Hearty, comforting, and endlessly satisfying — classic stuffed bell peppers are the ultimate cozy dinner. Sweet bell peppers are filled with a savory mix of ground meat and rice, then braised in a creamy tomato sauce until tender. If you love stuffed dishes, try our Stuffed Zucchini Boats with Meat and Cheese and our Stuffed Chicken Breast – Perfect Protein Dinner.
Ingredients
- 8 bell peppers
- 400 g (14 oz) ground meat
- 1/2 cup (100 g) rice
- Salt and spices to taste
- 1 carrot, grated
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 tomatoes, diced
- For the sauce: 80 g (1/3 cup) sour cream
- 3 tbsp tomato paste
- 2 cups (500 ml) water
- Salt, spices, and fresh herbs to taste
Instructions
- Boil the rice in salted water until half-done. Mix with the ground meat, salt, and herbs; stuff the peppers.
- In a deep skillet, saute the onion, carrot, and tomatoes in oil until softened.
- Nestle the stuffed peppers into the vegetables, pour over the sauce (sour cream whisked with tomato paste, water, salt, and spices), cover, and braise over medium heat for 25–30 minutes.
Tips
- Choose bell peppers that can stand upright — flat bottoms keep them stable in the skillet while they braise in the sauce.
- Do not fully cook the rice in step one; half-done rice finishes cooking inside the peppers while absorbing the savory sauce.
- For more stuffed vegetable inspiration and technique guides, browse trusted resources like Allrecipes and Serious Eats.
Nutrition: per 100 g: 63.7 kcal, protein 6 g, fat 2.9 g, carbs 3.2 g