How to Cook Stuffed Peppers

Stuffed peppers are traditionally a part of Spanish cuisine and this tasty dish has been adopted by food lovers around the world. Stuffed peppers can be made with a variety of ingredients, from beef or cheese to ground turkey or more vegetables. To make delicious, stuffed peppers, follow these steps.

Ingredients

Beef Stuffed Peppers

  • 8 green bell peppers
  • 1 tbsp. olive oil
  • 1/2 cup chopped onion
  • 1/2 cup chopped celery
  • 8 oz. tomato sauce
  • 1 crushed clove garlic
  • 1/2 tsp. oregano
  • 1/2 tsp. basil
  • 2 tsp. salt
  • 1 tsp. pepper
  • 1 slightly beaten egg
  • 1.5 tsp. Worcestershire Sauce
  • 2 lbs. lean ground beef
  • 2 cups cooked long grain rice
  • 1 cup cheddar cheese

Vegetarian Stuffed Peppers

  • 6 large red peppers
  • 2 cups cooked brown rice
  • 3 chopped small tomatoes
  • 1 cup thawed frozen corn
  • 1 chopped small sweet onion
  • 1/3 cup drained canned red beans
  • 1/3 cup drained canned black beans
  • 3/4 cup cubed Monterey Jack cheese
  • 1 can (4.25 oz.) chopped ripe olives
  • 4 sliced basil leaves
  • 3 minced garlic cloves
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 1/2 tsp. pepper
  • 3/4 cup meatless spaghetti sauce
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 4 tbsp. grated Parmesan cheese

Southwestern Stuffed Peppers

  • 1 cup long-grain white rice
  • 1 tbsp. olive oil
  • 6 sliced scallions, whites and greens separated
  • 1/2 lbs. ground beef chuck
  • 1 cup frozen corn
  • 1 4.5-oz. can chopped green chilies
  • 1 tsp. ground cumin
  • 4 oz. (1 cup) grated Monterey Jack
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 1/4 tsp. pepper
  • 4 large red bell peppers
  • 1/2 cup plain low-fat Greek yogurt
  • 3 tbsp. bacon bits
  • Salsa

Chicken and Cream Cheese Stuffed Peppers

  • 3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • 3 cups chicken broth
  • 8 oz. cream cheese
  • 4 oz. grated Monterey Jack cheese
  • 4 oz. grated cheddar
  • 2 seeded diced jalapeño peppers
  • 4 oz. chopped canned green chiles
  • 1 1/2 tsp. cumin
  • Salt to taste
  • Pepper to taste
  • Fresh corn from 2 cobs
  • 1/4 cup salsa
  • 1/3 cup panko
  • 4 green bell peppers
Method 1
Method 1 of 4:

Beef Stuffed Peppers

  1. Image titled Cook Stuffed Peppers Step 1
    1
    Gather your ingredients.
  2. Image titled Cook Stuffed Peppers Step 2
    2
    Preheat the oven to 350ºF (176ºC).
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  3. 3
    Cut the tops off 6 green bell peppers and remove the seeds. Use a narrow sharp knife to do this carefully. Make sure the peppers are washed before you cook them.
  4. 4
    Boil the peppers for 5-7 minutes. Fill a pot with water and the peppers and wait for it to boil. Then, place it on medium heat. This will be enough to slightly boil the peppers. They'll get even softer in the oven.
  5. 5
    Cook 2 lbs. of brown beef in a skillet with 1 tablespoon (14.8 ml). of olive oil. Stir often until it becomes browned all over and completely cooked. Drain out all of the grease with a strainer and put the meat back in the skillet and set it aside. Mix in the long grain rice and mix it as thoroughly as possible.
  6. 6
    Mix 2 cups of cooked long grain rice with the beef in the skillet. Mix the ingredients thoroughly and set the skillet aside.
  7. 7
    Sauté the garlic and onions in a new skillet for 3-4 minutes. Sauté 1/2 cup of chopped onion and 1 crushed clove of garlic until the onion is translucent.
  8. 8
    Add the oregano, basil, salt, and pepper to the skillet and simmer it for 8-10 minutes. Add 1/2 tsp. of oregano, 1/2 tsp. of basil, 2 tsp. of salt, and 1 tsp. of pepper to the skillet. Keep an eye on the mixture to make sure that the onion and garlic don't burn.
  9. 9
    Mix 1 raw egg and 1.5 tsp. Worcestershire sauce in a bowl. Sprinkle the ingredients with salt and pepper to taste. Mix the ingredients until they're completely combined.
  10. 10
    Mix the egg mixture and the stuffing mixture together. Mix these ingredients until they're completely combined.
  11. 11
    Stuff the peppers with the mixture. Stuff them with the mixture until they're completely filled.
  12. Image titled Cook Stuffed Peppers Step 12
    12
    Place them in a pan and put it in the oven for 55 minutes.
  13. Image titled Cook Stuffed Peppers Step 13
    13
    Sprinkle 1 cup of cheddar cheese over the peppers.
  14. Image titled Cook Stuffed Peppers Step 14
    14
    Cook them for 10 more minutes. Cook them until the cheese is completely melted. Then remove the pan from the heat and let the peppers cool for at least 5 minutes.
  15. Image titled Cook Stuffed Peppers Step 15
    15
    Serve. Eat these tasty stuffed peppers while they're hot.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 4:

