Southwestern stuffed bell peppers is a fun, colorful and nourishing main dish!
Southwest flavors of cumin, chiles, and Monterey Jack cheese add loads of flavor. In place of brown rice, I used riced cauliflower (I didn’t tell the family there was cauliflower in the dish and no one knew!). Of course, if you can tolerate soaked rice, then using that in place of the cauliflower will work.
I love that this is a meal can be prepped ahead of time, stored in the fridge and popped in the oven on a busy evening. With two portions per person, it’s hefty enough to stand on it’s own, but a wedge salad would be a nice addition for an added vegetable. It’s a simple, nourishing and vibrant one-dish meal!
Southwestern Stuffed Bell Peppers
To “rice” the cauliflower – cut raw cauliflower into bite-size pieces. Place cauliflower in the food processor. Pulse for about seven 1-second pulses until cauliflower pieces are about the size of rice.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Category: Main Dish
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons ghee or coconut oil
- 6 green onions, sliced, white and green parts separated
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 2 cloves garlic
- 3 cups riced cauliflower, (see headnote)
- 1 (4.5-ounce) can or jar green chiles
- 2 cups shredded Monterrey Jack cheese (or Fontina for Gaps approved), divided (omit for dairy free)
- 1/2 teaspoon Celtic sea salt
- 4 large red, yellow or orange bell peppers, cut in half lengthwise, seeds removed
- 1/2 cup sour cream or creme fraiche (omit for dairy free)
- 1/2 cup salsa (here’s a great recipe for homemade salsa)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375ºF and adjust rack to middle position. Melt coconut oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion whites and beef and cook until beef is no longer pink, about 5-7 minutes. Make a well in the center of the pan and add the cumin and garlic. Cook in the middle of the pan until fragrant, about 45 seconds and then stir into beef mixture. Add riced cauliflower, chiles, 1 cup cheese and sea salt to pan and stir until all ingredients are incorporated. Remove from heat.
- Place peppers cut side up in a large baking dish. Divide filling mixture evenly among peppers. Pour 1/2 cup water in the bottom of the pan and then cover peppers with a layer of parchment paper followed by a layer foil (I do this so the aluminum doesn’t touch the food). Bake for 25 minutes and remove from oven. Remove the foil and parchment and top each pepper with a bit of sour cream, salsa and remaining 1 cup cheese. Bake for an additional 10 minutes until cheese is bubbly and golden brown. Serve.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: Serving size: 4
59 Comments