Effortless & Delicious: The Ultimate Sheet Pan Stuffed Bell Peppers Recipe
Transform your weeknight dinner routine with these incredibly easy and flavorful Sheet Pan Stuffed Bell Peppers. This recipe takes the beloved classic and simplifies it into a convenient one-pan meal, perfect for busy evenings. Featuring vibrant bell peppers roasted until tender, generously stuffed with a savory, cheesy ground beef and rice (or quinoa) filling, it’s a dish that promises both comfort and culinary delight. Not only does it streamline cooking and make cleanup a breeze, but it also delivers a hearty and visually appealing meal that your entire family will adore. Forget the fuss of multiple pots and pans; everything comes together beautifully on a single sheet pan, making dinner effortless without sacrificing any of the deliciousness.
👉 Craving more simple and satisfying meals? Be sure to try my Spinach Chicken Orzo Casserole or a comforting French Onion Chicken Potato Casserole next!

These Stuffed Sheet Pan Bell Peppers offer a modern and hassle-free approach to a timeless family dinner. Each bell pepper half is generously packed with a perfectly seasoned mixture of ground beef, rich tomato sauce, and a blend of savory cheeses. The magic happens on a single sheet pan, where the peppers bake to a tender perfection, infusing their natural sweetness into the hearty filling. This results in a flavorful, vibrant, and incredibly satisfying meal that simplifies both your cooking process and post-dinner cleanup. It’s the ideal solution for anyone seeking a wholesome, comforting, and colorful dinner that the whole family will enthusiastically enjoy, all with minimal effort.
Why You’ll Absolutely Love This Recipe…

I am a huge advocate for sheet pan dinners, and this particular recipe holds a special place in my heart. There’s something uniquely comforting about these stuffed peppers—each vibrant bell pepper acts as a perfect edible bowl, holding a luscious, cheesy, and saucy filling that feels incredibly cozy. Yet, despite its comforting nature, the dish remains wonderfully colorful and fresh, making it a feast for both the eyes and the palate.
What makes this recipe truly stand out is its incredible flexibility. You can easily adapt it to suit your preferences or what you have on hand. Feel free to experiment with different colors of bell peppers to add even more visual appeal, switch up the cheese varieties for a new flavor dimension, or even sneak in extra vegetables like finely chopped spinach or zucchini to boost the nutritional content. Despite these variations, the core recipe remains incredibly simple to follow and is always guaranteed to be a hit with everyone at the table. It’s a truly versatile and family-approved meal that you’ll want to add to your regular rotation.
⏰ Total Time: Approximately 40 minutes from start to finish, making it an excellent choice for busy weeknights.
🍂 Perfect For: Ideal for hearty family dinners, quick and easy weeknight meals, or when you’re simply craving a cozy and satisfying comfort food experience.
🛒 Key Ingredients: The stars of this dish are fresh bell peppers, lean ground beef, rich tomato sauce, and plenty of gooey mozzarella cheese.
🍽️ Servings: This recipe yields 6 delicious stuffed bell pepper halves, perfect for feeding a family or having leftovers.
🥄 Skill Level: Easy! This recipe is designed for home cooks of all experience levels, requiring minimal culinary expertise.
🧊 Storage: Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, and they freeze beautifully for up to 1 month, ensuring you always have a quick meal option.
👉 Discover more family-favorite sheet pan recipes like my savory Marinara Mozzarella Chicken and Zucchini or the zesty Sheet Pan Steak Fajitas.
Made With Love,
Essential Ingredients for Perfect Stuffed Sheet Pan Bell Peppers
Crafting these delectable stuffed bell peppers requires a handful of fresh and flavorful ingredients, each playing a crucial role in the final taste and texture. Here’s a detailed look at what you’ll need to gather before you start cooking:
- Ground Beef: This forms the hearty, savory foundation of our stuffing. Opt for lean ground beef (80/20 or 90/10) to minimize excess grease. You can also substitute with ground turkey, chicken, or a plant-based alternative for a lighter or vegetarian option.
- Diced Tomatoes & Tomato Sauce: A combination of canned diced tomatoes and smooth tomato sauce provides a rich, tangy, and moist base for the filling. The diced tomatoes add texture, while the sauce ensures a cohesive, flavorful blend that coats the beef and seasonings perfectly.
- Key Seasonings: We’ll use a blend of classic Italian seasoning, aromatic garlic powder, and savory onion powder, along with essential salt and pepper. These spices create a deeply flavorful profile that complements the beef and tomatoes beautifully. Feel free to adjust quantities to your taste or add a pinch of red pepper flakes for a subtle kick.
- Parmesan Cheese: Freshly grated Parmesan cheese is incorporated into the filling, lending a salty, nutty, and umami-rich depth that elevates the entire dish. It also helps bind the ingredients together, creating a perfectly balanced stuffing.
