Pasta Stuffed Peppers Recipes

PASTA STUFFED PEPPERS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• Cut the top off of each pepper and carefully scoop out the seeds and membranes.
• Cook the pasta in boiling salted water until very "al dente".
• Drain pasta and run cold water over the pasta to stop the cooking process.
• In a large bowl, mix together the pasta, tomatoes, basil, garlic, two cheeses, olive oil, and seasonings.
• Place the peppers standing up in a baking dish.
• Stuff each pepper with the filling and then place the top back on.
• Bake the peppers for about 35 minutes, or until the peppers start to wrinkle and blister.
• Serve warm or at room temperature.

PASTA SALAD-STUFFED PEPPERS

Steps:

• Bring a medium saucepan of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook as the label directs. Drain and set aside.
• Meanwhile, fry the ham in a skillet over medium heat, turning, until crisp, 2 to 4 minutes. Drain on paper towels, then crumble.
• Combine the pasta, tomatoes, red onion, capers, parsley, garlic, lemon zest, cheese and half of the crumbled ham in a bowl.
• Make the vinaigrette: Toast the fennel seeds in a dry skillet over medium heat, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board and crush with a skillet. Whisk the olive oil, vinegar, lemon juice, rosemary, oregano, crushed fennel, 1/4 teaspoon sea salt and the red pepper flakes in a bowl. Pour over the pasta mixture and mix until combined.
• Carefully stuff the pasta salad into the peppers using a small spoon. Top with the remaining crumbled ham.

CLASSIC BEEF STUFFED PEPPERS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Bring a large saucepan of water to a boil, reduce heat to medium, and cook red bell peppers in the boiling water until slightly softened, about 5 minutes. Drain and rinse peppers with cold water.
• Stir eggs, 3 cups of spaghetti sauce, instant rice, onion, salt, Worcestershire sauce, and black pepper together in a bowl. Crumble ground beef into the mixture and stir until ground beef is thoroughly combined with sauce and rice mixture.
• Stand peppers in a large baking dish and fill each pepper with beef mixture. Pour 2 cups spaghetti sauce over the peppers. Cover dish with aluminum foil.
• Bake in the preheated oven until peppers are tender, the filling is set, and an instant-read meat thermometer inserted into the middle of a pepper reads at least 160 degrees F (70 degrees C), 55 to 60 minutes. Uncover and top each pepper with 1 tablespoon Cheddar cheese.

PASTA-STUFFED BELL PEPPERS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F Grease shallow 8x8 baking dish & keep ready.
• Cook bacon until brown & crispy; drain on paper towels. Leave grease in the pan.
• Add onion to bacon grease & cook until softened; pour off excess fat.
• Stir in tomatoes & hot pepper flakes. Cook on high until thickened (10 mins).
• Put pasta in mixing bowl and add bacon, tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, and olives; toss well to mix; season to taste.
• Cut stem off of each pepper; reserve "lids". Remove seeds from inside each pepper, and remove white ribs.
• Divide pasta mixture amongst all peppers. Put "lids" back on. Brush peppers all over with olive oil and set into prepared baking dish.
• Cover with foil and bake 30 minutes. Remove foil and bake another 20-25 min or until peppers are tender.

STUFFED PEPPER SPAGHETTI BAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375°F.
• Heat large pot of water to boiling; season generously with kosher salt. Boil spaghetti 3 minutes less than time indicated on package -- it should be quite flexible but still firm in center. Reserve 1 cup of the pasta water; drain, and set aside.
• Meanwhile, in 10-inch skillet, cook beef with a dash of salt and a few grinds of pepper, breaking it up as it cooks, until browned. Remove beef from skillet with slotted spoon to plate; set aside. Wipe out skillet; add olive oil. Add bell peppers, onions and garlic with a pinch of salt; cook about 5 minutes or until softened.
• Add beef back to skillet, followed by both cans of tomato sauce and diced tomatoes. Stir to combine; simmer 5 minutes. Taste sauce for seasoning; add salt if needed. Add cooked pasta and half of the pasta water, tossing to coat -- add more pasta water if you want thinner sauce.
• Spray 13x9-inch (3-quart) baking dish with cooking spray. Spread mixture in baking dish; top with cheese.
• Cover with foil. Bake 20 minutes; remove foil, and bake about 10 minutes longer or until cheese is bubbling. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

STUFFED PEPPER RICE BAKE

Steps:

• Combine ground beef and onion in a large skillet and cook over medium heat until onion is soft and translucent, 7 to 8 minutes. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, 30 to 45 seconds. Drain extra grease.
• Add tomato soup, diced tomatoes, water, rice, Worcestershire sauce, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil; reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 10 minutes.
• Stir in diced peppers and cook until rice is tender, 15 to 20 minutes. Top with mozzarella cheese, cover, and let sit until cheese has melted, 5 to 7 minutes.

ORZO-STUFFED PEPPERS

Steps:

• Cut tops off peppers and remove seeds. In a Dutch oven, cook peppers in boiling water for 3-5 minutes. Drain and rinse in cold water; set aside., Cook orzo according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook sausage and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Drain., Drain orzo; stir into meat mixture. Add the marinara sauce, tomato, basil, rosemary and pepper flakes. Spoon into peppers. , Place in a greased 11x7-in. baking dish. Cover and bake at 350° for 10 minutes. Uncover; sprinkle with cheeses. Bake 5 minutes longer or until cheese is melted.

ROASTED PEPPERS WITH SPAGHETTI STUFFING

Steps:

• Place bell peppers directly over the flame of a gas-stove burner and roast, turning with tongs, until blackened all over. (Or roast peppers under the broiler.) Transfer to a large bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and let stand 15 minutes. Peel off skins, slice off tops, and remove ribs and seeds.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil; add salt. Cook pasta 2 minutes less than instructed on package. Drain.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Heat a large saute pan over medium-high. Swirl in oil to coat, then add anchovies, breaking them up with the back of a spoon until dissolved. Add onion and capers and cook, stirring occasionally, just until onion is softened, about 3 minutes. Pour in vinegar and cook, stirring frequently, until almost evaporated. Add pasta and toss to coat.
• Generously season cavity of each pepper with salt, then fill with a heaping 1/2 cup pasta mixture, twirling pasta with a fork to fit snugly. Place peppers side by side in a 2-quart oval baking dish. Bake until pasta starts to brown in a few spots, 10 to 15 minutes. Let cool slightly before serving, topped with oregano.