- 6 Large bell peppers red, yellow, or orange work best
- 1 tbsp Olive oil
- 1 lb Italian sausage, ground beef, or ground turkey
- 2 cloves Garlic minced
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp Crushed red pepper flakes optional, for heat
- 1½ cups Pizza sauce plus extra for serving
- 1½ cups Mozzarella cheese divided
- ½ cup Mini pepperoni or regular pepperoni, cut into small pieces
- ¼ cup Grated parmesan cheese
- Toppings of choice (black olives, sauteed mushrooms, diced onions, chopped fresh basil)
Large Skillet or Pot
Wooden spoon or spatula
Knife & cutting board
9x13 baking dish
Aluminum Foil
Measuring cups & spoons
Preheat the ovenHeat oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish. Prep the peppersSlice the tops off the peppers and remove seeds. Place them in the baking dish, cut side up. Cook the fillingHeat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add sausage (or meat of choice) and cook until browned, breaking it apart with a spoon. Stir in garlic, Italian seasoning, and crushed red pepper flakes. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.Add pizza sauce and half the pepperoni. Simmer 2–3 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in 1 cup mozzarella and Parmesan until melted and combined. Stuff the peppersSpoon the meat mixture evenly into the pepper halves. Top with remaining mozzarella and pepperoni. Add extra toppings as desired. BakeCover loosely with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake an additional 5–10 minutes, until cheese is bubbly and peppers are tender. ServeGarnish with fresh basil and serve with extra pizza sauce for dipping.
