✕

Stuffed Peppers · Beef and Rice

Cheesy Beef and Rice Stuffed Peppers

4

Hands-free cooking

With your OK, your browser's microphone listens for short commands like “next” while this page is open, and steps are read aloud.

Simmerbee never records, keeps or sends your audio, and listening stops when you hide or leave this page. Privacy

What you can say
  • “Next”, “back”, “repeat”, “step 3”, “start over”
  • “Start timer”, “set a timer for 10 minutes”, “pause timer”, “resume timer”, “time left”, “stop the alarm”
  • “How much butter?” (answers for the servings and units you picked)
  • “What can I use instead of buttermilk?”, “Can I use oil instead of butter?”, “I'm out of eggs”
  • “How do I fold?”, “What does temper mean?”, “What are soft peaks?”
  • “How many grams is a cup of flour?”, “How many tablespoons in a stick of butter?”, “What is 350 in Celsius?”
  • “Ingredients”, “close ingredients”, “quiet” (stop reading), “stop listening”
Reading aloud

Before you start

Gather your ingredients

  • Swaps for olive oil

    Instead of olive oil

    • Avocado oil or another neutral oil: The same amount. No olive flavor; avocado oil handles higher heat.
    • Butter: The same amount. Richer and nutty when browned.
    • A neutral oil + more seasoning: The same amount. Dressings lose the fruity, peppery note; a little extra lemon, garlic or mustard makes up for it.

    More for olive oil

  • Swaps for onion

    Instead of onion

    • Another onion: The same amount. Yellow is the all-rounder; white is sharper and crisper; red is milder raw and adds color; sweet onions are mildest.
    • Shallots: The same amount, chopped. Milder and sweeter, with a hint of garlic.
    • Leeks: About 1½ times as much, white and light green parts. Milder and softer when cooked.

    All 4 swaps for onion

  • Swaps for ground beef

    Instead of ground beef

    • Ground turkey or chicken: The same weight. Leaner and milder; burgers and meatballs are a bit drier.
    • Ground pork: The same weight. Richer and slightly sweet.
    • Plant-based ground: The same weight. Close in tacos and sauces; cooks faster.

    All 4 swaps for ground beef

    Cook ground beef and pork to 160°F (71°C) and ground turkey or chicken to 165°F (74°C).

  • Swaps for garlic

    Instead of garlic

    • Garlic powder: ⅛ tsp for each clove. Mellower and sweeter, with no bite.
    • Jarred minced garlic: ½ tsp for each clove. Milder and slightly sour from the preserving liquid.

    More for garlic

  • Swaps for italian seasoning

    Instead of Italian seasoning

    • Homemade blend: For 1 tsp: ½ tsp dried oregano, ¼ tsp dried basil, ¼ tsp dried thyme (a pinch of rosemary if you have it). The same thing.
    • Herbes de Provence: The same amount. Similar, often with lavender; a little more floral.
    • Dried oregano alone: The same amount. Stronger and simpler.

    More for Italian seasoning

  • Swaps for smoked paprika

    Instead of paprika

    • Sweet paprika + a pinch of chipotle or cumin: The same amount of paprika, plus a pinch. Some smokiness without the full smoked flavor; chipotle adds heat.
    • Chipotle powder: About ¼ the amount. Smoky and much hotter.

    More for paprika

  • Swaps for kosher salt

    Instead of salt

    • Table salt or fine sea salt: About half as much as Diamond Crystal kosher, about ¾ as much as Morton kosher. The same saltiness when measured this way.
    • Salt by weight: 1 tsp is about 6 grams of table salt, 5 grams of Morton kosher, 3 grams of Diamond Crystal kosher. The most reliable way to swap, especially in baking and brines.

    More for salt

  • Swaps for diced tomatoes

    Instead of canned tomatoes

    • Whole peeled tomatoes, chopped: The same amount. Softer pieces that break down more: canned diced tomatoes have calcium chloride to keep their shape.

    More for canned tomatoes

  • Swaps for tomato sauce

    Instead of canned tomatoes

    • Crushed tomatoes, blended smooth: The same amount, with a pinch of salt. Thicker and fresher than tomato sauce.
    • Tomato paste + water: ¼ cup tomato paste whisked with ¾ cup water for each cup. Smooth and a little more concentrated.

    More for canned tomatoes

  • Swaps for fresh parsley

    Instead of parsley

    • Dried parsley: 1 tsp dried for each 1 tbsp chopped fresh (a third as much). Very mild; it adds color more than flavor.
    • Cilantro: The same amount. Stronger and citrusy; suits Mexican and Asian dishes.
    • Celery leaves or chervil: The same amount. Celery leaves are peppery and grassy; chervil is mild with a hint of anise.

    More for parsley

Step 1 of 12

Heat the oven to 375°F. Arrange the pepper halves cut side up in a 9x13 baking dish.

375°F

Step 2 of 12

Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until soft.

Step 3 of 12

Add the beef and turn the heat to medium-high, breaking the meat into small crumbles with a wooden spoon.

Step 4 of 12

Cook until no pink remains and the beef reaches 160°F (71°C). Spoon off any extra fat.

