Southern Stuffed Peppers: A Quick and Flavorful Comfort Food

*Hearty stuffed peppers are the ultimate comfort food, bringing together tender vegetables, savory meat, and flavorful grains in every bite. This Southern-style stuffed peppers recipe delivers both nutrition and bold flavor, creating a dish that’s as wholesome as it is delicious.

Southern stuffed peppers start with vibrant bell peppers, carefully hollowed out and packed with a savory blend of seasoned rice and ground beef. A layer of melted mozzarella tops it all off, creating a rich, cheesy finish that perfectly complements the hearty filling. The rice adds just the right texture while keeping the dish light enough to serve as a satisfying main course or a flavorful side.

This version from The Soulfood Pot makes the process quick and easy with the help of an Instant Pot. The rice cooks in only four minutes, while the ground beef sautés to perfection in about five to seven minutes. After stuffing the peppers, a short 15-minute bake in either the Instant Pot Omni Plus or a conventional oven brings everything together. With its beautiful colors, bold flavors, and family-friendly appeal, this Southern stuffed peppers recipe is a simple yet impressive dish that’s ready in no time.

Ingredients

For the Ground Beef

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• ½ cup yellow onion, diced
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 pound ground beef
• ¼ cup all-purpose seasoning or taco seasoning (e.g., Famous Dave’s Steak & Burger Seasoning)
  

For the Rice

• 1 cup rice
• 1 cup water
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
• ¼ teaspoon olive oil
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 3-4 sprigs fresh thyme
  

For the Bell Peppers

• 4 bell peppers, halved lengthwise and seeds removed
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 cup chopped tomatoes
• ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• ½ tablespoon Italian seasoning
• ½ cup fresh parsley, finely chopped and divided
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon mixture of ½ teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon pepper
  

Instructions

Prepare the Ground Beef

1. Remove the Instant Pot lid and select the sauté setting for 20 minutes.
2. Add olive oil, garlic, and onions to the inner pot and sauté for 1 minute until the onions soften.
3. Stir in the water, tomato paste, ground beef, and seasoning.
4. Cook while breaking up the meat with a spatula until browned and fully cooked.
5. Turn off the Instant Pot, drain the beef using a colander, and set aside.
   

Cook the Rice

1. Add rice, water, butter, olive oil, and salt to the Instant Pot inner pot.
2. Stir to combine and place fresh thyme sprigs on top.
3. Close the lid, set the valve to sealing, and pressure cook on high for 4 minutes.
4. Allow a natural release of pressure for 2 minutes, then manually release any remaining pressure.
5. Fluff the rice with a fork and set aside.
   

Prepare the Bell Peppers

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F.
2. Halve the bell peppers lengthwise, remove seeds and membranes, then drizzle with olive oil and rub to coat.
3. Sprinkle the inside with the salt and pepper mixture.
4. Arrange peppers cut-side down on a baking sheet and pre-bake for 10 minutes in an Instant Pot Omni Plus oven or 15 minutes in a traditional oven.
   

Assemble the Stuffed Peppers

1. In a bowl, combine cooked ground beef, chopped tomatoes, ¼ cup parsley, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and the prepared rice.
2. Remove pre-baked peppers from the oven and flip them cut-side up.
3. Fill each pepper with the beef and rice mixture, then top with mozzarella cheese.
4. Bake for 15 minutes in the Omni Plus oven or 20 minutes in a traditional oven until the peppers are tender and the cheese is melted.
5. Garnish with the remaining parsley and serve warm.

MORE NEWS ON EURWEB.COM: 7 Household Devices That Should Never Be Plugged Into Extension Cords

Sign up for our Free daily newsletter HERE.