Stuffed ‘Alien’ Peppers

Blast off to a new dinner idea! These Stuffed ‘Alien’ Peppers are a creative and delicious way to serve a hearty, cheesy meal. The tops of the peppers serve as the “heads,” making for a fun and memorable presentation.

Ingredients

• For the Filling:
  • 4 large bell peppers (any color you like!)
  • 1 pound ground beef or turkey
  • 1 cup cooked rice (white or brown)
  • 1 (8-ounce) can tomato sauce
  • 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese¹
  • 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1 small onion, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • Salt and black pepper to taste

Tools

• Baking dish
• Skillet
• Large bowl
• Spoon or small ice cream scoop

Instructions

1. Preheat and prepare. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a baking dish.
2. Prepare the peppers. Cut the tops off the bell peppers. Carefully scoop out the seeds and membranes, leaving the peppers intact. Set the tops aside—these will be the “alien heads.”
3. Cook the filling. In a skillet over medium-high heat, cook the ground beef or turkey with the chopped onion until the meat is browned and the onion is soft. Drain any excess fat. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
4. Mix the filling. In a large bowl, combine the cooked meat mixture, cooked rice, half of the tomato sauce, all of the mozzarella and cheddar cheeses, oregano, salt, and pepper.
5. Stuff the peppers. Spoon the filling into each hollowed-out bell pepper. Don’t overfill them; you want to leave a little room at the top.
6. Bake. Place the stuffed peppers upright in the baking dish. Pour the remaining tomato sauce over the top of the peppers and into the bottom of the dish. Place the pepper tops (the “alien heads”) on a separate baking sheet and place them in the oven with the peppers.
7. Cook until tender. Bake for 45-55 minutes, or until the peppers are tender and the filling is heated through.
8. Assemble and serve. Carefully remove the peppers from the oven. Place the “alien heads” on top of each stuffed pepper. Serve immediately and enjoy your out-of-this-world meal!