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Easy Baked Stuffed Bell Peppers with Ground Beef and Quinoa

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A quick and easy recipe for baked stuffed bell peppers filled with a hearty mix of ground beef and fluffy quinoa, seasoned with tomato paste and spices, perfect for a wholesome weeknight meal.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 large bell peppers (any color)
  • 1 pound lean ground beef
  • 1 cup uncooked quinoa, rinsed
  • 1 medium onion, finely chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes, drained
  • 1/2 cup beef broth
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella or cheddar cheese (optional)
  • Handful fresh parsley or basil, chopped (for garnish)

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Slice off the tops of the bell peppers and remove seeds and membranes. Set aside.
  2. Rinse quinoa under cold water. In a medium saucepan, combine quinoa with 2 cups water or broth. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes or until water is absorbed. Fluff with a fork.
  3. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Sauté chopped onion until translucent, about 4 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
  4. Add ground beef to the skillet. Cook, breaking it up with a spatula, until no longer pink, about 6-8 minutes. Drain excess fat if desired.
  5. Stir in tomato paste, smoked paprika, dried oregano, salt, and pepper. Cook for 2 minutes to bloom the spices.
  6. Add drained diced tomatoes and beef broth. Simmer for 3-4 minutes until mixture thickens slightly.
  7. Mix cooked quinoa into the beef mixture thoroughly. Adjust seasoning if needed.
  8. Stuff each bell pepper with the filling and place upright in a baking dish.
  9. Sprinkle shredded cheese over the stuffed peppers if using.
  10. Cover the dish with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove foil and bake an additional 10 minutes to brown cheese and soften peppers.
  11. Let peppers rest for 5 minutes. Garnish with chopped parsley or basil before serving.

Notes

If filling is too wet before stuffing, cook longer on stove to reduce liquid. Pre-roasting peppers for 5-7 minutes can help them cook evenly and hold shape. Cover with foil during baking to retain moisture, remove foil near end to brown cheese. Adjust seasoning before stuffing for best flavor.

Nutrition

Keywords: stuffed bell peppers, ground beef, quinoa, baked peppers, easy dinner, weeknight meal, healthy stuffed peppers

Find it online: https://fuzzyforker.com/easy-baked-stuffed-bell-peppers-with-ground-beef-and-quinoa-recipe/