- Bell Peppers: The stars of the show! Any color bell pepper will work wonderfully—red, yellow, orange, or green. Red, yellow, and orange peppers tend to be sweeter, while green peppers offer a slightly more robust, earthy flavor. Choose firm, blemish-free peppers that are large enough to hold a generous amount of filling when sliced lengthwise.
- Mozzarella Cheese: A generous sprinkle of shredded mozzarella cheese on top before baking ensures a golden, bubbly, and irresistibly gooey topping. It melts beautifully, adding a creamy texture and classic comfort food appeal.
👉 For another delightful and satisfying stuffed dinner idea, don’t miss out on my easy Ham Stuffing Egg Casserole.
Detailed Ingredient List
Here’s the precise list of ingredients you’ll need to create these delicious stuffed sheet pan bell peppers. Remember, using fresh and high-quality ingredients will always yield the best results!
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1 (15 oz) can diced tomatoes, undrained
- 8 oz tomato sauce (about 1 cup)
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning blend
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ¾ cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated and divided (½ cup for the filling, ¼ cup for topping)
- 3 large bell peppers, any color (red, yellow, orange, or green work well)
- ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
🔒 For your convenience, the printable recipe card located below includes the complete ingredient list with exact amounts and detailed instructions. It’s perfect for saving, printing, or quickly referencing as you cook!
Step-by-Step: How to Make Stuffed Sheet Pan Bell Peppers
Making these stuffed bell peppers is incredibly straightforward, designed for maximum flavor with minimal effort. Follow these simple steps to bring this delightful dish to life:
Step 1: Prepare Your Oven and Pan. Begin by preheating your oven to 375°F (190°C). While the oven heats, line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil for easy cleanup. This simple step will make your post-dinner chores much lighter.
Step 2: Brown the Ground Beef. In a large skillet set over medium-high heat, add the ground beef. Cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until it is thoroughly browned and no pink remains. Once cooked, carefully drain any excess grease from the skillet. This ensures your filling isn’t too oily and maintains a pleasant texture.
Step 3: Create the Flavorful Filling. Reduce the heat to medium. Stir the drained ground beef into the skillet along with the diced tomatoes (including their liquid), tomato sauce, salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, onion powder, and garlic powder. Mix everything well to combine. Next, stir in ½ cup of the Parmesan cheese. Continue to cook for 3-5 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld together and the sauce to thicken slightly. The cheese will melt into the mixture, creating a rich and cohesive filling.
Step 4: Prepare the Bell Peppers. Wash the bell peppers thoroughly. Carefully slice each bell pepper in half lengthwise, from stem to base. Using a spoon or your hands, scoop out and discard the seeds and any white membranes from the inside of each pepper half. This creates a clean cavity ready for stuffing.
Step 5: Assemble on the Sheet Pan. Arrange the hollowed-out bell pepper halves on your prepared baking sheet, cut-side up. If any peppers are unstable and tend to tip over, you can create small “collars” of aluminum foil around their bases to help them stand upright during baking. Carefully spoon the ground beef and tomato mixture evenly into each bell pepper half, filling them generously.
Step 6: Add the Cheesy Topping. Once all the peppers are filled, sprinkle the remaining ¼ cup of Parmesan cheese and all of the shredded mozzarella cheese over the top of each stuffed pepper. This cheesy layer will melt into a golden, bubbly crust.
Step 7: Bake to Perfection. Transfer the sheet pan to the preheated oven. Bake for 25–35 minutes, or until the bell peppers are tender-crisp (you can test tenderness by gently piercing with a fork) and the cheese on top is beautifully melted, bubbly, and lightly golden brown. The exact baking time may vary slightly depending on the size and thickness of your bell peppers.
🔒 Remember, these step-by-step instructions, along with handy tips, are also conveniently available in the printable recipe card below. Don’t forget to save it for future reference!
Creative Variations for Your Stuffed Bell Peppers
One of the best aspects of this sheet pan stuffed bell pepper recipe is its incredible adaptability. Feel free to get creative and customize the filling to suit your taste, dietary preferences, or what you have available in your pantry. Here are some fantastic ideas to inspire your next batch:
- Protein Swaps: While ground beef is classic, you can easily substitute it with other proteins. Try ground turkey or ground chicken for a leaner option, or use Italian sausage (mild or spicy) for an extra layer of flavor and a slightly different spice profile. For a vegetarian twist, consider using cooked lentils, black beans, or a plant-based ground meat alternative.
- Add Grains for Extra Heartiness: To make the meal even more substantial and satisfying, mix in cooked rice (white or brown) or quinoa into the ground beef filling. About 1/2 to 1 cup of cooked grains per recipe will work perfectly, absorbing the delicious tomato sauce and adding wonderful texture and fiber. This is also a great way to use up leftover grains.
