Unstuffed Pepper Skillet
🛒 What You’ll Need:
- The Protein: 1 lb Ground Beef (or ground turkey for a leaner option). 🥩
- The Veggies: * 2–3 Large Bell Peppers (mix of red and green for color!). 🫑
- 1 Medium Onion (diced). 🧅
- The Base: * 1 can (14.5 oz) Diced Tomatoes. 🍅
- 1 ½ cups Cooked White or Brown Rice. 🍚
- The Melty Finish: 1 ½ cups Shredded Mozzarella or Monterey Jack cheese. 🧀
- The Flavor: * 1 tbsp Olive oil. 🫒
- 1 tsp Garlic powder + 1 tsp Italian seasoning. 🌿
- Salt and black pepper to taste. 🧂
👨🍳 Step-by-Step Preparation:
- Brown the Beef: In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and diced onion. Cook until the beef is browned and the onions are translucent. Drain any excess fat. 🍳🔥
- Add the Veggies: Stir in your chopped bell peppers and cook for about 5 minutes until they start to soften. 🫑✨
- Combine & Simmer: Stir in the diced tomatoes (with their juices), garlic powder, and Italian seasoning. Add the cooked rice and mix everything together until well combined. 🍚🌪️
- The Cheesy Layer: Level out the mixture in the skillet. Sprinkle a generous amount of shredded cheese over the top. 🧀✨
- Melt it Down: Cover the skillet with a lid for 2–3 minutes, or until the cheese is completely melted and bubbly. ⏳🔥🎉
- Serve: Garnish with fresh parsley if desired and serve hot straight from the skillet! 🍽️😋
✨ Why You’ll Love This:
This dish is a total lifesaver for busy evenings! 🤩 It provides a balanced, diverse comfort food experience with protein, grains, and veggies all in one bite. Plus, having only one pan to clean is a major win! 🌟🙌
💡 Pro Tip: If you want a bit of a kick, add a pinch of red pepper flakes or a dash of your favorite hot sauce to the mixture before adding the cheese! 🌶️😉
