Stuffed bell peppers come in many flavors. From mostly rice, to mostly tomato base to mostly meats. I’d classify this recipe as a good combo of all of them! Lots of yummy meats and flavors with some rice and a good amount of cheese to hold the stuffing together. So, if you like meat, cheese and rice, you will LOVE this dish!

Sausage Stuffed Bell Pepper:

4 large bell pepper with tops cut and seed removed – $2.00 (on sale, 2 for $1)
3/4 lb ground chicken – $2.18
1/2 lb Jimmy Dean or similar sausage – $1.00
1/2 Large yellow onion, diced – $.25
1 can tomato sauce (8 ozs) – $.20
1/4 cup parmesan cheese, powdered – $.75
1 cup cooked white rice – $.25
2 Tbsp dried parsley, fresh or dried – pantry
1 Tbsp minced garlic – pantry
1 1/2 tsp salt – pantry
1 1/2 tsp pepper – pantry

COST: $6.63

In a large skillet, cook sausage and set aside. In same skillet, cook ground chicken and season with 1/2 tsp salt and pepper. When done, add onion and cook for 2 more mins. Then add parsley and garlic, stir and cook for a few more mins. Add cooked sausage back to pan and add a can of tomato sauce. Simmer for 10 mins. Remove from heat and add parmesan cheese, 1 tsp of salt and pepper and cooked rice. Stir and set aside.

Preheat oven to 375 and prepare bell peppers by cutting away stem and removing seeds. Stuff peppers. Don’t be afraid to really stuff them tight. Next, sprinkle with a little parmesan, if you choose. Top with cut stems and cover with foil. Bake 25 mins, then remove foil and return to oven for 10 more mins. I use my leftover foil to hold my microwaved baked potato and leave them in the oven during that 10 mins to keep them warm.

Once they are nicely browned, you’re ready to serve! Add some grated cheese and butter to the potatoes and enjoy! Due to the amount of meat in each pepper, you will NOT need more than 1 a piece, unless you’re a sumo wrestler. So all Sumo wrestlers, please double the recipe.

COST of BAKED POTATO: $2.00, at most, for the potatoes and $.50 for cheese

GRAND TOTAL: $9.13