Stuffed peppers have been all the time one among my favourite meals rising up, and this Stuffed Pepper Skillet provides me all those self same cozy flavors with so much much less work. As an alternative of hollowing out entire peppers and stuffing them one after the other, the bell peppers are chopped and cooked proper within the pan with savory Italian sausage, tender rice, tomatoes, and melty Colby Jack cheese. It’s fast, comforting, budget-friendly, and prepared in about 40 minutes. That is precisely the type of simple one-pan dinner I would like on a busy weeknight!
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One-Pan Stuffed Pepper Skillet
This recipe retains the center of basic stuffed peppers, however turns it right into a a lot simpler skillet dinner. The chopped bell peppers cook dinner proper alongside the sausage, rice, tomatoes, and broth, so every thing has time to melt, season, and simmer collectively in a single skillet.
I exploit Italian sausage on this stuffed pepper skillet as a result of it provides built-in seasoning (which is nice should you don’t have a well-stocked pantry!), and provides a lot savory taste as every thing cooks collectively. Toasting the raw long-grain rice for only a minute earlier than including the broth and tomatoes additionally helps it take in all these flavors as an alternative of tasting like plain rice that’s simply been stirred in on the finish. I made positive to maintain this recipe versatile, too! You possibly can preserve it easy or combine in further veggies, swap proteins, or strive a distinct cheese relying on what you have already got available.
- Use a big, deep skillet with a lid. The rice wants room to simmer, and the lid traps steam so it could actually cook dinner by means of within the tomato sauce. A heavy-bottomed skillet, pan, or Dutch oven works greatest as a result of the thicker base helps distribute warmth evenly and reduces the prospect of the rice scorching on the underside.
- Need to swap the Italian sausage? I solely add a couple of further seasonings to this recipe as a result of candy Italian sausage already brings loads of salt, herbs, and savory taste. Gentle or scorching Italian sausage are additionally scrumptious! Should you swap in floor beef, rooster, turkey, or plain pork, I’d improve the Italian seasoning to 2 teaspoons and season to style with further salt and pepper. For the same recipe constructed round floor beef, strive our unstuffed bell peppers, which makes use of the identical skillet methodology, however with beef and additional seasonings!
- Persist with lengthy grain white rice. I’ve measured the broth, diced tomatoes, and tomato sauce to completely cook dinner the lengthy grain white rice proper within the skillet. Different sorts of rice take in liquid in a different way. Brown rice would wish extra liquid and an extended cook dinner time, whereas immediate rice will cook dinner too quick and switch mushy.
- Carry the liquid to a full boil earlier than decreasing the warmth. As soon as the meat broth, diced tomatoes, and tomato sauce go in, let the combination come as much as a boil earlier than overlaying the skillet and decreasing the warmth to low. This jump-starts the rice so it cooks evenly as an alternative of sitting in heat liquid and taking longer to melt.
- Preserve the lid on whereas the rice simmers. That is SO necessary to assist your stuffed pepper skillet cook dinner correctly! The rice cooks partly from steam, so strive to not carry the lid too typically. If the rice continues to be agency however the skillet appears dry on the finish, add a splash of broth or water, cowl, and simmer for a couple of extra minutes.
- Search for tender rice and principally absorbed liquid. The skillet ought to nonetheless look saucy, however not soupy, and the rice ought to be tender throughout. If the rice is finished however there’s nonetheless further liquid within the pan, let it simmer uncovered for 2-4 minutes (earlier than including the cheese), stirring often, till the sauce thickens.
Stuffed Pepper Skillet
Value $12.20 recipe / $2.03 serving
This Stuffed Pepper Skillet is a simple one-pan dinner with savory sausage, candy bell peppers, tender rice, and a from-scratch tomatoey sauce!
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Collect and prep all elements.
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In a big deep skillet or sauté pan with a lid, cook dinner Italian sausage over medium warmth till browned, 5-6 minutes, breaking it aside because it cooks. Drain extra fats if wanted.
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Add onion, bell peppers, and garlic. Cook dinner for 4-5 minutes till softened.
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Stir in rice, Italian seasoning, and smoked paprika. Cook dinner for 1 minute to flippantly toast the rice.
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Add beef broth, diced tomatoes with juice, and tomato sauce. Scrape the underside of the pan to launch any browned bits.
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Carry to a boil, cut back warmth to low, cowl, and simmer for 18-20 minutes, till rice is tender and liquid is generally absorbed
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Take away from warmth, sprinkle cheese on high, cowl for 2-3 minutes to soften.
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Garnish with parsley and serve scorching.
See how we calculate recipe prices right here.
**For selection, I exploit one inexperienced, pink, and yellow bell pepper. Utilizing ALL inexperienced bell peppers will prevent some cash!
***We use Higher Than Bouillon to make our broth as a result of it’s flavorful, simple to maintain available, and one pot lasts for ages! I’ve primarily based the worth for beef broth on this.
Serving: 1serving (1.5 cups)Energy: 514kcal (26%)Carbohydrates: 37g (12%)Protein: 21g (42%)Fats: 32g (49%)Sodium: 1266mg (55%)Fiber: 3g (13%)
how one can make Stuffed Pepper Skillet step-by-step images
Collect all your elements.
