Description
These Costco-inspired stuffed bell peppers are a hearty and flavorful dish made with seasoned ground beef, rice, tomato sauce, and melted cheese—all baked inside sweet red bell peppers. Perfect for meal prep or a satisfying weeknight dinner, this recipe replicates the comfort and convenience of Costco’s classic with even fresher flavors at home.
Ingredients
Scale
- 6 large red bell peppers, halved and seeds removed
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 lb ground beef (85/15 preferred)
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 ½ cups cooked white rice
- 1 ½ cups marinara or tomato sauce (plus extra for topping)
- 1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup grated parmesan cheese
- Fresh parsley (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Prepare bell peppers by cutting them in half lengthwise and removing seeds and membranes. Place them cut-side up in a baking dish.
- In a large skillet over medium heat, heat olive oil. Sauté onions for 3–4 minutes until translucent. Add garlic and cook another 30 seconds.
- Add ground beef to the skillet. Cook until browned, breaking it apart with a spatula. Drain excess fat if needed.
- Season the beef with Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Stir in cooked rice and marinara sauce. Mix until well combined and heated through.
- Spoon the mixture evenly into each pepper half. Top each with a little extra sauce if desired.
- Sprinkle mozzarella and parmesan cheese over the stuffed peppers.
- Cover the dish with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove foil and bake an additional 10–15 minutes until cheese is melted and slightly golden.
- Garnish with fresh parsley and serve hot.
Notes
- Make it low-carb: Substitute cauliflower rice for white rice.
- Storage: Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 4 days or frozen for up to 2 months.
- Spice it up: Add red pepper flakes or chopped jalapeños to the filling for extra heat.
- Protein options: Ground turkey or chicken work well as substitutes for beef.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 stuffed pepper half
- Calories: 370
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 850mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 3.5g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 75mg