Stuffed Bell Peppers (The Quicker Version)

Created by: The Pretty Little Chef

"I Love stuffed bell peppers but hated how most recipes called for 45 minutes of bake time. I decided to created a version that bakes in half the time! The results were delicious!"

Use multicolored peppers if you can, and feel free to use ground turkey instead of ground beef.

Ingredients:

• 5 bell peppers, red, yellow, or green
• 2 teaspoons salt (to add to boiling water)
  
• ***Filling and Sauce***
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1/4 cup (about) chopped Bell Peppers (use from cut tops)
  
• 1 cup chopped Onion
  
• 1 can (14.5 ounces) tomato sauce
  
• 2 cloves garlic, crushed
• 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper, divided
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 cup cooked long-grain rice
• shredded Cheddar cheese, about 1/2 cup

Preparation:

1. Start cooking the rice as directed on the package. (I usually just throw it in the rice cooker)
2. Cut tops off peppers; remove seeds and membranes. Chop edible part of tops and set aside. Rinse peppers under cold water. Place peppers in a large pot of boiling salted water. Boil for 8 minutes. Drain peppers and set aside.
3. Cook ground beef in a medium size skillet until no longer pink inside, drain fat and set aside in a medium side bowl. Add 1 tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce into the bowl & 1 can of tomato sauce, Mix well.
4. Using the same skillet, Heat olive oil over medium heat until hot. Sauté chopped green pepper (from tops) & chopped onion, for about 5 minutes, or until vegetables are tender. Add crushed garlic, basil, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon of pepper. Sauté for 1-2 more minutes. Add the cooked vegetables and seasonings in the bowl ground beef/tomato sauce mixture.
   
5. When rice is done, also add to the bowl. Mix well.
   
6. Stuff peppers with meat mixture and place in a baking dish. (I like to use deeper ones because they help stand the bell peppers up). Bake at 350° for 20 minutes. Top stuffed peppers with a little shredded Cheddar cheese just before peppers are done; bake until cheese is melted.
   
7. Recipe for stuffed peppers serves 5.