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stuffed mini peppers appetizer
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Stuffed Mini Peppers

These sweet mini peppers are stuffed with a savory taco-seasoned filling, topped with melty cheese, and baked until deliciously tender. Serve them as a fun appetizer or an easy weeknight dinner.
Course Dinner
Cuisine Mexican
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 6 servings
Calories 415kcal
Cost $10

Equipment

  • Large bowl
  • Sauce pan

Ingredients

  • 12 mini bell peppers
  • 1 T olive oil or cooking spray
  • 1 lb ground beef or ground turkey
  • 1 packet taco seasoning
  • 2 cups cooked rice
  • 28 ounces roasted garlic or Italian seasoned tomato sauce 2 cans
  • 1 cup cheddar cheese
  • 1 pinch parsley
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Begin by preparing your peppers. If they are not pre-washed, wash and let dry. Preheat the oven to 400º F.
    Washed bag of peppers
  • Use a paring knife to slice them in half, then a spoon to remove any seeds. Set aside.
    Peppers cut in half with seeds removed
  • Cook rice according to instructions on the package.
    Cooked-rice-in-a-wooden-spoon-above-a-pot
  • Heat 1 T of oil or cooking spray on medium-high heat. Place the ground meat of your choice into the pan and cook. While cooking, add in the salt, pepper, and parsley into the meat. Cook until brown.
    Meat cooked on the stove in a pan
  • Turn heat off and stir in one can of tomato sauce and the taco seasoning. Toss in the rice and an additional cup of tomato sauce (you'll have some left over). Mix until well combined.
    Adding rice to the meat mixture
  • Spread some tomato sauce around the bottom of the baking pan.
    Spreading sauce around the bottom of the baking pan
  • Spoon the mixture evenly into your peppers and place in the baking pan.
    Filling the peppers with the rice and meat mixture
  • Top with the shredded cheese and place in oven at 400º F for about 15 minutes.
    Topping the peppers with cheese
  • Take out of oven; let cool. Serves six with four mini pepper halves per person.
    Stuffed mini peppers

Video

Notes

  • Trader Joe's always has a great deal on mini peppers if you have one nearby!
  • You can make your own taco seasoning with the following: 1 T chili powder, 1 1/2 t ground cumin, 1 t sea salt, 1 t black pepper, 1/2 t ground paprika, 1/4 t garlic powder, 1/4 t onion powder, and 1/4 t dried oregano.
  • If you're looking for easy and fast (and want white rice), try Minute Rice. You'll boil water, place the rice in, and simmer for 5 minutes. They also have brown rice.
  • If you're feeling fancy, top with green onions, sour cream, or goat cheese. Trust me - it's delicious.

Nutrition

Serving: 4peppers | Calories: 415kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 21g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 73mg | Sodium: 1274mg | Potassium: 749mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 3076IU | Vitamin C: 84mg | Calcium: 175mg | Iron: 4mg