This is freezer meal planning at its best. This is the perfect food for the nights when I want to eat homemade cooking, but I don’t actually want to spend time cooking.
Spicy Italian Stuffed Bell Peppers are one of my husband’s favorite meals. Every time I make them, I double or triple the recipe to ensure that I’ll have plenty of leftovers. I freeze the filling and I stuff peppers with it later.
Make Ahead Tip: If I don’t want to turn the oven on to bake the peppers, then I put together this skillet. I actually prefer this skillet to the original stuffed peppers.
If you have the filling mixture in the freezer, all you’ll need to do is saute the peppers and onions and then add (1) recipe’s worth of the filling mixture to the skillet.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup uncooked long grain white rice
- 1 cup water
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 4 bell peppers I used 3 red peppers and 1 green pepper, roughly chopped into 1" pieces
- 2 medium yellow onions roughly chopped into 1" pieces
- 1 lb ground beef
- 8 oz canned black olives roughly chopped
- 12 oz canned mushrooms roughly chopped
- 1 1/2 cups of spaghetti sauce use your favorite homemade or canned variety
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1/4 teaspoon granulated garlic garlic powder is fine
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon fresh black pepper
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 2 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Combine the rice and the water in a small saucepan and bring it to a boil. Cover and simmer on low heat for 20 minutes. When the rice is done, uncover and fluff with a fork.
- While the rice is cooking, heat the olive oil in a very large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onions and saute for a few minutes and then add the peppers. Cook until tender and still crisp. Transfer to a plate or bowl and set aside next to the stove.
- Add the ground beef to the skillet, crumbling the meat as it cooks. until browned. Add the olives, mushrooms, spaghetti sauce, Worcestershire sauce, granulated garlic, onion powder, salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes. Stir to combine and bring to a simmer over medium heat.
- Add the pepper mixture back to the skillet along with the cooked rice. Stir to combine. Enjoy!
Tried this recipe?Mention @barefeetkitchen or tag #barefeetkitchen!
My Journey With Candida says
That would make a very festive dish for the Christmas Holidays. It would make it so easy to make this up ahead of time and when I am busy with getting ready for Christmas… Pull it out of the frezer. Great Idea! Thanks!
Kristen says
I love the unstuffed pepper! It sounds so much easier and every bit as tasty as the work intensive stuffed cousin. I am definitely trying this!
Rosita Vargas says
This sounds wonderful and very tempting, beautiful dish, hugs.
Words Of Deliciousness says
This sounds like something I would love. Yum, onions and bell peppers!
The Blonde Duck says
Now I know what I'm making Sat night!
Jen says
This looks amazing! For sure gonna try it!
Christine's Pantry says
Looks wonderful! Yum!
Reem | Simply Reem says
Lovely!! This looks perfect, Onions and peppers goes so well together and this recipe looks delicious.Got to try this one.
Marina says
Wow, this looks great.. Now I am so hungry 🙂 I wish I can reach into that photo and eat that :))
Demandra says
I absolutely love stuffed peppers! I never thought of freezing them though. Clever, clever. Thanks again for a fabulous recipe.
Andrea {From the Bookshelf} says
We love stuffed peppers in our house. This idea is FANTASTIC! Can't wait to try it!
The Procrastobaker says
I loved the look of your stuffed peppers and was planning on making them soon, so the fact you like this recipe even MORE is just wonderful! I cant wait to try it, you have some truly gorgeous recipes here indeed 🙂
Chris says
Stuffed peppers are one of my favorites too but I haven't thought of doing them as a skillet like this. Good idea!