Cheesy Stuffed Bell Peppers (Keto-Friendly Recipe!)

These Stuffed Bell Peppers feature a delicious meat and mushroom filling that's mixed with a delicious tomato-based sauce and seasonings, and topped with cheese for the tastiest and easiest dinner idea ever. Plus, it's also a keto-friendly recipe that I'm sure you're going to fall in love with!

It works beautifully on its own and also does well with a side of mashed potatoes, pasta, rice, salad, or buckwheat. Not only does it look absolutely incredible on the dinner table, but it's also a satisfying meal that is packed with flavor in every bite! 

This is the perfect recipe for busy working moms that are always on the hunt for a dish they can prep ahead of time! These peppers may be prepped the night before and then kept covered in the fridge until ready for use. When ready to bake, you will just need to remember to extend the baking time about 10 minutes longer.

Plus, you're going to absolutely love how versatile this stuffed-pepper recipe is! You can add just about anything you want to the filling mixture, stuff these peppers, and then bake them! It's seriously a keto lover's dream come true!

Want to learn how to make Stuffed Bell Peppers? Then keep on reading!

Table of Contents

• What are Stuffed Bell Peppers?
• What Makes This Stuffed Bell Peppers Recipe Special?
• What You Need to Make Stuffed Bell Peppers at Home
• How to Make Stuffed Bell Peppers (Step-by-Step)
• Recipe Variation Ideas for Stuffed Bell Peppers
• How to Make Stuffed Bell Peppers Ahead of Time
• How to Store Leftover Stuffed Bell Peppers
• Similar Recipes You'll Love
• Recipe Card
• Cheesy Stuffed Bell Peppers (Keto-Friendly Recipe!)
• Comments

What are Stuffed Bell Peppers?

Stuffed bell peppers are a classic dish that can be enjoyed as a main course or side dish. They consist of hollowed-out bell peppers filled with savory stuffing, usually made with ground beef, veggies, and a tasty tomato sauce. The stuffed peppers are then baked in the oven until the filling is cooked through and the peppers are tender.

This dish is popular for its flavor and versatility; it can be customized with different types of fillings and seasonings to suit your taste. Stuffed bell peppers are a great way to use up leftovers, as the filling can be made with whatever ingredients you have on hand.

What Makes This Stuffed Bell Peppers Recipe Special?

This stuffed bell peppers recipe is special because it is simple, yet flavorful. The filling is made with ground beef, mushrooms, cheddar cheese, and a delicious well-seasoned pasta sauce that adds a nice depth of flavor. The peppers are then topped with cheese for an extra cheesy finish.

This dish is also great for busy weeknights as it can be prepped ahead of time and stored in the fridge until ready to bake. It's a great way to get a delicious, satisfying meal on the table in no time.

This stuffed bell peppers recipe is also a great way to get your family to eat their vegetables. Bell peppers are packed with vitamins and minerals, and the filling adds protein and fiber for a balanced meal.

To make this dish even healthier, you can use lean ground beef or turkey instead of regular ground beef. You can also add extra vegetables such as onions, mushrooms, or zucchini to the filling.

What You Need to Make Stuffed Bell Peppers at Home

Making these delicious Stuffed Bell Peppers requires the most basic, pantry staple ingredients which is why it's the perfect weeknight dinner meal! Here's what you'll need to make it at home:

For the Bell Pepper Filling:

• Ground beef: First of all, we'll need some lean ground beef to make these stuffed bell peppers more filling and packed with protein. I prefer making my own ground beef at home.

• Bell peppers: We'll also, of course, need some bell peppers to make our stuffed bell peppers recipe. They're incredibly versatile and can hold a lot of different stuffing. Consider using different colors to enhance the color and look for the ones that are about the same size so that they cook evenly simultaneously. 
• Mushrooms: You'll also need some white buttons mushrooms for this recipe. They add a delicious, deep flavor to the stuffed bell peppers and go perfectly with the ground beef, pasta sauce, and cheese in this recipe.
• Mozzarella cheese: We'll also be adding two different kinds of cheese to the delicious meal. The first is mozzarella cheese which will make everything come together and add a delicious cheesy element to the dish.
• Cheddar cheese: The other cheese we'll be using is cheddar cheese! It'll add a delicious slightly salty and flavorful touch to the stuffed bell peppers, taking the ingredients to the next level! 
• Green onions: We'll also be adding some chopped green onions for that sharp flavor that'll perfectly balance everything else out.
• Fresh parsley: You'll also need some fresh parsley that we'll chop and add to our filling mixture for added flavor and presentation.

For the Seasonings:

• Black pepper: We'll, first of all, need some regular ground black pepper to add a delicious flavor and minimal heat to your stuffed bell pepper's stuffing.
• Salt: You'll also need some salt to season the stuffing mixture to the right level! We'll need one teaspoon salt for this recipe. 
• Mrs. Dash seasoning: This is a really great seasoning mix that I use often in my recipes and recommend you have on hand. In just one seasoning blend, you have delicious spices and seasonings such as onion powder, thyme, rosemary, oregano, lemon powder, cayenne pepper, cumin, and other great ones that work perfectly in this recipe!
• Garlic salt: We'll also be adding some garlic salt to our mixture as it'll enhance the flavors of the ground beef and mushrooms and balance everything out.
• Pizza sauce: You'll also need a pizza sauce or any pasta sauce at hand to flavor and season the stuffing mixture. This will add bring out the deliciousness of your ground beef and really elevate the whole dish. 
• Tomato paste: We'll also be adding some tomato paste as it'll add depth to whichever sauce you use and make it all come together beautifully.
• Olive oil: Lastly, you'll also need some olive oil for sautéing.

