Unstuffed Peppers

• servings: 4 servings
• active time: 10 minutes
• total time: 45 minutes

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 pound lean ground beef (or sausage)

3 bell peppers, chopped (any color)

1 small onion, chopped

2 garlic cloves, minced

2 teaspoons Italian seasoning

2 tablespoons tomato paste

15 ounce can diced tomatoes

8 ounce favorite tomato sauce

1 cup beef broth (or water)

1 cup long grain white rice, rinsed

1 cup shredded cheese of choice

1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar (optional)

Directions

Heat the oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook, stirring occasionally, about 3-5 minutes.

Add the chopped bell peppers, onion, garlic, Italian seasoning along with a pinch of salt and pepper (leave out if serving to baby). Cook until the beef is fully cooked and the veggies are soft, about 5-7 minutes.

Stir in the tomato paste and sauté for 1-2 minutes until fragrant. This step really deepens the flavor!

Pour in the diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, broth. Stir, making sure to scrape the bottom of the skillet, and bring to a boil. Add the rice, then lower the heat, cover, and let it simmer for 15 minutes, or until the rice is tender.

Once the rice is cooked, add the cheese on top, cover, and let the cheese melt for a few minutes. Drizzle a little balsamic vinegar for an extra depth of flavor—totally optional but delicious!

Nutrition

• Calories: 510 kcal
• Total Fat: 17 g
• Total Carbohydrate: 53 g
• Dietary Fiber: 5 g
• Total Sugars: 9 g
• Protein: 37 g