Cajun Stuffed Bell Peppers

By
Terri Wuerthner
Terri Wuerthner
Chef-instructor, award-winning food writer, and 10th-generation Cajun who has authored two cookbooks.
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Updated on 12/1/21
Cajun Stuffed Peppers
Brian Macdonald /Photodisc/Getty
Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 45 mins
Total: 60 mins
Servings: 6 servings

Stuffed peppers are a great dish to enjoy in late summer when green bell peppers and tomatoes are in season. Certainly, homegrown tomatoes will give the most flavor, but you can substitute canned diced tomatoes if necessary.

This is an all-in-one dish that includes veggies, meat, and starch. To make it part of a meal, serve these alongside a crisp lettuce salad, as it will complement the soft textures of the stuffed peppers. Crusty rolls would go with it well also.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup chopped fresh tomato, or 1 cup canned diced tomato

  • 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon salt, divided

  • 6 medium green bell peppers

  • 1/2 pound ground beef

  • 1/2 pound ground pork

  • 1/4 cup hot water

  • 1 medium onion, chopped

  • 1 cup medium-grain rice, to make 3 cups cooked

  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground white pepper

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. Chop the tomato (or measure out and drain canned tomatoes) and set aside.

  3. Heat the oven to 350 F.

  4. Bring a large pot of water and the tablespoon salt to a boil and carefully drop the peppers into the boiling water. Bring back to a boil, and boil the peppers for 5 minutes. Remove and drain.

  5. Prepare the peppers by cutting around the stem on the top and removing the stem. Remove as many of the seeds as possible without cutting into the bottoms or sides of the peppers. 

  6. In a large skillet, cook the ground pork and beef over medium-high heat until the meat is browned, then add the hot water. Cook until the water evaporates, about 5 minutes, then add the tomato and onion and cook for 10 minutes, stirring often.

  7. Stir the cooked rice, 1 teaspoon salt, black pepper, and white pepper into the meat mixture and stir to combine. Remove from the heat and stuff the peppers with the meat mixture.

  8. Put the stuffed peppers into a baking dish that holds them snugly, and bake in the preheated oven, uncovered, for 30 minutes. 

  9. Serve and enjoy.

Glass Bakeware Warning

For premade casseroles or leftovers that are in a glass baking dish and have been refrigerated, do not place directly into a hot oven as the glass can shatter. Instead, place any cold glass bakeware into a cold oven to warm up while it preheats. Or allow the bakeware to rest outside of the fridge for 30 minutes to reach room temperature while the oven preheats.

Tips

  • You can prepare and stuff the peppers a day ahead of time. Keep them covered and refrigerated. Add 10 minutes to the baking time.
  • Store any leftover stuffed peppers in the refrigerator, covered. They should be eaten within four days and will reheat easily in the microwave. You can freeze leftover stuffed peppers to keep them longer. Label them with the date frozen and use them within six months for the best quality.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
273 Calories
15g Fat
13g Carbs
22g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6
Amount per serving
Calories 273
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 15g 19%
Saturated Fat 5g 27%
Cholesterol 69mg 23%
Sodium 1612mg 70%
Total Carbohydrate 13g 5%
Dietary Fiber 2g 5%
Total Sugars 2g
Protein 22g
Vitamin C 19mg 95%
Calcium 42mg 3%
Iron 2mg 11%
Potassium 445mg 9%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

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