- Cheesy Alternatives: Don’t limit yourself to mozzarella and Parmesan! Experiment with other cheeses to find your favorite combination. Pepper jack cheese will add a spicy kick, while sharp cheddar offers a rich, tangy flavor. Provolone or a blend of Italian cheeses would also melt beautifully and enhance the savory profile.
- Sneak in Extra Veggies: Boost the nutritional value and add more texture by incorporating finely chopped vegetables into the filling. Spinach (fresh or frozen and squeezed dry), zucchini, mushrooms, or corn are all excellent additions. Sauté them briefly with the ground beef before adding the tomato sauce to ensure they soften nicely. This is a fantastic way to increase your vegetable intake without anyone even noticing!
- Spice It Up: For those who love a bit of heat, add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the ground beef mixture, or incorporate a dash of hot sauce into the tomato base.
- Herb Garden Freshness: Finish your cooked peppers with a sprinkle of fresh herbs like chopped basil, parsley, or oregano for a burst of fresh flavor and vibrant color.
👉 Looking for more quick and easy dinner solutions? Be sure to try my light and flaky Baked Sheet Pan Tilapia or the robust Parmesan Garlic Chicken Tenders with Potatoes & Asparagus.
My Pro Tips
Expert Tips & Tricks for Perfect Stuffed Bell Peppers
Achieving perfectly tender, flavorful, and beautifully presented stuffed bell peppers is easy with a few insider tips. Keep these pointers in mind for the best possible results:
- Select the Right Peppers: Choose bell peppers that are firm to the touch and have a smooth, unblemished skin. Look for peppers that are roughly uniform in size to ensure even cooking. Larger peppers will hold more filling and provide a more substantial serving.
- Drain the Beef Mixture Thoroughly: After browning the ground beef, it’s crucial to drain off any excess grease. If the filling is too watery or oily, it can make the peppers soggy and less appealing. A well-drained filling will have a better texture and richer flavor.
- Bake Uncovered for Golden Perfection: For that irresistible golden-brown, bubbly cheese topping, always bake your stuffed peppers uncovered. This allows the cheese to melt and crisp up beautifully, adding a delightful texture to the dish. If the cheese starts to brown too quickly, you can loosely tent the pan with foil for the last few minutes.
- Stabilize Your Peppers: Bell peppers can sometimes be a bit wobbly on a flat baking sheet, especially if they have an uneven bottom. To prevent them from tipping over and spilling their delicious filling, you can create small “collars” out of aluminum foil. Simply crumple a piece of foil into a ring and place it around the base of each pepper half to provide support.
- Don’t Overstuff: While it’s tempting to pack in as much filling as possible, avoid overstuffing your bell peppers. Leave a little room at the top for the cheese to melt and spread without overflowing onto the pan.
- Rest Before Serving: Once out of the oven, let the stuffed peppers rest for 5-10 minutes. This allows the internal temperature to equalize, makes them easier to handle, and helps the filling set, preventing it from crumbling when served.
👉 For another fantastic weeknight win that’s loaded with flavor, try my beloved Sheet Pan Roasted Chicken and Vegetables.
Recipe FAQs – Stuffed Sheet Pan Bell Peppers
Here are some commonly asked questions about making these delicious sheet pan stuffed bell peppers, providing helpful answers to ensure your cooking experience is smooth and successful.
Nope, there’s no need to pre-cook the bell peppers for this recipe! They soften beautifully and become perfectly tender as they bake on the sheet pan alongside the filling. This is one of the key reasons why this recipe is so easy and efficient.
Absolutely! Stuffed bell peppers freeze very well. For best results, bake them fully according to the recipe instructions, then let them cool completely. Once cooled, you can freeze them individually on a baking sheet before transferring them to an airtight container or freezer-safe bag. This prevents them from sticking together. Reheat them straight from frozen in the oven until thoroughly heated through.
Yes, definitely! Adding cooked brown rice, white rice, or even quinoa to the filling is a fantastic idea. It adds great texture, makes the dish even heartier, and boosts the fiber content. Just make sure the grains are cooked before mixing them into the beef filling.
Stuffed bell peppers are quite a complete meal on their own, but they pair wonderfully with a few simple sides. Garlic bread or warm crusty rolls are excellent for soaking up any extra sauce. A fresh green salad provides a light and refreshing contrast, while a simple side of pasta or extra rice can make for an even heartier dinner.
Sheet pan dinners are my favorite for their simplicity! Beyond these stuffed peppers, I highly recommend trying my Sheet Pan Marinara Mozzarella Chicken and Zucchini for a cheesy, Italian-inspired meal, or my Sheet Pan BBQ Chicken with Corn and Potato Wedges for a delicious and easy crowd-pleaser.