Vegetarian Stuffed Peppers

  1. Image titled Cook Stuffed Peppers Step 16
    1
    Gather your ingredients.
  2. 2
    Cut the tops of 6 large red peppers and remove the seeds. Set these peppers aside.[1]
  3. 3
    Combine the rice, tomatoes, corn, onion, and beans in a large bowl. Combine 3 chopped small tomatoes, 1 cup thawed frozen corn, 1 chopped small sweet onion, and 1/3 cup drained canned red beans in a bowl and toss the ingredients to combine them.
  4. 4
    Stir in the cheese, olives, basil, garlic, salt, and pepper. After you've tossed the previous ingredients, stir in 3/4 cup of cubed Monterey Jack cheese, 1 can (4.25 oz.) of chopped ripe olives, 4 sliced basil leaves, 3 minced garlic cloves, 1 tsp. of salt, and 1/2 tsp. of pepper. Toss the ingredients to combine them.
  5. Image titled Cook Stuffed Peppers Step 20
    5
    Put the stuffing into the empty peppers.
  6. 6
    Combine 3/4 cup of meatless spaghetti sauce and 1/2 cup water.
  7. 7
    Pour half of the mixture into an oval 5-qt. slow cooker.
  8. Image titled Cook Stuffed Peppers Step 23
    8
    Place the stuffed peppers into the slow cooker.
  9. 9
    Top the peppers with the remaining spaghetti sauce.
  10. 10
    Cover and cook on low for 3.5 - 4 hours. Cook the stuffed peppers until the peppers are tender and the filling is completely heated.
  11. Image titled Cook Stuffed Peppers Step 26
    11
    Sprinkle the peppers with 4 tbsp. of grated Parmesan cheese.
  12. Image titled Cook Stuffed Peppers Step 27
    12
    Serve. Serve these vegetarian stuffed peppers immediately.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 4:

Southwestern Stuffed Peppers

  1. Image titled Cook Stuffed Peppers Step 28
    1
    Gather your ingredients.
  2. Image titled Cook Stuffed Peppers Step 29
    2
    Preheat your oven to 375ºF (190ºC).[2]
  3. 3
    Halve six red bell peppers lengthwise and remove the seeds. This will prepare them to be stuffed.
  4. 4
    Cook the rice. Boil a pot of water, and place the rice into the pot and cook 1 cup of long-grain rice for the amount of time given on the instructions.
  5. Image titled Cook Stuffed Peppers Step 32
    5
    Heat 1 tbsp. of olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. It should take about 30 seconds to a minute for the oil to heat up.
  6. 6
    Add the scallion whites and beef to the oil and cook them for 3-5 minutes. Add 6 sliced scallion whites and 1/2 lbs. of ground beef chuck to the oil. Break up the beef with a spoon until it's no longer pink.
  7. 7
    Stir in the corn, chilies, cumin, cooked rice, cheese, salt, and black pepper. Stir in 1 cup of frozen corn, 1 4.5-oz. can of chopped green chilies, 1 tsp. of ground cumin, 2 oz. (1/2 cup) of grated Monterey Jack cheese, 1/2 tsp. of salt, and 1/4 tsp. of pepper. Stir the ingredients together until they're blended well.
  8. Image titled Cook Stuffed Peppers Step 35
    8
    Arrange the bell peppers in a 9 x 13 inch baking dish. The cut side should be facing up so the peppers can be stuffed.
  9. Image titled Cook Stuffed Peppers Step 36
    9
    Stuff the beef mixture into the peppers. Then, add 1/2 cup of water to the dish and tightly cover it with foil.
  10. 10
    Bake the peppers for 30-40 minutes, until they're soft.
  11. Image titled Cook Stuffed Peppers Step 38
    11
    Uncover them and sprinkle them with the other 1/2 cup of Monterey Jack cheese.
  12. Image titled Cook Stuffed Peppers Step 39
    12
    Bake them for 5-7 more minutes. Bake the peppers until they're browned. Then, remove them from the heat.
  13. 13
    Whisk together 1/2 cup of plain low-fat Greek yogurt and 1/4 cup of water in a small bowl. You can do this while the peppers are still baking.
  14. Image titled Cook Stuffed Peppers Step 41
    14
    Drizzle the yogurt mixture over the peppers.
  15. Image titled Cook Stuffed Peppers Step 42
    15
    Serve. Top the peppers with salsa, 3 tbsp. of bacon bits, and 6 diced scallion greens and enjoy them while they're hot.
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Method 4
Method 4 of 4:

