served for dinner or lunch.
What is Chef John's Classic Stuffed Bell Peppers made of?
The main ingredients are Balsamic Vinegar, Beef Broth, Black Pepper, Cayenne Pepper, Diced Tomatoes. The full list of 18 is above.
What goes well with Chef John's Classic Stuffed Bell Peppers?
Explore these Italian side-dish recipes.
How long does it take to make Chef John's Classic Stuffed Bell Peppers?
About 1 hr 50 mins in total: 30 mins to prepare and 1 hr 20 mins to cook.
How many calories are in one serving?
One serving provides about 670.99 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
Is Chef John's Classic Stuffed Bell Peppers easy to make?
This recipe is rated medium, with 18 ingredients and 9 steps.

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