Description
New Orleans Stuffed Bell Peppers are a Southern comfort classic, bursting with Cajun flavor. These bell peppers are filled with a hearty mixture of ground beef, rice, tomatoes, and seasonings, then baked to perfection for a satisfying and flavorful meal.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 large bell peppers (any color), tops cut off and seeds removed
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1/2 pound ground pork or sausage (optional for extra flavor)
- 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
- 1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes, drained
- 1/2 cup cooked white rice
- 1/4 cup chopped parsley
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar or mozzarella cheese (optional topping)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a baking dish large enough to hold the peppers upright.
- In a skillet over medium heat, add olive oil and sauté onions until translucent. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute more.
- Add ground beef and pork (if using) to the skillet. Cook until browned and crumbled. Drain excess fat.
- Stir in Cajun seasoning, thyme, cayenne, diced tomatoes, cooked rice, and parsley. Season with salt and pepper. Let mixture simmer for 5 minutes to combine flavors.
- Stuff each bell pepper with the meat and rice mixture, packing it in firmly.
- Place stuffed peppers in the prepared baking dish. Add 1/4 cup water to the bottom of the dish to keep them moist.
- Cover with foil and bake for 30–35 minutes. Remove foil, top with cheese if using, and bake uncovered for an additional 10 minutes until cheese is melted and peppers are tender.
- Serve hot, garnished with extra parsley if desired.
Notes
- Use green bell peppers for a more traditional Creole presentation, or red and yellow for a sweeter flavor.
- For a spicier version, increase the cayenne or add hot sauce to the meat mixture.
- Leftovers reheat well and can be frozen for meal prep.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 stuffed pepper
- Calories: 410
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 580mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 26g
- Cholesterol: 80mg
Keywords: New Orleans stuffed peppers, Cajun stuffed peppers, ground beef stuffed bell peppers, Creole stuffed peppers, baked bell peppers