Stuffed Peppers

Ingredients

• 4 bell peppers, halved lengthwise and seeded

• 1 cup cooked rice

• 1 lb ground beef, turkey, or Italian sausage

• 1½ cups Hidden Foods Marinara pasta sauce

• 1 cup shredded cheese (mozzarella, cheddar, or a blend)

• Optional: salt, pepper, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, chopped parsley

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven:
   Set your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a baking dish large enough to hold all pepper halves.

2. Prep the peppers:
   Slice the peppers in half from top to bottom and remove the seeds and membranes. Place them cut-side up in the baking dish. For softer peppers, you can pre-bake them for 10 minutes, but this step is optional.

3. Cook the meat:
   In a large skillet over medium heat, cook your ground beef, turkey, or Italian sausage until browned and fully cooked. Break it into small crumbles as it cooks. Season with salt, pepper, garlic powder, or Italian seasoning if desired. Drain excess fat.

4. Make the filling:
   In a mixing bowl, combine the cooked rice, cooked meat, 1 cup of Hidden Foods Marinara sauce, and half of the shredded cheese. Stir until evenly mixed.

5. Stuff the peppers:
   Spoon the filling into each pepper half, packing it in gently.

6. Top with sauce and cheese:
   Pour or spoon the remaining ½ cup of marinara sauce over the stuffed peppers. Sprinkle the remaining cheese over the top.

7. Bake:
   Cover loosely with foil and bake for 35–40 minutes, removing the foil during the last 10 minutes so the cheese can melt and brown slightly. Peppers should be tender and the filling hot.

8. Serve:
   Let the peppers cool for a few minutes before serving. Garnish with parsley if desired.