Description
Deliciously hearty stuffed banana peppers filled with a savory blend of ground beef, Italian sausage, rice, and Parmesan cheese, all baked in a rich tomato sauce. Perfect as a comforting main course with an Italian-American flair.
Ingredients
Scale
Peppers
- 6 banana peppers (tops cut off and seeds removed)
Filling
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small yellow onion (finely chopped)
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1/2 pound ground beef
- 1/2 pound Italian sausage (casings removed)
- 1/2 cup cooked white rice
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 large egg (lightly beaten)
Tomato Sauce
- 2 cups tomato sauce
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 teaspoon sugar
Garnish
- Fresh parsley (chopped, for garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat and sauté aromatics: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the finely chopped onion and minced garlic, sautéing until they are soft and fragrant, about 3 to 4 minutes.
- Prepare the filling: In a large mixing bowl, combine the sautéed onion and garlic with ground beef, Italian sausage, cooked white rice, grated Parmesan cheese, dried oregano, dried basil, salt, black pepper, and the lightly beaten egg. Mix thoroughly until the mixture is well combined.
- Stuff the peppers: Carefully fill each banana pepper with the meat and rice mixture, ensuring they are well packed but not overfilled to prevent breaking.
- Prepare the sauce and arrange: In a separate bowl, mix together the tomato sauce, water, and sugar. Spread a layer of this sauce on the bottom of a baking dish. Arrange the stuffed banana peppers upright on top of the sauce. Pour the remaining sauce evenly over the stuffed peppers.
- Bake covered: Cover the baking dish with foil and bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes. This allows the filling to cook through and the peppers to soften.
- Bake uncovered: Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10 to 15 minutes. This step browns the tops of the stuffed peppers and further tenderizes them.
- Garnish and serve: Remove the peppers from the oven and garnish with freshly chopped parsley before serving. Enjoy your savory stuffed banana peppers hot.
Notes
- You can substitute ground turkey for a lighter, leaner version of this dish.
- For added heat, use hot banana peppers instead of mild ones or add crushed red pepper flakes to the meat filling.
