Stuffed Bell Peppers with Rice & Vegetables
Servings: 4
Prep time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 35–40 minutes
Total time: About 1 hour
Ingredients
- 4 large bell peppers — red, yellow, orange, or green
- 2 cups cooked rice — white or brown
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 medium zucchini, diced
- 1 medium carrot, finely diced
- 1 cup chopped mushrooms
- 1 cup diced tomatoes
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon dried basil
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ cup shredded mozzarella or cheddar cheese, optional
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
1. Prepare the peppers
Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Cut the tops off the bell peppers and remove the seeds and membranes. Arrange them upright in a lightly greased baking dish.
2. Sauté the vegetables
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and carrot and cook for 3–4 minutes. Add garlic, zucchini, and mushrooms. Cook another 5–6 minutes, until the vegetables soften.
3. Make the filling
Add diced tomatoes, cooked rice, oregano, basil, paprika, salt, and black pepper. Stir everything together and cook for 2–3 minutes. Remove from heat and mix in the parsley.
4. Stuff the peppers
Spoon the rice and vegetable mixture into each pepper, filling them generously. If using cheese, sprinkle it over the top.
5. Bake
Cover the baking dish loosely with foil and bake for 25 minutes. Remove the foil and bake another 10–15 minutes, until the peppers are tender and the cheese is golden and melted. Similar rice-and-vegetable stuffed pepper recipes use oven temperatures around 350–375°F and bake until the peppers are tender.
6. Serve
Let the peppers rest for 5 minutes, then garnish with fresh parsley. Serve warm with a green salad, yogurt sauce, or a little extra tomato sauce.
🌿 Optional Variations
- Vegan: Skip the cheese or use vegan cheese.
- Mediterranean: Add olives, feta, parsley, and a little lemon juice.
- Higher protein: Add chickpeas or cooked lentils to the filling.
- Spicy: Add red chili flakes or a pinch of cayenne.