Chicken and Cream Cheese Stuffed Peppers

  1. Image titled Cook Stuffed Peppers Step 43
    1
    Gather your ingredients.
  2. Image titled Cook Stuffed Peppers Step 44
    2
    Preheat your oven to 350ºF (176ºC).[3]
  3. 3
    Poach 3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts in 3 cups of chicken broth. When the chicken is cooked through, after 6-8 minutes or so, remove the chicken and let it cool so that you can handle it.
  4. 4
    Shred and process the chicken. Use two forks to shred the chicken into small pieces and then put it in the food processor for at least one minute, until it isn't quite as chunky.
  5. 5
    Make the chicken mixture. To do this, simply combine the chicken, 8 oz. of cream cheese, 2 oz. of grated Monterey Jack cheese, 2 oz. of grated cheddar, 2 seeded diced jalapeño peppers, 4 oz. of chopped canned green chiles, 1 1/2 tsp. of cumin, and salt and pepper to taste in one large bowl. Stir the ingredients to combine them well.
  6. 6
    Slice the bell peppers in half lengthwise. Remove the stem and the veins and seeds.
  7. 7
    Stuff the peppers with the chicken mixture.
  8. 8
    Sprinkle the tops of the peppers with the remaining cheese and panko crumbs. Sprinkle the tops with 2 oz. of grated Monterey Jack cheese, 2 oz. of grated cheddar, and 1/3 cup of panko crumbs.
  9. Image titled Cook Stuffed Peppers Step 51
    9
    Place the peppers on 9 x 13" lined baking sheet.
  10. Image titled Cook Stuffed Peppers Step 52
    10
    Cook them for 25-30 minutes. Cook them until the peppers are tender and heated through and the cheese is melted.
  11. Image titled Cook Stuffed Peppers Step 53
    11
    Serve. Enjoy these tasty peppers immediately.
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Community Q&A

  • Question
    How should I freeze stuffed bell peppers?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Wrap them in foil, then seal them in a freezer-safe plastic bag.
  • Question
    Can stuffed peppers be cooked in a slow cooker in sauce. If so,how long?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Yes. Cook them until the meat inside is at an edible temperature.
  • Question
    At what temperature and for how long would I cook a frozen stuffed pepper?
    Valross936127
    Valross936127
    Community Answer
    You would cook it at 350 º Fahrenheit for about 30 minutes.
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References

  1. ↑ http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/vegetarian-stuffed-peppers
  2. ↑ http://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/browse-all-recipes/stuffed-peppers-recipe-00100000074106/index.html
  3. ↑ http://www.bunsinmyoven.com/2011/07/25/chicken-cream-cheese-stuffed-peppers/

About This Article

wikiHow Staff
Co-authored by:
wikiHow Staff
wikiHow Staff Writer
This article was co-authored by wikiHow Staff. Our trained team of editors and researchers validate articles for accuracy and comprehensiveness. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. This article has been viewed 406,723 times.
86 votes - 100%
Co-authors: 26
Updated: March 18, 2023
Views: 406,723
Categories: Featured Articles | Fruits and Vegetables
Article SummaryX

To cook stuffed peppers, start by cutting the tops off 6 green bell peppers and removing the seeds. Next, boil the peppers for 5 to 7 minutes. While those are boiling, brown some beef in a skillet, drain out the grease, and mix in cooked long grain rice. Then, cook garlic, onions, oregano, basil, salt, and pepper in another skillet until the onions are translucent. In a mixing bowl, combine a raw egg and Worcestershire sauce, stir in the meat and spices, and stuff the peppers. Finally, cook the peppers in an oven set to 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 55 minutes, sprinkle cheddar cheese over top, and cook for another 10 minutes. To learn how to make vegetarian stuffed peppers, keep reading!

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