{
  "attribution": {
    "author": "Flavor Folio",
    "publisher": "Flavor Folio"
  },
  "canonicalURL": "https://flavorfolio.app/recipes/italian-sausage-stuffed-peppers-rice-parmesan",
  "format": "flavorfolio.recipe",
  "image": {
    "alt": "Two baked green bell peppers stuffed with a meaty tomato and rice filling, topped with melted Parmesan, on a white plate with a tomato and cucumber salad and a crusty roll",
    "credit": "Photo: \"Stuffed peppers\" by jeffreyw (https://www.flickr.com/people/7927684@N03), licensed CC BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/), via Wikimedia Commons: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Stuffed_peppers_(15441051855).jpg. Resized.",
    "height": 1018,
    "kind": "photograph",
    "smallWidth": 600,
    "url": "https://flavorfolio.app/media/2dbfe131-f347-4f0b-a3dc-882f87e7215d/1536.jpg",
    "width": 1536
  },
  "publishedAt": "2026-10-21T00:00:00Z",
  "recipe": {
    "categories": [
      "Dinner"
    ],
    "cookMinutes": 60,
    "cuisine": "Italian-American",
    "dietTags": [
      "Gluten-Free"
    ],
    "difficulty": "easy",
    "ingredients": [
      {
        "item": "bell peppers",
        "note": "green, red or a mix; use orange peppers for the jack-o'-lantern version",
        "quantity": "6",
        "unit": "large"
      },
      {
        "item": "olive oil",
        "quantity": "1",
        "unit": "tbsp"
      },
      {
        "item": "yellow onion",
        "note": "finely diced",
        "quantity": "1",
        "unit": "medium"
      },
      {
        "item": "garlic",
        "note": "minced",
        "quantity": "3",
        "unit": "cloves"
      },
      {
        "item": "lean ground beef",
        "note": "85 to 90% lean",
        "quantity": "8",
        "unit": "oz"
      },
      {
        "item": "mild Italian sausage",
        "note": "casings removed (use hot sausage for more kick)",
        "quantity": "8",
        "unit": "oz"
      },
      {
        "item": "diced tomatoes",
        "note": "14.5 oz, with their juices",
        "quantity": "1",
        "unit": "can"
      },
      {
        "item": "marinara sauce",
        "note": "divided: 1 cup for the filling, 1/2 cup for the baking dish",
        "quantity": "1 1/2",
        "unit": "cups"
      },
      {
        "item": "dried Italian seasoning",
        "quantity": "1",
        "unit": "tsp"
      },
      {
        "item": "kosher salt",
        "note": "plus more to taste",
        "quantity": "1",
        "unit": "tsp"
      },
      {
        "item": "freshly ground black pepper",
        "quantity": "1/2",
        "unit": "tsp"
      },
      {
        "item": "crushed red pepper flakes",
        "note": "optional",
        "quantity": "1/4",
        "unit": "tsp"
      },
      {
        "item": "cooked long-grain white rice",
        "note": "from about 1/2 cup uncooked; leftover or microwave rice works",
        "quantity": "1 1/2",
        "unit": "cups"
      },
      {
        "item": "shredded mozzarella cheese",
        "note": "divided",
        "quantity": "1",
        "unit": "cup"
      },
      {
        "item": "finely grated Parmesan cheese",
        "note": "divided",
        "quantity": "1/2",
        "unit": "cup"
      },
      {
        "item": "water or low-sodium chicken broth",
        "quantity": "1/2",
        "unit": "cup"
      },
      {
        "item": "fresh parsley or basil",
        "note": "chopped, for garnish",
        "quantity": "2",
        "unit": "tbsp"
      }
    ],
    "keywords": [
      "stuffed peppers",
      "stuffed bell peppers",
      "easy stuffed peppers",
      "Italian stuffed peppers",
      "sausage stuffed peppers",
      "stuffed peppers with rice",
      "ground beef stuffed peppers",
      "baked stuffed peppers",
      "jack-o'-lantern stuffed peppers",
      "Halloween stuffed peppers",
      "Halloween dinner",
      "fall dinner recipe",
      "make-ahead dinner",
      "freezer meal",
      "family dinner"
    ],
    "prepMinutes": 25,
    "servings": 6,
    "steps": [
      {
        "estimatedMinutes": 5,
        "instruction": "Heat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly oil a 9x13-inch baking dish."
      },
      {
        "estimatedMinutes": 10,
        "ingredientIndexes": [
          0
        ],
        "instruction": "Slice the tops off the peppers and pull out the seeds and white ribs. If a pepper won't stand up, trim a thin sliver off the bottom without cutting a hole. For jack-o'-lantern peppers, carve small triangle eyes and a grinning mouth into one side of each orange pepper with a sharp paring knife; keep the cuts small so the filling stays put."
      },
      {
        "estimatedMinutes": 5,
        "ingredientIndexes": [
          1,
          2,
          3
        ],
        "instruction": "Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook for 4 minutes, until softened, then add the garlic and cook 30 seconds more, until fragrant."
      },
      {
        "estimatedMinutes": 7,
        "ingredientIndexes": [
          4,
          5
        ],
        "instruction": "Add the ground beef and sausage. Cook for 6 to 7 minutes, breaking the meat into small crumbles, until no pink remains. Spoon off excess fat."
      },
      {
        "estimatedMinutes": 7,
        "ingredientIndexes": [
          6,
          7,
          8,
          9,
          10,
          11,
          12,
          13,
          14
        ],
        "instruction": "Stir in the diced tomatoes with their juices, 1 cup of the marinara, the Italian seasoning, salt, pepper and red pepper flakes. Simmer for 5 minutes, until slightly thickened. Take the pan off the heat and stir in the cooked rice, 1/2 cup of the mozzarella and 1/4 cup of the Parmesan. Taste and adjust the salt."
      },
      {
        "estimatedMinutes": 5,
        "ingredientIndexes": [
          15
        ],
        "instruction": "Spread the remaining 1/2 cup marinara and the water or broth over the bottom of the baking dish. Stand the peppers upright in the dish and pack the filling into them, mounding it slightly on top."
      },
      {
        "estimatedMinutes": 30,
        "instruction": "Cover the dish tightly with foil and bake for 30 minutes, so the peppers steam until tender."
      },
      {
        "estimatedMinutes": 18,
        "instruction": "Uncover, sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup mozzarella and 1/4 cup Parmesan over the peppers, and bake uncovered for 15 to 20 minutes more, until the cheese is melted and golden, the peppers are tender when pierced with a knife and the filling reaches 165°F (74°C)."
      },
      {
        "estimatedMinutes": 5,
        "ingredientIndexes": [
          16
        ],
        "instruction": "Let the peppers rest for 5 minutes, then sprinkle with parsley or basil and serve with the sauce from the dish spooned over the top."
      }
    ],
    "summary": "Classic baked stuffed bell peppers packed with Italian sausage, ground beef, rice and marinara, finished with melted mozzarella and a golden Parmesan top. No parboiling, make-ahead and freezer friendly, with an easy jack-o'-lantern version for Halloween.",
    "tags": [
      "Stuffed Peppers",
      "Dinner",
      "Fall",
      "Halloween",
      "Italian",
      "Comfort Food",
      "Make Ahead",
      "Freezer Friendly",
      "Family Friendly"
    ],
    "title": "Italian Sausage Stuffed Peppers with Rice & Parmesan",
    "totalMinutes": 85
  },
  "recipeID": "679d97e2-2936-4b39-ab00-fe47eabcc9a1",
  "revision": 1,
  "schemaVersion": 1,
  "updatedAt": "2026-10-21T12:13:23.702676Z"
}