Parmesan Rice Stuffed Peppers
These simple stuffed peppers made with brown rice and basil pesto, are packed with crowd-pleasing Italian flavors that the whole family will enjoy.
Ingredients
- 2 bags Success® Brown Rice
- 1 can (15 oz) tomato sauce, divided
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided
- 1/4 cup basil pesto
- 3 large bell peppers in assorted colors, halved lengthwise, seeds removed
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup thinly sliced fresh basil leaves
Instructions
Perfect for meatless Mondays or any day of the week, these quick-cooking, vegetarian Parmesan Rice Stuffed Peppers are a hearty dish that you’ll want to make again and again.
Step 1
Preheat oven to 425°F. Prepare rice according to package directions.
Step 2
Spread 1 1/2 cups of tomato sauce over the bottom of a 9- x 13-inch baking dish. Toss the rice with the remaining tomato sauce, 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese and pesto in a large bowl.
Step 3
Lay pepper halves into prepared baking dish. Divide the rice mixture evenly among peppers. Top with remaining Parmesan cheese and mozzarella.
Step 4
Cover dish with foil and bake for 18 to 20 minutes, or until peppers are tender, filling is heated through and cheese is melted. Remove foil. Broil for 3 to 5 minutes or until cheese is golden brown. Garnish with fresh basil.
Recipe Tips
Switch things up by using a different type of cheese or sauce in this recipe. Try fontina or provolone in place of the mozzarella cheese. You could also use olive tapenade instead of basil pesto.
Substitute the brown rice in the recipe with Success® White Rice or Success® Tri-Color Quinoa, if that’s what you have on hand.
Go Vegetarian, Tonight!
This version of classic stuffed peppers is filled with a meat-free blend of hearty, whole grain brown rice mixed with rich tomato sauce, Parmesan cheese and basil pesto. One of the best parts about this filling is that it’s made with pantry ingredients you most likely already have on hand, such as brown rice, tomato sauce, Parmesan, mozzarella cheese and pesto.
To add a bit more protein to these naturally vegetarian peppers, add in beans or chickpeas or serve this dish alongside marinated tofu. You can also add in shredded beef, chicken or leftover turkey, if you’re not on a vegetarian diet.
For more meat alternative Inspiration, try out this Easy Vegan Meatloaf for a meatless spin on a classic dish!
Time-Saving Tips
Save time in the kitchen by using Success® Boil-in-Bag Brown Rice, which cooks up in 10 minutes. It has all of the same benefits of long-cook rice but in less time!
Get organized in the kitchen. Learn how to mix and match your meals by preparing sauces and ingredients that can be used for more than one meal. Make a flavorful Arugula Walnut Pesto Rice Bowl and save some of the pesto for these stuffed peppers. Or, make this Aromatic Pesto Rice and save some of the pesto to use in this stuffed pepper dish.