160°F

Step 5 of 12

Stir in the garlic, Italian seasoning, smoked paprika, salt and pepper and cook until fragrant.

Step 6 of 12

Add the diced tomatoes with their juices and
simmer (how to simmer) Simmer Cook liquid just below a boil, with small bubbles breaking the surface now and then. 1. Bring the liquid up over medium-high heat.2. As soon as bubbles rise steadily, turn the heat down.3. Adjust until only a few small bubbles break the surface every second or two.4. Stir now and then and check that it hasn't crept back to a boil. Done when: You see lazy, small bubbles, not a rolling boil. A "bare" simmer has just a bubble here and there. Safety: Steam burns fast: lift lids and foil away from your face, tipping the far edge up first.How to simmer: mistakes to avoid
until most of the liquid cooks off.

Step 7 of 12

Take the pan off the heat and stir in the rice and 1/2 cup of the cheese.

Step 8 of 12

Pack the filling into the pepper halves, mounding it on top.

Step 9 of 12

Pour the tomato sauce into the bottom of the dish around the peppers and cover the dish tightly with foil.

Step 10 of 12

Bake covered until the peppers are tender when pierced with a knife.

375°F

Step 11 of 12

Uncover, sprinkle the remaining cheese over the peppers and bake until melted and bubbly.

375°F

Step 12 of 12

Sprinkle with parsley and serve.

All done

Enjoy!

Made it? Sign in to rate it and leave a review.

Ingredients

  • Swaps for olive oil

    Instead of olive oil

    • Avocado oil or another neutral oil: The same amount. No olive flavor; avocado oil handles higher heat.
    • Butter: The same amount. Richer and nutty when browned.
    • A neutral oil + more seasoning: The same amount. Dressings lose the fruity, peppery note; a little extra lemon, garlic or mustard makes up for it.

    More for olive oil

  • Swaps for onion

    Instead of onion

    • Another onion: The same amount. Yellow is the all-rounder; white is sharper and crisper; red is milder raw and adds color; sweet onions are mildest.
    • Shallots: The same amount, chopped. Milder and sweeter, with a hint of garlic.
    • Leeks: About 1½ times as much, white and light green parts. Milder and softer when cooked.

    All 4 swaps for onion

  • Swaps for ground beef

    Instead of ground beef

    • Ground turkey or chicken: The same weight. Leaner and milder; burgers and meatballs are a bit drier.
    • Ground pork: The same weight. Richer and slightly sweet.
    • Plant-based ground: The same weight. Close in tacos and sauces; cooks faster.

    All 4 swaps for ground beef

    Cook ground beef and pork to 160°F (71°C) and ground turkey or chicken to 165°F (74°C).

  • Swaps for garlic

    Instead of garlic

    • Garlic powder: ⅛ tsp for each clove. Mellower and sweeter, with no bite.
    • Jarred minced garlic: ½ tsp for each clove. Milder and slightly sour from the preserving liquid.

    More for garlic

  • Swaps for italian seasoning

    Instead of Italian seasoning

    • Homemade blend: For 1 tsp: ½ tsp dried oregano, ¼ tsp dried basil, ¼ tsp dried thyme (a pinch of rosemary if you have it). The same thing.
    • Herbes de Provence: The same amount. Similar, often with lavender; a little more floral.
    • Dried oregano alone: The same amount. Stronger and simpler.

    More for Italian seasoning

  • Swaps for smoked paprika

    Instead of paprika

    • Sweet paprika + a pinch of chipotle or cumin: The same amount of paprika, plus a pinch. Some smokiness without the full smoked flavor; chipotle adds heat.
    • Chipotle powder: About ¼ the amount. Smoky and much hotter.

    More for paprika

  • Swaps for kosher salt

    Instead of salt

    • Table salt or fine sea salt: About half as much as Diamond Crystal kosher, about ¾ as much as Morton kosher. The same saltiness when measured this way.
    • Salt by weight: 1 tsp is about 6 grams of table salt, 5 grams of Morton kosher, 3 grams of Diamond Crystal kosher. The most reliable way to swap, especially in baking and brines.

    More for salt

  • Swaps for diced tomatoes

    Instead of canned tomatoes

    • Whole peeled tomatoes, chopped: The same amount. Softer pieces that break down more: canned diced tomatoes have calcium chloride to keep their shape.

    More for canned tomatoes

  • Swaps for tomato sauce

    Instead of canned tomatoes

    • Crushed tomatoes, blended smooth: The same amount, with a pinch of salt. Thicker and fresher than tomato sauce.
    • Tomato paste + water: ¼ cup tomato paste whisked with ¾ cup water for each cup. Smooth and a little more concentrated.

    More for canned tomatoes

  • Swaps for fresh parsley

    Instead of parsley

    • Dried parsley: 1 tsp dried for each 1 tbsp chopped fresh (a third as much). Very mild; it adds color more than flavor.
    • Cilantro: The same amount. Stronger and citrusy; suits Mexican and Asian dishes.
    • Celery leaves or chervil: The same amount. Celery leaves are peppery and grassy; chervil is mild with a hint of anise.

    More for parsley