Brown the sausage: Add 1 lb. floor Italian sausage to a big, deep skillet or sauté pan with a lid. Cook dinner over medium warmth for 5-6 minutes, breaking it into crumbles because it browns. Drain off extra grease if there’s greater than a tablespoon or so left within the pan to cease the dish from feeling greasy.
Add the veggies: Stir in 1 diced onion, 3 diced bell peppers, and three cloves minced garlic. Cook dinner for 4-5 minutes, stirring typically, till the onion turns translucent, the peppers soften barely, and the garlic smells aromatic. The greens don’t have to be absolutely tender but, since they’ll preserve cooking with the rice.
Add the rice: Add 1 cup raw lengthy grain rice, 1 tsp Italian seasoning, and ½ tsp smoked paprika. Stir effectively so the rice is coated within the sausage drippings and seasonings, then cook dinner for about 1 minute. This flippantly toasts the rice and helps the spices bloom, giving the entire skillet a deeper taste.
Make it saucy: Pour in 2 cups beef broth, one 14.5 oz. can diced tomatoes (with juices), and one 8 oz. can tomato sauce. Scrape the underside of the skillet together with your spoon to loosen any browned bits from the sausage and greens. These little bits add plenty of taste to the tomato broth.
Cook dinner: Flip the warmth up and produce the combination to a boil. As soon as it’s effervescent, cut back the warmth to low, cowl the skillet, and simmer for 18-20 minutes, or till the rice is tender and many of the liquid has been absorbed. Strive to not carry the lid too typically, because the trapped steam helps the rice cook dinner evenly. If the rice continues to be agency, add a small splash of broth or water, cowl once more, and cook dinner for an additional 3-5 minutes.
Add the cheese: Take away the skillet from the warmth and sprinkle 1 cup shredded Colby Jack cheese evenly excessive. Cowl the pan for 2-3 minutes, till the cheese melts right into a gooey layer.
Serve: End with 1 Tbsp chopped contemporary parsley and serve scorching whereas the rice is tender, the peppers are smooth, and the cheese continues to be melty. Take pleasure in!
What Else Can I Add?
This stuffed bell pepper skillet is straightforward to customise with no matter you have already got within the fridge or pantry. Simply preserve add-ins sufficiently small that they cook dinner evenly and don’t overcrowd the skillet.
- Zucchini: Sauté small-diced zucchini with the bell peppers so it has time to melt. It provides delicate taste and additional colour with out overpowering the skillet.
- Mushrooms: Add sliced or chopped mushrooms with the onion and peppers to allow them to brown barely and cook dinner off a few of their moisture. They add a savory taste that works rather well with the Italian sausage.
- Spinach: Stir in a couple of handfuls of contemporary or frozen (thawed) spinach close to the top, as soon as the rice is tender however earlier than you add the cheese. It wilts shortly and provides colour and vitamins with out altering the flavour an excessive amount of.
- Corn: Stir in contemporary, frozen, or drained canned corn once you add the diced tomatoes and broth. It provides a bit sweetness that works effectively with the bell peppers and tomato sauce.
- Completely different cheese: Mozzarella melts right into a milder, stretchier topping, provolone provides a creamy taste, and feta provides the skillet a salty end.
- Add some spice: Add crushed pink pepper (about ¼ teaspoon) for a bit warmth!
- Contemporary herbs: Swap the parsley with contemporary thyme, oregano, or cilantro to brighten the dish.
This stuffed pepper skillet makes 6 hearty servings as a full meal. In case you have a really massive skillet or vast Dutch oven, you’ll be able to improve the recipe, however be certain that there’s nonetheless sufficient room for the rice to simmer evenly with out overflowing. I like serving it with a easy facet salad for one thing contemporary and simple, or air fryer broccoli as a result of it cooks whereas the skillet finishes simmering and the cheese melts. If I’ve bought it, a dollop of bitter cream or Greek yogurt on high provides the BEST creamy end. I can also’t say no to some garlic bread or crusty bread for scooping up any further sauce.
Storage & Reheating
Retailer leftovers in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 3 days. The feel will thicken because it sits as a result of the rice will take in the tomatoey sauce, so I like so as to add a splash of broth or water earlier than reheating to loosen it again up and preserve the rice moist. Reheat gently on the range over low warmth or within the microwave, stirring often till heated by means of.
This stuffed pepper skillet additionally freezes effectively for as much as 1 month. Let it cool utterly, portion it into freezer-safe containers, and thaw in a single day within the fridge earlier than reheating. The rice will probably be a bit softer after freezing and reheating, however the taste holds up effectively!
Strive These Stuffed Pepper Recipes Subsequent!
- Our Stuffed Bell Peppers are a basic consolation meals dinner with tender peppers, hearty sausage and rice filling, and melty mozzarella on high!
- I’d make Chorizo Stuffed Bell Peppers once I desire a southwest-inspired dinner with hearty rice, melty cheese, and loads of smoky-spicy taste.
- These Philly Cheesesteak Stuffed Peppers swap the hoagie roll for roasted inexperienced peppers whereas conserving the shaved beef, onions, mushrooms, and provolone.
