Description
These Low Carb Pizza Stuffed Peppers offer a delicious and nutritious twist on classic pizza flavors. Bell peppers are filled with a savory mixture of ground beef, Italian seasoning, pizza sauce, and cheese, then baked until tender and bubbly. Perfect for a hearty, low-carb dinner that satisfies your pizza cravings without the extra carbs.
Ingredients
Peppers
- 4 large red or green bell peppers, halved and deseeded
Filling
- 1.5 lbs ground beef or Italian sausage
- 1-2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 3/4 cups pizza sauce, divided
- 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided (or dairy-free cheese)
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese (or dairy-free cheese)
- 1/2 cup mini pepperonis
- 1/2 cup diced onions
- Salt and pepper to taste
For Garnish
- Fresh basil leaves
Instructions
- Prepare Peppers: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Cut the tops off the bell peppers and remove the seeds and membranes. Place the peppers upright in a baking dish and bake the peppers unstuffed for 10 minutes to soften slightly.
- Optional Quick Softening: Alternatively, you can boil the peppers for 3-4 minutes in a large pot of boiling water until slightly softened, then drain and place upright in a baking dish. This speeds up the softening process before stuffing.
- Brown Ground Beef: Heat a skillet over medium heat with a tablespoon of olive oil. Add the diced onions and minced garlic, cooking for about 2 minutes until fragrant. Add the ground beef and cook for approximately 8 minutes or until fully browned and cooked through. Drain excess fat from the skillet.
- Make The Mixture: In the skillet with the cooked beef, add 1 3/4 cups pizza sauce, 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese, 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Stir well to combine all ingredients evenly.
- Stuff The Peppers: Spoon the beef mixture evenly into each bell pepper half, pressing gently to pack the filling. Add a spoonful of the remaining pizza sauce on top of the mixture in each pepper. Then sprinkle the remaining mozzarella cheese over the top and place mini pepperonis on the cheese layer. Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil.
- Bake: Bake the stuffed peppers in the preheated oven for 25 minutes or until the peppers are tender and the filling is heated through.
- Garnish & Serve: After baking, remove the foil and optionally broil the peppers for 1-2 minutes to achieve bubbly, golden brown cheese. Garnish with fresh basil leaves before serving.
Notes
- You can substitute ground beef with Italian sausage for a spicier flavor.
- Use dairy-free cheese alternatives to make the recipe dairy-free.
- Boiling the peppers before stuffing shortens baking time and helps achieve tenderness.
- Adding fresh basil after baking enhances the flavor and provides a fresh aroma.
- Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
