Description

These Pizza Stuffed Peppers combine the comforting flavors of pizza with the healthy twist of bell peppers. Filled with a savory mixture of sautéed mushrooms, garlic, pepperoni, pre-cooked rice, and tomato sauce, then topped with gooey mozzarella cheese, this recipe makes a delicious and satisfying meal perfect for weeknight dinners.

Ingredients

Scale

Filling

1 Tbsp. olive oil
8 oz. sliced mushrooms
3 garlic cloves, minced
16 oz. pepperoni slices
1 and 1/2 cups pre-cooked rice
1 (15 oz.) can tomato sauce
1 tsp. Italian seasoning
½ tsp. salt
½ tsp. red pepper flakes (optional)

Peppers & Topping

4 bell peppers, halved lengthwise and seeded
1 and ½ cups mozzarella cheese

Instructions

Preheat the oven: Set your oven to 375°F (190°C) and allow it to preheat fully to ensure even baking.
Sauté mushrooms and garlic: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the sliced mushrooms and cook for 5 minutes until they begin to soften. Add the minced garlic and sauté together for an additional 2 minutes to release their aroma.
Prepare pepperoni and filling: Slice the pepperoni in half for smaller pieces. Add the halved pepperoni, pre-cooked rice, tomato sauce, Italian seasoning, salt, and optional red pepper flakes to the skillet. Stir well to combine all ingredients and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, so all flavors meld beautifully.
Prepare the peppers: Meanwhile, halve the bell peppers lengthwise and remove all seeds and membranes to create perfect boats for the filling.
Assemble stuffed peppers: Lay the pepper halves skin side down in a casserole dish. Evenly fill each pepper half with the rice and pepperoni mixture. Generously sprinkle mozzarella cheese on top of each stuffed pepper.
Bake with foil: Cover the casserole dish tightly with aluminum foil to keep moisture in, and bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes. This helps the peppers soften and the filling to heat evenly.
Bake without foil: Remove the foil and continue baking for an additional 10 minutes to allow the cheese to melt thoroughly and develop a golden, bubbly topping.
Serve and enjoy: Once baked, remove from oven and serve the pizza stuffed peppers hot, perfect as a flavorful and wholesome meal.

Notes

Use pre-cooked rice to speed up preparation and ensure the filling cooks properly.
You can substitute pepperoni with turkey pepperoni or omit for a vegetarian option (add your favorite veggies instead).
Adjust red pepper flakes to your preferred spice level or omit if sensitive to spice.
To make the dish gluten-free, ensure all ingredients and seasonings are certified gluten-free.
Leftovers can be refrigerated and reheated in the oven or microwave.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Category: Main Course
Method: Baking
Cuisine: Italian-American

Keywords: pizza stuffed peppers, stuffed bell peppers, pepperoni stuffed peppers, mozzarella stuffed peppers, easy dinner, baked stuffed peppers, Italian-inspired recipe