Delicious Serving Suggestions
While these Sheet Pan Stuffed Bell Peppers are a complete and satisfying meal on their own, pairing them with a few simple sides can elevate the dining experience. Here are some ideas to round out your meal:
- Garlic Bread or Warm Rolls: A classic choice! The soft bread is perfect for soaking up any savory juices or sauce that might escape the peppers. A side of warm, crusty rolls with butter is equally delightful.
- Fresh Green Salad: Add a burst of freshness and a touch of lightness to your meal with a simple side salad. A mixed green salad with a light vinaigrette dressing provides a refreshing contrast to the rich, hearty peppers.
- Pasta or Rice: For an even heartier dinner, especially if you’re feeding a hungry crowd, serve the stuffed peppers alongside a bed of your favorite pasta (like spaghetti or penne) tossed with a little marinara, or a side of fluffy white or brown rice.
- Fresh Herbs for Garnish: A sprinkle of fresh basil, parsley, or oregano just before serving adds vibrant color and a fresh, aromatic finish that brightens the flavors of the dish.
- A Dollop of Sour Cream or Greek Yogurt: For a creamy counterpoint, offer a small dollop of sour cream or plain Greek yogurt on the side. This adds a cool tang that complements the savory filling.
👉 For more irresistibly cheesy meals that are sure to be family favorites, be sure to try my Sheet Pan Mozzarella Stuffed Meatloaf.
Make-Ahead, Storage & Reheating Instructions
These Sheet Pan Stuffed Bell Peppers are fantastic for meal prep, making them perfect for busy weeks. Here’s how to handle make-ahead preparation, storage, and reheating to keep them fresh and delicious:
- Make-Ahead Option: You can prepare the ground beef filling a day in advance. Cook the beef, mix in the tomatoes, sauce, seasonings, and Parmesan. Let it cool completely, then store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. When you’re ready to bake, simply slice your peppers, fill them with the prepped mixture, top with cheese, and bake as directed.
- Refrigerator Storage: Leftover stuffed bell peppers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Ensure they are completely cooled before transferring them to storage.
- Freezer Storage: Stuffed peppers freeze wonderfully! Once baked and cooled, you can wrap individual peppers tightly in plastic wrap, then aluminum foil, or place them in freezer-safe bags or containers. They will keep well in the freezer for up to 1 month. Freezing individual portions makes for super convenient grab-and-reheat meals.
- Reheating from the Fridge: To reheat, place the stuffed peppers on a baking sheet and bake at 350°F (175°C) for 15-20 minutes, or until thoroughly heated through and the cheese is bubbly again. Alternatively, you can microwave individual peppers for 2-4 minutes, or until hot.
- Reheating from the Freezer: For best results when reheating from frozen, place the frozen stuffed peppers on a baking sheet (no need to thaw). Bake in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for 35-45 minutes, or until heated through and bubbling. If desired, cover loosely with foil for the first 20-30 minutes to prevent the tops from over-browning, then uncover for the remainder of the baking time.
👉 Looking for more convenient, freezer-friendly meals to simplify your life? Don’t forget to check out my hearty French Onion Chicken Potato Casserole.
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Don’t forget to Pin this recipe on Pinterest to save it for your next easy dinner!

Stuffed Sheet Pan Bell Peppers
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Print Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 (15 oz) can diced tomatoes
- 8 oz tomato sauce
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp pepper
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ¾ cup Parmesan cheese, divided
- 3 bell peppers, any color
- ½ cup mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large skillet, cook the ground beef over medium-high heat until completely browned. Drain any excess grease thoroughly.
- Reduce heat to medium. Stir in the diced tomatoes (undrained), tomato sauce, salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, onion powder, garlic powder, and ½ cup of the Parmesan cheese. Cook for 3-5 minutes, allowing flavors to meld and sauce to thicken.
- Slice each bell pepper in half lengthwise and carefully remove the seeds and membranes. Place the pepper halves, cut-side up, on the prepared baking sheet.
- Evenly fill each bell pepper half with the prepared ground beef mixture.
- Sprinkle the remaining ¼ cup of Parmesan cheese and the ½ cup of mozzarella cheese over the top of each stuffed pepper.
- Bake for 25–35 minutes, or until the bell peppers are tender and the cheese on top is melted, bubbly, and lightly golden brown.
Notes
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- For longer storage, freeze baked and cooled peppers individually for up to 1 month.
- Reheat in the oven at 350°F (175°C) until hot, or microwave individual portions.
Nutrition
Carbohydrates: 20g |
Protein: 42g |
Fat: 42g |
Saturated Fat: 18g |
Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g |
Monounsaturated Fat: 16g |
Trans Fat: 2g |
Cholesterol: 139mg |
Sodium: 1586mg |
Potassium: 1225mg |
Fiber: 6g |
Sugar: 12g |
Vitamin A: 4564IU |
Vitamin C: 172mg |
Calcium: 497mg |
Iron: 6mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