How to Make Stuffed Bell Peppers (Step-by-Step)

Making this delicious Stuffed Bell Peppers recipe is incredibly easy. Here's what you need to do to make it step by step:

How to Make Meat-Filling Mixture

Start with preparing ground beef. I've written a complete post detailing exactly how to grind meat at home the clean way. I recommend you check that out. 

Next, measure out all the seasonings and mix them together on a plate. Set aside until ready for use.

Peel, rinse, and slice mushrooms. Peeling the outer layer of the mushroom is totally optional, but I like my meals prepared in the cleanest way possible, so I peel them in addition to rinsing. If you'd like to see this process, check out my Lasagna post.

Next, drizzle some olive oil in a large skillet and brown ground beef at high to medium-high heat

As soon as the water evaporates, add sliced mushrooms and continue sautéing the meat with mushrooms. The mushrooms will release water and that is fine. Cook until the water evaporates again.

Once the water has evaporated, reduce the heat to medium-low and add the mixed seasonings. Combine seasoning with meat and mushrooms and sauté for about 5 minutes, and stir occasionally.

While the meat is sautéing, shred mozzarella and cheddar cheese into a large bowl, combine both kinds of cheese and refrigerate it until ready to use.

Mix the pizza sauce and tomato paste into the meat and mushroom mixture and let it simmer for 5 minutes, stirring every minute or so. Set aside and let it cool completely before combining it with cheese and greens.

How to Prep Bell Peppers

Rinse and clean the bell peppers well. Cut each pepper in half, including the stems. This is optional but it looks prettier. To split the stem in half, cut from the top of the stem down. Remove all the seeds and membranes since they are bitter.

Place halved bell pepper into a large bowl and cover the peppers with hot boiling water. Let the peppers steam in the water for 10 minutes. Drain the water and set it aside to cool until ready for use.

This helps to cook the peppers and ensure that they're tender before they're baked in the oven along with the stuffing mixture.

How to Make Stuffed Peppers Filling

Start by rinsing and chopping parsley and green onion. Reserve ¼ of mixed shredded cheese to top peppers after baking.

Transfer the cooled meat and mushroom mixture into a large bowl along with the remaining shredded cheese and add the greens. Mix everything together. Add more seasoning (salt and/or pepper) to taste, if necessary.

How to Bake Stuffed Bell Peppers

Preheat the oven to 350 F.

Spoon the filling into the bottom of the peppers and fill it properly. Then place them into an oven-safe 9 X 13 baking dish cut side up into the bottom of the baking dish.

Cover the pan with aluminum foil and bake for 45 minutes. If the peppers were made ahead of time and were refrigerated, then it will take approximately 55 minutes instead.

Remove the pan from the oven. Top each pepper with reserved shredded cheese, and bake for another 15 minutes while uncovered.

Cool for 5-10 minutes before serving. Your delicious Easy Stuffed Bell Peppers are ready to be served!

Recipe Variation Ideas for Stuffed Bell Peppers

Stuffed bell peppers are a great way to enjoy a delicious meal with endless possibilities. Here are some ideas you can try to change up this recipe and add your own touch to it:

Rice: Try adding cooked quinoa or rice to the filling for an extra boost of protein and fiber. I recommend going with long-grain white rice if you're going to add some cooked rice to it. You can also go with cauliflower rice for a keto-friendly idea.

Cheese: You can add any other cheese you love, such as pepper jack cheese, feta, parmesan, or even goat cheese for a unique flavor.

Meat: There are a ton of different meat options you can go with apart from lean ground beef. Try some ground pork, chicken, ground turkey, or even some chopped Italian sausage! 

Breadcrumbs: Top with breadcrumbs and bake until golden brown for a crunchy topping.

Spicy: Add diced tomatoes, olives, or jalapenos for a spicy kick.

Creamy: Serve with a side of sour cream or Greek yogurt for added creaminess.

How to Make Stuffed Bell Peppers Ahead of Time

This is the perfect recipe for busy working moms that are always on the hunt for a dish they can prep ahead of time!

These peppers may be prepped the night before and then kept covered in the fridge until ready for use.

When ready to bake, you will just need to remember to extend the baking time about 10 minutes longer.

How to Store Leftover Stuffed Bell Peppers

You can store any leftovers you may have in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. I don't recommend freezing these as it will change the texture of the bell peppers. 

Similar Recipes You'll Love

• Stuffed Shells with Italian Homemade Sausage
• Lasagna with Mushrooms
• Pasta with Meat Sauce and Cheese

See all the dinner recipes.

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This recipe was originally posted on September 27, 2016 (original picture below), and updated for a better user experience. The post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure.