Old Fashioned Stuffed Bell Peppers – A Stuffed Pepper with Cooked Rice and Ground Beef

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Old Fashioned Stuffed Bell Peppers is a simple stuffed pepper recipe with cooked rice and ground beef.  With only five ingredients, including a simple tomato sauce, this basic recipe is anything but simple in flavor.

Am I the only one that feels like keeping up with summer produce is a full time job?  I can easily spend an entire morning or day making recipes to use up zucchini, tomatoes, green beans, etc.

I’m not complaining, just saying it can be somewhat exhausting in a good way.

Old Fashioned Stuffed Bell Peppers

I just can’t pass up the box of beautiful green bell peppers at the farmers market for only a couple dollars. My little Sam, who is getting ready to turn five, eats one to two bell peppers by himself on the days he is home with me.

So I stock up, but I still have too many green peppers on hand.

To remedy the situation, I searched for a quick and easy stuffed green pepper recipe in my cookbooks. I hit the jackpot when I opened up my Amish Cook Book.

Simple Stuffed Pepper Recipe

What I love about Amish cooking is that the recipes are all fairly simple.  For example, this Stuffed Pepper recipe with ground beef, rice and tomato sauce only has 5 ingredients in total.

This simple stuffed green pepper recipe has multiple aspects that point to its simplicity and easiness to make.

  • The hamburger does not get cooked before stuffing the pepper; keep it raw.
  • White rice is cooked before stuffing which means you can use leftover white rice.
  • The green peppers do not get boiled before stuffing like some recipes call for.
  • Canned tomato sauce makes the perfect, easy sauce.

Old Fashioned Stuffed Bell Peppers Ingredient List

Green Peppers, tops removed with seeds discarded

Hamburger, raw

Onions, diced (optional)

White Rice, cooked

Egg

Salt and Pepper

Tomato Sauce

Optional Ingredients

Here are a few additions that could be added to the stuffing if desired.

Shredded Cheese

Worcestershire sauce

Garlic Powder

Dried herbs (parsley, oregano, basil, etc.)

How to Make Stuffed Peppers with Ground Beef, Rice and Tomato Sauce

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a baking dish that fits the stuffed peppers with nonstick cooking spray.
  2. Remove the tops and insides of the bell peppers. Wash and dry.
  3. In a bowl, combine raw hamburger, cooked rice, egg, diced onions and salt and pepper.
  4. Stuff bell peppers with hamburger mixture leaving room at the top for sauce.
  5. Place in prepared dish.
  6. Pour tomato sauce into the top of each bell pepper.
  7. Bake for 1 hour.

For the full ingredient amounts instructions for quick stuffed peppers, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Recipe FAQs

  • I used green peppers but any color bell peppers would work.
  • There’s no need to boil the peppers; instead, just cut off the top, remove the seeds and wash and dry the pepper.
  • Use cooked rice; go ahead and use leftover cooked rice if you have it.
  • The ground beef is raw; do not precook.
  • Pick out a baking dish that allows the peppers to stand upright without too much extra room. I like to use a tall, round dish.  If needed, slice off a tiny bit of the bottom of the pepper to allow the pepper to sit upright.
  • Depending on the size of the bell peppers, you may need 3 to 4. I had extra large ones, so I had enough filling for 3.
  • Leave a little room at the top of the pepper after filling with the ground beef mixture for the sauce.
  • Have a large family? Double this recipe.
  • Check out our Amazon Store for our favorite items, including a rice cooker…we LOVE it!

Garden Recipes with Ground Beef

Ground Beef Stuffed Yellow Squash

What can I make with yellow squash? Here's a solution to too many southern squash growing in the garden. Ground Beef Stuffed Squash is a Southern Stuffed Yellow Squash Recipe that is cheesy, beefy and delicious.

Bacon Cheeseburger Squash Casserole

What do you get when you combine your favorite summer sandwich with a humble summer vegetable?  Bacon Cheeseburger Yellow Squash Casserole is a great way to amp up all those summer squash and convert them into a meal fit for your entire family. 

Layered Garden Casserole with Zucchini and Tomatoes

Zucchini Tomato Casserole with Ground Beef is a simple summer garden vegetable bake that is light and fresh without a heavy sauce to weigh you down. Our version features zucchini, onion, corn and tomatoes, but yours can be individualized to your own personal taste. 

Old Fashioned Stuffed Bell Peppers is a simple stuffed pepper recipe with cooked rice and ground beef.  With only five ingredients, including a simple sauce of tomato sauce, this basic recipe is anything but simple in flavor. 
Print Recipe
5 from 16 votes

Old Fashioned Stuffed Bell Peppers – A Stuffed Pepper with Cooked Rice and Ground Beef

Old Fashioned Stuffed Bell Peppers is a simple stuffed pepper recipe with cooked rice and ground beef.  With only five ingredients, including a simple sauce of tomato sauce, this basic recipe is anything but simple in flavor. 
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time1 hour
Total Time1 hour 10 minutes
Course: Entree, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: old fashioned stuffed bell peppers, quick stuffed pepper, simple stuffed pepper, stuffed pepper with cooked rice and ground beef
Servings: 4 peppers
Author: Barbara

Ingredients

  • 3 – 4 bell peppers
  • 1/2 pound raw ground beef
  • 1/2 cup cooked white rice
  • 1 small onion, diced
  • 1 egg
  • salt and pepper
  • 8 ounces tomato sauce

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F; spray a baking dish large enough to hold peppers upright with nonstick cooking spray. (I like to use a round dish.)
  • Cut the tops off the peppers, remove seeds and wash and dry peppers.
    Old Fashioned Stuffed Bell Peppers is a simple stuffed pepper recipe with cooked rice and ground beef.  With only five ingredients, including a simple sauce of tomato sauce, this basic recipe is anything but simple in flavor. 
  • Combine raw hamburger, cooked rice, diced onions, egg, and pinch of salt and pepper.
    Old Fashioned Stuffed Bell Peppers is a simple stuffed pepper recipe with cooked rice and ground beef.  With only five ingredients, including a simple sauce of tomato sauce, this basic recipe is anything but simple in flavor. 
  • Stuff peppers with hamburger mixture, leaving a little room at the top for sauce.
    Old Fashioned Stuffed Bell Peppers is a simple stuffed pepper recipe with cooked rice and ground beef.  With only five ingredients, including a simple sauce of tomato sauce, this basic recipe is anything but simple in flavor. 
  • Place peppers in prepared dish; pour tomato sauce into the top of each pepper.
    Old Fashioned Stuffed Bell Peppers is a simple stuffed pepper recipe with cooked rice and ground beef.  With only five ingredients, including a simple sauce of tomato sauce, this basic recipe is anything but simple in flavor. 
  • Bake for 1 hour.
    Old Fashioned Stuffed Bell Peppers is a simple stuffed pepper recipe with cooked rice and ground beef.  With only five ingredients, including a simple sauce of tomato sauce, this basic recipe is anything but simple in flavor. 

Notes

  • I used green peppers but any color bell peppers would work.
  • There’s no need to boil the peppers; instead, just cut off the top, remove the seeds and wash and dry the pepper. 
  • Cooked rice is used; go ahead and use leftover cooked rice if you have it.
  • The ground beef is raw; do not precook.
  • Depending on the size of the bell peppers, you may need 3 to 4. I had extra large ones, so I had enough filling for 3.
  • Pick out a baking dish that allows the peppers to stand upright without too much extra room. I like to use a tall, round dish.  If needed, slice off a tiny bit of the bottom of the pepper to allow the pepper to sit upright.
  • Leave a little room at the top of the pepper after filling with the ground beef mixture for the sauce.
  • Love peppers? Try this easy dinner recipe featuring bell peppers, Southern Sausage and Pintos

Linking up to Weekend Potluck.

Old Fashioned Stuffed Bell Peppers is a simple stuffed pepper recipe with cooked rice and ground beef.  With only five ingredients, including a simple sauce of tomato sauce, this basic recipe is anything but simple in flavor. 

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46 Comments

  1. THANK YOU! HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR THIS RECIPE FOR A FEW YEARS. ALL THE RECIPES SAY BOIL THE PEPPERS AND BROWN THE GROUND BEEF. THAT IS NOT HOW MY MOM DID IT. YOURS IS PERFECT!!!!

    1. YES! This is how I remember my mom making them and freaked out before I found this recipe because all the new style peppers call for cooking it first!

    2. Exactly!! I am now 78 years okd, and always make my peppers with uncooked meat and peppers! That’s the classic way, both in taste and texture! Ready to do a big batch of them next week, some to take over to my brother’s home after my sister-in-law of 63 years is recovery from an injury. I also put potatoes and carrots along the sides of my peppers as they are all cooking together in the oven. I used a deep sided SS roasting, so no spillage into my oven.

      1. My mom made her peppers this way except she used uncooked rice. the rice picks up the flavor of the dish better. A cover is needed for the dish to cook the rice. she made hers on the stove top but I use the oven.

  2. The best ever! I always like garlic and onion, just a bit. I always chop up the little bit of pepper I remove from the cut off top and add to the meat mix. I always add 1tsp. Sugar To the tomato sauce to cut the acid a tad. All soooo good.

  3. This is PERFECT! Thank you so much for sharing! As the above review stated, all of the recipes were cooking the beef first and my Mom never did it that way. I am using her recipe(exactly like yours) but needed the timing and everything of that sort. Thank you again! ❤

  4. This is the way my Mom made stuffed peppers. but would pour tomato juice in the bottom of the pan. Also a trick I learned from her if you use instant rice just soak it in a bowl of water while you are prepping the peppers and add the rice to the meat mixture when you are ready to stuff.

  5. Thank u! I needed time and temp for raw. I grew up on these. The only difference is we don’t like rice in ours. I make mine like I do my meat loaf with tomato sauce, egg and a few crackers. I add onion Green pepper and mushrooms.salt and pepper. I put ketchup on top! Thanks again!!!

    1. I’ve made this keto with cauliflower rice instead of rice. It’s perfect and I don’t feel deprived. I use a different color pepper for me and cook with the family’s (who have rice). It’s nice to have dinner in one pot.

  6. This is how my mom always made stuffed peppers except she adds parm cheese and some other spices. I added some flavor with spices and put a tiny amount of sauce in the meat mix. Was so freaking good! I dislike the meat cooked first because we didn’t grow up with it like that. I lost her recipe so this helped remind me of the cooking time and temp. Ty!

    1. We suggest you either double the recipe or go with 3/4 lb ground beef, 3/4 cup cooked rice, same amount of onion, 1-2 eggs depending on the consistency of the mixture and 15 oz can of tomato sauce. Hope this helps!

  7. I’m making these right now for supper.i looove stuffed peppers but my husband doesn’t but he said he would try um again.he rends to like the filling but not the pepper so we shall see.im doing it a lil different though cause I’m short on a couple ingredients.im going to cut my peppers in half long ways,I also didn’t have any tomato sauce so…I put a can of diced tomatoes..a big can in the food processor n got um thin as I can then I put um on the stove with t a lil onion garlic powder salt pepper Italian seasoning oregano and a beef bullion cubes n a lil water n simmered. I’m going to use that instead of the tomato sauce.tgen I’ll stuff the peppers with the mixture of meat cooked rice onion salt pepper and garlic and egg…then top with the sauce… hopefully it’ll turn out well…thank u for sharing it reminds me of when I was little…now just have to figure out what to make with it…

    1. My daughter didn’t like the pepper either so I just made her big meatballs like” porcupine meatballs” sauce on top baked right along with the,peppers.

  8. This is the same receipt that my mom made…. I watched her make it at least at least a couple times a month and after making peppers for dinner tonight, I looked on the internet and to my surprise it’s exactly the same… Great minds think alike!!!

  9. Like everyone else on here my Grandma used raw meat and thank you because I couldn’t remember exactly how to make it and now I do.

  10. Thank you, I knew how to make it; I’ve seen it made but I needed to see the actual recipe to attempt it myself and I know it’s right. Every recipe says brown the beef but I knew in my heart that was not flavor I was trying to revisit.

  11. Hi, was so glad to find this recipe. Mine our in the oven right now baking and I can’t wait to eat one. My mom used to once in awhile instead of putting that mixture into the stuffed pepper she rolled it into a meatball and we called them rice meatballs and sometimes she would add potatoes to it sliced up and add the tomato sauce, it was always yummy either way.

  12. I have cooked mine the same way for years…I use more ground beef and less rice then I add fresh grated parm cheese and some ranch seasoning (just a pinch) and add a small amt of Italian sauce to my mixture before I stuff. I add a small amount of different seasonings and worch sauce. The parm cheese gives it a nutty flavor and adding just a bit of sauce makes them more tender. It so bomb. I used to make it your way but over the years I have perfected it to my families tastes but you can’t go wrong with your recipe.

  13. THANK YOU!!!
    This is the exact way we make our stuffed peppers. Although, I could not remember the oven temp and baking time. My parents have long since past, so asking them wasn’t an option. Almost EVERY online recipe stated to fry the ground beef first… as if I wanted to stuff my pepper with what is basically a dirty rice mix??

    1. We haven’t tried it. You want to be sure the ground beef comes to 160 degrees F for food safety reasons so if you go lower temp for longer, keep that in mind.

  14. I have always used raw ground beef but forgot how long to bake in the oven. My mom made this recipe for years on the stove, with the same prep. I have changed to using red peppers as they repeat less, and make either in a crock pot, or on the stove depending on time. Thank you for the good old fashioned “best” recipe.

  15. SO glad to find your recipe – As so many others shared, stuffed peppers were always a simple meal with no par-boiled peppers or pre-cooked hamburger — DELIGHTED to find your take on a FAVORITE (that I had forgotten how to prep)!!

  16. As a child I remember my mom using the uncooked peppers, the raw hamburger, rice and ketchup. Simple yes, delicious, absolutely ! She would also add chopped onions and mushrooms pieces to the raw mixture. Very happy to have found this recipe because I needed the temp/time to cook.
    Right now, my masterpiece is baking in the oven and I can’t wait for dinner.

  17. My wife wanted to make stuffed peppers for the first time today but didn’t have a recipe. I explained how my Mom made it for us as kids in the 60s in very general terms. Just found your recipe which is the same as Mom’s so she’s making it now.Thank you for the memories.

  18. I am so glad you posted this recipe. I have been looking for one that is similar to how my Gramma made them. This is not just similar I truly think it is the same recipe she used. I made them tonight and as soon as I tasted them it was like I was 12 and back in grams kitchen again. They came out perfectly.

  19. Mine are in the oven. Thank you for a simple old fashioned recipe. I doubled the recipe and cut 3 peppers in half. Perfectly filled all the peppers. I also added Worcestershire and a little of the sauce to the meat mixture. Can’t wait for dinner.

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