These fun and easy Mexican Stuffed Peppers are filled with seasoned ground beef, sweet onions, garlic, fire roasted tomatoes, and rice all topped with cheddar and pepper jack cheese. For the greater part of my life I have been a huge stuffed pepper fan and this is one of my favorite recipes.
If you love stuffed peppers but you also love all the flavors of Mexican and Tex Mex food than this recipe is right up your alley. Tex Mex and Mexican recipes are always so full of flavor and because of that they are incredibly satisfying. We are huge fans to anything with a little hispanic flair to it. Have you tried any of my other Tex Mex dishes? This recipe, Queso Fundido, Mexican Pizza, and Barbacoa Tacos, are just a few of our favorites. I bet you have a few of your own favorites.
How to make Mexican Stuffed Peppers
Start by cutting off the tops of the peppers and removing the seeds and membranes. I chop the tops up and use them for mine and hubby’s omelettes but you can also use them in the recipe. Then boil the peppers in a large pot of water for about 4-5 minutes just to soften them a bit. Be sure to drain the peppers very well.
Now grab a large skillet and brown the ground beef over medium high heat. When the ground beef is about halfway browned add the onion and cook until it is soft and the ground beef is browned. Then add the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute stirring constantly. Next add the taco seasoning, fire roasted tomatoes, water and rice. Now bring it all to simmer and then cover and cook until the rice is tender.
Fill the peppers with the ground beef mixture and place them in a casserole dish. Add a cup of water to the bottom of the dish. Then cover with aluminum foil and bake for about 40-45 minutes. Finally uncover the peppers and spread the tops of the peppers evenly with both cheeses. Bake until the cheese is melted. If desired add your favorite taco toppings like sour cream, salsa, black olives, or shredded lettuce.
Recipe notes and helpful tips
- Ground turkey or ground pork can be substituted for the ground beef.
- If your peppers do not stand upright on their own cut just enough off the bottom to create a flat spot so they will.
- Do you have a love for spicy food? No problem stir in a little bit of cayenne pepper and/or a minced jalapeno.
- Most stuffed pepper recipe call for cooked rice. With this recipe the rice cooks right in the skillet with the ground beef and other seasonings.
- Other ingredients to add to the mixture include corn, black beans, or diced tomatoes.
- Add a cup of water to the bottom of the baking dish with the peppers. This will help steam them and make them a little softer.
- These peppers can be prepared up to 24 hours in advance and stored covered in the refrigerator. Remove the peppers from the fridge about 30-40 minutes prior to baking to bring the peppers up to room temperature.
- To reheat leftover peppers place them in a covered dish and pop in the oven at 350 for 15-20 minutes. Alternatively you can reheat them in the microwave in a microwave safe dish covered with a paper towel at a reduced power (60%) for about 2-3 minutes.
- Use whatever color peppers you prefer. The red bell peppers are the sweetest while the green pepper has a little more kick to it and is very aromatic. I like to use a variety of colored peppers because it looks so festive and I can satisfy the multiple tastes of my family.
What is the difference between red, orange, yellow and green peppers?
They are all essentially the same pepper in different growing stages. In it’s earliest stage the bell pepper is green. If left on the vine to fully ripen it will change to yellow, then orange and finally red. This fully explains why green peppers are the most economical as they can be harvested earlier. Green peppers taste zestier, and slightly bitter compared to the yellow, orange and red bell pepper. Red peppers are allowed to fully ripen resulting in a sweeter fruitier flavor. Red peppers have twice as much vitamin C and nine times more beta-carotene than their green cousins.
What to serve with Mexican Stuffed Green Peppers
- cornbread
- Grapefruit Margaritas
- sweet potato fries
- Easy Mexican Coleslaw
- garden salad with lime vinaigrette
- Corn Fritters
- fresh fruit salad
- Classic Bloody Mary Cocktail
- fry bread
- Pickled Jalapenos
Mexican Stuffed Pepper Recipe
These festive, fun and easy Mexican Stuffed Peppers are loaded with hearty ground beef seasoned with the perfect mixture of spices, onions, tomatoes, rice and topped with sharp cheddar and zesty pepper jack cheese.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 60 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings
- Category: main meal
- Method: bake
- Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients
- 6 bell peppers (any color)
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1 small onion finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 3 tablespoons taco seasoning
- 1 cup water
- 1 can (14.5 ounce) fire roasted tomatoes
- 1/2 cup white rice (uncooked)
- 3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup shredded pepper jack cheese
- chopped cilantro (optional)
Instructions
- Start by cutting off the tops of the peppers and removing the seeds and membranes. Boil the peppers in a large pot of water for about 4-5 minutes. Drain the peppers very well.
- In a large skillet over medium heat brown the ground beef. When the ground beef is about halfway browned add the onion and cook until it is soft and the beef is browned. Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute stirring constantly. Add the taco seasoning, water, fire roasted tomatoes, and rice. Bring it all to a simmer and then cover and cook until the rice is tender.
- Fill the peppers with the ground beef mixture and place in a baking dish. Add a cup of water to the bottom of the dish. Cover with aluminum foil and bake at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes. Spread the tops of the peppers evenly with both cheeses and bake until the cheese is melted. If desired top with chopped cilantro.
Notes
- Ground turkey or ground pork can be substituted for the ground beef.
- If your peppers do not stand upright on their own cut just enough off the bottom to create a flat spot so they will.
- Do you have a love for spicy food? No problem stir in a little bit of cayenne pepper and/or a minced jalapeno.
- Most stuffed pepper recipe call for cooked rice. With this recipe the rice cooks right in the skillet with the ground beef and other seasonings.
- Other ingredients to add to the mixture include corn, black beans, or diced tomatoes.
- Add a cup of water to the bottom of the baking dish with the peppers. This will help steam them and make them a little softer.
- These peppers can be prepared up to 24 hours in advance and stored covered in the refrigerator. Remove the peppers from the fridge about 30-40 minutes prior to baking to bring the peppers up to room temperature.
- To reheat leftover peppers place them in a covered dish and pop in the oven at 350 for 15-20 minutes. Alternatively you can reheat them in the microwave in a microwave safe dish covered with a paper towel at a reduced power (60%) for about 2-3 minutes.
- Use whatever color peppers you prefer. The red bell peppers are the sweetest while the green pepper has a little more kick to it and is very aromatic. I like to use a variety of colored peppers because it looks so festive and I can satisfy the multiple tastes of my family.
Keywords: how to make Mexican stuffed peppers, what to serve with Mexican stuffed peppers, Mexican stuffed green peppers
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