Stuffed Green Peppers with Minced Beef and Rice

Hollowed green peppers make a simple, self-contained dinner when filled with a savoury mixture of minced beef, long-grain rice, tomato passata and herbs. As they bake, the peppers soften and turn mellow while the beef and rice absorb the tangy tomato sauce and stock, keeping the filling moist rather than dry. This style of stuffed pepper is familiar in everyday American home cooking: hearty, practical and easy to serve straight from the baking dish. The pan juices are worth spooning over the tops, adding extra sauce and seasoning to each portion.
Cuisine style American home cooking
Flavor profile Savoury • Herby • Tangy tomato
Techniques Sautéing • Simmering • Baking
Key equipment Oven • Large frying pan • Baking dish
Cooking style Meal prep friendly • Make-ahead friendly • Freezer-friendly

Why this recipe works

  • Built-in savoury depth: Softened onion, garlic, oregano, beef, passata and stock create a rounded filling before the peppers go into the oven.
  • Classic comfort: Rice stretches the beef filling and absorbs the tomato sauce, giving each pepper a hearty, satisfying texture.
  • Reheats well: The sturdy pepper shells and saucy filling hold up well in the fridge or freezer, making this a practical batch-cooking dinner.

Get the most out of this recipe

Texture tips

  • For a juicier filling: Cover the dish for the first part of baking, then uncover so the tops can lightly caramelise without drying out.
  • Keep the rice distinct: Cook the rice only until just tender and drain it well before mixing it into the beef, so the filling stays loose rather than mushy.
  • For tender peppers: Bake until the pepper walls yield easily to a knife but still hold their shape for serving.

Make-ahead tips

  • Prepare the filling ahead: The beef, rice and tomato filling can be cooked in advance, cooled, then refrigerated before stuffing and baking.
  • Freeze cooked portions: Cool completely, wrap well and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
  • Reheat covered: Reheat in a 180°C (355°F) oven, covered, until piping hot throughout, or microwave in short bursts.

Ingredient notes

  • Choosing the peppers: Green peppers give a slightly grassy, savoury edge; red peppers make the dish sweeter and softer in flavour.
  • Season the shells: Lightly salting the inside of the peppers helps season the vegetable itself, not just the filling.
  • Check before stuffing: Taste the beef and rice mixture after adding the stock and passata, then adjust the seasoning before it goes into the peppers.

Serving ideas

  • Simple sides: Serve with a crisp green salad, steamed vegetables or crusty bread for catching the tomato-rich pan juices.
  • Fresh finish: A little chopped parsley or extra black pepper adds freshness just before serving.

Equipment you'll need

Ingredients
Instructions
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  1. Heat the oven to 190°C (375°F). Rinse the rice, then cook it in a saucepan of lightly salted water until just tender. Drain well and set aside.
  2. Meanwhile, slice the tops off the peppers and remove the seeds and white pith. Lightly salt the insides, then stand them upright in a baking dish.
  3. Heat the olive oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Add the onion with a pinch of the salt and cook for 6 to 8 minutes until softened. Stir in the garlic for 1 minute until fragrant.
  4. Add the minced beef and cook, breaking it up, for 6 to 8 minutes until browned with no pink remaining. Stir in the oregano and black pepper. Tip in the passata and stock, then simmer for 5 minutes to thicken slightly.
  5. Stir the cooked rice into the beef mixture and taste for salt. Spoon the filling into the peppers, packing it in gently. Pour any remaining sauce around the peppers in the dish.
  6. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes until the peppers are tender and the filling is bubbling. Rest for 5 minutes, then serve hot, spooning the pan juices over the tops.

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Recipe notes

Tips

  • If the peppers are wobbling, scrunch a small piece of aluminium foil into a ring and sit each pepper in it to keep them upright while baking.
  • For a juicier result, cover the dish for the first 20 minutes of baking, then uncover to finish so the tops lightly caramelise.
  • If serving to vulnerable groups, make sure the filling is piping hot all the way through before serving.

Substitutions

  • Replace Green pepper with Red pepper for a sweeter flavour.
  • Replace Dried oregano with Italian seasoning for a slightly more complex herb note.
  • Replace Beef stock with Vegetable stock for a lighter, less beefy sauce.

Storage

  • Refrigerate up to 3 days
  • Cool completely, then refrigerate in a sealed container. Reheat in a 180°C (355°F) oven, covered, for 20 to 25 minutes until piping hot, or microwave in short bursts. Freeze portions well wrapped for up to 2 months and thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.

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Recipe overview

  • Servings: 4 servings
  • Total time: 1h 20min (25min active)
  • Difficulty: Medium
  • Cuisine: American
Freezer friendly Kid friendly

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