Russian Stuffed Bell Peppers

One of the most beloved recipes in Slavic culture is a meaty stuffed pepper. Not only are they ridiculously comforting, but they are also a quick way to get a hefty serving of veggies in your diet. In this stuffed pepper recipe, we keep things simple with a minimal ingredients and prep work. The one thing we don’t skimp on is flavor! 

A Little Background on Russian Stuffed Peppers

Much like cabbage rolls or rice stuffed chicken thighs, you’re likely to find a classic stuffed peppers dish at a Slavic party. Unlike American-stuffed peppers, Slavics tend to opt for skinny or mini peppers instead of red or green bell peppers. In this specific recipe, we used Hungarian sweet peppers, but feel free to use any kind you like best – you can’t go wrong!

How to Prepare Stuffed Peppers

Here, you’ll find a high-level overview of the instructions on how to pull these easy stuffed peppers together.

• Partially Cook the Rice: In a large pot, boil two cups of water with the broth concentrate. Pour the rice in and turn the heat down low, cooking the grains until they’re nearly cooked through (don’t worry, the rice will finish in the oven). 
• Sauté the Veggies: In a skillet preheated with olive oil over medium heat, sauté the onions and carrots until softened. 
• Assemble the Filling: Next, add in the par-cooked rice and ground meat into the pan and stir to combine. 
• Prepare the Peppers: Slice the tops off the bell peppers and clean out the seeds and fibrous bits. Stuff the peppers will the filling and assemble them on their sides in a baking dish. 
• Make the Sauce: In a large pot, pour boiled water over the tomatoes and soak them. Remove the skins and dice them into cubes. In a large skillet, preheat half of cup of light olive oil, pop the tomatoes in, and let them simmer for a few minutes. Pour the tomatoes over the peppers, followed by a cup of boiled water mixed with more broth base.
• Bake the Peppers: Next, bake the peppers at 400°F for about 60 minutes. Serve the stuffed peppers with a spoonful sauce and a dollop of sour cream. Enjoy!

A Handful of Pepper Stuffin’ Tips

A couple of helpful pepper stuffin’ tips will help you make the most out of this recipe. 

• Stuff the peppers with raw ground meat. For the juiciest and most flavorful peppers, stuff the peppers with raw ground meat versus precooked meat. Don’t worry – it will cook all the way through in the oven! 
• Use canned tomatoes to speed up the sauce. If you’re in a rush, go ahead and swap out the fresh tomatoes with canned tomatoes instead. There’s nothing wrong with a shortcut! 
• Bake the peppers uncovered. The sauce will prevent the peppers from burning, so go ahead and bake them uncovered for best results. 
• Swap in your favorite ingredients. If you prefer, swap out the ground chicken for ground pork or ground beef or even ground turkey (just make sure it’s lean so the peppers don’t come out too greasy). For added flavor, you can even add in more spices and herbs like minced garlic cloves, cracked black pepper, or fresh dill or fresh parsley to the mix.

Ideas for Serving Russian Stuffed Peppers

These peppers are definitely filling enough to be eaten as a meal all on their own. However, if you want a more well-rounded meal, serve them alongside creamy mashed potatoes or new potatoes with bacon & herbs.

Storage Best Practices

There are two different ways you can store your stuffed peppers: raw or fully-cooked.

• Storing Raw Peppers: If you’d like to prep ahead a day in advance, store them raw and covered with plastic wrap. To heat them up, pop them in the oven and bake them as directed.
• Storing Cooked Peppers: If you’d like to have them on hand for easy snacking, store them covered with plastic wrap and fully cooked for up to a week. To reheat them, pop them in the microwave or back in the oven covered with foil until warmed through. 

FAQ

More Yummy Stuffed Peppers Recipes

• Ground Turkey Stuffed Bell Peppers – Ground turkey, rice, and cheese peppers
• Philly Cheesesteak Stuffed Peppers (Low-Carb) – Steak and cheese stuffed green peppers
• Low-Carb Lasagna Stuffed Peppers (Quick & Easy) – No-guilt lasagna-style peppers
• Mexican Stuffed Bell Peppers Recipe – Zesty black bean, cheese, and rice peppers

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Recipe

Russian Stuffed Bell Peppers

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Servings

15 Servings

Prep Time 30 mins

Cook Time 45 mins

Total Time 1 hr 15 mins

Recipe contributed by: Natalya Drozhzhin

These classic Russian stuffed peppers are packed with ground chicken, tender veggies, and white rice. Healthy, delicious, and ridiculously satisfying!

Ingredients

• 1 cup uncooked rice
• 1 tbsp Better Than Bouillon beef or chicken
• 1 medium onion
• 3 medium carrots
• 2 lbs ground chicken
• 2 tbsp light olive oil for sautéing
• 15 small bell peppers

Sauce

• 6 medium tomatoes
• 1/2 cup light olive oil
• 1 tbsp Better Than Bouillon beef or chicken
• 1 cup hot boiled water

US Units – Metric

Instructions

• Gather all your ingredients.
  
• In a large pot, bring two cups of water to boil with one tablespoon of Better Than Bouillon broth concentrate. Pour the rice into the water and turn the heat down low until it's nearly cooked through (it will cook the rest of the way through in the oven).
  
• Dice the onions and sauté them in a skillet preheated with olive oil over medium heat until they turn translucent. Grate the carrots and add them to the sautéed onions. Sauté them until softened.
  
• Add the partially cooked rice and ground meat to the skillet and stir to combine.
  
• Slice the tops off of the bell peppers and clean out the seeds and fibrous bits from the inside. Stuff the peppers with the filling and assemble them on their sides in a baking dish.
  
• In a large pot, pour boiled water over the tomatoes until they are fully submerged. Allow them to soak for a few minutes and remove the skins. Dice the tomatoes into cubes.
  
• Preheat half a cup of light olive oil in a deep skillet. Place the diced tomatoes in the oil and allow them to simmer for a few minutes. Once the tomatoes soften, pour them over the stuffed peppers. In a separate dish, whisk 1 cup of boiled water with 1 tablespoon of Better Than Bouillon broth base. Pour the broth over the stuffed peppers.
  
• Bake the peppers at 400°F for about 60 minutes. Serve the stuffed peppers with a spoonful of the sauce that forms at the bottom of the pan and a dollop of sour cream. Enjoy!
  

Nutrition Facts

Russian Stuffed Bell Peppers

Amount Per Serving

Calories 233 Calories from Fat 126

% Daily Value*

Fat 14g22%

Saturated Fat 3g15%

Cholesterol 52mg17%

Sodium 48mg2%

Potassium 497mg14%

Carbohydrates 14g5%

Fiber 2g8%

Sugar 3g3%

Protein 12g24%

Vitamin A 3120IU62%

Vitamin C 40.4mg49%

Calcium 17mg2%

Iron 0.9mg5%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.