Bell peppers stuffed with savory beef, tomato sauce, and cheese for a warm, satisfying meal.
# What you'll need:
→ Vegetables
01 - 4 large bell peppers, tops removed and seeds discarded
02 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
→ Meats
04 - 1 lb ground beef (substitute ground turkey or chicken if preferred)
→ Sauce & Seasonings
05 - 1 cup tomato sauce
06 - 2 tbsp tomato paste
07 - 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce (use gluten-free if necessary)
08 - 1 tbsp brown sugar
09 - 1 tsp chili powder
10 - 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
11 - 1/2 tsp salt
12 - 1/4 tsp black pepper
→ Toppings
13 - 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
→ Optional Garnish
14 - 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
# Method:
01 - Set oven to 375°F and prepare for baking.
02 - Place bell peppers upright in a baking dish, trimming bottoms if necessary to stabilize.
03 - Cook ground beef in a large skillet over medium heat, breaking it apart until fully browned, about 5-6 minutes. Drain excess fat as needed.
04 - Add chopped onion and minced garlic to the skillet and cook until softened, approximately 2-3 minutes.
05 - Incorporate tomato sauce, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, chili powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper into the skillet. Simmer for 4-5 minutes until the mixture thickens slightly.
06 - Evenly fill each bell pepper with the prepared beef mixture.
07 - Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake for 25 minutes.
08 - Remove foil, sprinkle shredded cheddar on top of each pepper, then bake uncovered for an additional 8-10 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly.
09 - Optionally garnish with fresh parsley and serve warm.
